We are pleased to present a wonderful article about the Lemon Bay Historical Society written by Jana Susan Paley for the Facebook group “Sarasota History & SRQ Quiz.”
Those of us interested in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the entire Gulf Coast will be pleased to learn that residents of the southern portions of Sarasota County are just as active in banding together to guard area history as the people of Tampa Bay, Manatee County, and the City of Sarasota. Almost 35 years ago, a concerned group of citizens in Lemon Bay organized what we now know as the Lemon Bay Historical Society.
Sixty years ago, the people of Englewood started a Labor Day tradition known as Pioneer Days, a celebration which has grown into one of the best attended end-of-summer events in the state. During the 1983 Pioneer Days Celebration which honored Englewood’s first newspaper editor, Josephine Cortes who was also the founder of the annual festival, a group of Lemon Bay residents, many of whom were area natives, decided it was time for their community which surrounds the long and narrow 8,000 acre body of water known today as the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve to preserve its distinct heritage.
The Lemon Bay Historical Society (Society) is a two county effort–Lemon Bay stretches from Sarasota County into Charlotte County. Concerned residents held the first organizational meeting of the Lemon Bay Historical Society in May of 1984 and they readied for a kick-off party at the following Pioneer Days Celebration. The group’s inaugural consisted of a mullet roast for 150 people. Making the event particularly special was that the mullet was freshly caught by founding members of the group, the Platt family and Bill Davis, while Bob Cashatt foraged swamp cabbage which was prepared using the famous recipe of Eula Davis, Bill’s mother. Next time we have a Local Recipe’s Week, we will be calling the Lemon Bay Historical Society so we all can learn a proper mullet roasting technique as well as Eula’s method for cooking swamp cabbage.
In 1985, the founders of the Lemon Bay Historical Society officially incorporated the group as a non-profit organization. They enunciated a clear mission–“Perpetuating the legacy of the past and honoring the pioneer settlers of the Lemon Bay area.” Turns out that master swamp cabbage forager Bob Cashatt was also a terrific graphic designer; he created the yellow, gold, and blue logo for the Society which is still in use today. The Society encourages anyone interested in preserving the heritage of the Lemon Bay area to join–membership dues are just $15 per year for a single person and $20 for a family. Members meet the last Tuesday of each month from September through April. If you are interested in joining, just go to the Society’s website and you can download a form.
Like the Englewood Area Historical Museum, the Lemon Bay Historical Society does not have a large collection of photographs, documents, or artifacts, but to make up for not having large permanent exhibits, the group is big on sponsoring experiential events. For example, in March the group hosted author, retired business owner, ship captain, and world traveler D.L. Havlin spoke at the Society. Havlin says “history is often my brick-mason for it can provide a building in which my story can live and breathe.” He spent the evening regaling the audience with his stories about life in southwest Florida.
Last February, Carol Mahler entertained the crowd with tales of Florida Crackers, Seminole Indians, and the history of the Lemon Bay area. The Society entitled her presentation “Florida Folklore with a Lemon Bay Twist” and many of her stories concentrated on traditions associated with the community. Mahler is a professional storyteller who serves as the coordinator of the Desoto County Historical Society’s Research Library and Museum which often shares common content with the Lemon Bay Historical Society. If you have never heard of Mahler, you might want to check out her “History Mystery” column in the weekly Arcadia’s weekly newspaper, Arcadian which is reprinted from time to time in Sarasota publications. Mahler also wrote a children’s book “Adventures int eh Charlotte Harbor Watershed” which is annually distributed to students in seven Gulf Coast area counties.
Residents of the Lemon Bay community also enjoy open-mike nights sponsored by the Society. During the last event, 13 people showed off their talent by performing original songs. Cash prizes were awarded for the best act and for the runner-up.
Events mainly take place at the historic Green Street Church. Thought the Society owns the white clapboard building, the land it sits on is leased and the lease must be renewed in May of 2018. Though the Society has offered to purchase the underlying property, the owner prefers to continue to lease the property. The Society members want to insure the future of the iconic building by moving it to a lot located on the south side of the Lemon Bay Cemetery. Currently, the Society is raising money for the effort. If you are interested in providing support, take a look at the Society’s website.
The Society’s biggest annual event is the Cracker Fair which takes place each February around the time of Valentine’s Day. Many Society members dress up as Florida pioneers, play music, and conduct historical activities. The most anticipated event of the Cracker Fair is the Lemon Dessert Contest which is co-sponsored by the Lemon Bay Garden Club. Lemons must be the main ingredient of the dessert and though there is some prize money for the winner, most people who enter do so to earn a year’s worth of bragging rights.
The annual event is held at Englewood’s Pioneer Park near the Elsie Quirk Library. Perhaps next year a group of us Spoonbills can support the Society by attending. By the way, you can taste the lemony treats entered in the contest by donating a buck a plate. Judging from the photos of some of the previous entries, it looks like a bargain for anyone who as a tart-tooth.
