Sanibel in Lee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Caretakers’ Cottage

— Sanibel Historical Museum and Village —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Caretakers’ Cottage Marker

Inscription.
This cottage was built after 1925 behind the Mayer family’s bay-front home, Shore Haven. Through the years it served as guest house, bath house, caretakers (sic) cottage, and annex. In the 1950s and 60s, Hannah and Isaiah Gavin, after farming and living on Sanibel for decades, stayed here to help widowed Daisy Mayer with housework and gardening. The Gavin grandchildren often visited them here. It was donated and moved to the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village with Shore Haven in 2012 and features an exhibit of Sanibel's Black History.

Erected by Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 26° 26.409′ N, 82° 4.536′ W. Marker is in Sanibel, Florida, in Lee County. It can be reached from Dunlap Road east of Wooster Lane, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located within Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 950 Dunlap Road, Sanibel FL 33957, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sanibel Post Office (here, next to this marker); Sanibel Island

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(a few steps from this marker); Shore Haven (a few steps from this marker); Sanibel School for White Children (within shouting distance of this marker); Burnap Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rutland House (within shouting distance of this marker); Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanibel Surrey (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanibel.

Also see . . .
1. Sanibel History. Sanibel Historical Museum & Village website entry (Submitted on November 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

2. Sanibel Island & Captiva Island History. Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce website entry (Submitted on November 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Caretakers’ Cottage Marker

Caretakers’ Cottage, Historical Register Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Caretakers’ Cottage, Historical Register Plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.