This Week Newsletter - June 23, 2010

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Sarasota History Alive! Where history happens every day.

A Pier With Few Peers, Part II

Last issue we asked how many of you out there remembered the Municipal Pier before it became Marina Jack. Even if you didn't remember it, or the Hover Arcade, we showed you our video to bring you up to speed!

Well, friends and fans, step right up to see Part II about this fair spot we all love and admire. Some, these days, love it even more than "Unconditional Surrender" which is on a hiatetus to get spiffed up before being returned to the bayfront at a later date. Click here to view the video.

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

 

Time For Letters-To-The-Editor

Many of our viewers contact us with comments about our articles, photos, historical homes, and markers, along with their personal recollections of our fascinating heritage. Though your editor personally answers all of the inquiries, we have decided to open up your bi-weekly newsletter to a Letters-To-The-Editor feature.


We welcome your input and will publish your thoughts. Please limit your letters to 600 words and understand that all letters cannot be published. We reserve the right to edit your letters for length, as any other print publication would do.


For your convenience, Click here to submit your comments, experiences, ideas, and general information. Thanks for continuing to keep Sarasota’s history alive!

 

Tales of Sarasota

Last week, Pete and Diane were guests of honor at the Players Theater opening of the play, "Pete's Repair Shop." The author/playwright, Jeffrey Kin, introduced them to the audience and explained how he got his inspiration for the play from visiting the Esthus' Sarasota Lock and Key shop ten years prior. It sure left an impression on him!

If any of you ever visited their shop, you too left with a sense of profound historical memories that made Sarasota what it is today. To check out Diane's blog; Click here.

The Sarasota Times

(The Sarasota Times newspaper was our area's first. Rose Wilson was the publisher and editor for many years after her husband passed away. Sarasota History Alive! would like to share artices from this paper with you that reflect on our heritage.

Today we have chosen one that tells of how the Brits thought dark-colored underware was cool, and how Americans did not. Ahhh...the things we spent money on studying.

Heat Theories Dispelled
Colored Underwear Does Not Repel the Heat

Washington, D.C. – Fantastic theories regarding the use of colored underclothing to repel the heat in the tropics have been dispelled by a report made by the Army board for the study of the tropical diseases in the Philippines. About 18 months ago 5,000 suits of orange-red underclothing and a corresponding number of orange-red hat bands were sent to the Philippines. These were distributed so that one half of a company should be clad in the new garments and the other in ordinary white underclothes. The Army surgeons kept close watch upon the men, but they failed to find that the colored underclothes brought any relief from the tropical heat, although British Army officers in India had reported that such clothing was much more comfortable in hot weather than white.

The medical board found that the colored underclothing which, by the way, was unpopular, added materially to the burden of heat upon the system which is a great cause of tropical deterioration. It is admitted that the orange-red is a protective against the chemical rays of the sun, but the same result is secured by the khaki and the tan-colored campaign hat of the American soldier. The experiments were conducted with the greatest care, frequent records being made of blood pressure, of loss of weight and of general conditions.

 

The Southwick-Harmon House

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.

Historic Significance

Platted in 1923, the Avondale Subdivision was originally developed by the Sarasota Improvement Company for families of average means. In the January 7, 1915 edition of the Sarasota Times 75 lots were advertised for sale in Avondale at a cost of $250 each, with fifty dollars down and ten dollars due per month. Plans for the addition of sidewalks and the grading of streets were also announced. To boost interest in the subdivision, a $1,500 bungalow was to be given away. Despite these promotions, the subdivision developed slowly.

On April 23, 1923, the Sarasota Improvement Company sold a number of lots in Avondale Subdivision to the Bellevue Land Company, a corporation formed by Irving Bacheller, Edward Brewer and Fred S. Wooley. On March 10, 1924, the name of the corporation was changed to the Baccheller-Brewer Corporation. On October 14, 1924, the corporation filed a new plat for Avondale, consisting of their land holdings. The property was subdivided into 11 blocks, lettered “A-K.” Those blocks were further subdivided into approximately 80 lots. Individual lots were enlarged and the streets widened, making the area more exclusive and attractive to higher income property buyers. A new water system was installed, and a seawall was constructed along Hudson Bayou. Henceforth, deed transfers within the subdivision would identify Avondale as a “model suburban development.” The company planned to build model homes to promote the development of a subdivision where restrictions required that no dwelling costing less than $5,000 would be constructed. Such restriction would remain in force until January 1, 1950. Several homes were actually built for promotional purposes. The sales of lots increased, in part due to the frenzy for real estate investment that marked the Florida Land Boom at its height (ca. 1923-1925).

