This Week Newsletter - August 25, 2008
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This Week
While "Eleanor Rigby" was a popular Beatle's song, our guess is not too many people are familiar with Sarasota's Harry Rigby. After you check out This Week's webisode, you will probably think about him every time you drive down South Osprey Avenue and pass the historic La Plaza Subdivision. Click here to learn how it came about during the mid 1920s. If you missed last week's webisode on the Big One of 1921, or want to browse through our video archive, click the link below to catch up on what you've missed.
Architect's Corner - The Commercial Vernacular Style 1850-1940Design of commercial buildings in Florida mirrored national trends. During the mid-nineteenth century, commercial buildings as a distinct property type developed throughout the United States. They housed a variety of uses, such as offices, banks, hotels, and theaters, but mostly commonly functioned as retail stores.
The one part façade generally was a one-story building. It was formed by a structural framework consisting of columns, bulkheads or kick-panels, and a cornice topped by a parapet. Large, show windows were generally placed within this framework to display merchandise and light the interior. The wall area between windows and cornice provided a place for advertising and made the façade appear taller. This framework formed a basic compositional arrangement. Materials, doors and windows, and decorative and stylistic details constituted secondary characteristics that could be organized in a variety of ways. The two part commercial block was a multi-story building, organized into an upper and lower zone. The design of the lower zone was essentially the same as the one part façade. It contained distinct uses in each zone. The lower zone generally housed public spaces such as retail stores, banking room, insurance offices, or hotel lobbies. The upper zone often provided space for private uses, including apartments, offices, hotel rooms, and meeting halls. Two new masonry materials, hollow terra cotta tile and concrete block, gained wide use in construction of commercial buildings. As strong as fired brick, the new materials were lighter and cheaper. In the 1920s brick was frequently applied on a variety of commercial buildings as an exterior finish material in combination with masonry or frame interior walls. As the historic period drew to a close in the 1930s and 1940s, concrete block replaced brick as a structural material. Stucco finishes and terra cotta detailing became widespread. New materials, such as vitrolite and Carrera glass, were also introduced in the 1930s. In downtown Sarasota, Nokomis, and Venice, a number of masonry commercial vernacular buildings still exist (note the Iverson Block building, in downtown Sarasota, pictured above). The two part commercial block was the dominant commercial building form. Earlier buildings of wood frame construction were replaced by masonry structures in the 1920s that had a distinct Mediterranean Revival influence. (Source: Sarasota County Design Guidelines For Historic Properties manual.)
Tales of Sarasota
Lately the talk at the Ringling Circus Museum is all about the arrival of John Ringling's Wisconsin Pullman Traincar for its final destination. Pete is going to give us some insight into Mr. George Pullman, so do check out his blog this week, and learn about the old gent. Diane, on the other hand, must have a hankerin' for Chinese...she tells us about a long lost Chinese restaurant that was enjoyed by many a devotee - The House of Chong. Makes us hungry just thinking about it! Click here to read what they have to say. |
Halton's Home and Hospital Were DowntownThe two-story, pressed stone, transitional Queen Anne Style building (photo below) located at 308 Cocoanut Avenue, was built from 1909 to 1910 for Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Halton. A contemporary press clipping noted: "Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Halton are moving into their new stone mansion today."
J.S. Maus and Son were responsible for the pressed blocks and construction of "The Acacias," and the Miracle Pressed Stone Company's molds were used to create the pressed stone. Two postcard views of 308 Cocoanut Avenue, circa 1910, owned by the family of Mr. J.S. Maus, provide not only a basis for attribution, but visual documentation of the original structure.
