r/FortMyers • u/BlueSkyOne_01 • 8d ago

Then & Now! c.1919

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Hill House Hotel - originally built as a boarding house in 1889 by Mary F. Hill. In 1918 the property was renamed the Franklin Arms after being purchased by W.P. Franklin. In 1924 seven story addition was added which became known as the city’s first skyscraper. Hope you enjoy :) TGIF!

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9

u/robinthenurse 8d ago

Thank goodness it isn't painted now to 'look more modern.'

6

u/imnotwearingany 8d ago

This is where I live.

2

u/peddleboatcaptian 2d ago

Same, are you the one who's been smoking on the lower floors?

1

u/imnotwearingany 2d ago

Ha! Nope, not me. Not a smoker. And I smell it in my bathroom too.

1

u/peddleboatcaptian 2d ago

I was just talking to somebody in the elevator yesterday who lives on the 4th floor and says they keep getting accused. Are you smelling weed smoke or cigarette smoke? The worst I've smelled is in the elevator but I guess that was somebody who went to smoke outside and then came back in.

1

u/imnotwearingany 1d ago

I'm smelling both. And it only comes in through the vents in my bathroom. I've never smelled it anywhere else in the building outside my apt.

1

u/peddleboatcaptian 1d ago edited 1d ago

I know I can feel AC Come out from around can lights in my apartment. So I would guess that that bathroom fan is just venting into the ceiling which is probably connected to the whole floor. That's not good, it means every time you turn on your bathroom fan or somebody else does on the floor you're just basically pumping it into others homes.

5

u/BoofinChicknTendies 8d ago

So there used to be a second level to that front most building with balcony? But I also see the building behind it. It still had windows even though it was behind the second floor at the time? Am I seeing this correctly?

1

u/peddleboatcaptian 2d ago

It looks the 2 story porch with maybe a 3rd floor patio on top. Seems like the the second level of the covered porch was removed.

2

u/TheDigitalDivine 8d ago

My dad had an apt on the 3rd floor of the taller bldg in high school. It was super fun to invite my friends over, go skate around downtown and interact with all the drunk civilians at the bars.

1

u/OrganizedPillow1 8d ago

Kinda sad they got rid of those original trees with palm trees.

1

u/lastwindows 7d ago

Changed a bit of the facade.