A colorful fishing island off the coast of Southwest Florida is marking a major milestone this year — and a man who has lived there for decades said he hopes the next 100 years look a lot like the last.
Take a look at some of the photos he has collected over the years of Matlacha:
Matlacha turns 100: Island realtor reflects on a century of color and old Florida charm
Matlacha, a small island community that Lee County documents say was once known as Harrsenville, is celebrating its centennial this year.
Fox 4’s Bella Line sat down with Mike Shevlin, a local realtor who has called the island home since the 1970s, to talk about how Matlacha has changed — and what he hopes stays the same.
A spokesperson for Lee County sent this from the historic designation report to Line:
Shevlin has watched the island weather hurricanes and rapid growth, all while holding onto its identity as a charming piece of old Florida. He shared photographs from decades past, when the island looked far different from the vibrant destination it is today…