In 1915, Chicago socialite Mabel Linn sold 60 acres of undeveloped acres to Edson Keith, Jr. for  $7000. This land was located along the south bank of Phillipi Creek just south of downtown Sarasota.  This land was to become  the Edson Keith estate.  In 1916 he built a clap board farmhouse to live in while his main home was being built.

     His residence was completed in December, 1916.  The architects Otis and Clark were from.Chicago. It was an L shaped 2 story Italian.Renaissance style. The builder was Edson Keith

Exterior Architecture

     Structure built with hollow clay tile and brick. It features white washed exterior walls    

Roofing 

     The home is topped with a low pitched hip roof covered in red ceramic terracotta tiles

Outdoor Living

     Large expansive veranda and Northern corner porches designed to capture coastal breezes, acting as a form of natural air conditioning

Terrace

     A large rear terrace overlooks a lush lawn that sweeps down toward shores of Philippines Creek

Interior Features

     Grand entry the mansion opens into a stately foyer characterized by exquisite craftsmanship

   Living spaces

        The main floor includes an expansive living room and twin sun rooms featuring elegant Palladian window    Historical Finishes

       interior details include hand painted ceilings, intricate woodwork and a wood paneled library

         

Modern for its time

     Featured indoor plumbing,.closets,and electric lighting

Upper level

     Second floor contains 4 main.bedrooms and suites
 

Ownership Timeline

     Edson Keith,Jr.  (1916–1939)  Edson was a wealthy Chicago       businessman who built the mansion as a year -round                 residence.  He lived there until his death in 1939.

      Mae Hansen Produce  (1939–1986) After Keith’s death,              his  widow, Nettie, sold the property to Mae Hansen                    Prodie, a Chicago -based designer of doll clothing (famous        for creating wardrobes for Barbie dolls)

       During this era , Mae’s husband, Charles Prodie                             operated the mansion as a luxury inn and restaurant                   known as Philippi Plantation.

     In 1912, The newly organized Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club purchased a 100 foot lot with a 2 story boat house on Cedar Point (today is next to where the Watergate Condominium grounds front the southeast corner of Gulf Stream Avenue near US 41.   )

     At that time, Gulf Stream Avenue did not extend that far west and the low area was used by fishermen and boat builders. By the middle of the following year, a seawall had been built far enough into Sarasota Bay to create–once fill was found for attractive land landscaping and a driveway.

     Soon after the land purchase, the club announced in the Sarasota Times, that members of the Yacht and Auto Club had approved a plan for a new club house.

     The plans were developed by architect Alex Browning.  The new building was to be two stories with a garage underneath. Porches were to be on both levels.   The building was elevated.10 feet off the ground on concrete posts to create a protected basement or ground level area  for automobile storage,a gymnasium, a kitchen, and a bathroom with shower.  A dumb waiter connected the kitchen to the upper dining areas.

     The first floor had a 400 seat auditorium and stage. It had a main room with fireplaces at both ends, a card room and billiard tables.

     The second floor housed banquet and private dining rooms,a library, a lounging room, and a specific ladies lounging area and five bedrooms for rent.

     There was a 20 foot cupola on the roof.  This featured hammocks and chairs with a 360 degree view view of the bay and city.. Tje building was constructed in early 1913.  The builder was H.B. Westbrook.  Construction costs were $4,000.

     
Architectural Characteristics

     Elevated vernacular.  2 story structure built 10 feet off the ground

    Prominent Nautical Details

     The exterior was painted white with green trim.  Building was topped by a 20 foot square cupola

    Porch centric design

Extensive porches wrapped around both the front and sides  of each story

     Interior Finishing 

The interior was more refined featuring plaster walls and dark green.stained

     The 1912 building was used by the Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club for 4 years.approximately 

     Time line of building use.

1913- 1916

The building served as  vibrant social center for boating and automobile enthusiasts

1916-1917

After the club experienced financial difficulties and failed to make mortgage interesr payments, the  Naval Militia Armory almost immediately used the vacated club. It was transformed  into an armory used to store guns, tents, uniforms and equipment before the militia left for Charleston Naval Yards during World War  I

Sunset Apartments (early 1920’s — 1964)

John Ringling purchased the building in 1917. In the early 1920’s, the former clubhouse was renovated and converted into a residential building known as the Sunset Apartments. There were nine units with bay view.  It continued as apartments until 1964.

     The apartments closed and the building was demolished in 1964.  A new  modern development on Golden Gate Point was constructed.

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     This is an unincorporated community  5 miles north of Englewood in Sarasota County Florida. 

