3900 Gordon Drive (Naples, Florida)

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3900 Gordon Drive goo.gl/maps/EFh2s

Owner history

2007 - Gemstar Naples / AKA Michael Anthony Kenny (used cars / fleet leasing) $8 million
1993 - Hugh E. Steele Jr (banker) $1.3 million

Before 1980, there was common ownership of 3900 and 3901 on the east side of Gordon Drive

1979 - Michael C Cosgrove (Green Giant) $250,000 (approx.)
1976 - Victor Erday (Naples Developer)
19?? - Harlowe Elliott Bowes (attorney}
19??
19??
1931 - E.W. Crayton (Naples Developer)
???? - James M Raleigh

History

The house at 3900 Gordon Drive was built in 1980 and at just over 3,000 square feet of living area it ranks among the smaller homes on Gordon Drive, but the person who built it was a Giant of sorts. Robert C. Cosgrove who purchased it in 1979 was scion and CEO of Minnesota's Green Giant canned and frozen vegetable empire. Cosgrove had purchased the vacant lot at 3900 and the house at 3901 for $250,000 from Naples developer, Victor Erday Sr who in turn had purchased it in the mid-seventies from Chicago corporate lawyer, Harlowe Elliott Bowes. When the house at 3900 was completed in 1980, Cosgrove sold 3901. He passed away in 1993, the same year 3900 was sold to Hugh and Carolyn Steele. Fourteen years later in 2007, the Steeles sold 3900 Gordon for $8 million to the current owner, Gemstar Naples AKA the Michael Kenny family of England.

Details:

2007 - $8 million

Gemstar Naples AKA Michael Anthony Kenny

The current owner, Michael A. Kenny is from the United Kingdom where he got his start in his early twenties founding a daily car rental operation and general repair business back in 1974. Now in his sixties he and his family, based in a suburb of Liverpool operate a fleet leasing goo.gl/maps/E5cxm and used car business goo.gl/maps/RgW3Y with more than 7,000 vehicles under management. The company is growing and it is profitable with annual turnover of $60+ million and after tax profits in the 10% range. The house at 3900 Gordon Drive, was purchased for $8 million in 2007, in addition there is an estate, "Allenbrook" binged.it/1lB4HuR in the English countryside purchased in 2001. Records also show a Michael Anthony Kenny associated with an address, which is a seaside villa in Spain's Balearic Islands goo.gl/maps/hl8pr built in 1995 by the owner of the "José Luis Ferrer" winery.

Philanthropy

Brighter Communities Inc.
opencharities.org/charities/1143757

References

www.companydirectorcheck.com/michael-anthony-kenny-2
www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/mot...
www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/94242-
www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/74151-cost-cont...
www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/9739909.Residents_claim_they...
www.westwallasey.com/go/About-us
www.linksviewgarages.co.uk/‎
www.fleethireservices.co.uk/AboutUs.asp
www1.sedecatastro.gob.es/Cartografia/ImprimirCroquisyDa...
houseprices.landregistry.gov.uk/price-paid-record/15663...

"Allenbrook" Wirral,
United Kingdom
binged.it/1lB4HuR

Mediterranean seaside villa
Balearic Isles, Spain ‎
goo.gl/maps/hl8pr

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1993 - $1.3 million

Hugh Ellsworth Steele Jr and Carolyn S Steele

H.E. Steele was president of Valley National Bank in West Point, GA where he was also Mayor. West Point made the news in the late 1980's with the buyout of its main industry, textile company West Point-Pepperell Inc. When the Steele's sold 3900 Gordon they relocated to the Marbella Condominium in Pelican Bay. goo.gl/maps/VA2s8

www.nytimes.com/1989/03/05/business/buyout-baron-willia...
www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/west-point-pe...
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1979 - 3900+3901 $250,000 (approx)

Robert C Cosgrove and Eleanor D ("El") Cosgrove purchased 3900+3901 Gordon Drive in 1979

The Cosgrove's purchased the vacant lot at 3900 Gordon and the house across the road at 3901 for approx. $250,000. The property at 3900 Gordon Dr., which had been little more than a beach access benefited from the relocation of Gordon Drive in the early 1960's and in 1980 Cosgrove built a 3,000 sq ft beach house raised up on pilings. Once 3900 was completed, Cosgrove sold 3901 to Walter L keller a noted Naples based architect. Some 30 years later both 3900 and 3901 are little changed from when they were first built back in the early 1980's.

