Our Annual Meeting on Saturday, while not the traditional potluck/ slide show/ awards ceremony, was fresh-air wonderful.
And Pioneer Park was filled with folks playing, picnicking, even another meeting going on, next door at the DAR, under the trees!
To learn how 2020-2021 went down at HSoSC (and a little taste of an exciting event coming up this summer!), visit https://hsosc.com/newsletters/
Historic photo (1910) by Harry A. Atwell as seen on monovisions.com
Haven’t we all, at one point or another, wanted to run away and join the circus? And do it in STYLE? Now, thanks to the Historical Society, you can… at least for the day.
On Wednesday January 22, we’ll let you imagine being a circus performer, a guest of John and Mable… during a private tour of
Courtesy The Ringling
the Wisconsin, John & Mable Ringling’s first private railroad car,
in the Circus Museum at The Ringling.
Our intimate group will get a private tour led by Jennifer Lemmer-Posey, Tibbals Curator of Circus, and Pullman Car Historian David Duncan and will learn about the Ringling life on the rails and about the amazing parade wagons used by the circus in the Ringling era.
Courtesy getrealexclusive.com
“Understanding that the Ringlings didn’t own a home, they rented for many years… one can imagine the Wisconsin was the Ca d’Zan before they built the Ca d’Zan,” says Deborah Walk, retired Ringling assistant director of legacy and circus, and current Society Board member.
This event will help preserve the historic Crocker Church, the Bidwell-Wood House, and our ongoing educational programs. The cost is $75 per person, including lunch at the renowned MUSE restaurant on the museum grounds. Call Linda Garcia, our HSoSC guardian angel at 941-364-9076 from 10am to 2pm Monday-Friday, or email hsosc1@gmail.com right NOW to grab one of the few remaning spots on this once-in-a-lifetime event!
Our presenter on Tuesday evening, January 14 2020 (Please Note: the incorrect date went out to some of our subscribers. The correct date for this presentation is Tuesday January 14. Our apologies.) at 7pm is J.B. Miller. He is a lifelong Mennonite who lives in Sarasota and teaches about Mennonites and Amish.
“Many people have limited knowledge of Mennonites and Amish,” said Miller. “Often their only contact is them pedaling around on three-wheelers or visiting one of the restaurants located in Pinecraft, an enclave home to primarily Amish and conservative Mennonites.”
This Conversation at the Crocker is all about the Mennonites – who they are, why they came to Sarasota, why they dress the way they do, and what their influence has been on the shaping of our community. We are lucky to have a speaker who can answer all your questions.
Doors open at 6pm – program begins at 7pm. Free to HSoSC Members – $10 for future members.
CONVERSATIONS AT THE CROCKER: Our most popular gatherings. A series of interactive discussions on events that shaped Sarasota County’s past and continue to exert influence on its present and probably the future. These monthly events run from October through April. Explore our past Conversations.
These events start at 7pm in the Crocker Memorial Church. They are FREE to Historical Society members and $10 at the door for not-yet members. Bring your friends and participate in lively and informative discussions. Bidwell-Wood House is open beginning at 6pm for touring before the meetings.
Imagine Sarasota in 1842. Imagine being 21 years old and trading mullet from the Bay to start orange groves. Imagine courting, then marrying a girl from Manatee Village, a long hard ride from your homestead. Now imagine Bill and Mary Jane Whitaker having 11 children in the wilderness.
Your local guide, Lizzy Webb Guptill, portrayed by our very own Kate Holmes, will tell the story of her neighbors in this visual presentation of Sarasota’s Pioneer Family.
Sunday Afternoon Social, A light, entertaining program presented cafe-style in the historic Crocker Church (c.1901) Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 2 pm
Light Refreshments
Tickets at the Door, Seating Limited
Members $5, Future Members $10
Small but mighty gals worked on the yard on November 16, 2019 and bagged up a dozen full bags of yard waste. Member Kay Delaney donated a generous supply of mulch that will be put to good use. Thanks for supporting HSOSC.
Presenting the life, times and achievements of Bertha Palmer is Frank Cassell, the award-winning author of Suncoast Empire: Bertha Honore Palmer, Her Family and The Rise of Sarasota. Cassell is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. He is an officer of the Sarasota County Historical Commission and the History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County. Cassell’s book will be available for purchase at the Conversation and the author will sign copies after the program.
Talking about the life and times of Mable Ringling (1875-1929) will be Deborah Walk, a nationally respected archivist, writer, lecturer and the former curator of the Ringling Museum of the Circus. After her marriage to circus impresario John Ringling in 1905 Mable Burton Ringling, a farm girl from the midwest, became a great traveler and travel became her education. In 1923, the Ringlings commissioned the architect Dwight James Baum to build their dream home in Sarasota, modeled on the Doge’s Palace and the Cá d’Oro in Venice. Mable oversaw every aspect of the construction, from the glazing of the tiles to the mixing of the terra cotta. She designed much of the original landscaping on the grounds of the estate, including her Rose Garden and Secret Garden. Mable was the founder in 1927 of the Sarasota Garden Club. Thousands of people from all over the world visit her extravagant mansion on Sarasota Bay annually to experience for a few hours how the wealthiest lived in another time.
