By Jack Alexander As we traverse Rotonda, we might echo some interesting folk who preceded us. The history of our chunk of paradise goes deep. President James Monroe accepted Florida from Spain in 1821, when the invading Spanish went home, whipped by Indians, snakes,... Read More
By Jack Alexander, RWA Historian Longtime Rotonda golfer Charlene Diggins said, “In the old days (mid-late 70’s) it was fun. The bar at the club was packed evenings, everyone having a good time, especially Fridays after Guys & Dolls. The early golf... Read More
by Jack Alexander Many individuals stand out in Rotonda West’s history as affecting the community’s course over time – William Vanderbilt, Joseph Klein, Col. Joe Tringali, TV pitchman Ed McMahon, Jim Petrides, among others. Many residents devoted time and energy... Read More
by Jack Alexander It always amazes me that one of Rotonda West’s greatest assets is overlooked and underused… Don Pedro Island. Many Rotonda West residents seem unaware that a mid-1970’s investigation of Rotonda’s development by the Federal Trade Commission... Read More
by Jack Alexander The land on which Rotonda sits was owned originally by brothers William and Alfred Vanderbilt. William was a former Governor of Rhode Island, and both brothers were direct descendants of the renowned Cornelius Vanderbilt. Known as “The Commodore,” he... Read More
by Jack Alexander In 1970, right at Rotonda West’s start-up, the U.S. economy tanked and slowed development. Interest rates soared above 20 percent. Money for infrastructure became hard to find and borrow. (The government wasn’t handing it out back then!). Then, the... Read More
