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Author Richard (Rick) Lee Cronin will share his book, “The Rutland Mule Matter” on Tuesday, January 20th in the Village’s Shore Haven House at 4:00pm. Tickets are $20 and are available to purchase HERE or at the Shore Haven Welcome Desk.
The first part of “The Rutland Mule Matter” is historical fiction: the individuals portrayed were true-life central Floridians; part two is “The History.” One of seven who voted NO to Florida Secession at the convention of 1861, Isaac N. Rutland had gone missing by the end of the Civil War, leaving four children, a wife, and one of Orange County’s great mysteries. Cronin’s multi-year research turned up a U.S. Marshall’s file in Washington, D.C., from 1865, which provided clues to Rutland’s disappearance. The file was titled “The Rutland Mule Matter.”
Following central Florida’s great frost of 1895, Isaac’s son Othman and his wife Irene moved to Sanibel with their five children. They rented Rutland House located on Periwinkle. This was the first building moved to the Historical Village to create the Museum in 1984. Othman’s marked grave may be found near the bike path Welcome kiosk. Othman’s grandson, Clarence Rutland lived in the house from 1928-1982. Another grandson, namesake Isaac Newton Rutland, is buried in the Sanibel Pioneer Cemetery.
Cronin was born and raised in Ohio, moving to Florida with his family in 1971. Retiring in 2009, his youngest of three daughters took control of Cronin Construction as Rick started delving further into a subject that had captivated him for decades, Florida’s fascinating history. He is especially interested in pioneers of the late 1800s who set today’s Florida in motion. He is the author of more than a dozen well-received books published since 2013.
Rick Cronin promises a fascinating deep dive into the history of one of Sanibel’s beloved early families. “The Rutland Mule Matter” is a compelling read and is available to purchase in our Museum Gift Shop.