
Photo by Barry GwinnThis is the fourth and last iteration of a welcoming sign coming in to Goodland. This one was done by Kevin Hauke and installed in 2000. The first one was installed by Art Calvert (advertising his local real estate brokerage) in 1978.
By Barry Gwinn
In the spring of 1945, when Art Calvert returned to the States from the South Pacific, his children didn’t recognize him. He had been taking Atabrine for his malaria, and it gave him a yellowish hue. He resettled the family in Miami Springs and resumed his electric supply business. He also got involved in politics and the newspaper business, chairing the Dade County Democratic Executive Committee, and publishing (and editing) the Dade Democrat. In 1961, after helping Doyle Conner to be elected as Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, Art was appointed as Southern Regional Director of the Florida Department of Agriculture, where he served until his retirement in 1978.
In the mid-20th century, Miami was a magnet for those who shivered through Northeastern and Midwestern winters. It was a boomtown full of business opportunities, plus beaches and fishing. It seemed to have everything. Dade County was by far, the most populous county in Florida – just under 500,000 people lived there. (Florida’s total population was 2.7 million.) Directly across the peninsula was one of Florida’s smallest counties, Collier County, with only 6,488 souls. It was insignificant and a backwater in the scheme of things. Except, it had

Art Calvert’s real estate office, March 2004. All clippings and pictures appear to be more than 30 years old. Most recent is Art’s Florida Real Estate License (top left), renewed on 2/26/04, less than two months before his death at age 90. He was indeed,Goodland’s oldest real estate broker.
In 1961, Art found a three-room stilt house on the Marco River, which he was able to rent for $25 a month. It was located next to where the Old Marco Lodge now stands and dubbed, “The Fish House” by the Calvert

Submitted PhotosAfter Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 eponymous #1 hit song, Art replaced his old sign with this one, perhaps hoping to spread the joy among prospective buyers.
The family can recount 28 different jobs that Art held during his lifetime. One of those jobs was selling real estate; another was editing newspapers. In 1978, there were a lot of vacant lots in Goodland. Art, sensing opportunity, got his real estate broker’s license and opened an office in the basement of his home. Never one to

Art Calvert’s first real estate sign, erected on the northwest corner of Goodland Road and Sunset Court, c. 1978. Stan’s at middle left. Village Inn Motel at middle right. Art would have been about 65 years old.

Art Calvert’s Real Estate Office at 101 Coconut Ave. E. Note sign on front steps.Office was in converted utility room under the steps. House was built in 1977, Art and Dottie moved in in 1978.
After devoting a few paragraphs to the eclectic “mixed up” Goodland residents, Art felt constrained to deal with the no-see-ums and mosquitos in two lengthy paragraphs, intimating that living with them was a Goodlander’s badge of honor. Art ended his piece with a peroration that well could be our motto today, as we continue to welcome visitors and new residents in to our community. “It’s a Good Land,” Art said, “and they keep a comin’ down that twisted little road that leads in to town.” Yes they do Art. Thanks for that.
Art was a charter member of the Goodland Civic Association (GCA), incorporated in April 1978. Another of his incarnations was that of fireman. In the early 1980s, he along with other Goodland leaders wanted to bring a firehouse to Goodland. It was spearheaded by the recently formed GCA. The Marco Island Fire Control District agreed to raise money for the erection of a firehouse (They did raise $115,000),

Photo by Barry GwinnBeverly Calvert Boggs at home in Goodland with some of her father’s memorabilia. Art Calvert saved almost everything and Bev has faithfully kept his collection. She is holding Art’s WWII warrant officer’s cap.
Perhaps Art’s greatest accomplishment was as the beloved patriarch of his family, which at the time of his death, consisted of his four children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They all adored him. Art died of cancer at the age of 90 on April 22, 2004, ten years to the day after Dottie died. Two months before his death, Art posted his final real estate license renewal to his office wall. It was dated February 26, 2004.
Barry was a practicing attorney before he worked as a Special Agent of the FBI for 31 years. Barry worked for several government agencies another ten years before retiring to Goodland in 2006. Barry is presently the Secretary of the Goodland Civic Association.
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