Author: hsoscoffice

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What day is it?

Want to Claim Your Day to Save the Day at the Historical Society, but you’re too selfless to choose your birthday or your anniversary?

How about one of these notable Sarasota County dates?

* If you choose November 6, you just LOVE phone calls. That’s the day, in 1899, that Harry Higel received Sarasota’s first phone call via wires strung up on pine trees. We assume it wasn’t a robocall.

Cool old telephone, probably not in Sarasota though.

We doubt Harry’s phone looked like this, but this was just way too cool to pass up.

* Grab October 28 if you love baseball and Payne Park. That’s the day Lew Brudette, the hero of the 1957 World Series, came home to a motorcade to the park and was feted with a key to the city and a 16′ cabin cruiser.

Lew Brudette in Sarasota. Got a cabin cruiser out of it.

The man, the myth, the cabin cruiser.

* Then there’s Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where you or your kids might have been born? It opened November 1 1925 with 32 beds. It actually opened on November 2, but that day’s been Claimed by an HSoSC supporter, so we’ll use November 1, if you want to make someone’s Sarasota debut your day!

Sarasota Memorial Hospital the early days.

To exit the hospital through those sturdy columns? You were a true Sarasotan!

* One of my personal faves? Royalty arrives in Sarasota, Nov 30 1910. Bertha Palmer’s niece and nephew-in-law, Princess and Prince Cantacuzene, come to see what this whole real estate venture of Aunt Bertha is all about. They stayed at the Belle Haven.

Bertha Palmer in Sarasota

The Princess wasn’t along on this tromp through the wilds of Sarasota.

* Prefer to remain low-key but still help HSoSC survive the pandemic? Just tell Linda, note on your PayPal donation, or drop an email letting us choose a day to dedicate to YOU (Hint: My birthday is July 18.)

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Historical LeBarge Cruise – Sunday March 8, 2020

Coming on Sunday March 8, 2020 the Historical LeBarge Cruise 11a – 1p.

This is a wonderful way to learn our local history from the water view. Narrated by local historian extraordinaire John McCarthy. Includes a sweet and savory buffet and coffee. Tickets are $50 or $75 for VIP which also includes early boarding, a complimentary drink coupon and a thank you gift. Reservations a Must – call the office at 941-364-9076 to get on board!

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2020 Hero of History Honoring Jon Thaxton

Edited: Due to the COVID crisis, this celebration has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 18, 2021. Join us then to honor Jon Thaxton as our latest Hero of History!

2020 Hero of History awarded to Jon Thaxton by the Historical Society of Sarasota County

Michaels on East

Wednesday March 18, 2020

Thursday November 18, 2021

Registration 11:30am

Luncheon & Program Noon

Tickets – Individual $100
Sponsorships:
Environmentalist $2,500
Bird Lover $1,000
Scrub Jay $250
For more information contact Linda Garcia
HSOSC 941-364-9076 or hsosc1@gmail.com
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Haven’t you always wanted to run away and join the circus?

Historic photo (1910) by Harry A. Atwell as seen on monovisions.com

Haven’t we all, at one point or another, wanted to run away and join the circus? And do it in STYLE? Now, thanks to the Historical Society, you can… at least for the day.

On Wednesday January 22, we’ll let you imagine being a circus performer, a guest of John and Mable… during a private tour of

Courtesy The Ringling

the Wisconsin, John & Mable Ringling’s first private railroad car,

in the Circus Museum at The Ringling.

Our intimate group will get a private tour led by Jennifer Lemmer-Posey, Tibbals Curator of Circus, and Pullman Car Historian David Duncan and will learn about the Ringling life on the rails and about the amazing parade wagons used by the circus in the Ringling era.

Courtesy getrealexclusive.com

“Understanding that the Ringlings didn’t own a home, they rented for many years… one can imagine the Wisconsin was the Ca d’Zan before they built the Ca d’Zan,” says Deborah Walk, retired Ringling assistant director of legacy and circus, and current Society Board member.

This event will help preserve the historic Crocker Church, the Bidwell-Wood House, and our ongoing educational programs. The cost is $75 per person, including lunch at the renowned MUSE restaurant on the museum grounds. Call Linda Garcia, our HSoSC guardian angel at 941-364-9076 from 10am to 2pm Monday-Friday, or email hsosc1@gmail.com right NOW to grab one of the few remaning spots on this once-in-a-lifetime event!

 

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April Conversations at The Crocker

APRIL CONVERSATIONS AT THE CROCKER – TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 AT 7PM

 

Who are the Florida Highwaymen and why are they important in the history of American art?

The Florida Highwaymen is the topic that historian (and collector of Highwaymen art) John McCarthy will discuss at a Conversation at The Crocker on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 7 p.m. at the Crocker Memorial Church, Pioneer Park, Sarasota. The program is presented by the Historical Society of Sarasota County (HSOSC) as part of its Conversations at The Crocker series now in its seventh year.