In 1925, the Avondale Subdivision experienced remarkable land sales and gained recognition as one of the finest subdivisions in the Sarasota area. The November 17, 1925 edition of the Sarasota Herald reported that “all lots, except those facing on the bayous in Avondale” were sold. It also announced that the Bacheller-Brewer Corporation had hired the architectural firm of Clas, Sheperd, and Clas of Milwaukee, who were designing residential and commercial buildings in Sarasota and Ft. Myers during the period, to construct a 600 foot concrete pier on Hudson Bayou, which had already been dredged for powerboats and sailboats. To promote the remaining twenty lots along the bayou, the article stated that the Bacheller-Brewer Corporation had plans to build a “magnificent residence near the pier” for approximately #30,000. The strategy was to market the remaining estate size lots with a Spanish style model home. Read more...

 

Do you like Saints or Sinners?

 

The Saints & Sinners Tour is sure to delight the long time resident as well as those visiting Sarasota for the first time. The two hour tour invites guests to examine a unique cast of historical characters and decide for themselves who were the saints, and who were the sinners. To learn more about the tour visit us online or give us a call 951-7727.

 

Legion's July Fourth Celebrations Were Carried Out in Style

On July 4, 1921, the community went all out to celebrate the nation’s birth along with the county’s birth on July 1st of that year. Sarasota Bay Post #30 of the American Legion planned a something-for-everyone celebration at Crescent Beach on Siesta Key. The Sarasota Times reported 561 automobiles on the beach and thousands of people bathing, picnicking, competing in athletic events, and enjoying music by the Palmetto Band.

A columnist for the paper conveyed the pride felt by the men of Bee Ridge because the first and second prizes in the cowboy tournament had been won by tow of them. Horse races on the beach also attracted a following. The Sarasota baseball team beat Manasota 13-3 in the morning, but lost to Palmetto 6-5 in the afternoon. The Legion Post earned about $500 at the event, a sum which was committed to the construction of a Legion building. A dance at the Golf Club House concluded the day’s festivities. In gratitude for Col. John Hamilton Gillespie’s donation of that facility for the dance, the Legion gave him the flag that had decorated the balcony.

The following year, only a small notice of July 4th activities appeared in the paper, when Kirby Stewart Post #24 in Bradenton took the lead for the region. A dedication of the post’s new home was in the spotlight, with Sarasota’s Dr. Jack Halton, the Vice Commander for the state legion, as the principle speaker.

In 1923, Sarasota Bay Post #30 again sponsored the major community events, this time a Sarasota Beach, north of Crescent Beach. Motorcycle and car races on the beach opened the competitions at 11:00 a.m. The winning Harley-Davidson kicked up the sand at 112 mph, only 3 mph under the world record. A “cracker tournament” attracted local cowboys, a baseball game enticed supporters of the Sarasota team, and fireworks and a dance to the music of Sarasota’s Rainbow Orchestra rounded out the evening. Read more...

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

 

Yesterday's Sarasota Calendar

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.

Also, be sure and check out Whit's website at: www.ChickenHillNC.com.

Today in 1865, Judah P. Benjamin often referred to as "the brains of the Confederacy," arrived for a short visit. It was hardly a casual affair, however. Benjamin was making his escape from the country as the war came to an end. He was treated to dinner by Bill Whitaker, and sailed down the bay on a sixteen-foot yawl captained by Frederick Tresca. After a narrow escape from a Yankee gunboat, Benjamin made good his flight to London, to become a confidant of such British advisors as Gladstone and Disraeli.

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)


Ain't Life Grand?

Your editor spends a great deal of time at the Sarasota County History Center finding interesting information for you to ponder. While there, he also comes across many photos that depict life at an earlier time in history. With that in mind, check out this week's image.

