This Week Newsletter - June 2, 2008
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This Week
This week, since hurricane season has just begun, Lee is going to tell us how a major storm in 1921 helped change Sarasota from a fishing village to a resort and tourism destination. Click on the video link to learn just how influential a hurricane can be to the economy. In the meantime, be sure and review the excellent hurricane guide the Sarasota Herald-Tribune recentyl published; better safe than sorry. If you missed last week's webisode on the Sarasota War Memorial or want to browse through our video archive, click the link below to catch up on what you've missed. Looking Forward to 2010
(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)
They jointly presented a proclamation to Hans Johnsson and Arnold Berns to kick off the preparations for a large assortment of celebrations, events, and specialty items dedicated to commemorate Mrs. Palmer's influence in Sarasota, Venice and the entire county after her arrival in 1910. Mr. Johnsson initially approached Mr. Berns (president of the Sarasota County Historical Society) with ideas and concepts to draw attention to the extraordinary Chicago socialite who did so much for our area. Mr. Berns invided him to join their board of directors and the rest is history, so to speak. Johnsson has since done a great deal of networking to promote his plans and has received a great deal of local enthusiasm for this 100 year anniversary. Part of the Honorary Committee was present to see the presentation and immediately after they set about assigning tasks to accomplish before their next meeting. There is an enormous amount of preparation to accomplish over the next 18 months, however the committee is comprised of people who get things done. Besides Mayor Palmer, Commissioner Staub, Berns and Johsson, the members who were present and ready to get to work were: Vice Mayor Ken Shelin, Executive Director of Historic Spanish Point, Linda Mansperger, Hope Black, Volunteer Coordinator for the county History Center, Diane McFarlin, Publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Carrie Rasmussen, the Herald Tribune's Marketing Manager and Partnership Development Director, Virginia Haley, Executive Director of the Sarasota Convention and Visitor's Bureau, John Wetenhall, the Executive Director of the Ringling Museum, Pam Pruitt, Executive Director of the Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce, and Larry Kelleher, Managing Editor of Sarasota History Alive! (Editor's Note - We will provide ongoing coverage of how this celebration develops over the next year and a half, and publish stories on how Mrs. Bertha Palmer affected all of us during her years here until her death in 1918.)
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Sarasota News - History in the MakingThe Florida Historical Society Annual Meeting - May 21, 2008 - The Florida Historical Society held there annual conference in Lakewood Ranch this year, with an interesting theme of Florida and the Environment: From La Florida to Global Warming. The three day event was well attended, and a whole range of topics were covered by experts in their field. Some included: The Black Struggle for Dignity and Rights, Exploring Nature & Exploiting Nature, Women in the 19th Century Florida Frontier, Urban Development, and Managing Florida's Forests and Water, to mention a few. Mary Lou Merritt, publisher of Yesterday's Florida, commented how much she enjoyed the wide variety of lectures and symposiums that were offered. She especially liked hearing the personal stories of how people, especially women like Marjorie Harris Carr who made a difference in state policy that affected protection of Florida's wilderness areas. Hope Black, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Sarasota County History Center, conducted a lecture at the conference titled, "Mounted on a Pedestal: Bertha Honore Palmer." * The annual meeting, held in various locations throughout the state, allows the professional and plebiscite historian to attend presentations and lectures in a social setting, and visit different areas with knowledgeable guides. They also may network and explore new theories and historical information that is provided by a number of notable professionals from throughout the state. The Florida Historical Society was originally founded in St. Augustine, Florida in 1856. *(Mrs.Black recently wrote her Master's Degree thesis on Mrs. Palmer, and she has graciously concented to have Sarasota History Alive utilize her work as the basis of a script for an upcoming video. We are indebted to her for research and interest in preserving our past.) -Editor-
Where Am I?
Then and Now...We at Sarasota History Alive, have made a decision to somewhat alter the theme of our weekly videos. Currently, we have focused on different buildings, still in existence, that have a story to tell. We will continue to do those, however, we will now include stories to orient our viewers to what was once here in relation to what is here today. We feel this will round out some of the historical gaps that exist, and thereby enable us to help our viewers connect the dots, so to speak. We will begin next week with this new format, as well as, from time to time, produce videos that focus on particular points of interest. Stay tuned for an exciting trip back in time. ....Editor
Yesterday's Sarasota CalendarEvery 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.
(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)
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Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota - May 30, 2008 - Sarasota County Commissioner Shanon Staub and City Mayor Lou Ann Palmer officially proclaimed the year 2010 to be named Mrs. Bertha Palmer Year, and ecouraged all organizations to consider, intiitate, and support celebrations to recognize Mrs. Palmer's (no relation to the Mayor) many contributiions to Sarasota life and development.
For example, this Saturday in 1924, Charles Ringling bought out the Sarasota Golf Holding Company and its' Golf Course. Among the uses that Ringling put the land to were the Courthouse Subdivision and the Sarasota Terrace Hotel (now the Terrace Administration Building). Because the city was left without any golf course, the city fathers and golfers had to really scramble to get the Bobby Jones Course designed, bought and opened in two and a half years. The course cost $150,000. Can't even buy an "affordable home" for that these days. The more you know...
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