A Postcard History of Marco Island

Idyllic postcard images of Marco Island show a slice of life, a moment in time, captured for posterity. But sometimes, it’s the hastily written message on the back of the postcard that tells the story. Visitors to the island were already sending postcard memories of Marco Island back home to their loved ones when Barron Collier founded Collier County in 1923 - and they’re still doing it today, 100 years later.

Marco Island was a tourist destination, even before the Goodland Swing Bridge was installed in 1938, when the only access to the island was via boat or ferry. In 1969 came the Marco River Bridge (now the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge). By 1975 the Goodland Bridge (now the Stan Gober Memorial Bridge) replaced the old swing bridge.

While postcards of all three of Marco’s famous bridges have circulated across the country and around the world, the more popular Marco Island postcards portray Marco Beach and the island’s hotels. Since bygone days visitors have taken time from their vacation schedules to write their loved ones back home. It’s fascinating how much can be conveyed on a 3 x 5-inch or 4 x 6-inch postcard. Certainly, words are at a premium, with half of the back panel reserved for the mailing address.

A May 1921 postcard of The Hotel at Marco, Fla., (now the Old Marco Inn) contains an unusual message: “Yes I forgot. I will remember you when I near them. I could not do otherwise. You have been so honest and kind. Thinking of you. – Betty”

On May 8, 1948 Chester brandished his fountain pen to write his family back in Dayton, Ohio on a postcard of the G & G Mercantile store in the Marco township (now Old Marco). “Dear Mother & All,” Chester writes. “Spending the weekend down here fishing. This is on the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Fla. Way down south. We are with two couples from the office. We have only caught one fish so far. Going swimming now. Love to all, Chester.”

In 1956 John sent a postcard of the Marco Island Inn and Cottages back home to Amarillo, Texas. “Dear Mom and Nanna: We are having a swell time - catching lots of fish. Are planning to arrive in Wheeling Friday. Bet Amy has had a “ball” there. More soon. Love, John.”

Another postcard, dated February 9, 1964, showing the dock at the Old Marco Inn, is addressed to Pearl Poole in Fairport, New York. “Hello Pearl: Greetings from Florida where I’m getting a real sunburn already. Hope to see you soon. Best regards! D."

"T & D" were just passing through when they sent an early photo of the Marco River Bridge back home to Richmond, Maine. “Drove here today. Were impressed with Naples area. Ella wants you to visit and stay overnight with them. Perfect here, 80 degrees. Punta Gorda last nite, Lehigh Acres tonite, Hollywood tomorrow. T & D.”

Marie wins the prize for cramming the most words onto the message side of her 1967 postcard of the original Marco Beach Hotel, shot before the first tower was added on December 18, 1971. Today the Marco Beach Hotel is known to visitors as the J.W. Marriott. Marie wrote to Mrs. Harvey Wintermuth of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: “Hi Minnie and Harv: We were here last week but it was quite windy & didn’t stay on the beach only a short time. We had our lunch here, fried shrimp. The Dorrs & Masons are here. Came Sunday. Mrs D. has a broken knee cap. Mrs Curtis flew back direct to hospital earlier than they intended. Those dates are all o.k. Thanks for letter. Mrs. gave us a letter to mail. Will run to post office now. Happy Easter. Love, Marie.”

A vintage shot of the newly-opened 400 room Marco Beach Hotel & Villas, postmarked 1972, was sent to Lily Larson in Cushing, Wisconsin. “Hi Lily!! How are you? Gladys Amlee wrote that you had taken a fall. Hope you weren’t hurt too bad. This is where Elmer and I work in the new 11 story building. There are 150 more rooms in the villas to the right of the big one. We sure like this beautiful country down here. So many pretty flowers, trees & birds as well as nice weather. Take care now. Greetings LaVern & Doris J.”

A photograph of a very modest Residents’ Beach, dated January 9, 1972, was sent to Loretta Weis in Arlington, Virginia. The card’s advertising copy reads: Beautiful Marco Island. South Seas living on Florida Gulf Coast. Louis Dixon writes: “Dear Loretta - After our frost-bitten winters we are enjoying sunny, warm, Florida. Marco Island is especially beautiful - 3-mile-long sugar white beach. Millions of shells. John is back playing tennis again. We hope to stay this March. So good to hear from you. All good wishes—Louise & John Dixon.”

A classic shot of the Marco Beach Hotel from 1977, looking west from the tennis courts across Collier Blvd., was the vehicle for Connie to write to her grandma and Charles.

“Dear Grandma and Charles. This hotel is beautiful. Plans for another are in the making. The island is unique & beautiful. Sorry I missed you at Christmas. Thanks for my lovely blouse. Hope you and Chuck are okay. Am going to Miami on the 1st. Love ya—Connie.”

A postcard postmarked 1978 shows a nearly empty Marco skyline, shot from in front of the Marco Beach Hotel, looking south, and contains a note to Mr. & Mrs. Tom E. Dowling of University Park, MD. “Hi. Having a great time. Getting plenty of rest, relaxation and swimming, also a great tan. Didn’t realize how truly tired and in need of a vacation I was. Marco is just across a bridge from Naples. Is actually an island in the gulf and sand and water both are incredibly clean. Hope you’re both okay. Will call when I get back. Love Sis.”

The advertising copy on a 1983 postcard offers the following for the reader: Marco Island, Florida. Aerial of Marco Island Hotel and Villas. Lush tropical palms and the soft sugar-white beach blend for one of Florida’s loveliest vacation resorts. Mitzi Robinson used this beautiful postcard to write a message to a worker at the post office in her hometown of Kattskill Bay, New York: “Dear Dort - Would you please hold our mail for us starting April 1st. We plan to be home the 6th. Thank you - Mitzi Robinson."

A postcard offering Greetings from Marco Island, Florida, with four iconic images, dated 1986, contains a note from Beth to Chris Palmer in Philadelphia. “Dear Chris, How are ya? It’s so beautiful down here!! I don’t want to come home! Cahoona is being the biggest pain! I saw “White Nights.” It was pretty good—ya should see it. Thanx again for the tape, that was so nice of you! I love it too! See ya later. Love, Beth”

A postcard of one of Marco’s most beloved attractions, the Rosie O’ Shea, the authentic Mississippi River paddlewheeler, was sent to Ada P. Crocker and Scott Farrar of Peterborough, New Hampshire on March 13, 1987. Ginnie writes: “You and the ladies would have loved the two-hour cruise and luncheon aboard this little paddlewheeler. Beautiful weather in the 70s. Think I’ll stay. Take care. Love, Ginnie.”

Our most modern entry is from 1992 and shows a photograph of Hobie Cats, seashells, hibiscus flowers and Tigertail beach, and the four South Seas Towers. On the back Lonita and Maurice McCarty write to their friends Kenneth & Oneida Gillispie in Savannah, Missouri. “Arrived here on Marco Island New Year’s Eve. Was cool and sometimes rain. Feb. was perfect and March has been equally great. Our temps have moved into the 80s and when we walk our daily 3 miles it gets too warm later in the a.m. We play golf once a week and put in a lot of “Beach Time” (loafing i.e.)  Jane & Everett left Monday and we enjoyed a trip to the Everglades with them. They fly to San Francisco April 1 to a Chrysler trip—then back here and will return home April 10. See you in April - L & M.”

Granted, today emails are more common than postcards. But for a memory that won’t quickly be deleted, grab a pen and write a few lines of your own Marco Island history to a friend or family. No telling where it may end up.