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JOHN TUFF & FRIENDS CONCERT

John’s wife Patty joins him in song.
A benefit concert for the Lemon Bay Historical Society will be held on Thursday, June 30th at 7 PM at the church, 510 Indiana Ave., Englewood.  
John Tuff is known around this area for his love of Classic Country Music, Gospel and music that is rooted in a love for the American Story.  John says, “My musician friends vary depending on time of year and availability but whoever plays with us will have a love for this community and a desire to do a great job.  We look forward to seeing you there.”
Join John singing along to the hits from radio days (Johnny, Waylan and Willie), gospel revivals and American ballads. This is a non-ticketed event but there will be an opportunity to make a donation to the Lemon Bay Historical Society for upkeep of the historic Green Street Church.

American Rescue Plan Grant

Funding has been provided to the Lemon Bay Historical Society by Florida Humanities through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021. NEH is committed to Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan.

Due to the pandemic, the Lemon Bay Historical Society had to cancel its traditional monthly community programs. Fundraising events were also canceled. The Society is responsible for maintaining the historic Green Street Church building and its property.

To help fund general operating expenses, the Historical Society has received a $2,500 “American Rescue Plan” grant from Florida Humanities. These expenses include lawn mowing, water, electricity, landscaping maintenance, insurance, taxes, building upkeep, etc.

OUR MISSION
In 1985, the Lemon Bay Historical Society was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization whose mission was “for the specific purposes of perpetuating the legacy of the past and honoring the pioneer settlers of the Lemon Bay area.”  To carry out this mission the Society:

  • Presents programs on history, archaeology, music, wildlife and historical preservation
  • Schedules talks about and reenactments of persons of local historical interest
  • Invites local authors who write about historical events to discuss their works
  • Publishes and sells books on local history, Englewood pioneers and local lore
  • Maintains the Historic Green Street Church building for community use

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN?

This year Florida Humanities awarded 129 organizations a total of $1.88 million in “American Rescue Plan” (ARP) funding, helping to retain more than 400 humanities jobs, support rent and utility costs, implement technology needs and more for small to midsize organizations.

When the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was passed by Congress on March 11, 2021, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) received $135 million to assist humanities organizations across the country affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to provide short term general operating support in their respective states to museums, archives, historic sites, and other humanities-focused nonprofits.

WHAT IS THE NEH?
On September 29, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act into law. This law created the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The purpose of the NEH is to advance the humanities and its respective disciplines into the public square.
The NEH soon realized the immense challenge of its mission. To respond more effectively to local needs, the NEH decided to establish a humanities council in every state, plus six U.S. territories. Florida Humanities was established in 1973.

WHAT DOES FLORIDA HUMANITIES DO?
Florida Humanities works with local humanities organizations to accomplish its mission. This includes libraries, museums, and historical societies, among others. Like the Lemon Bay Historical Society, many of these organizations are committed to their communities and rely on volunteers and limited funding to sustain their operations.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by the Lemon Bay Historical Society, do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

MEMBERSHIP
The Lemon Bay Historical Society welcomes new members. You do not need to be a historian to join, just someone interested in preserving the history of Englewood. For information visit: https://lemonbayhistory.com/about-us/

Christmas Sing A Long!

All are invited to our annual Christmas Sing A Long!
Tuesday, December 14 at 6pm
PLEASE NOTE: THE START TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 6PM
Pastor Don Burlock with the Englewood United Methodist Church will lead the event. He is an accomplished musician, playing organ, piano, accordion and alto horn.
The Methodist congregation’s first church was originally on Green Street in Englewood. Built in 1928, this building, recognized by the Sarasota County Register of Historic Places, was moved and saved by the Lemon Bay Historical Society.
Still known as “The Green Street Church” the iconic building is now located next to the historic Lemon Bay Cemetery at 510 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood.
Admission to the Sing-A-Long is Free but donations are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Event Schedule for 2022

Our next event at the historic Green Street Church,
510 S. Indiana Avenue, Englewood:
7pm, April 26:
Rhoda Clovis “Cyprus Gardens”

From the 1953 movie “Easy To Love” with Esther Williams, Rhoda Clovis is on the right.

Englewood’s own Rhoda Clovis will talk about her career as a model and water skier at Cypress Gardens during its heyday in the 1950s.
Rhoda has been a resident of Englewood for 54 years. She owned Rhoda’s Swimwear for 30 years.

We asked her how she became an Aquamaid:
”When I was 16, I was invited to spend a week at Beautiful Cypress Gardens to see if I was photogenic and had any Water skiing abilities (I had learned to ski on Lake Dora in Mt. Dora, Fl. Where I attended school.) I was asked to come back and work there after high school, but went on to the University of Florida. I eventually agreed to accept the position of water skier and model at Cypress Gardens.

“I married their head photographer, Trammell Pickett and moved to Sarasota and then Englewood.

“I have two wonderful sons who never left Englewood (Tram Pickett (co-owner of Berlin Sign Co) and Travis Pickett (Owner of Native Charters in Englewood). I have 4 grandchildren and 3 great grands.”
Rhoda appeared along with Esther Williams in the 1953 film “Easy To Love.”

Join us Tuesday, April 26 at 7pm at the Historic Green Street Church, 510 Indiana Ave., Englewood.

All are invited.
Admission is FREE but your tax-deductible contributions are always greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

About Cypress Gardens:

Cypress Gardens “Belles” Walking on Water
(Click for Larger View)

When Dick Pope Sr. opened his Cypress Gardens in 1936, the park in Winter Haven became Florida’s first large-scale tourist attraction. Pope turned marshland into a garden showplace for 8,000 varieties of plants and trees. By 1943, Cypress Gardens became known as the water ski capital of the world, attracting Hollywood stars and providing the setting for many movies. Cypress Gardens closed in 2009, becoming Legoland Florida Resort. Cypress Gardens remains as part of the attraction.

Charlotte County Centennial 2021

The Lemon Bay Historical Society invites the public to the Historic Green Street Church Museum Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm for a special presentation on Charlotte County’s 100th Anniversary.

Our speaker will be Dr. Jennifer Zoebelein, the  historian for Charlotte County. Her presentation will celebrate Charlotte County’s centennial by examining its history before and after its creation in 1921, highlighting those individuals, places and events that have contributed to the county’s development over the last 100 years.

 

A native of Long Island, Dr. Zoebelein received her Ph.D. in History from Kansas State University in 2018 and joined the staff of Charlotte County Libraries and History in November 2019 after working as the Special Projects Historian at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City.

Passionate about history since high school, Jennifer has worked for the New-York Historical Society and the National Park Service.

For more information on Charlotte County’s Centennial, visit: charlottecounty100.com

Save the date: Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm at the Historic Green Street Church Museum, 510 Indiana Ave., Englewood.

Admission is free but donations for the upkeep of the iconic building will be greatly appreciated.  CDC guidelines will be followed.