Over 40 guests attended Dinner on the Back Porch, our event that welcomed people to the Historical Society for one-on-one tours of the Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Memorial Church and on our incomparable Back Porch, a wonderful buffet dinner provided by Broadway Bar. This event was Continue reading
Author: saradesota
Could The New York Times have gotten it wrong?
When HSOSC President Howard Rosenthal called our attention to Alfred Bidwell’s obituary in The New York Times, we were thrilled to add it to our collection.
Alfred Bidwell built what we know call the Bidwell-Wood House in 1882. He was a local merchant, and the house, in 1882, was considered a fine home by the Tampa newspaper.
But could The New York Times have erred? Long-time HSOSC member Ed Orr, a studious history buff, thinks so. Ask Ed about it, next time you see him (he’s the one with all the collectible cars!)
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This Day in History: October 14
A catch worth catching on film, Sarasota 1903
The town of Sarasota was incorporated today in 1902, although the incorporation did not become effective until January 1, 1903. (All those ducks had to be put in a row, right?)
Scofflaws in Sarasota lodged here.
SarasotaHistoryAlive has a great essay on their site by Ann Shank on what the laws were like then. Click the photo of the Sarasota jail, 1903, to read.
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Festivities under the pines on Sarasota’s Pioneer Day
Community gatherings in historical Sarasota County happened anywhere a few folk met, but especially on the shaded porches of pioneers’ homes or the church grounds. These events were full of music, good food, trading and swapping, and fun for the children.
Join us on Saturday, November 12, from 10 to 4 as the Historical Society continues this grand, yet informal and relaxed tradition, once a year on our grounds in Pioneer Park. Pioneer Day in Pioneer Park at the Historical Society is eagerly awaited every year. Stroll among vendors, tap your toes to some wonderful music wafting off the breezy front porch, and enjoy the shade of the pines and hickories. Wander down to Hog Creek, watch historic crafts demonstrations, take a peek at the 1882 Bidwell-Wood House (the oldest in the county!) and admire the local crafts, art, and antiques in the 1902 Crocker Church. Join us on Sat
urday, November 12, from 10 to 4.
Print out the flyer and post a few in your community gathering places.
As the perfect start to a perfect day, hop on the Trolley at our front door for a renowned, narrated tour of downtown Sarasota right at 10am: reservations a must. $25.00 per person, call our Site Manager Monday – Friday 10:00AM – 2:00 PM at 941-364-9076 to assure yourself of a spot on this wonderful tour.
After the tour, visit not only our vendors both inside and out, but our Museum Shop in the Bidwell-Wood Kitchen building. The Shop is filled with local handcrafts, art work, vintage linens, books by local authors, jewelry, toys and more. It’s a perfect place to get your holiday gift shopping started, since all proceeds help us preserve and cherish two of Sarasota’s most historic buildings. Your holiday gifts can do double good!
Join a tour of the Pioneer Cemetery next door and tours of the oldest house in Sarasota. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and spend the day enjoying the swirls of activity, entertainment, and good companionship. Nealski’s BBQ will be cooking on-site.
There is no admission fee, but, in keeping with our special display of USA “Historic Foods” that your grandmother would have found on her grocer’s shelves and are still found in today’s supermarkets, bring a donation of canned or dry food. All food will be be donated at 4pm to the Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Campaign. Mayor Suzanne Atwell, Vice Mayor Terry Turner and Commissioner Willie Shaw will be on hand to accept our donations.
Parking is free. Donations accepted, to help with the upkeep of two of the most prized buildings of Pioneer Sarasota. And of course, when you join the Historical Society, you help preserve not just the past, but the future of Sarasota County.
Click for the Google map and directions
Want to help the Historical Society of Sarasota County reach out to the community? Great! Print out this flyer and post a few in your community gathering places… and we’ll see you and your friends at Pioneer Park, just east of Tamiami Trail and 12th Street, Saturday, November 12!
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Love kitsch? Me too!
Definitely making my way to Venice for THIS exhibit!
Wish You Were Here ~ Florida Tourist Souvenirs 1900s-1960s Opens Sept. 26: 4 – 6 p.m. at the Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection at351 Nassau St. S,Venice, FL 34285, (941) 486-2487 Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Kitschy, vintage Florida souvenirs often reflect the history and trends of early Florida tourism. Rarely tasteful, mostly whimsical and often just plain tacky, these souvenirs were popular gifts for children and as reminders to the folks back home of how much better life was in sunny Florida. Wish You Were Here is the first guest-curated exhibit at the Venice Archives, a new tradition we plan to implement each September. Our first guest curator is Nancy Eaton, a Nokomis resident whose partial collection of vintage Florida memorabilia is on display here through November 23.
The Venice Archives, part of the Venice city government, can be accessed here.
If you love historic Florida tourist stuff, you absolutely MUST take advantage of the wonderful e-postcards offered free by the gentlemen of SarasotaHistoryAlive.com. They are especially fun to send “back North” as the weather up there deteriorates. (The postcards, not the gentlemen. We’re keeping Larry and Lee right here.)
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Le Barge Historic Sarasota Bay Tour date set!
