If you weren’t able to attend the Celebration of Life for Linda Garcia, our beloved Site Manager for 15 years, here’s the slide presentation from Sunday afternoon, November 17.
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You’re gonna “Wish You Were Here!”
On Sunday, November 24, at 3 p.m., a new Conversation at The Crocker will be presented.
Acclaimed lecturer and historian Liz Coursen
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What an incredible cruise!
This November’s Historical Sarasota Bay Cruise, our 42nd, on Le Barge, was unlike any other.
Our incredible narrator, John McCarthy, esteemed local history expert, past President of HSoSC, current V.P. for Regional History at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, treated us to
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An embarrassment of riches. And free dirt under your nails.
UPDATE 10-7: OUR CLEANUP DAY’S canceled for now but will be rescheduled after Milton comes to visit
It’s beginning to look a lot like fall in Sarasota County. And around here, fall is when we tend our gardens, trim and prune and plant and mulch. Why, coming up this weekend are two don’t-miss plant sales, the 18th Annual Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road, and and the Venice Gardens Civic Association Plant Sale on Shamrock Blvd in Venice
At both sales, you can learn a lot about Florida gardening, and then put it to practical use (even if you live in a condo or only have a pot or two on your balcony) by participating in the Historical Society’s Garden [Clean-Up] Party on Saturday October 12. Directors and members will be
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Pumpkin Spice? Nothing new about that.
Starbucks likes to claim ownership of the current “pumpkin spice” fad. Everything from pumpkin spice coffee to pumpkin spice dog snacks is declared in season for fall. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s such a thing as pumpkin spice pumpkin spray.
Of course, Floridians have been cooking up this autumn squash long before there was a Starbucks anywhere near our state.
Pumpkin spice is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. These spices could certainly jazz up the traditional Seminole Pumpkin Fry Bread, which is surprisingly easy to make. And it would make a surprising addition to your fall menu! Here’s the recipe:
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Scavenger Hunt, History-Style.
Looking for a way to orient yourself in the history of Sarasota County? Here’s an idea: go on a scavenger hunt of all the historical markers in Sarasota, Venice, Osprey, Englewood and Northport. We’ve found some resources for you.
One resource has not just the historical markers in this multi-county area, but also war memorials. You can check it out
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Uncle Sam: Where Did He Come From?
The nickname ‘Uncle Sam’ for the United States originated during the War of 1812 when a newspaper published the story of Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who marked beef barrels for the army with ‘U.S.’ Soldiers associated the initials with ‘Uncle Sam,’ and the term became a popular moniker for the federal government.
Most of us associate the image of Uncle Sam with posters encouraging Americans to help with the finances of World War I, or with recruitment posters: “Uncle Sam Wants YOU!” is practically a real-life meme.
The story of Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker, marking his
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Progress is Being Made
Thanks to our donors, soon the east wall of the Crocker Memorial Church will be done (here, you see the workers installing the milled wood siding) and we can start on another aspect of the Church’s facelift!
The ramp will be
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After 100+, it’s patch patch patch
Construction work to restore the east side of the historic Crocker Memorial Church
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“The President is visiting Shangri-La today…”
Whoever gets elected this November, chances are high that Shangri-La will be visited by the President in 2025.
What’s that you say? Fun fact: What we now call Camp David, “the Presidential retreat”, was once a camp called Shangri-La.
Don’t we all wish for a home-away-from-home where we can relax and do our own thing?
Lincoln’s summer retreat was just 45 minutes from the White House… if you were
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Prisoners of War: Americans in St. Augustine
If Florida’s checkered history seems a mite confusing, it is. This Day in History, July 13 1781, might clear things up a little.
On this day, Members of the American Continental Congress recommended “relief payments” for American prisoners of war released from British captivity at St. Augustine.
Interesting. I wonder if those released prisoners had to
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Remember when the only cool place in town was the movie theater?
On summer days when it was just too hot to even run through the sprinkler, we headed for the only air-conditioned place in town. I think the first movie that made me yearn for Florida was
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It’s gonna be a late night tonight.
Alas, our late night tonight, June 20 2024 isn’t due to some revelry on our part. It’s all because the world is tilted.
Yes, today’s the Summer Solstice, when the day is longest of all the year. Here’s everything you always wondered about this event, from the New York Times.
Enjoy your late sunset… from now until December, the days will be getting shorter and shorter.
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A fresh new look for the Historical Society
Our new logo shows our two buildings in our campus in Pioneer Park. We think it captures the flavor of our locale beautifully!
Reid Gerletti, a lifelong resident of Sarasota, is the graphic designer who
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Members’ Annual Meeting 2024
On Saturday April 13 2024 , scores of Historical Society of Sarasota County gathered to celebrate another successful year, to vote in new board members to honor award recipients, to cheer on the supporters of the Giving Challenge 2024, and to enjoy refreshments and our door prize raffle. We hope you were able to join us!
Here’s just a small sampling of the event in photos:
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