Author: saradesota

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SHOP FOR FUN TO HELP THE HSOSC JUNE 15

A summer off campus Tag Sale to benefit the Historical Society is being held on Saturday June 15 from 9a – 1p at 180 Mimosa Circle (Beechwood) Sarasota at the home of one of our board members. Small unique pieces of furniture along with quality home decor items mingle with linens, art, some heritage plateware and lovely examples of vintage silver. Something for everyone at budget-friendly prices. All of the items have been donated and many are from design centers, retail stores and private donors. Many items have been donated from the Bird Key estate of Iris and Robert Hutton secured by member Jerry Chesley. You’ll find things whimsical, practical, elegant and irresistible when you shop with us on June 15, 2019.

Every dollar you spend helps us maintain the Bidwell-Wood House (1882) and the Crocker Memorial Church (1901) and helps continue our community outreach programs that raise awareness of Sarasota County’s rich history. The Tag Sale will be staffed by members of our events committee.

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Solomons Castle Trip January 24th

 

Join the Historical Society of Sarasota County’s bus tour to this fascinating, hidden gem on Thursday, January 24th, 2019 , for a fun-filled day’s adventure, including:

• Round trip transportation on a climate controlled coach

• Full guided tours of the Castle and King’s Court

• Lunch on the Boat in the Moat and time for shopping in the incredible Gift Shops!

The coach will leave from the HSOSC’s headquarters, located at 1260 12th St. (between N. Trail and Cocoanut Ave.) at 8:30 a.m. returning by 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $75.00, contact us at 941-364-9076 to reserve your seat!

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March 29th Official Howard Tibbals Day – Sarasota’s 2018 Hero of History

Howard Tibbals working on his masterpiece.

The Historical Society of Sarasota County is proud to announce that Howard Tibbals is Sarasota’s 2018 Hero of History and March 29th is officially Howard Tibbals Day! Thank you and congratulations Howard Tibbals for your tireless efforts all these years in helping to preserve such an important part of American history. We are so lucky to have this incredible work of art here in our home town of Sarasota.

Howard Tibbals Circus

Howard Tibbals receiving the 2018 Hero of History Award.

 

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Take THAT, mosquitoes.

Many folks, when they’re visiting the Historical Society, want to know how people managed to live in southern Florida before air-conditioning “and with all the mosquitoes.”

American Beauty BerryWell, being surrounded by piney woods and sea breezes rather than concrete and semis made it a lot cooler… and just maybe, they had some concoctions to deter mosquitoes?

On eattheweeds.com:

There are three chemicals in the leaves scientists are trying to replicate for mosquito repellent. They may be as effective as DEET, according to researchers with the USDA. The chemicals, particularly one called callicarpenal, showed significant bite-deterring activity against the yellow-fever mosquito and the mosquito that spreads malaria. Callicarpenal and other compounds isolated from the plant also repelled… ticks.

Check out the article for a modern-day mosquito repellent recipe and even a recipe for Beauty Berry Jelly! PS Have you ever noticed how all native-plant jellies around here call for LOTS of sugar?

Read the article.

Join us at our Ring the Bell party!
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Join us at our Ring the Bell party!

Will you be participating in #GivingChallenge16? We sure hope so…

“We”, in this case, being not just your Board at the Historical Society, but the great folks over at GuitarSarasota.org as well.

Not only will GS be giving free mini-concerts/lectures in the Crocker Memorial Church this coming season but we are partnering for the Community Foundation’s popular 2016 Giving Challenge on September 20-21 from noon to noon.
“Our organizations’ partnership is the perfect example of non-profit collaboration and includes a multifaceted new non-profit partnership,” says Thomas Koch of GS. “And, joining forces for the 2016 Giving Challenge gives both organizations the exciting opportunity to engage our boards and cross-promote to both organizations’ supporters,” he says.
Linda Garcia, Site Manager of HSoSC, is equally pleased by the new partnership. “We have a creative campaign planned that was born out of a good old fashioned brainstorming session between both organizations. I love it when collaboration results in creativity,” she says.

One of the creative ideas when we brainstormed was that sometimes, people want to donate, but the online, credit-card-only structure of Giving Challenge is, well, a bit challenging. The solution to that obstacle? Throw a party and have ambassadors available to make supporters’ donations for them!

So! We’re throwing a “Ring The Bell Party” on September 20, 2016 from 4-7pm.

Everyone who donates gets to ring the bell, our newest addition to our campus… and we’ll even, if you like, take a photo of you doing so!

Join HSoSC & Guitarsarasota to celebrate #GivingChallenge16

The bell, normally off-limits to freelance ringing, will ring out your support of either or both nonprofits.

