Sprott as Marshall in the early 1900s

BY LIZA STROUT - History continued to come to life at the Johann Fust Community Library this Wednesday, with the latest installment of the popular History Bytes series. This week was focused on the Sprott family, and there was laughter and a few tears as the tale of the family unfolded.

 

The Sprotts came to Boca Grande in 1926, in the person of Captain W.C. Sprott, owner and operator of the Boca Grande Ferry. His wife, Anna, ran the Hotel Sprott and the Hotel Palm. His descendants, four and five generations on, were at the Johann Fust Community Library on Wednesday to share the history of the family.

Robert Fischer, a Sprott family member and historian, was on hand to give the history of the Sprott family both before they came to Florida and after they arrived on the island, with a successful stop in Bartow on the way. Ruthie Amen and Jennifer Burch, along with Jennifer’s daughter Rebecca Burch Riker, told old family stories and reminisced about growing up on the island. An essay written by Jennifer’s mother, Sarah Peach, brought more than one member of the audience to tears with the vivid images of island days gone by evoked.

Next week’s History Bytes Pioneer Family will be the Whiddens of Whidden’s Marina. Join Dave Arner as he tells the story of this old island family, who are on the island to this day.

Everyone is invited to this free event, and there will be refreshments following. For more information, please call the Historical Society at 964-1600.

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