no names - just protection

[Brian]

A fuller picture of this classic Florida land deal can be found in "The
Orchid Thief"
by Susan Orlean.  The book itself gives an at times gripping account of the
passions
and pit falls that can in some be an addiction to Natural History.
Brian

<Leptraps at aol.com> wrote in message news:6b.f61613e.27ad634d at aol.com...
> The area Ron is referring to was known as the Squares. A large area west
of
> the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve in Collier County. The original name
> given by the developer was Golden Gate Everglades Estates (The is a nearby
> community that has since taken the name "Golden Gate," located at Exit 15
on
> I-75, or the beginning of the toll road known as Alligator Alley). The
> developer sold you a 15 acre plot. You were to build your home on 5 acres,
as
> the area developed, and land values rose, you would sell off the remainder
of
> you lot in 2.5 acres lots and payoff the original purchase. The developer
dug
> the flood control canals, laid the roads, sold 200+ lots. The problem was
the
> utilities. Neither Florida Power Corp. nor Florida Power & Light had a
> substation or transmission lines within 20 miles and wanted the developer
to
> pay a deposit for the cost of construction to bring the power to the area.
A
> common practice at the time. Once the area became developed and the
Utility
> was earning revenue, the Utility would refund the deposit. I am sure the
> deposit was considerable, the developer never made a deal with the
utility,
> and abandoned the (walked away) project. The legal wrangling went on for
> decades. Today there are approximately 40 residence who live in the
squares.
> They have been paying taxes and successfully litigated the bridge over
> Alligator Alley on Everglades Blvd. during the construction project that
made
> Alligator Alley part of the interstate system.
>
> I have collect a great deal in this area. I operated lights at night,
never
> alone and always armed. From late August to early November, depending on
the
> rains, the area is a Mecca for Lepidoptera.
>
> This information is several years old, I also heard that the state was
> attempting to gain control of the area. I do not know the current status.
>
> I do not know why I am telling you this, I guess it is because I liked the
> area and enjoyed collecting and exploring it. I met some true characters
> (residence), saw whacky tobacco growing, a nudist camp and my all time
> favorite, a group waiting for an alien space ship to take them home. I did
> not fear the area, I did however, respect it. The late Jack Heinrich of
Alva,
> Florida and I spent many a great day collecting the squares with incident.
>
> If anybody has an update, let me know.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Leroy C. Koehn
> 202 Redding Road
> Georgetown, KY  40324
> Tele.: 502-570-9123
> Cell: 502-803-5422
> E-mail: Leptraps at aol.com
>
> "Let's get among em"
>
> p/s: Formerly of Florida and wishing I was there. It is 2 degrees this
> morning here in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Warming up in San Francisco could get to 65f.



 
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