Don Smally - In Memoriam

There are no words to properly express the great sense of loss we all feel now that we have lost our Don.

He served the Alliance as a mentor, creator, visionary, and much, much more. He was the guiding light, which inspired us
to forge ahead even when our challenges seemed insurmountable. He will be sorely missed and remembered forever with love and affection.

Annual Meeting

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation held its annual membership meeting on April 20, 2012 at the Sarasota County Visitor Information Center and History Center Museum. Architects Joe King and Larry Reinebach presented research they conducted for the Tour Venice Architecture (TVA) guide, which facilitates a walking/driving tour of significant historical and architectural buildings in Osprey, Nokomis and Venice. During the presentation, King explained how the TVA project came to be and shared historical photos of Venice buildings and landmarks. The Alliance co-sponsored TVA, which recently won an Outstanding Achievement Award in the field of Preservation Education/Media. Tour Sarasota Architecture, also co-sponsored by the Alliance, garnered the same award in 2010.

The Alliance had another great success this year—the 22nd Annual Historic Homes Tour, with a turnout of almost 900 people. Tourgoers got the chance to walk through and experience five beautiful homes in the Bungalow Hill neighborhood of Sarasota. As a token of our appreciation, each of the homeowners were given a framed photograph taken by world-renowned photographer Giovanni Lunardi. Thank you to our gracious homeowners, our wonderful volunteers and everyone who attended the tour—we couldn't have done it without your support!

The mable Ringling Memorial Fountain Project

Mable Ringling arrived in Sarasota one hundred years ago with her circus magnate husband, John, and left a legacy of outstanding contributions. She was the first President of Sarasota's Founder's Circle, and after she passed away in 1929, the Sarasota Federation of Garden Circles wanted to honor her service with a memorial fountain and reflection pool. This beautiful tribute to her was placed in the new Luke Wood Park in 1936. This project was years in the making, since the park had to be cleared and developed to accept thousands of trees, shrubs and flowering plants.

By World War II, the memorial founding fell into disrepair and lack of maintenance funding; it finally was filled in with dirt, and remains that way today. The Alliance has received permission from the Sarasota City Commission to renovate this once extraordinary piece of our history. A community project has been established which seeks to involve the entire community and in the end, make Sarasotans proud of their accomplishment. 

This undertaking will not rely on taxpayer funds, but solely on donations, grants, and in-kind contributions of services, equipment, expertise, supplies, landscaping, lighting, and statuary castings. Volunteers are needed and welcome. Soon, we will advise how you can become involved. Meanwhile, to learn more about the project download the brochure and donation form.

Back To Top

Under our watchful eye...

Belle Haven Apartments

Concerns have been expressed over the last several months about the deteriorating condition of the historic Belle Haven Apartment building at the corner of El Vernona Avenue and 4^th Street.

We are pleased to report that the City of Sarasota is on top of the situation, and the property owner is resolving the issues within a 30-day deadline. Most all of the problems, listed below, will be completed in that time frame, while some have a 60-day completion date. Pictured above are roofers taking off the last of the barrel-tiles, for wood underlayment replacement. Other repairs include:

1. All debris in the interior, including the basement, needs to be removed and maintained for sanitary purposes. This includes pumping out all water in the basement area and maintain in a dry condition.
2. Repair or replace all broken and loose security fence on the property. This includes the gates.
3. Need to board all broken windows and paint the same color as the exterior of the building.
4. Need to board or secure all entrance/exit doors off the fire escapes.
5. All bare wood needs to be painted the same color as the exterior walls.
6. Need to repair or remove all torn awnings.
7. Need to remove peeling paint from fire escapes and repaint to protect the surface.
8. Need to replace/repair any deterioration of wood underlayment of the roof areas. All loose roof shingles need to be secured/repaired to prevent moisture entering into the interior of the building.
9. Need to cut, trim and maintain overgrowth on property north of the parking lot. Need to maintain overgrowth to the street surface.

 ack To Top

MISSION

The Sarasota Alliance For Historic Preservation, Inc. is a non-profit and publicly supported organization with the mission To Preserve And Enhance Our Historic Places.