There will be ambassadors from both organizations to assist attendees in donating online, in “real-time”, to the 2016 Giving Challenge. Remember that your donation will be matched or even tripled by The Patterson Foundation so your generosity will be truly effective for both groups.

So much going on Tuesday, September 20 from 4-7pm

  • Crocker Memorial Church and the Bidwell-Wood House, 1260 12th Street in Sarasota’s Pioneer Park
  • Tour the Crocker Memorial Church (1901) and the Bidwell-Wood House (1882) as well as our ever-growing gardens in Pioneer Park
  • enjoy live classical guitar music by Thomas Koch
  • dance to live music by Sal Garcia, founder of OMNI
  • ambassadors available to assist you in donating online, real-time, to the #Giving Challenge16
  • watch as our historic demonstrators weave fabric and create boondoggles
  • complimentary refreshments
  • donations generously matched by The Patterson Foundation, 1:1 or even 2:1, making your contribution doubly or triply more valuable!
  • historical cast-iron church steeple bell on display
  • photo station for your social media fun!
  • donors are invited to #BeTheOne and Ring The Bell to celebrate their participation in supporting these two non-profit organizations

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Spiffing up for Season at the Historical Society

In the lull between our Annual Meeting in May and the beginning of Conversations at the Crocker in October, you might think the Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church slumber in the heat. Not so! We’ve been organizing three wonderful events, two of which are BRAND NEW, and one a returning favorite.

Well sure, it’s hot, but that doesn’t stop volunteer gardens overseer, Sue Padden, and site manager Linda Garcia, from plotting the… well, the plot: our native plantings, herb garden, and flower pots and boxes.

1605 sue padden and linda
A sure way to beat the heat of the summer is to play in the sprinkler… err, wield the pressure hose and clean off the access ramp to our campus.
cleaning the railings 7-2016
Thanks to our volunteers and a gift from the parents of a Crocker bride, our plantings look better every season, don’t they?
hsosc garden-bromeliadsAnd the House has a new coat of paint, the decks a protective sealant. And wait until you try out the new park benches in our front yard!park benchIf you’ve entered the Crocker from our ramp, you know how user-UNfriendly that step right there was… well, we’ve had a “stage-ectomy” as Linda calls it: it’s no longer a feat to maneuver in, as these folks had to do at our Annual meeting!
stageWe thank our members, Conversations attendees, and donors for the funds that let us keep improving these historic buildings for contemporary use…

and we look forward to seeing your name on the list of #GivingChallenge16 donors on Sept. 20 and 21, so we can continue to make the Historical Society a true gem in Pioneer Park! Here’s info on how your contribution will be doubled or even TRIPLED!

Help the Historical Society of Sarasota County Preserve History

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#BeTheOne: You can preserve history!

Help the Historical Society of Sarasota County Preserve History

Lost: The Bispham-Wilson Home stood until recently near the corner of Tamiami Trail and Proctor Road. The Bispham Dairy served the Sarasota area for 65 years. Razed 2014-2015. More.

Lost: El Vernona Hotel> John Ringling Hotel> John Ringling Towers. Built in the 1920s as the El Vernona Hotel by Owens Burns, and named after his wife, Vernona, the hotel was the center of glamour and activity in Sarasota. Razed 1998. More.

Saved: The Bidwell-Wood House was built in 1882. It is now revitalized as the centerpiece of the Historical Society of Sarasota County, located in its new home in Pioneer Park at 1260 12th Street, Sarasota. 

Saved: Crocker Memorial Church, whose predecessor was built in 1901 as a place of worship and gathering spot, continues into the 21st century repurposed as a community amenity next to the Bidwell-Wood House in Pioneer Park.

You too can #BeTheOne to help preserve our county history, by participating in the upcoming Giving Challenge 2016.

If you miss the Giving Challenge, we always welcome your membership and participation in the Society.

Photo credits: Bispham-Wilson Historic District, By Ebyabe – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11911031
El Vernona Hotel> John Ringling Hotel> John Ringling Towers, as seen on SarasotaHistoryAlive.com
Bidwell-Wood House, Greg Wilson Photography
Crocker Memorial Church, Historical Society Archive

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The heavens are smiling on our new season!

Historical Society of Sarasota County's Events Committee 2016

L to R: Deborah Bowers, Kate Holmes, Linda Garcia, Brenda Lee Hickman, Marsha Fottler, Lynn Harding, Diane Esthus, Meade Ferguson, Marie Rowe. Behind the camera: Terrance Leaser

The heavens were shining upon the Historical Society of Sarasota County’s Pioneer Park campus when our Events Committee met to plan an active, engaging 2016-2017 season for our members and guests. We can’t WAIT to show off our newly-freshened Bidwell-Wood House (1882) and Crocker Memorial Church (1901) to everyone!

