It’ll be a feast for the ears and eyes when the internationally famous local sculptor, Jack Dowd, joins Continue reading
Do you love old postcards as much as we do? You’re in for a treat… Matthew Greenwood created this video from his collection of historic Sarasota sights.
You’ll find yourself hitting Continue reading
The books of Sarasota finally get their own home as the Chidsey Library was dedicated. The cost of the building was $18,500, and was a gift of John Chidsey. The building served as our library until 1976. — from “Yesterday’s Sarasota The Calendar for 1993” by J. Whitcomb Rylee, in conjunction with the Historical Society of Sarasota County
Since then, the building has been Sarasota County’s Historical Resources Center, the Visitor Center, and left vacant. Recently, the Friends of the History Center are keeping it and its exhibits public with the help of volunteers from a dozen or so local historical groups, including, of course, the Historical Society of Sarasota County. It’s, for now at least, the Historical Exhibits and Educational Center located at the Historic Chidsey Library Building. 701 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
They may not look like much to you, but they’re a dream come true for the Historical Society!
A grant from the Frances T. Bourne Fund at The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has provided for the purchase of chairs to expand our seating capacity in the Crocker Memorial Church (1901) and in the Bidwell-Wood House (1882). More seating for members meetings, for weddings, seminars, music and theatrical rehearsals, for local club meetings and for community-wide events, such as Conversations at The Crocker.
“We have never been able to accommodate as many people as come to our programs. ” said Site Manager Linda Garcia. “We use, of course, the original wooden pews made by early Sarasota settler Peter Crocker and the stackable chairs we already own, but we have had standing-room-only occasions and that led to our submitting a proposal to the Community Foundation. We are so grateful that they acknowledged our need and approved the funds for additional chairs. Our members and the whole community will benefit.”
Our Vice-President, Marsha Fottler, came dressed to work, the day the chairs arrived via semi!
Besides serving the needs of the Historical Society, the Crocker Memorial Church building is available for rental and is equipped with a sound system, projector, black-out shades and now seating for 150. The historic structure is a popular destination for weddings and other celebratory events. The Historical Society considers the Crocker a model of adaptive use. Since 1901 it has been in constant use, first as a house of worship and now as a place that HSOSC and the Sarasota community use for a variety of programs and events. The Crocker has been preserved by being useful over a long span of time.
Funding for these chairs provided by the Frances T. Bourne Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
People are invited to bring their treasures and have them appraised by certified professionals. The cost is Continue reading
If you’ve even admired Burns Court, or visited Woman’s Exchange in a building built by Owens to house the local newspaper, or used the Historical Resources archives, much of which was donated by daughter Lillian Burns, or had the pleasure to meet his younger daughter Harriet Burns Stieff who holds a Distinguished Service Award for the Historical Society, you haveOwen Burns, born this day in 1869 in Fredericktown MD, to thank.
“He came to Sarasota in 1910 and was a leader in practically every movement that saw Sarasota grow from a fishing village to one of Florida’s leading resort cities,” the [Herald-Tribune obituary] said in 1937, without hyperbole.
At one point, Burns owned 75% of what is now the City of Sarasota. Who built Cà d’Zan? Owen Burns. Who was a Commodore of the Sarasota Yacht Club? Owen Burns. Who built and named a hotel after his wife… whom he met when she was vacationing in Sarasota? You guessed it. The influence of Owen Burns on our area cannot be overstated.
Video from Sarasota History Alive! about Owen Burns
Click for a larger version of this map, published in 2011 by owenburns.com
One of the threads that ties old Sarasota County to the new is the continuing struggle concerning which historical buildings and properties should be preserved and which ones demolished as a necessary sacrifice to progress, modernization and growth. Award-winning author and historian Jeff LaHurd considers both sides of the issue when he Continue reading
If you’ve never been on an Historical Society of Sarasota County Cruise, you need to. If you’ve been before, you know you need to experience it again!
On November 1, we’ll board, enjoy a little breakfast snack buffet, and marvel at the depth and breadth of John McCarthy’s knowledge of our area. We may cruise north, towards Ca d’Zan, or we may cruise south towards the marvelous bird sanctuaries. It all depends on the weather and our captain. But it will be bliss, I promise you!
Photo Credit: B. Paul Patterson on http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/
We’re so excited to present this FUN and FUND-RAISING event on our Pioneer Park campus. Gather up your personal pieces of history: four expert companies are donating the talents of their appraisers to assist us in this enjoyable way to raise funds for the oldest residence in Sarasota County and the Crocker Memorial Church. Every dollar goes directly to the Historical Society.
Admire treasures, collect some up for the future, and enjoy the natural ambiance of one of the prettiest parks in the county. You can even take a Trolley Tour of Historic Downtown Sarasota!* And don’t miss the Back Porch Treasure Trove, where collectibles old and new can become yours!
HSOSC is very excited to bring you our first Antiques, Art & Collectible Fair on Saturday November 14 from 10a to 4p.
Appraisers available from 11a to 2p courtesy of Appraisals and Sales by Julie McClure, Crissy Galleries, Elder’s Fine Art and Antiques, Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers. Appraisals are $10 each or 3 for $25.
*An optional Historic Downtown Sarasota Trolley Tour, leaving at 10a and returning to the festivities at noon, is available, with advance reservations a must since seating is limited. Contact Linda, our Site Manager, at 941-364-9076 between 10a and 2p, Mondays thru Fridays.