Dr. Joseph Halton established a private hospital in the Halton Building at 113 North Pineapple Avenue. Dr. Halton served as health agent for the then Manatee County; he was appointed by the State Board of Health of Florida, and he practiced medicine until his death in 1963. In addition to his prominent medical career, Dr. Halton served as a member of the Town Council and was president of the Council, elected in the year 1910. In 1951 the American Legion presented the "Citizen of the Year" citation to Dr. Halton, in recognition for the over 1,600 free operations performed and medical care provided for needy children, his civic endeavors, and ... "Third: The community is a better place because he has worked and lived with us." The Dr. Halton Residence was locally designated by the City of Sarasota in 1989. (photo credit: Sarasota County History Center) Ahoy! Get on Board Mates (photo credit: Sarasota County History Center) The steamship Mistletoe (pictured above) was Sarasota's first reliable and regular connection to the outside world. In the 19th century, road and rail connections between Sarasota and neighboring towns were poor or nonexistent and boats came and went according to whim or need, not on any schedule. In his "The Story of Sarasota", Karl Grismer called the coming of the Mistletoe more important to Sarasota than the coming of the Scottish colonists (most of whom left) and the building of the DeSoto Hotel (which was boarded up most of the time). Beginning in October 1895, the Mistletoe began a regular schedule, bringing passengers and goods every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and returning to Tampa on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Mistletoe's arrival was facilitated by the dredging of channels in the northern part of Sarasota Bay, enabling shallow-draft steamers to make the entire trip from Tampa without having to go into the open Gulf waters. The beginning of regular shipping to Tampa led to a shift in the fishing industry in Sarasota. Previously, fish for export were dried and salted. The Mistletoe carried ice, enabling it to take on fresh fish for northern markets via Tampa trains. A number of wholesale fish houses opened along the bay in the following years, including one by John Savarese, the Tampa wholesale fish dealer who owned the Mistletoe. While being overhauled at Savarese dock in Tampa, the Mistletoe sank during a hurricane in October 1910. After being raised, the steamship was enlarged and outfitted to carry 200 passengers as well as cargo. In its new form it was christened The City of Sarasota on February 6,1911. The Sarasota Times reported that Miss Esther Edmundson christened the ship, the Sarasota Brass Band played, Mayor H.S. Smith gave a speech and Harry Higel reviewed the history of the vessel. The Times article focused on the elegantly furnished and upholstered cabin of The City of Sarasota, with only brief mention of its capacity to carry fish. By 1917 The City of Sarasota ended its runs to Sarasota. The Pillsbury Boat Ways on Snead Island, at the mouth of the Manatee River, converted the steamship into a barge. It seems, however, to have not functioned well in its new form, and one account states that the barge was pulled onto the shore and burned. A model and photograph of the Mistletoe are on display at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton as part of its maritime exhibit, "Charting a Course Through History: Our Manatee Heritage." Yesterday's Sarasota Calendar
For example, this Wednesday in 1934, is dedicated to Luke Wood's daughter, Ethel Wood. She lived in Luke Wood House until her death in 1966. A colorful lady, often storied for her reputation as a spiritual medium, she probably had one of the last outhouses in town. It took a battle with the City to get her to give it up. She had battled about her outhouse once before. One night, a man apparently under a bit too much pressure, tried to get into the locked outhouse. Ethel convinced him to go elsewhere - with a shotgun! The more you know... (photo credit: Sarasota County History Center) Where Am I?I am attached to a beautiful Mediterranean Revival home that has a lot to do with John Ringling and Owen Burns. I have a very complicated ownership history that would give an Abstract Title Insurance company an 'Excedrin headache' to figure out. Ringling transferred my deed around so many times it is hard to figure out who actually owned me, much less who lived there. Anyhow, stop by and see me, as I am for sale and awaiting a new owner that can finally discover what's behind my dining room wall. 
Need help? Click here, or on the photo for my location. |
Evaluation of construction techniques provides evidence that the Halton residence was built by Joseph S. Maus, who was originally from Northumberland, Pennsylvania, but was engaged in the concrete and construction business in Sarasota. Further evidence exists, which establishes the source of the machine used to mold the pressed-stone blocks, and ornamentation present in the structure - the Miracle Pressed Stone Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, patented a double-staggered, air space cement building block in 1903.
Dr. Joseph Halton (right) was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England, settling with his family in Bowling Green, Ohio at the age of seven. He graduated from Miami Medical College of Oxford, Ohio and the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Halton arrived in Sarasota in 1907 and joined his brother, Dr. Jack Halton, in practice at the Halton Sanatorium.
Every day of the year we highlight what took place in Sarasota's history, thanks to Whit Rylee and Tom Payne's extensive research and sense of humor. Frequently check our website's homepage to find out what occured today.
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