Past Events

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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.

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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.
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Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort

Earlye Musick Consort will perform at Historical Society of Saraspota County on March 22 2016

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.

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Historical LeBarge Cruise

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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Sparkly Saturday

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!

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Solomons Castle Trip January 24th

 

Join the Historical Society of Sarasota County’s bus tour to this fascinating, hidden gem on Thursday, January 24th, 2019 , for a fun-filled day’s adventure, including:

• Round trip transportation on a climate controlled coach

• Full guided tours of the Castle and King’s Court

• Lunch on the Boat in the Moat and time for shopping in the incredible Gift Shops!

The coach will leave from the HSOSC’s headquarters, located at 1260 12th St. (between N. Trail and Cocoanut Ave.) at 8:30 a.m. returning by 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $75.00, contact us at 941-364-9076 to reserve your seat!

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Happy Holidays – Sign/Trips/Jewelry

Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous Holiday Season to All !!

Yard work day was a blast – Sue Padden and her crew cleaned up the Historical Marker Sign in front of the Bidwell-Wood House along with lots of weeding.  A special treat was the great cookies from our leader Sue Padden! Make sure to check it out on your next visit to Pioneer Park.

We have space available on the December 8, 2018 Historical Trolley Tour .  Saturday morning from 10a – 12p visit downtown historical sites and learn of our local history.

Call the office for reservations and details – 941-364-9076.

We are traveling to Solomon’s Castle  in Ona, Florida on Thursday January 24, 2019.  Round trip transportation on a climate controlled coach, full guided tours of the Castle and King’s Court, lunch in the Boat in the Moat and time for shopping in the incredible Gift Shops.  We will leave at 8:30am and return by 3pm.  Cost is $75 and reservations are a must.

Sparkly Saturday is coming on February 9, 2019  –  we are collecting your donations now in the office for the sale – they will be picked up by Linnea Appleby from jewelrytotherescue.com in January in time to be in our February event.

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LeBarge and Conversations at The Crocker Guest Larry Thompson

Pat and Larry Thompson were onboard when the LeBarge History Cruise set sail last week with John McCarthy narrating. Thompson, who is the head of Ringling School and Design, is the speaker at The Crocker Memorial Church on Tuesday, November 13. In an illustrated lecture, he’ll tell the history of the famed art school from John Ringling dream in the 1920s to what the institution is today. Don’t miss this inter-active community conversation. It starts at 7 p.m. at The Crocker, 1260 12th Street (Pioneer Park). Historical Society members and students free. Guests, $10 at the door.

Larry & Pat Thompson

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33rd Historical LeBarge Cruise

Join us this Sunday November 4, 2018 for a two hour narrated historical cruise on the LeBarge with our own historian extraordinaire Mr. John McCarthy.  Tickets are $50 or VIP $75 which includes early boarding / complimentary drink coupon / thank you gift.  All guests enjoy a continental breakfast with sweets and savories and a coffee bar.  Reservations are a must – call the office at 941-364-9076 Monday thru Friday from 10a – 2p to get your space reserved.  Learn about our local history while enjoying a beautiful cruise.

Norma Kwenski, Volunteer Extraordinaire, grabs the catbird seat on LeBarge, next to our commentator, always-captivating John McCarthy, one of Sarasota’s leading historians.

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March 29th Official Howard Tibbals Day – Sarasota’s 2018 Hero of History

Howard Tibbals working on his masterpiece.

The Historical Society of Sarasota County is proud to announce that Howard Tibbals is Sarasota’s 2018 Hero of History and March 29th is officially Howard Tibbals Day! Thank you and congratulations Howard Tibbals for your tireless efforts all these years in helping to preserve such an important part of American history. We are so lucky to have this incredible work of art here in our home town of Sarasota.

Howard Tibbals Circus

Howard Tibbals receiving the 2018 Hero of History Award.

 

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Tibbals Hero of History Raffle Prizes

Tour Ca’D’Zan with the expert who understands it like no one else in the world. Ca’D’Zan, 36,000 square-feet with 56 rooms. No one knows every inch of the mansion and its grounds like Ronald R. McCarty. He is the Keeper of Ca’D’Zan , who supervised the monumental restoration of the mansion that he likes to call “Mable’s House” You will explore secret places that tourists never see and you will see specific Masonic symbols that were incorporated into the facade of the house as well as Mable’s favorite flowers, zodiac signs, animals and classical symbols that were worked into the glazed patterns. This custom tour is one of Ron McCarty’s last. He is retiring after 38 years, the longest serving employee in the history of The Ringling. Maximum of six people – tour approximately two hours and must be taken by August, 2018.

