Primary sources are the gold standard for researchers and readers who want to truly understand history. The voices,images, and words of witnesses who were there (wherever there was) and then (whenever) convey what was current then and part of our history now.
There’s a site I often check to see what happened on this date. I checked it today, and found October 22’s diary entry could almost be written today or in the near future. Thus proving the adage “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” *
And now you know who Mr. Tuttle was and how he earned that honor. This article was compiled and transcribed by Rex B. Carr on August 31, 2022.
Sarasota Times June 15, 1916
Sarasota-Venice Paved Roads Are Now an Assured Fact
AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS VICINITY ARE JUBILANT OVER THE FINAL OUTCOME—WILLIAM M. TUTTLE, IS TO HAVE COMPLETE SUPERVISION OF THE ENTIRE WORK. THIS IS A MOST GRATIFYING PIECE OF NEWS
All Obstacles Have Been Met and Removed—The Contracts Have All Been Awarded and the Work to be Started as Soon as Men and Material Arrive
“The Sarasota good-road proposition that has been held up for one reason or another for the past year, is now an assured fact. All the preliminaries, guaranteeing to Sarasota and surrounding territory, have been attended to, the contracts have been signed, and the cash bonds of the contractors received, guaranteeing that the work shall be finished by the first of May 1917. This work was finished last Monday, and the only delays now anticipated are those
“of the contractors getting their laborers and material on the ground, and this will be as speedily attended to as it is possible to be.
“Finally we won’t have to drive over saw palmetto!” exclaims a fed-up motorist.
“The Continental Public Works Company, of New York, having been the lowest responsible bidder for the roadwork, received that part of the work calling for the construction of the roads. The roads are to be curbed and guttered with a concrete and sand base, and asphaltum top. Their bid was $208,668.05.
“… It will only be a short time until the workmen will be swarming all over this city. There has been much hard work done on the part of several Sarasota businessmen, but none worked harder nor longer than did Mr. William M. Tuttle, vice president and treasurer of the West Coast Realty Company, and it is to his untiring and unceasing efforts that the recent injunction was lifted.
“Bayshore Road and Indian Beach Roads are a disgrace to our growing city” is the popular opinion.
… “Below, The Times gives in as concise a manner as it is possible to give, the entire routes of the different roads, and as the description was received by Mr. R. C. Bruce, C. E., they are as nearly perfect as it is possible to get. The Times at this time wishes to thank Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Bruce, Major Brown and Commissioner Ponder for the help they so unselfishly gave to the Times man. The routes are as follows: …”
Ed Note: The descriptions of the routes of what is now Tamiami Trail, Bee Ridge Road, and Tallevast Road are fascinating but long. Read more on the original post here.
“Good roads are essential to commerce and development,” says Mrs. Potter Palmer, a prominent real-estate investor whose winter home is located in Osprey.
Summertime’s the perfect time to dive into our country’s history.
While the books below aren’t all “beach reading”, one that I know is (because Siesta sand is stuck in the binding of my copy!) is A Girl Named Samson by Amy Harmon, based on a true story of a girl masquerading as a boy to join the Revolutionary War.
Our 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, has produced so many reading lists, you could be reading until our bicenterquasquigenary.
Start with the suggestions here:
TheStoryGraph.com has multiple suggestions split into categories such as Settlers, Civil Rights, even the Roaring Twenties.
We’ve been working on the message that the Historical Society of Sarasota County wants to get out to our community. Because so many of our new residents, and almost all of our visitors, can’t see the past. Can’t understand our quirks, our fondness for fields of cattle and the scent of orange blossoms. Heck, maybe they don’t know why Main Street just… stops.
Befuddled or bedazzled by the Florida flora, you’ll enjoy this real-life experience of local gardens. AND the glimpse of the Gillespie Park neighborhood (don’t miss the Gallery of Patriots, created by the Hispanic-American Civic Association, Inc. in 1977. It features 14 outdoor sculptures-on-pedestals including U.S. President Lincoln, U.S. President Washington, Simon Bolivar (Venezuela), Jose Marti (Cuba), among others.