  In  1915, Southern Investment Company acquired thousands of acres of land in the area from Bertha Palmer and  Joseph Lord to turn into a resort community in Mamasota.  Sensing that a greater profit could be made with a different sale, they  sold it to the Manasota Land Timber Company in 1917. The sale involved over 80,000  acres of timber land long the Gulf Coast Railroad. In  May, 1918 the company transferred 250  acres to the Manasota  Lumber Company. The company built a massive four story sawmill and company town on the site.  Construction started in 1918 under the supervision of Herman Kluge. The mill was a coal fired facility capable of producing over 42,000 feet of milled lumber daily. The surrounding  town served  1500 workers

The heart of the operation was the massive industrial complex.

     Sawmill

There was a four story structure roughly the size of a full city block.

     Drying sheds

Three large sheds used for seasoning lumber

     Machine shop

A large facility for maintaining mill equipment and locomotives

     Railroad Yard

Featured a network of narrow gauge rail lines and two locomotives for moving logs and finished lumber

     Mule Corral 

Housing for the animals used  in early logging and hauling

Housing for Manasota Lumber Company  was located in the company town of Woodmere. It consisted of a segregated  multi-tiered  system.

Supevisory/White Employees

     Lived in substantial, individual family homes.

General/Black Laborers 

     Housed in large, plain dormitories or bikini used for single men, often segregated from white neighborhoods

General Features

     The camp included a large dining hall (serving up to 1500).  This also served a recreation center, motion picture theater, a church and a school.  There  was a commissary for supplies, post office, a machine shop and a railroad yard.  There was  some family housing for workers. The town was surrounded by a tall fence with a gate house.

    The Manasota Lumber Company operated its sawmill town between 1918 and roughly 1923.It went in receivership in 1922 and transitioned into the Woodmere Lumber Company.  The sawmill activity ceased in 1923.  The Mill was destroyed by a fire in 1930.
     Founding/Groundbreaking: October 19,1918

     Peak operation 1918 to 1923

     Transition/end : renamed Woodmere Lumber Company in 1922.  Production shut down around in 1923.

     Very little remains of the Manasota Lumber Company, as the town of Woodmere was largely destroyed by fire and the surrounding forests were depleted. However, physical traces still in.the local area.

     Venice Jetties: Foundation stones from the original sawmill were salvaged and incorporated into the construction of the Venice Jetties in 1937

     Relocated Homes:  Some of the better constructed houses were moved before or after the town’s abandonment to Siesta Key, Englewood, and Venice

     Historical marker: A marker stands at the former site of the towm, located at 5115 Englewood, Venice.

     

     It is situated at 1600 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.  It is located at the bustlimg six corners intersection of North,Milwaukee and Damen Avenues. It is a 12 story  203 feet tall Art Deco Building. It is clad in limestone light colored brick, and concrete.It was built in 1928- 1929.  It was renovated 2015–2017. The building was designed by Perkins, Chatted and Hammond.  The building was commissioned by a building corporation formed by businessman Joseph Noel. He had previously used the site for his bank Northwest Savings Bank

    The building was originally marketed to high level doctors, dentists and attorneys.  In the period from the 1930’s to the 2000’s the building served as private office space.  By the 1980’s it became known as the Coyote  building and it housed the Tower Coyote Gallery.  This was the most prominent tenant of the Northwest Tower during  its era as an arts colony in the 1980’s.  It was founded  by Jim Happy Delpeche  an art dealer who is widely credited with establishing the building as a central hub for Wicker Park arts. 

2008

     The Chicago zoning board approved plan to convert the Northwest Tower building into a hotel.  Unfortunately progress on this project was halted due to financial issues.

Renovation period 2015 to 2017.

     The renovation project restarted with a design by Gruopo Habita with input from Artunovich and Nicolas Schuybrock  Architects

     Opening in 2017

     The building opened as the Robey Hotel (previous name of Damen Avenue.  There were 69 rooms.  Cafe Robeyw was a hotel restaurant serving French American food.

     This building is located at 4240 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago.   The architect was Clarence Hatzfeld..  It was constructed in 1910.  Cornerstone laid in in the.same year.  This is a substantial four story red brick building with limestone detailing. It has a symmetrical composition.   The design featured geometric flourishes and a limestone clad parapet that reflected the then modern Prairie style.

     Upper floors contained the Lodge Hall 

     Lower Assembly Hall a large banquet hall designed for community gatherings and social activities.

     Exterior Features  Building is characterized by its large multi light windows and a notable geometric stepped back parapet at the roofline

     The building was abandoned by the Freemasons in the early 1970’s.. In 1981 the Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church purchased the structure from the Masons. The building served as a place of worship for several decades. By the 2010’s, the structure had fallen into significant disrepair and was at risk of demolition. 

     In 2014, the church sold the property the property to Michelle Foik and Katy Pizza ,founders of Eris  Brewery and Cider House

Renovation and infrastructure

     The building  underwent a total interior demolition,replacing all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Additions a included new elevator,two fire rated staircases, a sprinkler systems, and a grade level lobby for ADA accessibility

Brewery/Cider Integration

     A glass brewhouse was installed, along with extensive cider fermentation, blending, and serving tanks in the basement.

