Useppa Island
Encyclopedia
Useppa Island is a barrier island
located in Lee County
, Florida
. It has been known for luxury resorts since the late 19th century, and it is currently the home of the private Useppa Island Club. On May 21, 1996, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
, due to its archaeological significance.
nation, who called it Toampe and left behind many artifacts and sites of archaeological value, including a burial mound
. "Useppa Man", the body of a Calusa who died in about AD 600, was discovered at the island's high point in 1989.
In the late 18th century the Spanish
rancher José Caldez moved to the island and operated fishing settlements from it. He named his new home "Josefa," which was also the name of his schooner; it was called both "Josefa" and "Caldez Island" thereafter. The modern name Useppa is a corruption of Josefa. His men intermarried with the locals and sent their children to Cuba
for baptism and schooling. They were evicted by the Seminole
in 1835 during the Second Seminole War; the island's name evolved from Josefa to Useppa after that time. The United States
build Fort Casey on the island in 1850, but it was soon abandoned. During the American Civil War
Useppa was an outpost for Union
sympathizers, who launched guerrilla strikes on Confederate
ships.
When tarpon
fishing became popular in the 1880s, Chicago
businessman John Roach established a resort on Useppa. Barron Collier
bought the island in 1911, but the hotel was damaged by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
, and was torn down after World War II
.
In 1960, Useppa briefly served as a CIA training base for Cuban exile
s in preparation for the Bay of Pigs Invasion
.
William Snow bought the island in 1962 and refurbished its decaying buildings, initiating a recovery in Useppa's tourism industry. James B. "Jimmy" Turner, a Tampa dairyman bought the island in 1968. He operated Useppa as an "adults-only" club and the sign that announced that policy now hangs at the Museum.
In 1973 the Mariner Corporation purchased Useppa, and in 1976 one of the original Mariner partners, Garfield Beckstead, bought the island with a handful of other adventurers. Now Beckstead is the sole owner of the Useppa Island Club which serves Useppa property owners and non-resident Club members.
The beginning years of the latest transformation are shown in the pictures of an overgrown island rejuvenated. The reality of the rest of Useppa is seen outside the Museum on an island tour, atop middens' thousand years of shells, a view from the Collier Inn across Pine Island Sound, in the scales of long ago Silver Kings on the wall of the Tarpon Bar.
, Gasparilla
, and Sanibel
, Useppa figures into Florida folklore in the stories of the legendary pirate captain José Gaspar
, also known as Gasparilla. According to these, he named the place after Useppa, a Spanish princess he captured and became enamored with. She rejected his advances until he threatened to kill her. She still refused, and he beheaded her in a rage (alternately, his crew demanded her death). He instantly regretted his actions, and took her to Useppa, where he buried her himself. The island still bears her name. In some versions of the story, the young lady's name was Josefa, and the island's name allegedly evolved into "Useppa" over time. Some versions name the lady as Josefa de Mayorga, daughter of Martín de Mayorga
, viceroy of New Spain
from 1779 to 1782. Though these folk stories are not supported by the historical record, they have been repeatedly used as sources for fictitious treasure maps and justification for illegal excavations in Native American
archaeological sites.
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
located in Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It has been known for luxury resorts since the late 19th century, and it is currently the home of the private Useppa Island Club. On May 21, 1996, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, due to its archaeological significance.
History
Useppa separated from the coastline about 6500 – 5000 BC. Before that, it was inhabited by the Paleo-Indians since at least 8000 BC. Later, it was occupied by the CalusaCalusa
The Calusa were a Native American people who lived on the coast and along the inner waterways of Florida's southwest coast. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region; at the time of European contact, the Calusa were the people of the Caloosahatchee culture...
nation, who called it Toampe and left behind many artifacts and sites of archaeological value, including a burial mound
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. "Useppa Man", the body of a Calusa who died in about AD 600, was discovered at the island's high point in 1989.