Back To Top

ABOUT US

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Inc., a non-profit, publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization, was incorporated in 1985 to save architect Dwight Baum's El Vernona Hotel, built in 1925 by owner Owen Burns, and which by the 1980s was known as the John Ringling Towers. Our highly publicized effort to save the towers during the late 1990s raised the community's consciousness and the ire of those interested in saving the historical integrity of Sarasota, Florida.

The Alliance is comprised of 203 residents, visitors, artists, architects, engineers, historians, builders, archaeologists, Realtors, planners, designers, and writers working together to preserve and encourage others to preserve - not only the remaining significant landmarks - but also the contributing structures that define Sarasota County.

We hope you will return frequently to learn about our current activities, and what we and others are doing to preserve our heritage. Thank you for your interest in preservation; we look forward to working with you!

(Photo of El Vernona Hotel courtesy of Sarasota County History Center)

Back To Top

Back To Top

A LOOK AT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

C.B Wilson House

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, the Wilson Family Home was officially opened in Urfer Family Park, near the corner of Bee Ridge Road and Honore Avenue in Sarasota. A large crowd came out for all the festivities and to see the historic home that was moved to this location in 2004.

Sarasota County Commissioners and other notables praised the efforts of the many groups that contributed time, money, and sweat to the extensive rehabilitation of the 1906 house that was occupied by Dr. C.B. Wilson and his family.

For the financial support the Alliance provided in the move of the house, our President, Debra Flynt-Garrett (pictured above at the right) receives a plaque from Lorrie Muldowney, Historic Preservationist at the Sarasota County History Center.

A short history video of Dr. C.B. Wilson was prepared for the event that shows him in his REO automobile – the first car in Sarasota. The actual move of the house and other interesting facets of this dedicated doctor are highlighted.

Visit Sarasota History Alive! to see more videos.

Back To Top

Jack West architect - 60 years of design

Architect Jack West was very influential in Sarasota's architecture during his time here with various partners from 1949 until his death in 2009. In honor of his icredible contributions to our culture, the Alliance participated with Sarasota County and the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center to produce an exhibit of his projects.

The exhibit is open to the public at the History Center Museum, within the Sarasota County Visitor Information Center, 701 North Tamiami Trail. The exhibit, which was curated by architect and author Joe King, features more than seventy architectural and urban planning projects.The AIA exhibit includes designs for educational facilities, custom residences, civic and cultural buildings, recreational facilities, hotels, condominiums and more. Although focused in the Sarasota region the exhibit also showcases projects and competitions as far reaching as Paris and Egypt.

Tour Venice Architecture

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation provided $15,000 in funding to help produce a customized tour guide (Tour Venice Architecture) to facilitate and promote a walking/driving tour of significant historical and architectural buildings in Osprey, Nokomis, and Venice.

Jeff La Hurd Sarasota Author

Over the years, the Alliance has assisted with the underwriting of seven books authored by Jeff LaHurd, local author and History Specialist at the Sarasota County History Center. The books cover many aspects of Sarasota's interesting and special history. They include:

• Sarasota - Then and Now
• Quintessential Sarasota
• Lido Beach
• Gulfcoast Chronicles
• Sarasota - A History
• Sarasota - Roaring Through the 20s
• Hidden History of Sarasota

Ringling Tack room

In 2006, the first pieces of the original tack room for the Ringling Brothers Circus were preserved and stored through a $50,000 grant by Lowe's Companies Inc. Lowe's provided the grant to the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation to salvage and help preserve the historic facility until it will be rebuilt for its new permanent home at the Ringling Circus Museum. The tack room was located at the southwest corner of Fruitville and Cattlemen Roads at the former Ringling winter quarters.

Part of the original horse barn and stables built in 1926, the tack room was used by Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus to store the various accessories worn by the renowned circus' show horses. The job of salvaging, transporting and maintaining the room, fully underwritten by the Lowe's grant, was part of the, Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation's continued efforts to preserve the area's historical resources through the creation of a documentary database of historic buildings.

