Hendry County FlArchives News.....LaBelle Citizens Incorporate November 23, 1911
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Cynthia Stanton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00029.html#0007059 September 4, 2010, 8:21 am

Fort Myers Weekly Press November 23, 1911

LaBelle Citizens Incorporate
  Watts Hall was in Fort Myers yesterday 
and brought the interesting news that LaBelle has become an incorporated 
town. Mr. Hall is one of the most prominent business men of LaBelle 
and he is very optimistic over the future of this community. He 
stated that the population was being constantly increased by the coming in of 
new settlers, and that at present everything is pointing to a most 
prosperous season.
   The action of incorporating was taken recently, 
and the business of the new town is now being formally 
organized. It was a popular movement on the part of the 
citizens, who have felt for some time that the growing importance of the town 
made such a step necessary.
   The first mayor of LaBelle is Dr. 
A. Mitchell, formerly of Wisconsin. The town council is 
composed of E. E. Goodno, Capt. F. A. Hendry, J. H. Magill, J. W. Fraser 
and T. J. Slattery. The marshal is Mr. Shraeder, formerly of 
Waterloo, Ia., and the town clerk is A. L. Widdicomb. The 
members of the council are now at work drafting a set of ordinances for 
the town's government.
   Aside from the general advantages which accrue 
to the residents of an incorporated town, the citizens of LaBelle were moved 
to take the step by some reasons which seemed to warrant immediate 
action. A disorderly element has created considerable 
disturbance from time to time, and some kind of police regulations seemed 
desirable. There was also annoyance arising from the fact that hogs 
and other stock were allowed to run at large.
   As a community LaBelle is one of the older 
settlements of the county, but it never advanced beyond the possession of 
a postoffice and a few houses until about three years ago, when Mr. 
Goodno commenced his development operations. It has now grown to 
a population of about 300, and Mr. Goodno has put it on such a firm 
footing that it is believed its future is assured. That the 
citizens appreciate Mr. Goodno's work in building up the town is shown by the 
fact that they have made him a member of their first council, thus giving 
him a voice in the government of its affairs.
   LaBelle is located directly on the boundary line 
between Lee and DeSoto counties, although the major portion of the town was 
laid out on Mr. Goodno's lands, while the old portion was located on land 
belonging to Captain Hendry. Besides Mr. Goodno's interests in 
LaBelle, he has also large enterprises at Fort Thompson, which is adjacent to 
the town.
   In addition to Mr. Hall's mercantile 
establishment the business activity of the town include a well-equipped 
hotel, the Everett, four or five other stores, a livery stable, 
blacksmith shop, restaurant, school house and church. The town is 
lighted by electricity and there is an ice plant at Fort 
Thompson. A steel drawbridge connects the two sides of the 
river at this point, and on the north side boat ways are located.
   The class of citizenship at LaBelle is unusually 
high. many of the residents are settlers from the north, who are 
heartily co-operating with the older residents in their efforts to establish 
the town.
   Among its other claims to fame it might be noted 
that LaBelle is the home of Capt. F. A. Hendry, one of the Lee county 
commissioners, and a man whose reputation extends throughout Florida.



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