Who are the Mennonites and how did they get to Sarasota?
Our presenter on Tuesday evening, January 14 2020 (Please Note: the incorrect date went out to some of our subscribers. The correct date for this presentation is Tuesday January 14. Our apologies.) at 7pm is J.B. Miller. He is a lifelong Mennonite who lives in Sarasota and teaches about Mennonites and Amish.
“Many people have limited knowledge of Mennonites and Amish,” said Miller. “Often their only contact is them pedaling around on three-wheelers or visiting one of the restaurants located in Pinecraft, an enclave home to primarily Amish and conservative Mennonites.”
This Conversation at the Crocker is all about the Mennonites – who they are, why they came to Sarasota, why they dress the way they do, and what their influence has been on the shaping of our community. We are lucky to have a speaker who can answer all your questions.
Doors open at 6pm – program begins at 7pm. Free to HSoSC Members – $10 for future members.
CONVERSATIONS AT THE CROCKER: Our most popular gatherings. A series of interactive discussions on events that shaped Sarasota County’s past and continue to exert influence on its present and probably the future. These monthly events run from October through April. Explore our past Conversations.
These events start at 7pm in the Crocker Memorial Church. They are FREE to Historical Society members and $10 at the door for not-yet members. Bring your friends and participate in lively and informative discussions. Bidwell-Wood House is open beginning at 6pm for touring before the meetings.
Presenting the life, times and achievements of Bertha Palmer is Frank Cassell, the award-winning author of Suncoast Empire: Bertha Honore Palmer, Her Family and The Rise of Sarasota. Cassell is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. He is an officer of the Sarasota County Historical Commission and the History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County. Cassell’s book will be available for purchase at the Conversation and the author will sign copies after the program.
Talking about the life and times of Mable Ringling (1875-1929) will be Deborah Walk, a nationally respected archivist, writer, lecturer and the former curator of the Ringling Museum of the Circus. After her marriage to circus impresario John Ringling in 1905 Mable Burton Ringling, a farm girl from the midwest, became a great traveler and travel became her education. In 1923, the Ringlings commissioned the architect Dwight James Baum to build their dream home in Sarasota, modeled on the Doge’s Palace and the Cá d’Oro in Venice. Mable oversaw every aspect of the construction, from the glazing of the tiles to the mixing of the terra cotta. She designed much of the original landscaping on the grounds of the estate, including her Rose Garden and Secret Garden. Mable was the founder in 1927 of the Sarasota Garden Club. Thousands of people from all over the world visit her extravagant mansion on Sarasota Bay annually to experience for a few hours how the wealthiest lived in another time.
Presenting the life and times of Marie Selby will be Jeannie Perales, Vice President for Museum Exhibitions, Learning & Engagement at Selby Gardens and the co-author of a book on Selby Gardens. She has been with The Gardens since 2010 where she oversees educational programming, exhibitions, interpretation, and volunteers.
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.
Join us March 20th at Michael’s on East for a spectacular luncheon honoring this years Hero of History, Michael Saunders. Tickets are $100.00 each or purchase a table of 10 for $1,000.00
And 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!
If 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!
We thank our members, Conversations attendees, and donors for the funds that let us keep improving these historic buildings for contemporary use…
The Historical Society of Sarasota County 