Museum Meeting Features Jane Lofton Gourley

Jayne Lofton Gourley, Captain Forrey's youngest granddaughter, will present a program on one of LaBelle's major "movers and shakers" from during the first quarter of the 20th Century at the December meeting of the LaBelle Heritage Museum. 

M. E. Forrey was a Spanish American War veteran who came to LaBelle as captain of a dredge boat around 1909, married a local "belle", became a successful businessman who traded with the Seminoles, served on the Town Council and later the Hendry County Commission, and organized the LaBelle Chautauqua in 1922. 

Jayne says she has unearthed information that was not available to her first cousin Geraldine Burchard Nobles, Ph D, when she wrote her scholarly paper on M E Forrey some 30 years ago.

The rear door to the LaBelle City Hall Commission Chambers at 481 West Hickpochee Avenue (State Road 80) will open shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, for LaBelle Heritage Museum's monthly program meeting that starts at 7 o'clock. 

The meeting is open to the public. Members may renew their dues for 2014 and receive new membership cards, and we will also welcome new members who want to support LaBelle Heritage Museum and our endeavors to keep LaBelle's rich heritage alive for long time and new full and part-time residents as well as the interested traveler, too.