 

Tour the Wisconsin with David W. Duncan, a Pullman car historian and the the expert who restored John and Mable Ringling’s fabulous private railroad car. At The Ringling, visitors can glimpse a means of transportation available only to the rich and famous. The amenities for a luxury life on the rails as well as the decorations are extraordinary. This private train car commissioned by John and Mable Ringling was used beginning the year they married in 1905. The tour begins with a look at the Howard Bros. Circus Model. David assisted Howard Tibbals with the installation and continues to assist with the maintenance of the miniature circus. David will arrange the time and date with the winner, but he suggests a Thursday evening when The Ringling is open late the the Wisconsin gallery has fewer tourists. Maximum of four – tour lasts about two hours.

 

Custom Cooking Class with Chef Judi Gallagher. You have watched her on TV, now you can dice, slice and chop right next to her in the comfortable cook’s kitchen at Southern Steer Butcher for a personalized cooking class followed by enjoying the four-course meal with a glass of wine or beer. This is a crowd pleasing menu of hand-cut, grass fed beef as well as organic vegetables and fruits and is destined to become part of your culinary repertoire, one that you will want to repeat with confidence in your own home for guests and family. During the class, Chef Judi will reveal serving tips and preparation secrets that restaurant chefs rely on. Dress casually, bring your apron and your cooking questions. Maximum six people – lunch or dinner. Time and date to be arranged with fabulous Chef Judi but no weekends.

 

Lions, Tigers, Bears and Chimps, Oh My! All yours at Big Cat Habitat. Get up close and personal with big and exotic animals. The winner of this rare experience wins a personal tour and chance to feed and get very close the the animals. Your guides are Kay Rosaire, educator/behaviorist who founded Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary in 1987 to protect and give home to large, rare and endangered animals, and her son Clayton Rosaire, one of the few men in the world who can put his head in a lion’s mouth. They will take you on a custom one-hour tour of their extraordinary and fabulous world. This is truly a walk on the wild side that you will never forget. Appetizers and wine served too (for you and friends, not the animals). Bring your camera for sure. Maximum of four – Schedule date and time directly with Kay, Clayton, or Danielle Rosaire.

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March Conversations at The Crocker

Gulf Coast Trade with Cuba and Fishing Ranchos

The Conversations at the Crocker series takes look at our long trading traditions with Cuba with emphasis on ranchos when an anthropologist and an archeologist present their research

It might surprise a lot of people in Manatee and Sarasota counties to know that there has been an active Florida trading commerce with Cuba since the 1600s. Mostly it’s been smoked mullet, but also citrus, cattle, and other commodities. At the Historical Society of Sarasota County’s popular series Conversations at The Crocker, an archaeologist and an anthropologist take an in-depth look at Florida’s trade with Cuba. They will focus particular attention on the Cuban fishing ranchos and the origins of modern Sarasota and Manatee. For more than 100 years, Cuban fishermen set up seasonal fishing camps along our coast where they would catch fish, salt them and send them back to Cuba to sell.

This Conversation takes place on Tuesday, March 13 starting at 7 p.m. at the Crocker Memorial Church, 1260 12th Street (Pioneer Park) in Sarasota. Free to members of the Historical Society and students; guests, $10 at the door. 

Leading the Cuba Conversation are archaeologist Jeffrey Moates, and Professor Uzi Baram, a professor of anthropology at New College.  

“Three Cuban fisherman are credited with showing Josiah Gates and his brother-in-law fields near a spring on the south side of the Manatee River,” said Jeffrey Moates.  “Gates would use the land to settle a homestead that became the center of the Village of Manatee, today’s eastern part of Bradenton.” And that’s only a tiny part of the story. Using maps, historical photographs and documents, Moates and Baram will draw you into a time and a place of ancient peoples who have left clues to thriving waterside communities. 

Jeffrey Moates is Regional Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and he is based at the University of South Florida (USF). In 2010, Moates and USF staff developed and coordinated Rancho Regattas, public programming to celebrate Cuban fishing rancho history and archaeology in Florida.

Uzi Baram is a Professor of Anthropology at New College of Florida and founding director of the New College Public Archaeology Lab. In his experiments with public outreach and community engagement, Prof Baram has commissioned two video games that teach the history and geography of the Cuban fishing ranchos of Sarasota Bay.  

Archaeologist Jeffrey Moates

Priofessor Uzi Batam

Established five years ago by the Historical Society of Sarasota County, Conversations at the Crocker is a series of interactive conversations that explore the people, places and events that have shaped this part of Florida. Before each Conversation, the Historical Society offers docent-led tours of the two heritage properties at Pioneer Park that the society curates, The Bidwell-Wood House (l882) and the Crocker Memorial Church (1901). Annual membership at the Historical Society is $35. For more information, contact Linda Garcia, Site Manager, at 941-364-9076.