Jim Carrell’s Roots Run Deep in Bonita Springs

Excerpts from the Bonita Banner about Jim’s Grandfather & Grandmother:

Harvey Carrell had devotion for perfection.  This perfection earned him recognition as a master builder in his home town of Columbus, Ohio. 

It was after he had built over 600 homes and other buildings in Columbus that he decided to retire to Bonita Springs in 1947.  He and his wife, Opal, had been winter residents since 1939.

Carrell’s reputation for perfection followed him south, so the man who had come to Bonita Springs to retire soon found himself back in the construction business.

While his retirement plans were set back over 20 years, Harvey did have many successful fishing trips over the years.

During those 20 years, Carrell built 42 homes, 13 commercial buildings, and remodeled 19 homes.

He also was the contractor for the former post office building on Reynolds Street, which he completed in 1967 within about half of the specified contract time.

Carrell petitioned then-Postmaster General John Gronouski in 1964 for a new post office because the old facility lacked ample parking space.

Numbered among the buildings he had constructed in Bonita Springs were Fidelity Florida Realty Corporation’s building, a doctor’s office, a restaurant, Cox Building, Carrell Building where the Imperial Pharmacy was located, the Bonita Springs office of the Naples Daily News, York’s General Store, a Western Auto building,  a Standard Oil Station, and the first fellowship hall for Lee Memorial Methodist Church.

Two other notable buildings to which he contributed design and volunteer labor were the Bonita Springs Woman’s Club and the community hall.

He was also instrumental in the acquisition of land at a reduced cost for the first Bonita Springs Fire Station.

In 1965, Carrell helped extend a road east of the then-Tamiami Trail.  The road to form a direct link form then-U.S. 41 with Imperial Street had been on the drawing board since 1960.

He sought and secured the needed rights of way from property owners. Not all property owners were willing to donate property, so he raised the funds to cover the cost.

At a Lee County Commission meeting on April 7, 1965, the board recognized his efforts by naming the newly extended road Carrell Avenue.  Today the road is known as Bonita Beach Road.

When the I 75 interchange was completed, the exit was known as Carrell exit unit Harvey’s death when the name reverted back to Bonita Beach Road and exit.

To quote Kay Smith of the Bonita Banner, “His services to the community in time, materials and other services are too numerous to mention.

Opal, was instrumental in organizing and founding the Bonita Springs Women’s Club as well as being one of the charter members.  The club was founded in her words, “to do good works including raising money for scholarships.”  The club was influential in getting a library started in Bonita Springs and in founding the fire department.

For 10 years the women met at the Pavilion, near the Community Hall.  Meetings were usually preceded by some cleanup because cows frequently wandered into the open-air structure.

The ladies had $800 in the bank purchase land and raised over $9,000 to finance the building of the structure.