Cosgrove's career with Green Giant (Minnesota Valley Canning) began in 1946. He rose to hold a number of top positions, including board chairman, president and chief executive; when he took on the chairmanship in 1974, he occupied all three offices for a time.

He was the third generation of his family to lead Green Giant. His grandfather, his father, Ward Cosgrove and he presided over the company's growth throughout its independent existence.

He became a director of the Pillsbury Company in 1979 when it acquired Green Giant and he remained on the Pillsbury board until his retirement in 1983. Robert Cosgrove passed away in 1993.

Both Robert and his wife Eleanor were very active in the local community, he was Chairman of the Community foundation of Collier County and Eleanor Dodd Cosgrove was a co-founder of the Trinity-By-The- Cove Naples Arts and Antique show and a member of the Board of Directors at the Philharmonic Center For the Arts in Naples. Eleanor sold 3900 Gordon in 1993 to the Steele family and Like the Steele's she too relocated to Pelican Bay.

Philanthropy

Robert C. Cosgrove Award (Naples)

Introduced in 1994, the Robert C. Cosgrove Award specifically acknowledges individuals who represent devotion to human values, families and the well-being of our community.
www.cfcollier.org/celebration-philanthropy/


References:
www.nytimes.com/1993/08/04/obituaries/robert-cosgrove-7...
www.legacy.com/obituaries/philly/obituary.aspx?n=eleano...

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1976 - 3900+3901 Victor Erday Sr (Naples Developer)


Victor Erday Sr. was a Naples developer and had purchased 3900+3901 in 1976 from Harlowe Bowes; Bowes lived next door at 3944 Gordon and in addition to owning 3900+3901, Bowes also owned 3939 Gordon (adjacent to 3901), which he sold in 1976 for $160,000.

Erday, was a tailor who in 1925 founded what became a very successful menswear store in Geneva, Illinois (Chicago suburb). He first came to Naples in 1935 and was responsible for buildings such as the Gulf Financial building at 600 5th Ave S i.imgur.com/vSIdPso.jpg , the Rexall building, the Arcade building and Landmark building.

Victor Sr passed away in 1984, and the clothing business he founded back in Illinois in 1925 finally closed in 2013.

The folks up in Geneva, Illinois were likely not aware that the founder of Erday's was a prominent developer on one of the most exclusive streets in America, 5th Avenue South in Naples, Florida.

i.imgur.com/vSIdPso.jpg
articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-08/news/ct-tl-genev...

_________________________

Harlowe Elliott Bowes owned 3901+3900 and 3939+3944

Harlowe E. Bowes and Jeanne K. Bowes owned this group of four properties initially living at 3901 and subsequently building the houses at 3939 and 3944 Gordon Drive in the early 1970's. They sold 3901 and the vacant 3900 in the mid-seventies to Victor Erday and also sold 3939 for $160,000 in 1976 to May Zinkla Morton. The Bowes moved into the house they built at 3944 goo.gl/maps/4lDcp - as part of the purchase & sale arrangement with May Morton she leased back a boat dock at 3939 for a period of ten years. May Morton actually lived at 4355 Gordon Drive, which is now part of the massive new Irl Engelhardt family compound goo.gl/maps/QKDKf

Bowes was partner at Sidley & Austin in Chicago, which he joined in 1942; his specialty was in corporate law with a focus on public offerings and corporate securities. He also handled the affairs of Lyle Spencer and was president of the Spencer foundation. Biwes passed away in 1981 and his wife Jeanne sold 3944 in 1983.

References
www.spencer.org
goo.gl/fXB08V

________________

E.W "Ed" Crayton 1931 - 3900+3901; 3939+3944 and many adjacent properties

"In the early part of the century, he ran Naples. Crayton was a founder of the Naples Improvement Co., which bought out the Haldeman interests in 1914. The former Ohio real estate executive was a strict businessman who was involved with all development decisions in Naples. He served as chairman and president of the Town Council from 1923 until his death in 1938"
History of Naples (PDF file)
homes.ottcommunications.com/~dsonder/On%20The%20Go/NAPL...

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James M Raleigh
?
Saint Augustine, Florida (d. 1927)