One of the city’s landmarks, the Military Memorial on Cape Coral Parkway, just west of the Cape Coral Bridge. The memorial marker was dedicated in May 1969.

(Editor’s note: Cape Coral was incorporated in 1970. Here’s a glimpse of the headline news items from that year published in The Cape Coral Breeze.)

January

• Ground broken for 850-seat movie theater

• Gulf American now GAC Properties

• Harry James, band perform at Country Club

• Toll on Cape Bridge reduced from 15 cents to 10 cents

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February

• Construction of new Sheriff’s Substation begins near Cape Coral Bridge

• Mr. and Mrs. Joel Bealton – and their triplets, Joel Jr., Jeanne and John – move to Cape

• GAC announces plans for Gateway City in Collier County

• Bill formally requesting incorporation referendum presented to legislative delegates

• Inaugural banquet launches Board of Realtors

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March

• Over 1,200 tickets sold for Kiwanis Pancake breakfast

• 80 try out for four Little League teams

• New First Baptist Church sanctuary ready

• New Sheriff’s Substation at Cape Bridge ready

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April

• FSU ends UF’s 5-year run as champs of GAC Intercollegiate Golf Classic

• Rosenbergs open “Gourmet’s Delight” on Cape Coral Parkway

• Little League season opens

• Cape voter registration tops 5,200

• Population tops 14,000

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May

• Over 1,000 attend Legion’s Pancake Day

• Plans for middle school, new elementary unveiled

• Cape’s Paul Latham named outstanding athlete of year at Cypress Lake High

• Texas couple drives 10 millionth vehicle to cross Cape Bridge

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June

• Cape incorporation bill introduced in House

• 1,400 enjoy Shriner’s first Pancake Day at Yacht Club

• Cape incorporation bill OK’d by Senate

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July

• County Commission to vote on incorporation issue

• Population tops 14,500

• Bridge tolls to increase to 12.5 cents

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August

• Car wash opens at Texaco on Del Prado

• Voters approve incorporation, 2,067 to 1,798

• Cape Elementary School hours set: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Cape Coral Cinema opens

• Permits issued for St. Andrew education facility; laundry/dry cleaning business on Cape Coral Parkway

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September

• Cape Coral Gardens close

• Cape Elementary enrollment at 802

• Population tops 15,000

• 10 candidates qualify for city council posts

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October

• Cape Coral Gardens star “Rocky” dies

• 40 candidates seek city manager’s position

• 125 attend German American Oktoberfest at Fire Hall

• Weaver’s Office Supply, Wonderland Realty, Del Prado Upholstery Western Auto to open in new Andre Building on Del Prado

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November

• City council primary election held

• Moose celebrate opening of lodge on Pine Island Road

• Cape’s first council elected; 4,022 cast ballots

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December

• 1,600 attend Shriner’s Pancake Breakfast at Yacht Club

• Palmetto Pines Country Club opens

• Paul Fickinger tabbed first city mayor

• Population tops 15,500