Restaurant and Guest area

  A new mezzanine level.was added for dining, alongside a bar in the old banquet hall and a new commercial kitchen.

Repurposing Materials

    The project focused on sustainability, repurposing wood framing wood framing into tables and booths sand transforming old radiator parts into railings.

Historical Preservation:

    The design retains a 20 foot high auditorium featuring a large stage and balcony.  The owners preserved the building’s history with nods to the Masons,including a Masonic safe and an apron.

     The conversion.of the Masonic Temple into the Eris Brewery and Cider House was a 5 million project. The cost of building purchase was 1.27 million dollars

1.      This building was built in 1908–1910. It is a Prairie Style building .  It was designed by Dwight H. Perkins.  This public high school was built for the rapidly  growing Irving Park neighborhood in northwest Chicago

     This building is a Mediterranean Revival style Building.  It was built in 1925-1926.  The builder and architect was Owen Burns.

    It was the home of the Sarasota Herald Newspaper from 1925 to 1969.  Originally,thisis was  a one story building. It was 45 feet in width and 197 feet in depth. Construction used hollow clay tile blocks.

      Over the years, the building was converted from its single story to multiple levels.  The original entrance was replaced  by a French Window, and a new recessed entrance was created by combining two of the original window bays.

     As of March, 2026 current tenants are Fisher and Fine, Uplift on Orange,Hello Tattoo Parlor, Body Reform Fitness, Figgy Co., The Fountain Kitchen Bar, Burns Square Hotel.

     Fisher and Fine Company 539 S. Pineapple Ave.is a vintage jewelry boutique on the ground Floor.. Uplift on Orange at 536 Orange Avenue. The studio is a boutique fitness studio located on ground floor.  Hello Tatoo Parlor at 530 S. Orange Avenue is a traditional tattoo and piercing shop located in the Burns square District.  Body Reform Fitness is located at 529 South Pineapple Avenue. It specializes in Electrical Muscle Stimulation.  Figgy.Company 533 S. Pineapple Avenue. This is a clean beauty and wellness boutique. Gift SRQ is located at 537 Pineapple Avenue.  Boutique Gift shop including house warming, new babies, weddings, and birhdays. Fountain Kitchen and Wine Bar is located at 543 S. Pineapple Avenue. This is a casual ,Italian effusion bistro. It is known for its personal.sized artisan pizzas and cozy European Style. Burns Square Hotel is located at 531 S. Pineapple Ave. It is a boutique hotel.  There are eight rooms often referred as apartment suites.

          Owen Burns:Built the Spanish Mission Style building

          Lindsay Family (Sarasota Herald)  owned and operated               the newspaper here from 1925 to 1957. They converted the single story 1925 Herald Building to a multilevel structure.

         Sarasota Woman’s Exchange: bought the building in 1969 for $80,000. The organization moved into the building in 1969 after purchasing and renovating it. The building was renovated to suit the consignment shop in 1982

     Denise Kowalski purchased the Sarasota Herald. Building in 1986. She initially bought the building with a partner to save it from speculators.  In March 2003 she became the sole owner after buying out her ex husband’s 50% share for $700,000.  

     In 1996, she converted three original studio apartments on the second floor into a single large residence for her family. The building is currently listed for sale for 8.5 million

Ansel  Brainerd Cook was a prominent 19th century Chicago stonemason, contractor and Illinois lawmaker.He built a historic Victorian home in Libertyville, Illinois.

     He built his country home in 1878. It  an Eastlake style structure  designed by W.W. Boyington.  It is an 2 and one half stories. First floor contains traditional large public rooms with wood trim and paneling. 

     Second floor.Central hall leading to a series of bedrooms and smaller rooms.These floors currently house Victorian era furnishings and a local history gallery.

     Half story (attic) a very.large attic space accessible by stairs from the second floor.

Exterior:The home is characterized by its steep hipped roof with projecting gable dormers and stately columns that stretch the full height of the 2 and one half story facade. Current facade is stucco.covering wood siding

    The Ansel B. Cook building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as a museum for Libertyville Historical Society

Park View Hotel was built in 1926-7. It was built by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.  It was located on the 300 bloc of Venice Avenue. I  The architect was the firm of Walker and Gillette.  The building style was Northern Italian Renaissance.

     There were 100 rooms. 3 floors.  Ground floor designed for commercial use.  There was a space for a large restaurant and 16 shops.  Upper floors housed the guest rooms.

     The building was a steel reinforced concrete block structure finished with stucco.

     In 1933, this building was purchased by Doctor Albee.  He bought it from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.  He later converted it to a hospital.