In a richly illustrated presentation, McCarthy illuminates a strange and fascinating African-American art movement. It began in the 1950s with landscape folk-art painters who sold work from the trunks of their cars on Florida’s major highways. It ended with art gallery and museum distinction for about two dozen of these artists who worked under the official art-world radar. These outsiders used oils and painted on Upson board (roof sheeting) and often framed their artwork with cheap hardware store crown molding.

They had no studios or agents and they painted from memory in carports or sheds taking their subjects from what they had seen working in agricultural fields or other jobs of manual labor. Sometimes their paintings were lush imaginative scenes of what they wished their surroundings were. These Highwaymen worked quickly and sold their art cheaply. They sold directly to the public (sometimes from door-to-door) at prices that were usually not in excess of $25.

These traveling Florida Highwaymen mentored and supported one another since most had no formal training in art. None of them achieved fame or success during their most productive days. Today, it’s a different story. The Highwaymen are celebrated and their work is highly collectible. The Florida Highwaymen are considered to be perhaps the last great art movement of the 20th Century.

 

Come and hear all about them when the story of the Highwaymen and examples of their art comes to the Crocker Memorial Church on April 9. HSOSC members and students admitted free; guests $10 at the door. For more information, contact Linda Garcia, Site Manager, at 941-364-9076.
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Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort

Earlye Musick Consort will perform at Historical Society of Saraspota County on March 22 2016

Tuesday – Concert in the Crocker Memorial Church
April 2, 2019 7pm

The members of the Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort play music dating from the 14th century to the 21st century on recorders and viols. Programs are varied, with descriptions of the instruments and commentary about the music shared at each performance. The Consort typically presents three or four concerts in the spring. This one is at the Crocker Memorial Church. Membership in the consort is by invitation from the director, Charlotte Trautwein. The Consort practices weekly October-April in the Crocker.

This concert is open to the public and no reservations are required. A $5 donation is requested and appreciated.

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Historical LeBarge Cruise

The first Sunday in March is the 34th Historical LeBarge Cruise narrated by John McCarthy, noted Sarasota Historian extraordinaire. Tickets are $50 for regular and $75 for VIP which includes early boarding / complimentary beverage and a thank you gift. Join us March 3, 2019 for an amazing history lesson on the water from 11a – 1p. A continental breakfast and coffee are provided for all guests.

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Sparkly Saturday

Back by popular demand after the huge success last year…..just in time for Valentine’s Day! Saturday February 9, 2019 presented in partnership with Linnea Applebee of jewelrytotherescue.org See the inside of the Crocker Memorial Church transformed into a wonderful jewelry extravaganza with loads to choose from.  Doors open at 9a and stay open til 1pm. See you then!

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Happy Holidays – Sign/Trips/Jewelry

Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous Holiday Season to All !!

Yard work day was a blast – Sue Padden and her crew cleaned up the Historical Marker Sign in front of the Bidwell-Wood House along with lots of weeding.  A special treat was the great cookies from our leader Sue Padden! Make sure to check it out on your next visit to Pioneer Park.

We have space available on the December 8, 2018 Historical Trolley Tour .  Saturday morning from 10a – 12p visit downtown historical sites and learn of our local history.

Call the office for reservations and details – 941-364-9076.

We are traveling to Solomon’s Castle  in Ona, Florida on Thursday January 24, 2019.  Round trip transportation on a climate controlled coach, full guided tours of the Castle and King’s Court, lunch in the Boat in the Moat and time for shopping in the incredible Gift Shops.  We will leave at 8:30am and return by 3pm.  Cost is $75 and reservations are a must.

Sparkly Saturday is coming on February 9, 2019  –  we are collecting your donations now in the office for the sale – they will be picked up by Linnea Appleby from jewelrytotherescue.com in January in time to be in our February event.

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LeBarge and Conversations at The Crocker Guest Larry Thompson

Pat and Larry Thompson were onboard when the LeBarge History Cruise set sail last week with John McCarthy narrating. Thompson, who is the head of Ringling School and Design, is the speaker at The Crocker Memorial Church on Tuesday, November 13. In an illustrated lecture, he’ll tell the history of the famed art school from John Ringling dream in the 1920s to what the institution is today. Don’t miss this inter-active community conversation. It starts at 7 p.m. at The Crocker, 1260 12th Street (Pioneer Park). Historical Society members and students free. Guests, $10 at the door.

Larry & Pat Thompson

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33rd Historical LeBarge Cruise

Join us this Sunday November 4, 2018 for a two hour narrated historical cruise on the LeBarge with our own historian extraordinaire Mr. John McCarthy.  Tickets are $50 or VIP $75 which includes early boarding / complimentary drink coupon / thank you gift.  All guests enjoy a continental breakfast with sweets and savories and a coffee bar.  Reservations are a must – call the office at 941-364-9076 Monday thru Friday from 10a – 2p to get your space reserved.  Learn about our local history while enjoying a beautiful cruise.

Norma Kwenski, Volunteer Extraordinaire, grabs the catbird seat on LeBarge, next to our commentator, always-captivating John McCarthy, one of Sarasota’s leading historians.