Historic Designation markers (bronze colored plaques) are placed on residential homes and commercial buildings within the City limits of Sarasota. To be eligible, the structures are required to meet criteria similar to what the National Register of Historic Places utilizes to designate a structure as being historically significant. Both the cities of Sarasota and Venice have comparable designation programs.
The one-story, rectangular-plan Mediterranean Revival (with Mission Style overtones) building, located at 539 South Orange Avenue was built as a newspaper office and plant of the Sarasota Herald and began publication with a 72-page first edition on October 4, 1925. The new Sarasota Herald building was constructed of steel, concrete, and hollow tile with a rough-cast stucco exterior.
Read More »The Southwick-Harmon House, located at 1830 Lincoln Drive was built in 1926 during the Florida Land Boom and is situated in the Avondale Subdivision of Sarasota. The Avondale Subdivision experienced tremendous growth during this boom time and as such represents a broad trend in the history of the development of Sarasota. Although the home has undergone some modification, it is architecturally a significant example of the Mediterranean Revival style.