WELCOME
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Inc., a non-profit, publicly-supported organization, was incorporated in 1985 after the unsuccessful attempt 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. The highly publicized effort 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!
Click on the links below for further information:
- MISSION
- OUR ACCOMIPLISHMENTS
- UPCOMING EVENTS
- NEWSLETTER
- REVOLVING FUND
- MEMBERSHIP
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- CONTACT US
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.
A LOOK AT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In 1985, the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation undertook a program to rehabilitate the Rosemary Cemetery. The Rosemary Committee drafted a plan that engaged Alliance members, the City Commission and the City Parks and Recreation department, and general individual donors in a concerted effort to accomplish rehabilitation.
The cemetery boundaries were re-surveyed, a watering system installed, the central pergola and driveway and matching entryway posts restored, trees trimmed and a regular mowing schedule established. In 1998, the Mildred F. Doyle Trust made a commitment for annual conservation funds for ongoing rehabilitation. In 2002, a joint venture between New College of Sarasota and the Rosemary Cemetery Committee of the Historical Society of Sarasota County was formed to provide a formal gravesite survey of the cemetery.
Rosemary Cemetery is located near downtown Sarasota on Central Avenue between 8th and 10th Streets. It has been an established place within the community since 1886, when it was included in Sarasota's original town plan. The following year, an English settler named Tom Booth marked the first burial.
Twenty-four years later, in June 1911, it was suggested that the present site of the cemetery should be moved to a larger tract of land, "which will provide a cemetery for years to come, when Sarasota will have many times numbered its present population." Since then, Sarasota's population has boomed to greater numbers than the original founders ever imagined. Yet, Rosemary Cemetery still remains. It owes its survival to the interest of local members of the community, who have long recognized its significance to Sarasota's history. It has been cherished, forgotten, and rediscovered many times throughout the last century.
Rosemary Cemetery marks the lives of Sarasota's key pioneers and founders who lived and died over 100 years ago; however, it is also a living cultural landscape. A short walk among its granite headstones, marble monuments, and arching tree branches reveals many subtle, yet culturally significant aspects of Sarasota's history. Rosemary Cemetery expressed evolving cultural attitudes regarding everything from death and family to prejudice and civil rights. These trends are marked in the layout of its lots, the designs of its stones, and the language of its inscriptions.
(Photo of El Vernona Hotel courtesy of Sarasota County History Center)
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 20, 2009 - 5:30-7:30 pm - The Alliance, partnered with the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center, and the Historical Society of Sarasota County, invites you to book signings by local authors Joe King, Jeff LaHurd and Don Smally. Historian Jeff LaHurd, architect Joe King and archaeologist, Jodi Pracht will also provide informative walk-through lectures of the beautifully displayed exhibits at the History Center Museum. The museum is located at the Historic Chidsey Library Building, 701 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida. For further information, telephone: 941-953-8727.
December 5, 2009 - Alliance Holiday party.
January 24, 2010 - Historic Coalition for Preservation Party
March 7, 2010 - Annual Historic Homes Tour (Watch video of the 2009 Home Tour)
April 9, 2010 - Annual Meeting
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 mgg476@aol.com, and request an application form. You never know when your dream home will become available.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Officers and Directors
| President, Don Smally | Chris Fitzgibbons | Rachel McCall |
| 1st Vice President, Joan Bowers |
Harvey Hoglund | Rebecca Morgan |
| 2nd Vice President, Martha Horton |
Larry Kelleher | Beverly Scott |
| Secretary, Kafi Benz |
Kittie Kelly |
Dr. Clifford Smith |
| Treasurer, Jesse White |
Aviva LaGasse | Wes Snyder |
| Ginger Sutton | ||
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Ex-Officio Director- Lorrie Muldowney |
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| Ex-Officio Director - Joyce Waterbury |
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
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.
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.
CONTACT US
Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation,Inc.
Post Office Box 1754
Sarasota, Florida 34230
(941) 953-8727
SarasotaAlliance@gmail.com