Author: saradesota

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Conversations at The Crocker 2013-2014

Here’s what we’ll be talking about at our monthly Conversations this coming season:

Conversations at The Crocker: Sarasota County & Her HistoryAll Conversations take place at the Crocker Memorial Church, 1260 12th Street (Pioneer Park), Sarasota, FL. All conversations start at 7 p.m. For more information, call Linda Garcia at (941) 364-9076. Members, free; Guests, $10
October 8, 2013: Florida in Context. A photography exhibit and sale as well as a discussion about discovering forgotten landscapes, buildings and residences in Florida and the value of documenting them with all kinds of cameras. Conversation leader is award-winning artist and photographer, Virginia Hoffman. She is joined by historian John McCarthy photographer Matt Allison. They will lead a discussion about preserving precious parts of vanishing Florida through camera documentation. They talk about some of their favorite hidden Florida places and offer advice and insider tips to amateur photographers who want to advance historic preservation through pictures.
November 12, 2013: Up in Arms: Sarasota During World War II:  Nationally acclaimed author/historian and expert on Florida during the War years, Dr. Gary Mormino, leads a lively discussion on how Sarasota was forever changed by World War II. He and fellow conversationalist historian Jeff LaHurd talk about the economic, social and cultural impact that local training bases had on the state and specifically on the Sarasota, Venice and Bradenton areas.
December 10, 2013: Circus, Circus! Deborah Walk, moderator. The curator of the Ringling Circus Museum gathers some friends together for a fascinating discussion about the Ringling Brothers Circus, but also the other circus enterprises that Sarasota has fostered as a result of the Ringling influence, such as Circus Sarasota and Sarasota Sailor Circus.  
January 14, 2014: The Street Where You Live – The Fascinating Way Neighborhoods Evolved in Sarasota. Author and real estate junkie Bob Plunket invites a few knowledgable friends to talk about the history of enclaves, developers, famous people who lived here and how streets and public buildings got their names. Chances are Bob will talk about your neighborhood. 
February 11, 2014: God By Many Names – How Sarasota Became Religiously Diverse: Kim Sheintal, author of a new book on the history of Jews in this part of Florida, leads a discussion about how and why Sarasota became such a religiously diverse community. Why are there so many churches in this town and who established them?
March 11, 2014: Batter Up: How Sarasota Became a Baseball Town. Sarasota has a passion for baseball and so does writer Charlie Huisking who is joined by sportswriter Doug Fernandez and baseball historian/author Ray Sinibaldi for an interactive audience-involving conversation. This trio of fans has impressive knowledge about how and why we became such a baseball mecca. Plenty of stories about the personalities, powerful people and loyal fans who made it happen.
April 8, 2014: Ken Thompson and the Making of Modern Sarasota. Everybody’s favorite historian Jeff LaHurd talks about his new book on legendary city manager Ken Thompson and gathers together a group of elected officials and politically influential people who knew and worked with Ken Thompson. Plenty of good stories here! 

 

All Conversations take place at the Crocker Memorial Church, 1260 12th Street (Pioneer Park), Sarasota, FL. All conversations start at 7 p.m. For more information, call Linda Garcia at (941) 364-9076.
Members, free; Guests, $10 (Become a member before the Conversations start and save big!)
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The first post office opens today

Charles Abbe, courtesy Manatee Cty Library SystemOn August 16 1878, Sarasota got its first post office. It was located in the store of Charles Abbe, in the area now known as Harbor Acres. Mail came in “fairly” regularly, delivered by horseback.

Charles Abbe Continues to Spark Fascination, a newspaper article by Janet Snyder Matthews

The (maybe) 2013 location of the first post office, an article by Harold Bubil (unfortunately this link to a Herald-Trbune article is unavailable)

Just one year later in 1879, Judge Webb was appointed postmaster and named the area where his Webb’s Winter Resort was, Osprey.

It wasn’t until 1909 that the Crocker family (yes, our very own Crockers, of Crocker Memorial Church fame) opened their post office, claiming the “southern part of Sarasota was underserved.” The location? Present-day Bay Road (the eastern extension of Bee Ridge Road) and Red Rock Lane or Red Rock Lane.

An aside: It’s said that John Webb had to rename his community from Spanish Point because the rules at that time stated that post offices had to have a single-word name . The Judge lifted his eyes in thought and saw an osprey drifting overhead. I consider it fortunate that he didn’t see a vulture. “Vulture, Florida” just doesn’t have that ring, does it?