In addition to our monthly Conversations at the Crocker events (which are often SRO!) on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, our Welcome Back Reception for members in October, our Members’ Holiday Gala in December and of course, the never-to-be-missed Annual Meeting & Potluck in May, we have to present to the community:

  • Our Trolley Tours of Historic Downtown Sarasota (Sept 17 and March 11 are already sold out, so get your reservations in!);
  • Our traditional Historic Sarasota Bay Cruise on the LeBarge, narrated by the talented John McCarthy (Reservations coming in fast, and space is getting limited, so claim your seat now!);
  • A Private Tour of Ca’ d’ Zan hosted by Keeper of the House Ron McCarty, with lunch (Members only event, reservations now being accepted for this intimate event);
  • And Artists in the Park on Sunday in collaboration with Light Chasers Plein Air Artists (keep an eye on our Calendar for more info as this develops!)

Also, we’re having three opportunities for you to participate, donate, and re-house some wonderful possessions. We’d love for you to donate, shop, and spread the word to the community in general about:

  • The Pop-Up History Book Swap: Available at every Conversation at the Crocker, and probably a few other places as well
  • Our popular and anticipated Bi-Annual Designer Tag Sale on Saturday November 12
  • and our newest partnership, Sparkling Saturday, a gently-used, heirloom and estate costume jewelry sale with Jewelry to the Rescue on Saturday November 26.

As you can imagine, there are volunteer tasks and jobs aplenty! Call our Site Manager, Linda Garcia, at 941-364-9076, or email her at hsosc1@gmail.com, and she’ll help you match up your interests and availabilities with some fun way to help HSoSC keep on shining!

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Exciting New Events This Fall

We’re excited about 3 events this fall (well, we’re excited about them ALL, but especially these):

Our new pop-up History Book Swap* will be an added attraction at our Conversations at the Crocker meetings (we all love to expand our knowledge of history!)
And thanks to our never-say-die volunteers, the Designer Tag Sale* returns on Saturday Nov. 12: all sorts of wonderful home and garden embellishments, just in time to refresh your home for the holidays.
Plus, on Thanksgiving weekend, a great shopping opportunity: Sparkling Saturday*, featuring gently-used, unique, and estate costume jewelry for your browsing and gifting pleasure. Starting at $3, these treasures will be here for just one day, Saturday November 26. So gather your Thanksgiving visitors, and come on down!

Now, I’m sure you know that pretty darn soon we’ll be asking you to participate in #GivingChallenge16 where your online monetary donation to us will be doubled or even tripled (trebled? I think that’s the historic word!) during the 24-hour window Sept 20-21.

But right now, these hot August days are a good time to stay indoors, de-clutter, and donate your underloved but wonderful stuff to help our volunteers raise funds!

Here’s what we can turn into income for ongoing expenses: (And remember, you can ask Linda for a tax receipt if you need one.)

1- Have spare or duplicate books and booklets on Sarasota County, regional, or state history? Donate for our NEW pop-up book shop, debuting at Conversations this fall. Drop them off anytime.
2- The Designer Tag Sale comes back Saturday November 12! Home decor items would be wonderful. If you’d give it as a gift, we’d love to have it! Since these donations take up space we don’t have, if you could put them aside to bring in in late October/ early November, that would help so much!
3- Go through your jewelry! We’re having the jewelry sale to end all jewelry sales, Sparkling Saturday, on Saturday November 26 (that’s Thanksgiving Saturday.) Drop off anytime. Guy jewelry too. Yes, even broken jewelry will be helpful.  Note: Your donation of costume jewelry gets you a FREE PASS to the sale (a $5 value!) Get a friend to fill a baggie or two with her unworn sparklies, and get free passes for BOTH of you!

Inviting friends, neighbors, coworkers and fellow residents to our events and sales is a gift you can give the Historical Society for free, without even de-cluttering! Imagine if we could introduce the Historical Society to two or three times the audience we now have!

*All three events need volunteer help before and during. Give Linda a call or an email about your availability and what you’d have fun doing. 941-364-9076 or hsosc1@gmail.com

 

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HSoSC in Harmony with GuitarSarasota

We are very excited to have our historic Crocker Memorial Church selected as the venue for six classical guitar mini-concerts/ lectures by GuitarSarasota.org.

Founder of Guitar Sarasota, Thomas Koch

Founder of Guitar Sarasota, Thomas Koch

At 7:30pm on the second Monday of the month in our Crocker Memorial Church, November through April, professional musicians from Sarasota/Bradenton, Miami, Tallahassee, and beyond, will perform, educate, and promote the appreciation and cultural significance of the classical guitar as a solo and chamber music instrument.

