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.
Past Events
Conversations at the Crocker 11/12 at 7:00pm
Three Women who Shaped Sarasota History:
A Conversation at The Crocker
The Historical Society of Sarasota County (HSOSC) presents a program about three women who shaped Sarasota History onTuesday, November 12 starting at 7 p.m. at the Crocker Memorial Church at 1260 12th Street, (Pioneer Park) Sarasota. The program, which is part of the Society’s Conversations at The Crocker series, is free to HSOSC members and students and $10 at the door for guests. Proceeds from Conversations at The Crocker are used to maintain the historic Crocker Memorial Church (1901) and the Bidwell-Wood House (1882). The three women who are the subject of the November Conversation are: Bertha Palmer, Mable Ringling and Marie Selby. Following three illustrated lectures, there will be a question and answer session with the presenters.
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.Bertha Palmer (1849-1918) was one of the best-known and wealthiest women in America. She was an art collector, women’s rights advocate, businesswoman, owner of Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel, and she had homes in Chicago, Paris, and London. In 1910 she traveled to the small settlement of Sarasota. Charmed with the rough place, she ultimately spent much of each year for the rest of her life on one of America’s last frontiers, investing in cattle and farming, creating communities out of marshlands, pine forests, and tropical jungles.
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.
Marie Selby (1885-1971) started coming to Sarasota with her wealthy oilman husband William in the early 1920s. They built a home here and indulged their love of the outdoors by buying and working a cattle ranch and by boating. Marie was the first woman in America to cross the country by car and she was an award-winner sailor. She loved camping and gardening and she designed the landscaping for her own property. In 1955 the couple founded the Selby Foundation, that through its generous grants, has enhanced the lives of those who live and visit here.
When she died in 1971 Marie Selby left a personal legacy to Sarasota. She left her home and five acres of landscaped grounds for the development of a public botanical garden which opened in 1975. Organized seven years ago by HSOSC, Conversations at The Crocker is a series of interactive discussions that focus on the people, issues and events that have molded Sarasota County and Florida from earliest days. The Historical Society of Sarasota is a membership organization. Dues start at $35 for an annual membership. The Society is guided by a volunteer board of directors. President is Marsha Fottler. For more information, please call Site Manager, Linda Garcia at 364-9076.
35th Historical LeBarge Cruise
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
Ready for Reservations!
We have the calendar set for next season and we are ready to take your reservations for the Historical Downtown Trolley Tours and the 35th Historical LeBarge Cruise. Call the office at 941-364-9076 Monday – Friday from 10a – 2p to get on board!
Sunday November 3, 2019 from 11a – 1p is the 35th Historical LeBarge Cruise with John McCarthy!
Saturday morning from 10a – Noon – Join Sue Blue for the Downtown Historical Trolley Tour – DATES: October 19 / November 16 / December 7 / January 11 / January 25 / February 8 / February 22/
March 14 March 28 / April 4
SHOP FOR FUN TO HELP THE HSOSC JUNE 15
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
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.
Come and hear all about them when the story of the Highwaymen and examples of their art comes to the Crocker Memorial Church on April 9. HSOSC members and students admitted free; guests $10 at the door. For more information, contact Linda Garcia, Site Manager, at 941-364-9076.
Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort
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.
