Black Settler Helped Sarasota Grow

Sarasota's first black settler was Lewis Colson. Colson came to Sarasota in 1884 to assist Richard E. Paulson, an engineer for the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company, in surveying the town of Sarasota.

A former slave, Colson remained in Sarasota throughout his life, contributing to the development of the community in many ways. The picture above is believed to be of Colson with his wife, Irene. It is among many unidentified photographs by Felix Pinard, who photographed Sarasota in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Lewis and Irene Colson started Sarasota's first black community in 1910. It consisted of several families. The Colsons also helped organize Sarasota's first black church, the Bethlehem Baptist Church, by selling land to the church trustees for one dollar. The church was built on the corner of today's Seventh Street and Central Avenue in 1899, and remained there until 1973. The hub of Sarasota's first black community, which came to be known as Overtown, was at the intersection of Central Avenue and Sixth Street. According to early maps of the area, by the mid-1920s, a thriving residential and business district existed there.

Businesses included a movie theater, pressing clubs, markets, lunch rooms, and grocery and general merchandise stores. Residences varied in size, but most were modest, one-story, wood frame structures with front porches. There was also a baseball park at 501 Lemon Avenue, according to the 1916 City Directory. The Colson Hotel was one of two hotels in the immediate area. Built by E.O. Burns and opened late in 1926, the hotel was for black tourists and residents. It was located on Eight Street just off Central Avenue. Described by the Sarasota Herald in an article dated December 15, 1926, the hotel was constructed of fine yellow stucco on hollow tile. The hotel contained 28 rooms and had a comfortable lobby with fireplace. Later it was named the Hotel Palm.

According to Annie M. McElroy in her book, "But Your World and My World," classes for blacks were first conducted in the Knights of Pythias Hall. The Knights of Pythias was a local fraternal organization at 404 Coconut Avenue in 1916. In 1925 the Sarasota Grammar School was built. This school was on Seventh Street east of Central Avenue. The school was renamed Booker Grammar School in honor of its first principal, Emma E. Booker. 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.

For example, Friday in 1869, Owen Burns was born in Fredericktown, Maryland. He moved to Sarasota in 1910, primarily in search of fishing for which the area was becoming famous for. He quickly became involved in the business and political activity of the town; he became the first president of the Citizens Bank - later to become the First National Bank. His land holdings were massive, including all of the property originally owned by Colonel John Hamilton Gillespie. He was also involved in the establishment of the Woman's Club, St. Martha's Church, and a reorganized Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club. (photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)

The Pearsall House

The William and Bessie Pearsall House is a two-story Mediterranean Revival Style home located at 1905 Alta Vista Street in the Avondale Subdivision. The house was completed in 1925 and is an excellent and well-preserved example of its style. As well, it is a visible and tangible link associated with the Florida Land Boom years and real estate development resulting in unparalleled growth during the 1920s in Sarasota.

Historic Context

Development of some Sarasota perimeter neighborhoods began in the early 1910s and were further developed and platted during the frenzied Florida Land Boom of the 1920s. The land area that would become 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, seventy-five 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 such promotions, Avondale developed slowly.

On April 23, 1923, the Sarasota Improvement Company sold a number of lots in Avondale Subdivision to Irving Bacheller, Edward Brewer, and Fred S. Woolley, under the guise of the Bellevue Land Company. On March 10, 1924, the Bellevue Land Company, consisting of said buyers, was changed to the Bacheller-Brewer Corporation.

On October 14, 1924 they filed a new plat, "Avondale", and the property was subdivided. Individual lots were enlarged and the streets widened, making the area more upscale and exclusive. In addition, a new water system was installed and a sea wall was constructed along Hudson Bayou. Avondale became known as a "model suburban development". The company planned to build homes to promote the development of the subdivision where restrictions required that no dwelling costing less than $5,000 would be constructed. Such restrictions would remain in force until January 1, 1950. Read more...

(photo credit: Sarasota History Alive)

Lou Jacobs

Lou Jacob's comical face symbolizes the circus. During 62 years in Ringling's "Clown Alley" he created scores of antics and gadgets which brought more laugher to more people than any other circus clown.

(Editor's Note: We will soon be including a directory of the circus greats that are honored around St. Armands Circle, in the Circus Ring of Fame. We request Circus Performers, who are represented on the plaques, to please contact us if they would like their non-copyrighted personal photo displayed on our website. Their photo will be placed next to the inscription that summarizes their important careers. All photos are scanned and returned to the owner. We can be reached at 941-951-7727)

(photo credit: Sarasota County History Center)