Photograph of Charles Abbe from the Manatee County Public Library web archives

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Get ready to learn something NEW at the OLDest residence in Sarasota County!

Artists enjoy the Bidwell-Wood House at the Historical Society of Sarasota CountyWe’re excited to announce that the 2013-2014 Classes at the Park Schedule is now online!

Our traditional Classes on the Back Porch have been renamed Classes at the Park, reflecting our involvement in the wider community of Pioneer Park in Sarasota, this year’s syllabus starts with Yoga and ends with birdwatching… and you won’t believe the variety of classes in between!

While our Conversations at the Crocker focus monthly on historical info and interests, and our special events such as the Bay Cruise and Trolley Tours put residents and visitors alike in touch with Sarasota’s journey to 2013, our classes are focused on the here-and-now with up-to-date topics and education.

As far as non-members are concerned, class registration opens in September. But members not only get preferred pricing, but if you call our competent and just-plain-adorable Site Manager, Linda Garcia (who’s “standing by” in the Historical Society office Tues-Fri, 10 to 2), I’m sure she’ll let you snap up the limited enrollment spots now! (Tip: there are some one-session classes that your card club, Red Hat Ladies, neighbor group could turn into a private girls’ day out!)

Our Classes in the Park are a major source of operating funds for the non-profit Historical Society, so learn something and help us preserve, protect, and polish the Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church at the same time.

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It’s going to be a great year!

The 2013-2014 season of events at the Historical Society looks like it’s going to be great! We’re having everything from women’s history to pirates (the real-life history for adults PLUS the fun, PG-rated version!) to yoga classes. And our annual favorites, the Narrated Historic Sarasota Bay Le Barge Cruise and the private tour of Ca’d’Zan.

Here’s the Calendar of Events. Print it out and stick it on the fridge so you don’t miss a thing.

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History needs a modern helping hand

Historical Society Receives Grant for Security Cameras at Two Historic Buildings

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County awards funds to further historic preservation through security cameras at the historic Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church at Pioneer Park

The Historical Society of Sarasota County is the recipient of a grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for a security camera system for the historic Bidwell-Wood House (1882) and the Crocker Memorial Church (1901). The grant, in the amount of $3,770, is from the Frances T. Bourne Fund at The Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

“It’s a sad fact that almost any historical site, monument, or even museum in our country can be a target of senseless vandalism,” said Historical Society president Howard Rosenthal, “but we can all be encouraged that through modern security technology, we can discourage and diminish violence to places we strive to preserve for future generations. This grant for security cameras at Sarasota County’s oldest private residence and at the Crocker Memorial Church demonstrates that our community takes pride in Sarasota history and supports the structures that bear witness to our pioneer past. The whole community can be thankful and grateful for this grant from The Community Foundation because it helps Historical Society members preserve and protect these important buildings.”

In 2006 the Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church were moved by the City of Sarasota to Pioneer Park and placed under the protection of the Historical Society of Sarasota County, a nonprofit community membership organization of approximately 400 annual and life members. The mission of the Historical Society of Sarasota County is to create public awareness of the rich historical heritage of Sarasota and the State of Florida. The Society encourages inquiry, research, memorabilia preservation and protection of historic sites. The Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church are open for docent-led tours and for community events organized under the auspices of the Historical Society.

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RIP Cy Bispham

December 11 1925 – June 26 2013

We mourn the passing of Cy Bispham, and extend our condolences to his wife, Doris and the family.

Cy and Doris Bispham at the Historical Society of Sarasota County

We were honored to have featured the Bisphams at a past meeting of the Historical Society of Sarasota County.

Read his obituary in the local paper.

Read an article about Bisphams’ Dairy on Sarasota History Alive, and what Jeff Lahurd wrote about Cy.

With thanks to Arnold Berns for this photograph of Cy and Doris regaling our membership with stories of old Sarasota.
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Giving our members and visitors a hand

Ron McCarty, Linda Garcia, and Dr. Clifford Smith at the Historical Society of Sarasota County

Directors Ron McCarty and Linda Garcia confer recently with Sarasota City Planner Dr. Clifford Smith over what type of hand rails would be historically appropriate on the Crocker Memorial Church.