Alert the media! There's an under-aged driver on the loose! Here she is on Dolphin Street (then 3rd Street) in her fancy-smancy little sports job. Way cool, little one! We won't reveal her name, though your editor went to Sarasota High School with her.

In any event do notice the brick street. There's talk that the downtown historic district may again sport brick streets at some point in time. Other towns have re-installed them to create a wonderful sense of community. Come on, Sarasota, do show off your heritage and support the Downtown Improvement District's plans for our future. If you want to see a first-hand look at how a Florida downtown can reclaim its historic assets, take a jaunt down to Ft. Myers for a treat - you'll be impressed, we're sure! We especially love the brick streets within its district.

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

 

History Locator

Normally we honor a historical marker in Sarasota County, but today we have chosen to honor the Sarasota War Memorial located in J.D. Hamel Park adjacent to the foot of Main Street.

The Sarasota Bay Post of the American Legion originally built the memorial at the center of Five Points. Designed by area architect Clare C. Hosmer, the memorial incorporated a flagpole placed there in 1917 to honor the Sarasota men who had answered the call to war earlier that spring. Today that area is going to become a round-about to facilitate traffic flow downtown. Many longtime residents want to see the War Memorial returned to this location, however, the City of Sarasota has approved a flagpole and inscription instead.

In the spring of 1954 the landmark memorial was moved down Main Street to its current location because the State Road Department declared it a traffic hazard. When you are downtown, take some time to enjoy this park and give thanks to all our Veterans for answering that call to duty.

Where Were We?

The winner from our last quiz was Robin Bongiovi. We would like to thank our generous sponsors for providing prizes. You too, can become a sponsor (see below).

Click here to review the photo, question and the correct answer of last week's challenge.

This Week's Clues:

I realize this photo is difficult to see details, but the two very tall people are the Ringling Brothers Circus' "Giants" (The Fishers). They are standing in front of the old American Legion Colliseum. Now, since I have given you that much to go on, it should be a walk in the park to figure out what comes next. Your challenge is to tell what popular business resided there after that, and what is there in its place today?

(photo credit: the Naylor Collection)


Your prize this week is a Sarasota High School tote bag, and is created and supplied by Sarasota History Alive!

If you would like to be a sponsor of our "Where Am I?" quiz, please call us at (941) 951-7727. It only cost $25 per week for us to set up your ad, and then you only have to provide a prize for the winner. What could be easier?

 

The Very Thing to Send (Electronically)

Oh, how perfectly convenient! Vintage e-Postcards of Sarasota to send to friends and family with a quick thought from you. Nobody has much free time to write and stamp a card these days, so check out our postcard service. It's fun and as 'easy as pie'. Click here to view the postcards, and try out this 'good time' feature.

 

Interested In a Free Mansion?

Word came to us the other day that the Van Wezel Residence is being offered for free to anyone who would like to relocate it. It is located on St. Armands Key, and is scheduled for demolition. This would be a terrible loss to our community for this magnificent estate home to meet the wrecking ball.

If you are interested, or know anyone who would like more information on this historic gem, contact Dr. Clifford Smith, Senior Planner for the City of Sarasota. He can be reached at clifford.smith@sarasotagov.com.

 

Come on Down!

The Historical Society of Sarasota County is pleased to announce their new slide show that can be viewed at: http://www.virtualsarasota.com/Pioneer_Park/. It showcases the historic Bidwell-Wood House and the Crocker Church with extraordinary photography to delight those of you who appreciate a wonderful restoration job.

The Society is also looking for volunteers to participate in a “Clean Up Day” on this coming Saturday, June 26, 2010. Beat the heat, and get started at 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. If you are adept at dusting, scrubbing, painting, sweeping, pine needle blowing, weed-eating, carpentry, and branch round-up, this is the event for you. Come out and meet the members of the Historical Society; they are a great group of folks. Hey, you might even want to become a member! Cool drinks and tasty donuts will be provided to keep the gang in full swing. The Historical Society is located in Pioneer Park, 1260 12th Street, between U.S. 41 and Cocoanut Avenue.

 

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