Bidwell–Wood House

The Bidwell House is currently located at 1260 12th Street Sarasota, Florida. It is a one and one half story Classical Revival, wood frame structure, with a Georgian floor plan,raised foundation home with a Georgian floor layout. It was built in 1882. The house was formerly located at 881 Florida Avenue and prior to that it stood near the intersection of US 41 and Wood Street. It was moved to its current location in Pioneer Park in October, 2006.

Construction of the house began in 1882 on a 80 acre tract which was purchased from the State of Florida by Mary Bidwell. The house was later owned by the Wood family who purchased it in 1896 along with 70 acres.

The Bidwell Wood House is among the earliest documented structures of the areas exploration/settlement phase. The Classical Revival style was the vernacular at the time of the construction, yet today the structure is outnumbered by the Mediterranean revival style of many units.

Late ownership and moves

After the Bidwells, the property changed hands multiple times. In 1896, Annie Woods and Zachariah Spencer bought it. Spencer’s share was later acquired by the Woods. The Luke A. Wood family lived there for- decades. In 1931, 12 acres were donated to the city for Luke Wood Park. The house was moved in 1977 to 12th Street by the Historical Society of Sarasota County and in 2006 to its current site in Pioneer Park

Preservation and Significance

Restored by the Historical Society of Sarasota County, the Bidwell Wood House is preserved as a cultural resource representing early settlement in Sarasota. Its architecture, history and association with pioneer life make it a rare surviving example of the area’s earliest domestic building.

     Crocker Memorial Church aka Saint John ‘s Chapel, was a Baptist church located in Sarasota,Fl. It was established in 1901 by Peter Cracker. It is now a historic structure owned by the Historical Society of Sarasota County and is located at 1260 12th Street Sarasota, Florida                      History      Peter Crocker, T.T. Hamlin, and L.C. Deming were three of the original trustees of Saint John’s Church. They were deeded 2 acres of land from Florida Mortgage and Investment Company on June 27,1901 for one dollar down.  The property was to be used for a church and graveyard. The church was designated as a Baptist Chapel on 1903.  Due to the failure to find a resident pastor, the church declined after Crocker’s death in 1911.                 Location.and Ownership Changes      16 years after Croker’s death, Bay Haven Baptist Church purchased the church building and moved it to its property on Bradenton Road.  When the Bay Haven Church purchased a new building, a Spanish Mission Congregation used it until the early 1980’s. When they left, the church was moved again by the historic preservationist in 1986 to Florida Avenue and was historically designated in 1995. The church continued to be used by the Throne of Grace Charismatic Episcopal Church until 2004 when it was officially decommissioned due to its poor condition.  In 2005, a campaign began to save the building from demolition.  With the help of the county, Jane Krischner former president of the Historical Society took ownership of the building and coordinated the church’s final move to Pioneer Park in 2006.      The county provided over $160,000 to move the church for the Historical Society in 2006.  The building is now used as their gathering place for educational and social ssCroPair  Historical Society Ownership      Since 2006, the Historical Society has worked to restore, maintain and utilize the Crocker Church. Repairs were made the wood siding, floor joists, west wall, foundation and 6 windows.  The society is raising money to repair the East wall      The Church is frequently used for events such as Conversations at the Crocker where experts and audiences discuss events and people that have shaped Sarasota.     The Historical also rents out the Church for weddings

     The Warren Building in Sarasota is a historic low rise structure located at 1269 First Street Sarasota, designed in the Spanish Revival style and completed in 1926 for Clark Warren for his real estate office.

    It is a 2 story building used during the subsequent years for retail and rental purposes. It remains an existing landmark in  Sarasota’s downtown

     Early 20th Century Origins

The building’s construction in 1926 reflects Sarasota ‘s early 20th Century commercial commercial growth, when downtown areas were developed with mixed use spaces for shops, offices, and rental.  It’s Spanish Revival Architecture– characterized by stucco walls, decorative, tile,and arched details–was popular in Florida’s coastal cities during that era .

    Later Uses

Over the decades,the Warner Building has served various commercial functions, consistent with its original mixed use design. While specific tenants history are not detailed in the available sources, it’s location in the heart of downtown Sarasota kept it connected to the city’s retail and office economy

     Current Status

     The 1926 building at 1269 First Street remains in use and is recognized for its architectural and historical significance and it continues to be a part of Sarasota ‘s downtown.

Same as above

Sunset over Sarasota Bay

Curione Beach Cottage is a rare surviving example of early surviving 20th century barrier island architecture built in 1932 in the craftsmen style. This cottage was constructed during a period when Sarasota County and private developers were expanding beach access and amenities along the Keys. Like many structures it was part of the wave of small wood frame beach houses built between the mid 1920’s and 1945 on barrier islands. The Curione family used it as a beach cottage. It later became a county property after Sarasota purchased in 2008. It has been used as a county office and a meeting space.

The Avery Road Galien River Bridge is a bridge that carries Avery Road over the Galien River near New Troy, MI. The construction date is not certain but is estimated in the 1920’s. The bridge was built by Michigan State Highway Department using Marshall and Sons. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1999.

Design was curved chord through girder

Total length was 60 feet

Width 25.7 feet

Largest span was 57

Avery Galien River Bridge

The Avalon Regal Theatre is currently undergoing a multiyear restoration supported by a new $249,500 Chicago Adopt a Landmark Grant for critical masonry and tower.repair, with.Grand Hall.reopening targeted for 2027/and full venue  in.2028 activation.

The city of Chicago has recommended the  Avalon.Regal Theatre for $249,500 in Adopt A.Landmark funding ,its first major public investment since.the building was purchased in 2014.

The grant will fund:

Critical Masonry Repairs

Rebuilding the exposed brick substructure of that tower

Selective remova/resetting of  displaced masonry and isolated  repointing

Temporary Stabilization of vunerable.areas

Front Facade Repair