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Love locally-made, hand-crafted items? We’d love it if you did…

Local and handmade decorative items, gifts, and more in the HSOSC Museum Gift Shop, Sarasota FLThe Museum Shop needs you!

We have a beautiful museum shop with wonderful local artisan wares located in the Bidwell-Wood House stand alone kitchen.  It is open M-F 10a – 2p and during special events, as well as from 6-7pm once a month prior to our fall and winter meetings.  We are looking for that special someone who can oversee the day to day scheduling of volunteers and take care of the needs of running the shop.

UPDATE August 2012: The Museum Shop will be overseen by our immediate past President, Jane Kirschner-Tucillo, who is one of the most persuasive and vivacious people we know. If you would like to be shopkeeper for a day, or if you know of/ are a local crafter who is interesting in showing your wares, please email Jane at jane@jaskdesigns.com or  call the HSOSC office at  941-364-9076 M-F 10a – 2p or email hsosc@yahoo.com

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Join us in honoring tradition at our Annual Meeting

dinner on the groundsOnce a year, the Historical Society has a pot-luck “dinner on the grounds,” just as our forebears did. At the same time, we come together to elect our public servants, as did our grandparents and great-grandparents.

And so we Continue reading →

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The passing of a beloved supporter and local historian

George "Pete" Esthus at Day in the Park

Pete in his Sarasota railroad man outfit at a HSOSC event.

It is with sadness and regret that we tell you of the passing of Pete Esthus, a wonderful man and great supporter of the Historical Society. Our hearts are full, and we offer condolences to his wife Diane and their family.

If you would like, as the family suggests, to make a donation to the Historical Society of Sarasota County in Pete’s memory, please send a check to our mailing address, PO Box 1632, Sarasota, FL 34230. Or use your credit card by calling our office at 941-364-9076.

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For the Mother who has Everything – a BRICK!!

Brick Grid at Bidwell-Wood HouseMother’s Day (or any other gift-giving occasion) is always a conundrum: she seems to have everything and need nothing (but your love and devotion of course). But fortunately, the Historical Society of Sarasota County has the perfect solution to your gift-giving problem: a brick!

That’s right! Whether Mom lives in, loves, or simply enjoys visiting Sarasota County, you can commemorate her affection with something that will last for decades, even centuries. And this is no ordinary brick, just like Mom’s no ordinary mother.

How about a historic brick from Sarasota’s Seaboard Airline Railroad!!!

Bricks at Bidwell-Wood House

Nothing says loving like a brick.

The Historical Society of Sarasota County salvaged the bricks from Main Street and Lemon Avenue when the station depot was being demolished.  We have them laid as the walkway into the 1882 Bidwell-Wood House, Sarasota County’s oldest surviving residence, for a lasting memorial.  Each year the new etched bricks are laid on Pioneer Day with a celebration for new brick owners.

You can honor anyone including yourself with an etched historic brick.  A donation of $100 or more creates a permanent reminder of your loved one and participation in Sarasota History.  Each year the new etched bricks are laid with ceremony to honor those who support Sarasota history in the walkway.

To honor your mother in front of this historic home, or to inscribe a brick for yourself, your loved ones, or a special occasion, simply print out this form and mail it in: Brick Reservation Form. Prefer to do it by phone? Call Linda, Site Manager, any weekday between 10 and 2 at 941-364-9076 or email us at hsosc1@gmail.com

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LeBarge Historic Cruise – Spring 2012

LeBarge Historical Cruise March 2012

Members of the Advisory Board and the Board of Directors attending the Historic Cruise on March 11, 2012.  From left: Brenda Lee Hickmann – Advisory Board and Committee Head for the Cruise / Linda Garcia – Board Member and Site Manager / Veronica Morgan – Advisory Board and the preservationist that saved our buildings from destruction! / Jane Kirschner-Tuccillo – Board Member and Immediate Past President.  Jane’s husband John Tuccillo got the greatest seat up with the mermaid!  It was a beautiful day and Larry Kelleher did a great job story telling as we traveled north all the way to the Ca’d’Zan in honor of the Ringlings 100th anniversary of arriving in Sarasota.  We do these tours twice a year as a major fund raiser for the Historical Society of Sarasota County.  The next one is scheduled for November 4, 2012….hope you can plan to join us.  We leave from the bayfront at 11am and return at 1pm and a continental breakfast is included in the price of the ticket.  Please sign up as a follower on the right side of this page if you have not done so already to get all the new posts as they happen in your email.

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Screens are Done!!

Bidwell-Wood House East WallWe finally found a great “Full Spectrum Handyman” – Mr. Rolbin Rodriguez who finished the outside work on the Bidwell-Wood House this springBidwell-Wood House East Wall.

He was able to use the pieces of frames we had on property and finish all the window screens.  He also finished painting the east side of the house and all the window trim.  THANK YOU Rolbin!

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History, health, and heat. Sounds like a great combo to us!

Here’s the history:

Warm Mineral Springs is the only warm water mineral spring in the State of Florida, and is the largest warm water mineral spring in the world. The surface area of the spring is a round pond, it is 1.4-acre in circumference and reaches depths of nearly 250 feet deep in the center. The cenote dates from 20,000 years ago.

Here’s the health:

There are over 51 different minerals found Continue reading →

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From Renaissance to Ragtime: Concert in the Crocker Church

          The Historical Society of Sarasota County will host a concert performed by members of the Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort, a group that performs music from Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras in the Crocker Memorial Church, located in Pioneer Park, at 1260 12th Street, on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:00 PM.

         The Program will include music from the 1500’s, Glen Miller’s era, as well as Glen Shannon’s timeframe, performed on recorders, viol and harpsichord.  This musical group, under the direction of Charlotte Trautwein, has been filling the church with their delightful music, every Tuesday during their rehearsals.  The concert is free and open to the public.  Donations are always greatly appreciated, of course.

         There will be guided tours of the Bidwell House (1882) and the Crocker Church (1901) at 6:00 PM, and the Gift Shop, filled with hand-crafted works by our local artisans, will also open at 6:00 PM. The historical complex is on 12th Street, between N. Trail and Cocoanut Ave.

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Thank you to all our supporters!

What an incredible outpouring of support for our community!

Almost 11,000 donors to 107 nonprofits including the Historical Society of Sarasota County!

In 36 hours, almost 11,000 donors participated!

In 36 hours on March 27 and March 28, keyboards clicked and smartphones did whatever they do… and almost 11,000 responded to the 36-Hour Challenge. We were honored to be Continue reading →

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FAQs: How can my donation work hardest for HSOSC?

Confused about the 36-Hour Challenge, which starts Tuesday March 27 at 6am and goes through Wednesday at 6pm? Wondering what all the hype is about? And how you can help HSOSC?

Frequently-Asked Questions

What’s it all about? The 36-Hour Giving Challenge is an online giving event inspiring donors and citizen philanthropists to learn more about the nonprofits and causes in Southwest Florida they care about most.

How was HSOSC chosen Continue reading →