A self-guided public walking tour through six home gardensin the Gillespie Park District of Sarasota. Organized by the Historical Society of Sarasota County andthe Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association
Enjoy a Springtime stroll through this delightful neighborhood of vintage homes while viewing six charming gardens in a historic setting. Many of the homes attached to the gardens on this tour are historically designated and represent styles of architecture fashionable throughout Sarasota’s development. The neighborhood is 100 years old.
Tour goers will see Craftsman bungalows, Mediterranean Revival homes, farmhouse style and Midcentury Modern too. Tour goers will see a cottage garden, a naturalistic one, a garden where hardscape and art are featured — all manner of gardens, even one where the homeowner selected non-toxic blooms because her two dogs play outside.
Don’t miss a chance to peek at the Historic Boat and Light Houses built in 1933 for Arthur Rowe, former yacht captain to John Ringling during your stroll through the neighborhood as well as visit the Gardener’s Boutique where you can purchase potted cuttings from the tour and unique garden accessories (cash or check only, no credit cards.)
Receive your tickets, $20, at Crocker Memorial Church, the Historical Society’s gathering place at 1260 12th Street, Sarasota. Your ticket includes a tour of the historic Bidwell-Wood House in Pioneer Park. See the beautiful Historical Society Gardens, receive your map, take a quick drive to Gillespie Park and follow your map to experience 6 unique private residential gardens that will delight and inspire. For additional information 941-364-9076 (the Historical Society office.)
This reprint from 1908 is fascinating. In that era, “sanitarium” meant private hospital as opposed to public hospital (Sarasota Municipal Hospital was over a decade in the future; its current moniker of Sarasota Memorial Hospital was even further on.)
And the benefit below, “No Contagious or Infectious Diseases admitted“, refers to the fear of patients seeking health cure stays of being unwittingly infected with tropical fevers or tuberculosis.
The Halton Sanitarium
Sarasota, Florida
The Halton Sanitarium, 1908
Until now, there has been great need for a properly equipped, modern sanitarium located in a warm and pure climate; where at all seasons, even in mid-winter, the temperature is comfortable; where
Many of our traditional carols have references to items and occurrences that have faded from memory. “Troll the ancient Yuletide carol”? Isn’t a troll this?
For some insight into your favorite Christmas carols, we’ve found this article for you. (BTW that’s a fun blog to visit for history-minded folks.)
This time of year, nostalgia creeps up on not just history buffs, but everyone, it seems. A holiday potpourri from the HSoSC archives for your delight today.
Keeping historic buildings up is, well, a challenge. Join us to help preserve Sarasota’s past.
The Bidwell-Wood House and Crocker Memorial Church are two of Sarasota’s most successful examples of preserving historic buildings through adaptive reuse. These historically designated buildings need constant maintenance, sensitive repairs and renovations to continue to serve the community and preserve historic status.
Nothing could be bought any more with a penny, not even penny candy. Moreover, the cost to mint the penny had risen to more than 3 cents, a financial absurdity that doomed the coin.
On Sunday, November 16 2025 our Conversation @ the Crocker at 2:00pm : Author James MacDougald will talk on Revisiting the Ponce de Leon and Narvaez Settlement Expeditions. He is working on an article that “provides evidence that the first European colony
Since we just changed our clocks, I thought you’d like to read this excerpt from a Jeff LaHurd article plus additional info from the Observer newspapers on the Palmer Bank Clock.
Palmer Bank, standing proudly at Five Points in downtown Sarasota, was established in the Roaring 20s by Bertha Palmer’s sons, Honoré Palmer and Potter Palmer Jr., along with Prince Michael Cantacuzene (a Russian nobleman and husband of Bertha’s niece, Julia Dent Grant).
Its iconic cornerstone clock noted the time of day for generations.