In the late 18th century the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
rancher José Caldez moved to the island and operated fishing settlements from it. He named his new home "Josefa," which was also the name of his schooner; it was called both "Josefa" and "Caldez Island" thereafter. The modern name Useppa is a corruption of Josefa. His men intermarried with the locals and sent their children to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for baptism and schooling. They were evicted by the Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
in 1835 during the Second Seminole War; the island's name evolved from Josefa to Useppa after that time. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
build Fort Casey on the island in 1850, but it was soon abandoned. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Useppa was an outpost for Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
sympathizers, who launched guerrilla strikes on Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
ships.
When tarpon
Tarpon
Tarpons are large fish of the genus Megalops. There are two species of Megalops, one native to the Atlantic, and the other to the Indo-Pacific oceans.They are the only members of the family Megalopidae.- Species and habitats :...
fishing became popular in the 1880s, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
businessman John Roach established a resort on Useppa. Barron Collier
Barron Collier
Barron Gift Collier was an American advertising entrepreneur, who became the largest landowner and developer in the U.S. state of Florida, as well as, the owner of a chain of hotels, bus lines, several banks, and newspapers. He also owned a telephone company and a steamship line.Collier was born...
bought the island in 1911, but the hotel was damaged by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season, and one of the most intense hurricanes to make landfall in the United States in recorded history...
, and was torn down after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1960, Useppa briefly served as a CIA training base for Cuban exile
Cuban exile
The term "Cuban exile" refers to the many Cubans who have sought alternative political or economic conditions outside the island, dating back to the Ten Years' War and the struggle for Cuban independence during the 19th century...
s in preparation for the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
.
William Snow bought the island in 1962 and refurbished its decaying buildings, initiating a recovery in Useppa's tourism industry. James B. "Jimmy" Turner, a Tampa dairyman bought the island in 1968. He operated Useppa as an "adults-only" club and the sign that announced that policy now hangs at the Museum.
In 1973 the Mariner Corporation purchased Useppa, and in 1976 one of the original Mariner partners, Garfield Beckstead, bought the island with a handful of other adventurers. Now Beckstead is the sole owner of the Useppa Island Club which serves Useppa property owners and non-resident Club members.
The beginning years of the latest transformation are shown in the pictures of an overgrown island rejuvenated. The reality of the rest of Useppa is seen outside the Museum on an island tour, atop middens' thousand years of shells, a view from the Collier Inn across Pine Island Sound, in the scales of long ago Silver Kings on the wall of the Tarpon Bar.
Folklore
Like the nearby islands of CaptivaCaptiva Island
Captiva Island is an island in Lee County in southwest Florida, located just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.-History:According to local folklore, Captiva got its name because the pirate captain José Gaspar held his female prisoners on the island for ransom or worse...
, Gasparilla
Gasparilla Island
Gasparilla Island is a barrier island in southwest Florida, United States, straddling the border of Charlotte and Lee Counties. Its largest town is Boca Grande, and it is the location of the Gasparilla Island State Park...
, and Sanibel
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is an island located on the Gulf coast of Florida, just offshore of Fort Myers. In 2000, it had an estimated population of 6,064 people...
, Useppa figures into Florida folklore in the stories of the legendary pirate captain José Gaspar
Jose Gaspar
José Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla , was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneers," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence...
, also known as Gasparilla. According to these, he named the place after Useppa, a Spanish princess he captured and became enamored with. She rejected his advances until he threatened to kill her. She still refused, and he beheaded her in a rage (alternately, his crew demanded her death). He instantly regretted his actions, and took her to Useppa, where he buried her himself. The island still bears her name. In some versions of the story, the young lady's name was Josefa, and the island's name allegedly evolved into "Useppa" over time. Some versions name the lady as Josefa de Mayorga, daughter of Martín de Mayorga
Martín de Mayorga
Martín de Mayorga Ferrer was a Spanish military officer, governor of the Captaincy General of Guatemala , and interim viceroy of New Spain .Martín de Mayorga Ferrer was a field marshal in the royal army of Spain, and a knight of the military Order of Alcántara...
, viceroy of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
from 1779 to 1782. Though these folk stories are not supported by the historical record, they have been repeatedly used as sources for fictitious treasure maps and justification for illegal excavations in Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
archaeological sites.