Crafters and collectibles welcome you in the yard and food and drink will be available for purchase. Demonstrations and deals on the porches.
At noon, we honor those who have donated a brick to our walk, with the annual historic brick dedications ceremony. Pass the word and join us for the festivities!!!
The Calendar is set and the reservation sheets are ready! Call the office to reserve your spots for fun events this season. Remember, events with limited seating sell out, so don’t be left high and dry, on the sidelines, behind…
Linda’s ready to take your reservations, so call her at 941-364-9076 between 10a and 2p Monday through Friday.
First up, our beloved 28th Historical LeBarge Cruise with John McCarthy is Sunday November 1, 2015 from 11am to 1pm.
Next, our traditional historical narrated Trolley Tours begin on Saturday November 14. Other dates are December 5 / January 9 / January 30 / February 20 / March 12 / April 2 / April 30.
NEW this season – “Artists in the Park” Sunday January 17, 2016 from 2p – 5p. OUTSIDE: Plein Air Painters from local chapter Light Chasers with paintings for sale off the easel. INSIDE: Local musicians led by Sal Garcia and Jack Dowd playing for your listening and dancing pleasure. Nibbles and beverages included. $20 and $15 for HSOSC members.
Click for details and to see and print the complete Calendar of Events
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2016: Every one of our space-limited events this season has sold out! While, of course, this helps the Society share Sarasota history with residents and visitors, we hate to disappoint folks. Rest assured that our next season, Oct 2016- May 2017, will be full of wonderful events. To be sure you get early notification of what’s available before the general public does, join our mailing list now.
Graphic borrowed with thanks from here.
The Giving Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for us all to join together in support of our favorite non-profits that make life so great here in Sarasota County.
And it’s nice to be part of the crowd… but what if you’ll be busy from noon on Tuesday Sept 1 to noon the next day, and unable to take the time to dig out your credit card, go online, find the link to HSoSC, and decide on a donation amount (tip: if you didn’t donate last year, your gift will be DOUBLED thanks to the Patterson Foundation so your gift means twice as much to the Historical Society!)?
As usual, our charming Site Manager, Linda, can help you participate in the Giving Challenge! Just call our office at 941-364-9076 Tu-Fr 10 to 2, or email Linda directly 24/7 at HSoSC1@gmail.com and she can help you help us!UPDATE: The link to go directly the HSoSC’s page in the Giving Challenge is https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/#npo/historical-society-of-sarasota-county It will only be operational between noon Tuesday Sept 1 and noon Weds, but you can bookmark it now!
The Giving Challenge allows the Historical Society of Sarasota County to rise to new heights!
The Historical Society of Sarasota County, as an inaugural partner with the Giving Challenge, looks forward to your participation in the Giving Challenge, now in its fourth year. And this year, you don’t have to set your alarm to help HSoSC before dawn, because the Challenge runs from 24 hours, from Tuesday September 1 at 12 noon through Wednesday September 2 ending at 12noon.
UPDATE: The link to go directly the HSoSC’s page in the Giving Challenge is https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/#npo/historical-society-of-sarasota-county It will only be operational between noon Tuesday Sept 1 and noon Weds, but you can bookmark it now!
Did you miss us last year? If so, you can help us TWICE as much! The Patterson Foundation is Will you be busy during The Giving Challenge? You can still participate. Just call our Site Manager Linda at 941-364-9076 Tu-Fr 10 to 2, or email her 24/7 at HSoSC1@gmail.com and she can help you help us!
matching donations, up to $250 per new donor. Your donation, large or small, will be worth double the donation. If you’ve been a loyal supporter, we love you and your continuing participation, and would be thrilled if you would consider asking a family member, friend or neighbor to join us in this Challenge, letting them know how valuable their gift can be! New donors are donors who did not give to HSoSC in the 2014 Giving Challenge (May 6 & 7, 2014).
We will be posting the link for you to use during the Challenge. It will not work until it is turned on at Noon on September 1, 2015. Thanks so much for your past participation and we look forward to a generous family of friends and supporters during the event this year!!
Rather send a check? That’s lovely too, and will free you up from the time restrictions on Tuesday September 1 at 12 noon through Wednesday September 2 ending at 12noon. Perfect solution if you’ll be traveling or otherwise occupied on those dates! The Society’s mailing address is PO Box 1632, Sarasota FL 34230.
For more information, stay in touch here on the HSoSC blog, or contact Site Manager Linda Garcia at hsosc1@gmail.com or chat with her, 941-364-9076, Tues-Fri 10 to 2.
The 2015 Giving Challenge is made possible by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation with support from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation and the Herald-Tribune Media Group.
UPDATE: The link to go directly the HSoSC’s page in the Giving Challenge is https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/#npo/historical-society-of-sarasota-county It will only be operational between noon Tuesday Sept 1 and noon Weds, but you can bookmark it now!
As you can see, our Continue reading
Join New College Professor Uzi Baram for an illustrated, historical lecture of our own Phillippi Creek! At Gulf Gate Library on Monday, July 13 at 2:00. Here’s the info.
Illustration is of a computer game designed by Professor Baram to help teach local children about Sarasota history. Read more about that.
The Historical Society of Sarasota County 