GuitarSarasota’s performances at Crocker Memorial Church are open to the public and free of charge. Seating is open so come early!

This series, with its goal to perform and to engage the audience in an enlightening conversation with the artists, is a perfect fit with our Conversations at the Crocker, which is on the second Tuesday of the month. For the schedule of Conversations at the Crocker, see our Events Page.

Guitar Sarasota also hosts the 2016-2017 International Classical Guitar Season with four events. Tickets may be purchased for these starting on November 5.  Read more.

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Pinning your way through Sarasota County History

1908 bathing beauties and Pinterest

Click to visit our very own Pinterest at the Historical Society of Sarasota County

Are you a Pinner? No, we’re not asking if you wear pinafores… but if you’ve explored Pinterest! For the visually-oriented, the researcher, or even just the curious, it’s a veritable treasure trove of images and links.

I am all of the above, so here’s a few Pinterest Boards I enjoy and follow:

First up, of course, our HSoSC Pinterest page.

Some photos I have not seen before and which set me researching, here. His photos, alas, are not always credited or commentated. This fellow also pins other interesting things, like vintage automobiles!

Ever wonder what Fruitville Road used to look like? This Pin Board shows you!

A local Realtor has her own curated Sarasota History Pin Board. Her other boards, covering the area, are interesting as well.

New to Pinterest? Learn how to use it with this complete and free tutorial. If you want to browse Pinterest on your phone, here’s info on the app you’ll use.

Image originally found at http://www.vintag.es/

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Every church deserves a bell…

Jon Moore and Linda Garcia accepting an antique steeple bell from Jack Helm of Helm Vault

Jon Moore and Linda Garcia accepting an antique steeple bell from Jack Helm of Helm Vault.

Jack Helm, owner of Helm Vault Service in Bradenton has presented the Historical Society with a restored 14” antique steeple bell for use when the Crocker Memorial Church is active with community events.  The building, built in 1901, has been in continuous use ever since and is the meeting space for the Historical Society as well as other civic and social groups.

Additionally, the church is a site for small weddings which makes this donation of a bell so lovely. Helm Vault Service also supports the Historical Society with the personalized engraving of the bricks saved from the Airline Seaboard Railway Depot which are purchased by Society supporters with a donation, and laid in front of the Bidwell-Wood House (1882) each November.

Directors and supporters of the Historical Society of Sarasota County accept the gracious donation of a church bell from Jack Helm.

Members of the Historical Society Board of Directors gathered to accept the wonderful donation. They’re excited to ring the bell at the Crocker Memorial Church for events and meetings such as Conversations at The Crocker in the future.

We’ve set the 2016-2017 Calendar of Events for next season and are ready to accept reservations for the narrated Historical Trolley Tours and the Historical LeBarge Cruise for the first Sunday in November and again in March 2017. Don’t get shut out of these wildly-popular historic events. Call our Site Manager, Linda Garcia, Tues-Fri from 10am to 2pm to grab your reservations! 941-364-9076. Or email her 24/7 at hsosc1@gmail.com.

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Thank you, Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation!

The Historical Society of Sarasota Cpunty's campus in Pioneer Park, captured by Greg WilsonA $5,000 grant has been received to help fund improvements to the interior of the historic Crocker Memorial Church (1901). The grant comes from the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation.

“This grant will help bring Crocker Church back to what it looked like in 1901 when Peter Crocker built it as a community gathering place and for worship,” said Howard Rosenthal, President of the Historical Society.

“Preservation architects Greg Hall and Linda Stevenson did an analysis of the Crocker interior and suggested ways that we could improve and stabilize the building. We are following those recommendations with the Alliance grant.

“One of the best things about this grant is that it demonstrates how the Alliance fulfills its mission to preserve historic structures in Sarasota County and it certainly furthers our mission as we curate the Crocker Memorial Church building and the Bidwell-Wood House (1882) for educational outreach and as gathering places for community events that celebrate history.”

Events are held in both buildings on the Historical Society’s campus in Pioneer Park. Civic meetings, book clubs, theatrical performances, monthly history-oriented programs organized by HSOSC, art shows and much more keep our locale active and engaging. Both buildings were moved from other locations to Pioneer Park by the City of Sarasota in 2006 and placed under the protection of the Historical Society of Sarasota County, a 450-member organization.

Over the past few years the Crocker Memorial Church has become a destination for small country weddings with the reception on the front and back porches of the Bidwell-Wood House. With the structural improvements made possible by the Alliance grant of $5,000, the Crocker Church building (which was decommissioned as a church in 2006) will become even more accessible to the community.

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