FORT MYERS, Fla. – The famous “God is Love” sign along McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers is in need of a little love itself.
It’s a little sign with a big message and it’s been around now for more than seven decades.
A photo of property dated 1925 was discovered in the Historical Society office in Fort Myers.
The property picture was labeled Mrs. White’s Grove. The property was purchased in 1941 by George Gruesbeck and the iconic sign didn’t come about until 1943.
Jeanne Sweeney represents the Above Board Chamber in Lee County. She once worked for the Christian Chamber of Commerce who briefly maintained the sign after she left the organization.
“It’s a great story of great people who put this together and keep it going for future generations,” Sweeney said.
Genevieve Bowen is a lifelong resident of Fort Myers and recalled the sign standing along the highways in the 1940s as she and her family traveled to Fort Myers Beach.
Local Historian Joanne Miller said the sign became a landmark over the years.
“It was pitch black on McGregor. There weren’t any lights or houses in the 1940s,” Miller pointed out.
However the lighted sign came into being and it could be seen during the nighttime drive.
Why the sign came to be is unclear but Miller who researched the sign and property said there is an urban legend she’s working to confirm about why Gruesbeck erected the sign.
“Between 1941 and 1943 he was sitting inside his house and there was a car wreck. Something happened. A young man died. He went out and tried to help and the young man and the young man died in his arms. That’s when he decided to put up the God is love sign,” Miller stated.
A deed to the property stated all future owners were required to maintain the sign.
Richard Cochenour currently owns the property and said that he has had people call him to raise money for the needed repairs.
“It’s got to be taken apart, sandblasted and powder-coated,” Cochenour said.
The sign was repaired at least three times in recent history, once in 1993, 2002 and again in 2013.
“I’m just kind of really waiting for the outcome of it to see how nice it turns out,” Cochenour said.
The John and Aliese Price Foundation is raising money to keep the message shining.
“It’s a great story of great people who put this together and keep it going for future generations,” Sweeney concluded.
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September 16, 2021 at 05:50AM
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Foundation raises money to restore decades-old ‘God is Love’ sign in Fort Myers - ABC7 News
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