Presenting the life and times of Marie Selby will be Jeannie Perales, Vice President for Museum Exhibitions, Learning & Engagement at Selby Gardens and the co-author of a book on Selby Gardens. She has been with The Gardens since 2010 where she oversees educational programming, exhibitions, interpretation, and volunteers.
It was a beautiful day and a great cruise on LeBarge for our 35th Historical Cruise with John McCarthy on Sunday November 3, 2019. A yummy and fun food buffet spread was put out by Sue Padden and Brenda Lee Hickman. Join us for the next historical cruise on Sunday March 8, 2020
A summer off campus Tag Sale to benefit the Historical Society is being held on Saturday June 15 from 9a – 1p at 180 Mimosa Circle (Beechwood) Sarasota at the home of one of our board members. Small unique pieces of furniture along with quality home decor items mingle with linens, art, some heritage plateware and lovely examples of vintage silver. Something for everyone at budget-friendly prices. All of the items have been donated and many are from design centers, retail stores and private donors. Many items have been donated from the Bird Key estate of Iris and Robert Hutton secured by member Jerry Chesley. You’ll find things whimsical, practical, elegant and irresistible when you shop with us on June 15, 2019.
Every dollar you spend helps us maintain the Bidwell-Wood House (1882) and the Crocker Memorial Church (1901) and helps continue our community outreach programs that raise awareness of Sarasota County’s rich history. The Tag Sale will be staffed by members of our events committee.
APRIL CONVERSATIONS AT THE CROCKER – TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 AT 7PM
Who are the Florida Highwaymen and why are they important in the history of American art?
The Florida Highwaymen is the topic that historian (and collector of Highwaymen art) John McCarthy will discuss at a Conversation at The Crocker on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 7 p.m. at the Crocker Memorial Church, Pioneer Park, Sarasota. The program is presented by the Historical Society of Sarasota County (HSOSC) as part of its Conversations at The Crocker series now in its seventh year.
In a richly illustrated presentation, McCarthy illuminates a strange and fascinating African-American art movement. It began in the 1950s with landscape folk-art painters who sold work from the trunks of their cars on Florida’s major highways. It ended with art gallery and museum distinction for about two dozen of these artists who worked under the official art-world radar. These outsiders used oils and painted on Upson board (roof sheeting) and often framed their artwork with cheap hardware store crown molding.
They had no studios or agents and they painted from memory in carports or sheds taking their subjects from what they had seen working in agricultural fields or other jobs of manual labor. Sometimes their paintings were lush imaginative scenes of what they wished their surroundings were. These Highwaymen worked quickly and sold their art cheaply. They sold directly to the public (sometimes from door-to-door) at prices that were usually not in excess of $25.
These traveling Florida Highwaymen mentored and supported one another since most had no formal training in art. None of them achieved fame or success during their most productive days. Today, it’s a different story. The Highwaymen are celebrated and their work is highly collectible. The Florida Highwaymen are considered to be perhaps the last great art movement of the 20th Century.
Tuesday – Concert in the Crocker Memorial Church
April 2, 2019 7pm
The members of the Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort play music dating from the 14th century to the 21st century on recorders and viols. Programs are varied, with descriptions of the instruments and commentary about the music shared at each performance. The Consort typically presents three or four concerts in the spring. This one is at the Crocker Memorial Church. Membership in the consort is by invitation from the director, Charlotte Trautwein. The Consort practices weekly October-April in the Crocker.
This concert is open to the public and no reservations are required. A $5 donation is requested and appreciated.
Members and guests had perfect weather for the spring Historical LeBarge with John McCarthy…..the tides took us north this cruise up to The Ringling and back.
The first Sunday in March is the 34th Historical LeBarge Cruise narrated by John McCarthy, noted Sarasota Historian extraordinaire. Tickets are $50 for regular and $75 for VIP which includes early boarding / complimentary beverage and a thank you gift. Join us March 3, 2019 for an amazing history lesson on the water from 11a – 1p. A continental breakfast and coffee are provided for all guests.
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Fun shopping at Sparkly Saturday and a wonderful program on Mable Ringling at the Sunday Afternoon Social by Deborah Walk.
Join us March 20th at Michael’s on East for a spectacular luncheon honoring this years Hero of History, Michael Saunders. Tickets are $100.00 each or purchase a table of 10 for $1,000.00
Back by popular demand after the huge success last year…..just in time for Valentine’s Day! Saturday February 9, 2019 presented in partnership with Linnea Applebee of jewelrytotherescue.org See the inside of the Crocker Memorial Church transformed into a wonderful jewelry extravaganza with loads to choose from. Doors open at 9a and stay open til 1pm. See you then!