REVOLVING FUND

The purpose of the Revolving Fund is to make loans to assist in the acquisition, relocation, or rehabilitation of historically-significant structures throughout Sarasota County and return monies to the fund for future projects.

Often times, local developers provide funds to assist in relocations, and by doing so, garner good will in the community and/or tax benefits. For example, in September, 2008, the Alliance received a donation of $20,000 to its Revolving Fund. This donation was the result of the enforcement of the mandates outlined in the Sarasota County Historic Preservation Ordinances, which state, "...that a contributing structure to an historic district may be demolished if the Historic Preservation Board finds the measures required to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effect to the historic resource..." In this case, a structure in Nokomis was demolished, and a mitigation measure was negotiated by the Sarasota County History Center.

If you would like to be added to the list of prospective Historic Homes Recipients, please email us at sahp.mailbox@gmail.com, and request an application form.  You never know when your dream home will become available.

Back To Top

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SAHP Officers
	President, Helena Karabatsos I'm originally from Ft. Lauderdale and moved to Sarasota in 2000 to attend New College of Florida, where I earned my bachelor's degree in art history. After graduating, I moved to Seattle and then down to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon. I left the Pacific Northwest and returned to Sarasota in 2009 after receiving my master's degree in art history. I love the city's historic neighborhoods, architecture and beautiful beaches. I currently work in the Public Affairs office at New College and volunteer at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, where I work with the Asian Art Coordinator. I love all things vintage, art, antiques, cooking, reading, gardening and living a life of creativity.
	1st Vice President, Wilson Stiles Wilson Stiles holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Florida with a specialty in Historic Preservation. He has held government positions in preservation in both Arkansas and Sarasota County, and has owned his own Interior Design practice with projects in Sarasota, New York and the Midwest. In contrast to his involvement in historic projects, his interiors are known for their refined, modern simplicity. He has served on the Boards of the Preservation Institute: Nantucket and the Victorian Society in America, as well as the design and restoration committee of The Mount, the Berkshire home of author Edith Wharton.
	2nd Vice President, Ron McCarty Ron McCarty has been a member of the Curatorial Department at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art for the last 30 years, and is currently the Curator and Keeper of Ca'd'Zan, the 36,000 square-foot historic Venetian-Gothic mansion seated on Sarasota Bay. Ron studied painting at the Kansas City Art Institute and has been a professional painter specializing in watercolor since the early 1970's. He has exhibited in numerous museum exhibitions and galleries worldwide. Ron has been on the Advisory Board of the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at Florida State University for the last 6 years. He coordinates the summer program for the Department of Interior Design held at Ca'd'Zan each year from FSU. He has also contributed his writing talents to numerous publications, and has authored two books; "The Work of Dwight James Baum", Acanthus Press, and "Ca’d’Zan: Ringling’s Venetian Palace" for Scala Publishers.. He serves on the vetting committee for the International Palm Beach Fine Arts Fair held every February.
	Secretary, Dorothea Calvert I am a recent retiree from UPS after nineteen years of service as a Major Account Manager. I have a B.A. from the University of South Florida and a M.B.A. from the University of Sarasota. I came to Sarasota first in 1976, then relocated to Ft. Lauderdale to access a Montessori education for my daughter returning in 1989. My hobbies are pottery, digital photography, gardening and restoration of a 1942 Florida ‘cracker’ house. My volunteer activities include The Alliance, The Education Foundation, Myakka State Park and various United Way organizations during my tenure at UPS.
	Treasurer, Joyce Waterbury I was born in Dearborn, Michigan, and moved to Sarasota in 1983, after retiring from a 20-year career as an Operations Manager for Ford Motor Credit Co. Since my retirement, I have been active as a Professional Volunteer. My current volunteerism includes mentoring/tutoring third graders at Emma E. Booker Elementary School, serving as the treasurer/board member for the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, serving as a board member for the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center, teaching basketry to the visually-impaired at SCTI, and serving as the Clerk of Session at Siesta Key Chapel. In the past, I have served as a docent for the Ringling Museum and an orchid expert at Selby Gardens. In February, 2010, I married Ron Conners, and we enjoy traveling the world.
