Lives Lived

Louis A. Chesler, born in Belleville, Ontario in 1913, made his first million through Canadian mining stocks such as Loredo Uranium Mines between 1942 and 1946, before shifting his base of operations to Miami, Florida. Using “corporate shell” financial moves he parlayed his way to control several corporations. His General Development Company was involved in the infamous “Florida land deals” and constructed developments at Port Charlotte, Port Malabar, and Port St. Lucie, Florida. Chesler controlled, Seven Arts, that would play the primary role in the history of Freeport.