Wares Creek Bridge

Wares Creek Bridge

     The original bridge was built in 1938.  It was designed by Freeman Horton.  The bridge type was concrete arch.  It was one of the oldest in Florida.  It was constructed by Bradenton Public Works using federal funds. It was 36.4 feet in length.

     It was demolished in 2012 and replaced with a more modern one

Little White Church

     In January, 1917, the Presbyterian Church of Bee Ridge Florida was founded with 29 charter members.  Mrs. Potter Palmer presented the congregation with two corner lots at the corner of Procter and McIntosh.  A loan was secured for construction of a new church.  The new church was dedicated December 7, 1919.

     In 1926, a major hurricane demolished the church.  While the church was being rebuilt, services were held in the Bee Ridge Baptist Church.   The new church was rebuilt in 1927.

     In 1927, the church was struck with lightning and burned to the ground.  During the rebuilding project the Congregation worshiped in the Bee Ridge Women’s Club.

    In 1927, a new wood frame church  in the Gothic Revival Style opened in 1927.  It contained a sanctuary, narthex and 2 classrooms.  It was dedicated in October 1927.     Congregation grew in the 1940’s.    A new sanctuary and an educational building were erected.   The Little White Church was relocated to the back of the property in 1956.

     In 1989, the Albritton family completed a restoration. of the church.  The Little White Church is used for 8:30 am Sunday service, small groups, weddings and special services.

Church Sign

Church Building

     In 1954, Albert Blackburn donated a plot of land at 404 Warfield, Venice to the Union Missionary Baptist Church.  Local architect donated his services, local builder donated surveying, and local businesses and churches donated money and material to the effort.

     The pastor Reverend Joseph Daugherty  and the parishioners opted to build the church themselves.  Daugherty was a mason and brick layer and did the bulk of the work.  Still under construction, the church was dedicated on Easter Sunday 1955.

     Reverend James Sims succeeded Daugherty in 1956.  He oversaw an expansion in 1960 for a space that was used for education, recreation, and dining.   The building was significantly damaged by a flood from a busted sewage pipe in 2003.   It was 2 years before the church reopened.

Same as above

Church Plaque

Church Plaque

Church Building

Same as above