SAHP Directors
	Laura Burnside Raised in Kansas(land of Oz)  Graduated  college Kansas State University. After college worked in Kansas City. Met and married husband. Phil. Late 70's moved to Florida.  Interior Designer in Tampa. Moved to Sarasota. Working as interior designer. Laura is A.S.I.D. and is a Florida Licensed designer. As an Interior Designer,  she has done many model homes and condos.  Worked at show homes as Docent and PR. work. She has also had paper and magazine pictures and articles  of  models and show rooms  in special showhouses. Over the years working as an Interior Designer, Laura has grown interested not only on interiors but the exteriors also., with an interest in Historic Homes. Laura has a Daughter recently graduated from Florida State University.
	Kristin Featherman I was born in Gainesville, Florida but was very fortunate to be raised in beautiful Sarasota from the time I was two. My parents loved to travel and decided to Home School all four of us so we could wander up and down the country visiting historic sites.  They showed me how to love, appreciate, and understand our historical places and how important it is that they can continue to tell their stories. Later, I attended The Art Institute of Tampa and earned my BFA in Interior Design and experienced living in a new city. The curriculum attracted me with its heavy emphasis on History. There were seven required History classes all focusing on art, furniture, and architecture. Soon after I graduated, I returned to Sarasota to Co-Found a design firm that specializes in Aging in Place and Sustainable Design.
	Joyce Hart Joyce Hart, a resident of Sarasota since 1968, is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design with a BFA, Major in Interior Design. Joyce was with Robb and Stucky Interiors for 23 years, and she and husband Jeff have just created J. Hart Designs LLC. Joyce also participates every year in the Boys and Girls Clubs Designer Showhouse, which raises money to help support the Clubs. She is also a past member of the American Society of Interior Designers Florida North Board, and is a current member of the City of Sarasota Historic Preservation Board. she and husband Jeff live in a 1926 home built by Owen Burns as one of the original spec homes to promote the Ringling Isles Development.
	Martha Horton I am a retired landscape architect. I have lived in the Sarasota area since 1973. I was drawn to historic preservation trying to save Mayor Gillespie’s house on Morrill Street in the 1980s. So it was a special pleasure recently to create a historic landscape for the relocated Wilson House at Urfer Family Park. (The Wilson House was originally a block away from the Gillespie house.) I served on the Alliance Board for six years during the fight to save the John Ringling Towers, and came back on the board in 2005. We should be good stewards of the land, including historic structures.
	Larry Kelleher I am native to Sarasota, Florida, and fondly refer to myself as a “Sota-Cracker.” After graduating University of Florida, I moved out of state and made my home at first in New Orleans, then later in Houston, Texas. After having enough of not living next the Gulf of Mexico, I returned in 1980 to see Sarasota destroying most of the historic landmarks that I had taken for granted. I worked in health-care for 25+ years, and as a Food Service Director, had a great deal of experience with the elderly. All too many of them passed away without their story or legacy being told, which prompted me to start a Web site (www.sarasotahistoryalive.com), devoted to telling Sarasota’s interesting and colorful history. This segued into a popular weekly newsletter, and now a free GPS based Mobile Web-App has been developed, which includes historic buildings, historical markers, stories, public art, ‘then’ photos, vintage postcards, videos - and much more to encourage tourism and education about our remaining assets.
	Katherine "Kittie" Kelly Katherine "Kittie" Kelly a Sarasota resident of 53 years is an environmental and historic preservationist. Kittie has restored three locally designated historic homes. Kittie has been active with the Central-Coconut Historic District and is a past member of the City of Sarasota Parks Advisory Board. She is returning to the Alliance Board after taking a brief hiatus.
