SARASOTA THROUGH THE YEARS

TRAILBLAZERS IN THE CREATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY

Here are 27 movers and shakers who led the way towards breaking away from Manatee County.

THE VICTORY CELEBRATION IN 1921 WAS LOUD AND COLORFUL. HORNS SOUNDED, WHISTLES BLEW, SIRENS WAILED.

Sarasotans turned out en masse to celebrate the split from Manatee County. Here, the parade leaves the temporary court house in the Hover Arcade and proceeds up lower Main Street – horns blaring and sirens wailing. Downtown Sarasota was filled with townsfolk, and a large American flag was hung from the center of the city hall building at the Hover arcade. A parade led by flag-draped cars and the Sarasota Brass Band marched up Lower Main Street toward Five Points and beyond.

According to Karl Grismer, author of The Story of Sarasota, the land of Sarasota remained in Manatee County until July 1, 1921 when Sarasota County was created by state legislature. It passed the state legislature on May 11, 1921 according to the telegram, then it had to go to the citizens for approval as per the Sarasota Times piece. Then it was effective July 1, 1921 as per Grismer.

(Photo Courtesy of Sarasota County Historical Resources)

PHOTO GALLERY

When a referendum approved the creation of Sarasota County, editor Rose Wilson added the word COUNTY to the name of the newspaper.

The Hover Arcade: Location of Sarasota County's First Court

When a referendum approved the creation of Sarasota County, editor Rose Wilson added the word COUNTY to the name of the newspaper.

An officer of the Woman's Club during the 1910s, Wilson printed minutes of the club's meetings and carried articles describing the various projects by which the women worked to benefit the social, cultural and political life of the community. When women gained the right to vote, Wilson encouraged them to become intelligent voters and provided through the paper basic information about voter registration, the political parties and the candidates in the next election. She considered herself one of the "progressives" in town and campaigned for the separation from Manatee County.

Thanks to Rose Wilson, copies of the Times during the time she was the publisher, 1910-1923, remain, although in very fragile condition. They can be read via microfilm and paper copies at the Sarasota County History Center.

Sarasotans turned out en masse to celebrate the split from Manatee County in 1921. Here, the parade leaves the temporary court house in the Hover Arcade and proceeds up lower Main Street - horns blaring and sirens wailing.

Vintage Postcard of the County Courthouse. By late 1924, the Board of County Commissioners began steps to construct a courthouse for the new county. Charles and Edith Ringling conveyed land for the building. In March 1925, the Commissioners hired nationally renowned architect Dwight James Baum to be the supervising architect. Built in the Mediterranean Revival style by Stevenson and Cameron, Inc., it was completed in February, 1927.

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