A Variety of Ventures On City Island

Editors Note: Lately there has been an campaign to temporarily rename City Island, "Google Island" in order to attract the Google Fiber folks and  have Sarasota as a beta test site for their 'wave of the future' product. To give newcomers a perspective on this island, we would like to share with you its history.)

Early in Sarasota municipal history, several city councils wanted a channel dredged from the Gulf of Mexico to Sarasota Bay. In early 1914 an eight-foot channel was dug but it did not please the city. It had wanted a deeper channel to become a port. It was not until 1926 that this dream came true. After the sale of the city’s power plant to Florida Power and Light for $1 million, the City of Sarasota spent nearly $800,000 to dredge a channel from New Pass to the bay front and Payne Terminal (10 Street and U.S. 41 today). In the process, a 58-acre island was created at the east end of New Pass and bulkheads were constructed. The bulkheads to hold back the dredged fill consisted of 2-inch steel pilings 22 ½ feet into the channel bottom.

However, the dream of a busy port never materialized. The island was created as a base on which to build warehouses, which were never built, and docks were completed to await the flow of ocean-going traffic. According to the late Sarasota pioneer John B. Browning, only three or four vessels ever docked at the port and one of these was a U.S. Navy destroyer. Brown said most of the docks were finally destroyed by fire, with the rest giving away to nature’s destructive forces. Lack of maintenance allowed the channel to revert to its former state. Read more...

(photo credit:  Sarasota County History Center, George I. "Pete" Esthus Collection)

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.

Tomorrow in 1931, tourists visiting the Mira Mar Hotel were treated to a performance of the semi-famous Dutton Circus featuring dogs, ponies, monkeys, and an "elephant." Petite Evelyn, the physical culture girl, astonished the audience with her acrobatic feats, and the American Legion Band was conducted by Ringling conductor, Merle Evans. (Face it folks, '31 wasn't a hot year.

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

History Locator

Today we are honoring the Municipal Auditorium marker. With all the news this week about it's potential use, it just seemed timely to reflect on the auditorium's history. It reads:

In 1936, the City of Sarasota acquired approximately 40 acres of land for a bayfront civic center.  It was located just south of (now) 10^th Street and between (now) North Tamiami Trail and the bay.  Mayor E. A. Smith announced plans to construct "one of the finest recreation centers in the South” on the property.   

Sarasota architects Thomas Reed Martin and Clarence A. Martin designed the Municipal Auditorium, using elements of Art Deco and Moderne architectural styles.

Funding for the project came from the Federal Works Projects Administration (WPA), the city and several prominent Sarasota businessmen. The $100,000 Auditorium opened February 23, 1938 with the annual Sara de Soto Pageant ball.   

John and Ida Chidsey donated funding for the construction of a second floor for the Recreation Club at the western end of the Auditorium. The facility contained a lounge area, a recreation room, and a men's card room.  North of the building, shuffleboard, lawn bowling, and tennis facilities were built.  The recreation center was dedicated January 1940.  Read reverse side...

Where Was I?

The winner from our last quiz was Mark Zeitler. 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: 

Well, ain't I just grand? My name was the Mayfair Hotel, and before that I had a couple of different names, including the Greystone (due to the color of my pressed block outside walls). The editor of this newsletter was always fascinated about my entry arch; it was rather tall, I must say.

So folks, it is now up to you to name the street I am facing. The street changed names for some odd reason; therefore either name will do.

Click here to submit your answer.

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

Your prize this week is a gift card to Target, and is 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?

"Spring Forward" to Sarasota Spring- Fest! 2010

Be sure and come out to the 5th Annual Sarasota Spring Fest! this Saturday, March 20, 2010. There will be tons of great things to do all day long from 9:00 - 5:00 on the Palmer Ranch grounds. 

Sarasota SpringFest! 2010 is a family fun day celebrating families, neighbors and our Sarasota community that benefits the Child Protection Center of Sarasota. The day starts at 8 am with a 5K Family Walk/Run and 12K run, register at www.active.com, sanctioned by the Manasota Track Club.  Admission and parking for the Expo are FREE with a full day of activities including entertainment at the Sarasota County Showmobile stage; children’s “Kid Zone” full of interactive exhibits, performances and egg hunt; a Professional Partners Expo; Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department SWAT obstacle course for kids and helicopter landing at 1:00 p.m. with many additional safety services exhibits.  A fabulous day full of music and entertainment, fun and food for the whole family! For more information, Click here.

Also, Palmer Ranch has generously provided a Sarasota History Tent for your enjoyment. Many of our county historical organizations will be represented. Please stop by and meet the Sarasota History Alive! crew, watch our videos, and visit many of Sarasota County's historical nonprofit organizations all under one tent! It is rumored that Bertha Honore Palmer is going to make an appearance, too. What a gal!

The Annual Alliance Speaker's Meeting

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation is happy to announce its 20th Annual Meeting on April 9, 2010 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. It will be held at the Ringling College of Art and Design Academic Center Auditorium, located at 2263 Bradenton Road. 

Join the Alliance for coffee and refreshments, followed by a short business meeting, including the election of directors.  The meeting will conclude with an interesting presentation entitled, “Honoring the Dead, Keeping History Alive: Sarasota’s Galilee Cemetery”, by New College of Florida Professor, Uzi Baram.

The Galilee cemetery dates back to Sarasota’s early days, but time has not been kind. Until recently, when the Galilee Cemetery Task Force organized a clean-up campaign, created a more appealing entrance, and turned to  Dr. Baram, to document the lives of those interred there. In February 2010, Dr. Baram assembled a team of anthropology students from New College of Florida, State College of Florida, and citizens of Newtown to systematically record the location of as many graves as possible.

For more information Click here or call 941-953-8727.

New Digs For New College

The morning of March 8, 2010 was absolutely splendid, and a welcome respite from the wintery weather we had been experiencing for far too long. A large crowd gathered on the grounds of New College to view the ground breaking ceremony for the new Public Archaeology Laboratory. Pictured above are Sherry Svekis, President of the Time Sifters Archaeological Society, and Uzi Baram, Associate Professor or Anthropology of New College. The are standing near the area where New College students buried a time capsule to honor the new lab.

As many people, your editor did not know what "public archaeology" was, and students and leaders were more than happy to oblige by giving him a statement that sums it all up: "Public Archaeology can stimulate an interest in archaeology among the general public while promoting an awareness that cultural resources have significance in the present. Knowledge of the history beneath our feet contributes to community spirit and a sense of place. Our understanding of the past can come from history books, archaeological sites and artifacts, the built landscape, legends and oral histories, and archives including newspapers. Heritage preservation and conservation expand access to these elements; woven together they produce a rich version of a past that is a place for observing, pondering, and acknowledging the social dynamics and historical trajectories of this community."