	Nancy Morgan Although I was born in New York, I spent every winter on Siesta Key from the age of one. I went to school at the McClelland Park School and graduated from Riverview High School. After college and law school, I settled down in Washington DC with my husband, David, who had a construction company for 25 years that specialized in historic preservation projects, both commercial and residential, while I practiced tax law. In the course of our marriage, we have restored numerous historic houses for our own use, including the one we still own in Chevy Chase, Maryland, that was built over 100 years ago by the founder of the National Geographic Society as a wedding gift for his daughter. My most significant historic preservation work has been in conjunction with Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, which was the first instance of historic preservation in the United States when it was bought in 1848 by a group of women committed to preserving the home of the father of our country for posterity and who put in motion the restoration of that historic home by an organization still performing that service. During my Washington years, I always returned to Sarasota to visit my parents and when they moved to Plymouth Harbor, I used to go for walks around St. Armands Key with my mother who would tell me stories about the people who had lived in the various houses there over the 60+ years that my parents had been in Sarasota. And of course we had favorite houses and when one of them finally came on the market, David and I bought the historically designated structure on 3 lots and restored it over the course of 3 years. Like all ardent preservationists, I mourn the structures in this community that have not been preserved for the future as evidence of Sarasota’s origins and I am delighted to join with others committed to preservation.
	Rebecca Morgan I have been married for 39 years to Dennis Morgan, and have three children and two grandchildren. I am co-owner of the consulting firm, DL Morgan and Associates, and also am an Interior Designer, a Chef, a Genealogist, and Master Gardener. The Daughters of the American Revolution is very important to me, as I am current Regent of the Sara DeSoto Chapter, past Historian, past Registrar, and the State of Florida Conference Chairman. I am happy to add, I am on the ballot for the State Organizing Secretary for the Florida State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (FSSDAR).   I divide my time between working, family, church and being on a number of boards over the years throughout our state.
	Veronica Morgan Veronica is a graduate of the Boston Museum School and Tufts University, enjoyed a lengthy career in architectural design and institutional planning, followed by many years renovating significant historic buildings in Sarasota and New England. In her third incarnation, as visual artist, she gives new life to architectural salvage in collage and assemblage and creates visual memoirs through the media of print making, installation, water color and artists books with original poetry. Her studio, a renovated urban barn in Gloucester Mass, welcomes centuries of influence: Lascaux to Tapies, past nourishes present. Her work is held in many private collections and is exhibited nationally with the Society of Layerists in Multi Media and other venues.
	Ginger Sutton I am a native Floridian, having been born in Tampa, Florida. My first recollection of loving a home is a period Spanish-style stucco. Still today, this is my favorite type of home, although I appreciate all types of “old Florida” homes. My husband and I purchased and restored a 1903 farm house in Darien, Connecticut, where I was also teaching. In 1984 I entered Real Estate, and in 2002, I moved to Siesta Key to join both of my sons. They found Sarasota to be their choice for roots. All of us are trying to keep the history of Sarasota living.
SAHP Ex-Officio Officers
Ex-Officio Director, Lorrie Muldowney
Ex-Officio Director, Jesse White

Back To Top

Sarasota Alliance For Historic Preservation, inc. All rights Reserved
PO Box. 1754 - Sarasota, FL 34230 (941) 953-8727
An affiliate of the Sarasota History Alive! Network

Empowered by
Accrisoft Freedom

CONTACT US

Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation,Inc.
Post Office Box 1754
Sarasota, Florida 34230
(941) 953-8727
sahp.mailbox@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP

Benefits of membership include participaton in historic homes tours, walking tours, rehabilitation projects, workshops, seminars and much more. Please join us by completing this form and sending it to the address below in the Contact Us section.

You will need Adobe Reader
to view the Membership form.

SUPPORT US

There are a variety of ways to support the Alliance's mission. One way is through the purchase of books about Sarasota's history. Click here for more information.

NEWSLETTER

The Alliance publishes quarterly newsletters containing up to date information on Alliance activities.Newsletters are mailed to members free of charge.

• February 2011
• October 2010
• November 2009
• February 2008
• October 2007
• February 2007 
• January 2007
• October 2006