Pioneer Club Picnic set for April 26
The Pioneer Club of Lee County is set to celebrate the 76th anniversary of its founding in 1949 by R. A. Henderson, Jr.
This year’s annual picnic will take place on Saturday, April 26, at the Lee County Civic Center – Tinsley Pavilion, in North Fort Myers.
The Pioneers Club was formed to honor those living persons who had been residents of old Lee County for 50 or more years with the initial meeting held in 1950 at the Lions Park on Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers.
It is a social organization comprised of many of the old families of Lee County who get together annually to catch up on one another’s lives and to have lunch together. The Pioneer Picnic traditionally is held the last Saturday in April of each year.
Registration and visiting for this year’s gathering will begin at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon followed by presentations and a raffle at 1 p.m.
The 2025 high school of recognition this year will be Dunbar High school. Also recognized at the picnic will be the eldest pioneer man and woman born in Lee County; the couple married the longest (both spouses need to be in attendance); pioneer who traveled the longest distance to the picnic; and the eldest person in attendance.
Approximately 1,500 invitations are mailed out for the picnic of which two-thirds are sent to residents and the remainder to those people who live out of the area. There are normally 600-700 people in attendance. Barbecue chicken or pork, baked beans, coleslaw, rolls, chocolate chip cookies and iced tea or lemonade is available to the members for $10 per plate thanks to the generosity of sponsors.
The eligibility requirement for membership is based on the person living in Lee County for at least 50 years. Those years do not have to be consecutive.
A new website, https://wwwpioneerclubofleecounty.com/, went live on March 10. Those attending or interested in joining can now register or submit a membership form online, making it easier than ever to become a member. Those approved will be officially added to their list.
The new website also offers an opportunity to learn more about the club’s history and see photos of past picnics and activities.
Through the generosity of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, free admission on that weekend is given to the members of the Pioneer Club by presenting their Pioneer membership card to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates (General Admission) on Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. An invitation has also been extended to the members of the Pioneer Club to visit The IMAG History & Science Center (General Admission) by also presenting their Pioneer membership card on those same days.
The Lee County Civic Center is at 11831 Bayshore Road.