Book-briefs: New regional titles
Some new local history titles out this spring:
• “Three Ringling Circus: A History of Sarasota and the Famous Ringling Brothers” by Sandra Gurvis illuminates the Ringling family’s impact on…
Preservation study slated for historic Placida rail bunkhouse
Last remnant of historic Placida village
The Placida Bunkhouse, a 1907 cottage used to house the railroad workers of the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad, will get an architectural sur…
Pascua Florida, or Feast of Flowers
Of the two big religious holidays, it is Easter that is the one that makes the most sense, culturally to Florida. In the imagination, Christmas is a cold weather holiday, and a “too hot” Christmas…
Remarks on the Bridge Authority’s early years
BY GINGER WATKINS
Editor’s Note: At her last meeting as chairman last month, outgoing GIBA Chairman Ginger Watkins assembled facts and history about the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. We h…
History Bytes: Viola Dyer recalls Boca Rico, the Pass Marina and sea rescues
Closing out the season’s History Bytes series was a lively hour of story-telling by jack-of-many- trades and master of all of them, Viola Dyer. She came to the island in the 1980s and established …
History Bytes: Leslie Porter Joiner on ‘Effie’
Memories of Effie Sapp Joiner, 1900-96
Artist Leslie Porter Joiner shared stories about Effie Sapp Joiner at a talk at the Fust Library as part of the Boca Grande Historical Society’s History B…
History Bytes: A ‘true Southern lady’ Mary Ellen Vickers Parkinson
The second History Bytes program for 2024 featured Boca Grande native Carolyn Parkinson Nabers sharing about her mother’s life on the island. Mary Ellen Vickers Parkinson was “a true Southern lady…
Historic Preservation Board considers two residential projects
Two projects, including a signature house at 181 Gilchrist Ave., will go before Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
The proposed new house on Gilchrist is a two-story…
History Bytes looks at book, towns of the island
Despite the chill in the air, close to 100 people showed up for the season’s first History Bytes program at the loggia of the Johann Fust Library. The topic was the History Center’s new exhibit, b…
From pirates to the Pelican Room
The Gasparilla Inn history tour takes guests back in time
History Tour Guide Sandi Firtion had a full house on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 6 at The Gasparilla Inn and Club. A crowd of about 30…