An orange juice stand in the Patio DeLeon, circa early 1950s, once was the home of an alligator pit. PHOTO PROVIDED

The community will have the opportunity to learn some history about downtown Fort Myers later this month during the Cracker Dinner at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

Cracker Dinner organizer Bonnie Chappelle said the Southwest Florida Historical Society hosts the Cracker Dinner every year as its major fundraiser.

“This is where they get their operating fund money,” she explained.

The Cracker Dinner will be held Monday, Feb. 21, at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Broadway Palm.

Chappelle said the group gathers some old information, as far as history and stories from the area, and present them in a fun way to the audience during the Cracker Dinner. She said the hope is that the stories may rattle residents’ memories of their childhood and they pass on that knowledge of the community history.

Snack House menu, circa mid-1950s. PHOTO PROVIDED

“The only reason I initially got involved was because how much it meant to my parents,” Chappelle said, adding that the more involved she became the more she enjoyed learning about the very rich history of Fort Myers.

She is a seventh generation Florida native, and third generation Fort Myers native.

“I am finding things out about my grandparents as we go,” Chappelle said. “My maternal grandfather, his family is from the Keys.”

The stories for this year’s Cracker Dinner will revolve around Patio DeLeon on First Street in downtown Fort Myers.

The storytellers for the evening are Beverly Cox and Emmaline Beaumont. In addition, music will also be performed by Barbara Peterson at the piano, with vocals by Roger Peterson, John Goulet, Cox and Beaumont.

“We are going to have the setting coming from the Snack House restaurant. It is where the Indigo Hotel is now. They just opened a version of the Snack House in the Imaginarium,” Chappelle said.

She said one of her favorite stories is about an alligator pit that had live alligators down in Patio DeLeon.

“They were removed because they were dangerous. My grandfather, years after, removed the alligator pit and put in an orange juice stand. I feel like it was the first kiosk there. It was inside the alligator pit. That was their business. They served orange juice and then soft serve ice cream,” Chappelle said.

The event will also include a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and door prizes.

The Southwest Florida Historical Society, which was established in 1960 by a group of citizens, is located on the corner of Colonial Boulevard and McGregor Boulevard.

Chappelle said the society houses pretty much every yearbook from Fort Myers High School, maps, as well a great deal of information about the history of Southwest Florida.

“Everybody is welcome. They are open on Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.,” she said. “It’s a great place to find some facts. It is very laid back. My mom is there and is very knowledgeable of the area. It’s a dying breed of people interested in our history. We would love to get some new blood interested and know where they live.”

For additional information about the Southwest Florida Historical Society, visit www.facebook.com/SWFLHS/, or call 239-939-4044.