The Historical Society’s Historic Sarasota Bay Tour is always a sellout,
so call the HSOSC office at 364-9076 to charge your tickets on VISA or Mastercard and reserve your sunny, breezy, pastry-laden seat! UPDATE: The last Bay Tours were sell-outs. The first one of the season will be Sunday November 4, 2012; call for your reservations now! Always a Sunday, always from 11am to 1pm, always delightful.
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Dinner amongst friends on the Back Porch
The City of Sarasota has proclaimed October 24 – 30, 2011, “John Hamilton Gillespie Week”. Events will feature Continue reading
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Be honest. When was the last time you enjoyed a museum?
Be honest. When was the last time you enjoyed a museum? Was it when you had winter visitors three years ago? When you moved here mumble-mumble years ago? Or maybe you’ve never even seen GWiz or the Mote?
During the month of September, 30 Days of Discovery offers printable coupons for
2-for-1 admission at museums in our area.
Great way to spend some time these waning weeks of September.
Official Historical Society of Sarasota County recommendation: the South Florida Museum isn’t just Snooty the Manatee. It has terrific displays of artifacts, tools, and other memorabilia… and an old-timey service station any guy will love. And the coupon will save you $16.
Which you can then earmark for the Historical Society, where admission is free but donations are oh-so-gratefully accepted.
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October meeting at the Historical Society is all about… YOU!
Join us on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in welcoming Sarasota author Liz Coursen as she presents
“Yes, You! An Entertaining Autobiography in Three Easy Steps.”
Liz’s talk is based on her book, The Complete Biography Workbook, which has received rave reviews in the Palm Beach Post, the Miami Herald, the Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald, and the Ft. Myers News-Press.
Our monthly meeting is free and open to the public. The program starts at 7pm and runs until 8:30 or so, but as my grandmother used to say:
Come early (the Gift Shop is all fresh and ready for your browsing delight starting at 6pm) and stay late (our Hospitality Volunteer offers refreshments after the presentation).
I should write about my grandmother and me… maybe Liz will show me how!
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Spirit Voices from Old Manatee
Love history? Love to act? If you’re a fan of teaching history through entertainment, they’re looking for you! Here’s the info:
The Manatee County Historical Commission invites dedicated actors and actresses to volunteer their time and talent by auditioning for a dramatic guided cemetery tour titled “Spirit Voices from Old Manatee”. The production will be directed by professional actor, musician and stage director Preston Boyd.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
“Spirit Voices from Old Manatee” is an original artistic production and program of Festival sARTée*. It will take place Continue reading
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Which Historic Marker do you live near?
Do you have a bit of history in your back yard?
Oops... this is NOT the Historical Society's historic marker.
The Sarasota County Historical Commission is a group of civic-minded Sarasotans who suggest historical markers around our county. These markers contain some fascinating information… so next time you see one, stop and linger!
SarasotaHistoryAlive has catalogued the text of our historic markers on their fascinating site. This text is from there. Many thanks! You can also see photos of markers on Wikimedia Commons.
How about YOU? Which historic marker is close to your home?
Find it at SarasotaHistoryAlive, and add it below, in the comments.
Here’s the marker in my neighborhood. Even though Continue reading
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How being long-winded probably saved Teddy Roosevelt’s life.
Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States of America from 1901 to 1909, when the Crocker Memorial Church was Continue reading
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This Day in History: Howitzer on the Manatee River
This is the Wanderer, a schooner of the Civil War era, as was the USS Stonewall. Click to read about the Wanderer.
Aug 2 1864 The schooner, U.S.S. Stonewall, moved up the Manatee River and destroyed a sawmill, a gristmill, and a sugar mill that reportedly belonged to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. No Federal casualties were reported. Read about the U.S.S. Stonewall.
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This Day in History
July 27 1886 The first plat of the new town of Sarasota (December 1885) was recorded.
Lewis Colson came to Sarasota with his wife Irene. He drove the first stake into the ground to assist Richard Paulson in platting the town of Sarasota at Five Points in 1885. Sarasota was platted by the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company, a Scottish entity. More on Lewis Colson.
This photo was taken in 1886 of the Whitaker family, considered the first documented permanent residents of European descent in this area, and the Brownings, who came from Scotland with the Ormiston Colony in December 1885. By this time, William Whitaker and his wife and children had lived in Sarasota for over 40 years. More on the Whitakers.
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“Anything I can do to help?”
Volunteers come in all flavors. What's yours?
Every organization needs volunteers and their help, of course, and all members realize this. Trouble is, we don’t always know what we can do for our organization, and when, and whether our skills and talents can be properly utilized.
So here on the Historical Society site, we’ll let you know if we need buildings swept, brownies baked, or a polished press release created. If you have unrecognized skills that you would like to keep honed by participating, let us know. You can comment here, or you can call the Historical Society’s office, or simply collar a board member at one of our meetings.
Maybe you’re a master storyteller or a graphic artist. A lawyer or a gardener (or maybe your spouse is and is willing to help!) Or you organized bus tours in a former life, or are an expert on retail or costuming or organizing …
The Historical Society of Sarasota County 