The need for rails has been evident since Continue reading →

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Come dig us… or dig WITH us!

The Historical Society of Sarasota County garden fairiesCalling All Gardeners*
Marsha Fottler, Landscape Committee Chair
If pulling weeds, planting, pruning and spreading mulch are strategies you embrace for relieving stress and getting exercise, your Historical Society has a opportunity you can’t pass up – a work day at the Bidwell-Wood House garden on Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 9 a.m. until about 1 p.m. Bring your own garden tools and gloves. Mulch will be supplied as well as cold drinks. Also, if you have any plants you want to donate to the landscape bring them along (Ed. note: Drop them off; you don’t have to DIG if you have other plans!) and integrate them into our members’ growing collection. The aim to have the members’garden in tip-top condition for our annual meeting and potluck picnic on May 11. Give an hour and help the garden to grow!
* Pinnies and gaiters optional.
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Do you have… or will you help get… what Linda needs?

LInda Garcia, Site Manager of The Historical Society of Sarasota CountyLinda, our Site Manager and Board member, has issued our Spring Wish List. Might you have/ know of/ be willing to contribute to any of these needs at the Historical Society? She’d love to hear from you!

Maybe it’s just $30 for flashlights. Maybe you can strongarm your talented specialist buddy into tuning the organ. Or maybe it’s something in between. Even something as humble as donating paper goods can help us preserve, protect, and polish the Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Church in Pioneer Park.

Click for the Wish List.

After you choose what you can fund, let Linda know if you would like to be acknowledged her on the blog, or if you’d rather keep your good works to yourself. And as they say nowadays, TIA (Thanks in Advance!)

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The Herb Garden

by Marsha Fottler, Chair, Landscape Committee

Kitchen garden at the Bidwell-Wood House, Sarasota

The HSOSC herb Garden is near the detached kitchen at the Bidwell-Wood House. In past times (and now) it would have been appropriate to plant an herb and limited vegetable garden near the kitchen for the convenience of the cook. Our garden is mostly for demonstration but this year’s crop of cherry tomatoes is pretty tasty.

After the front-yard garden and the brick pathways were installed at the Bidwell-Wood House (see Florida-friendly plants at the Historical Society) , our members thought it would be educationally useful to build an herb garden near the detached kitchen.

Such a garden would Continue reading →

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We’re excited!

Crocker Church is all ready to host YOUR event!

Crocker Church is all ready to host YOUR event!

Our campus in Pioneer Park has been bustling this past week: visitors and shoppers and even some alumni!

Plein Air painters, city planners, and some pony-tailed guy installing a bird bath. People playing instruments, people discussing books, people having lunch on the Back Porch. Weeders in our herb garden, butterflies all over, and even some folks who were looking for the Manatee Historical Park.

If your group, family, club need a centrally-located, historic, pleasant place for a gathering, and if you want to help us protect, preserve, and polish two of the oldest buildings in Sarasota County, visit our Facility Rentals page, then give us a call!

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Has it been a memorable year for your family? Make it an historical year!

As another “season” draws to a close here in Sarasota County, it’s time, naturally enough, for Historical Society fans, members, and followers to look back.

Did something memorable happen Continue reading →

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How Sarasota Became a Performing Arts Destination

How Sarasota Became a Performing Arts Destination

A panel of performing arts experts discusses how Sarasota evolved into a thriving performing arts community that attracts both tourists and permanent residents. This Conversation at the Crocker is the seventh in a series of year-long panel discussions organized and produced by the Historical Society of Sarasota County with support from SARASOTA Magazine.

There is more to the Sarasota area than great beaches, a welcoming climate and key lime pie. Tourists and those moving to our shores know that Sarasota offers a lively performing arts community with its own opera house, ballet company, symphony, theaters galore, choral music, jazz, you name it. We’re a small vibrant city with the

performing arts amenities of a much larger metropolis.

Howard Millman

Howard Millman will chair the panel in April at the Historical Society’s Conversation at the Crocker

But it didn’t happen overnight or without concentrated effort by both visionary professionals and talented volunteers. Learn how Sarasota became a performing arts destination when a panel of experts led by esteemed director Howard Millman takes the stage at The Crocker Memorial Church on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. for a conversation among colleagues that reveals how and why Sarasota celebrates the performing arts.

It’s big business in this town.

Appearing with Howard Millman (theater) on April 9, will be Continue reading →