If you want to support the Society but you are not necessarily interested in becoming an active member, you might be interested in purchasing a “Move & Save the Church” tee shirt. The Society also publishes a photo essay book which shows “then & now” pictures of the area. Each year the Society updates the spiral-bound book–who knows–maybe next year this feature essay will be included in the publication.
Author, speaker, international traveler, ship captain and retired business Owner D L Havlin will be our Guest Speaker
“My books are stories about life; about how great and how testing it can be. Writing at my ‘mature’ age is an advantage when discussing living; I’ve experienced it and don’t have to utilize conjecture. History is often my brick-mason for it can provide a building in which my story can live and breathe. Writing fantasy, sci-fi, or other work requiring that there be no reality fences, I cede to the young author where the lack of restricting rationale is beneficial.”
DL currently lives in southwest Florida with his wife Jeanelle, his golden retriever Sandy, and cat Oreo. He loves the outdoors (fishing is his passion), music, football, and cooking.
The title of Carol’s presentation is “Florida Folklore with a Lemon Bay Twist” that will educate and entertain the audience with tales of Florida Crackers, Seminole Indian traditions and the history of the lemon Bay area.
Carol Mahler is a professional storyteller who serves as the coordinator of the Desota County Historical Society’s Reseach Library and Museum.
The program is free and light refreshments will be served.
More about Carol:
Carol Mahler has served as humanities scholar, discussion leader, and project director for programs, funded by the Florida Humanities Council and other organizations, focusing on literature and Florida history. (Her nieces and nephews know that she reads every word of a museum exhibit.) She has taught writing and literature classes in schools, colleges, parks, recreation centers, churches, a prison, and other locations. Her poems have been published in various magazines, and her poetry collection, “How Do I Follow?”, was published in 2012 by the Peace River Press. She writes an occasional “History Mystery” column as well as other articles for the weekly “Arcadian” newspaper (published in Arcadia, Florida), plus she writes and edits articles, newsletters, and books for the DeSoto County Historical Society. Her children’s book, “Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed,” published by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, is annually distributed to students in the third, fourth, or fifth grade in seven counties
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. – Family and friends of Nancy Jean Airey gathered Saturday afternoon (July 9, 2016) at the Green Street Church, the site of many of the stage productions of her plays, to pay tribute to Airey, a prolific writer, musician, historian, community organizer, mentor to local authors, webmaster to non-profits and friend to a number of causes which, much like she herself was to the Englewood community, near and dear to her heart.
The gathering featured those wishing to express their thoughts at the passing of a stalwart Englewood resident, in word as well as song, from the wide array of organizations and people whose lives she enriched by her lifetime of good deeds and contributions to the culture of this sleepy seaside town, including those from Englewood Pioneer Days, the Suncoast Writers Guild (together with “Englewood’s Little “Band” of Writers who performed works from one of her plays), Lemon Bay Historical Society, and Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library.
Guitarist and vocalist Linda Lou Lewis of the aforementioned Little Band described what it was like to work with Airey in mixing music into her stage plays, adding that Jean Airey was “the best collaborative partner I ever had.” Roy Ault of the Writers Guild gave a heartfelt thank you to the woman who helped him to become a published author, while Kari Burgess spoke of her adventures in acting with Jean as the director of material that she herself also authored.
Erick Phelps, coordinator of the Englewood Pioneer Days parade, of which Jean Airey was an integral part, said that one of the things about her that he will miss most was her “principled focus on what needed to be done” for the Englewood community, including events such as Pioneer Days, the organizers of which, according to Phelps, had to recruit three people to take over the work she did for the committee.
Her widower, William Airey, told yet another revealing story about his late wife, who years earlier had organized a fund raiser for the Heart Association (featuring comedian Paul Lind) at which heart surgeons from around the country gathered, and how Jean, an avid reader with an ever-present thirst for knowledge, had studied so much about heart surgery that he half expected her to someday be called upon do a little bit of surgery herself. Even while noting that his late wife would not approve of such a fuss being made over her, he thanked the gathered assembly on her behalf, and let each and everyone know that she very much appreciated what they themselves had contributed to the Englewood community she so loved.
In addition to working with the Writers Guild, Historical Society, Elsie Quirk Library, and Pioneer Days, Jean Airey has also been associated, in one capacity or another, with the annual Cracker Fair, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and EARS, among many other groups, individuals and causes.
Jean Airey was a contributor to Englewood Edge, occasionally under her byline but most often anonymously promoting the Historical Society activities and Pioneer Days.
She will be sorely missed.
SOURCE: https://www.englewoodedge.com/2016/07/10/nancy-jean-airey-january-23-1943-may-6-2016/#more-73545
Jean Evans Joyce writes:
“The Open Mike Event tonight was an unbelievable amount of hometown talent! We had 13 individuals or groups come out to show us their talent. These were all original songs that they wrote and performed.
Both 1st and 2nd places winners turned around and donated the cash prizes back to Lemon Bay Historical Society for Our Green Street Church. What a wonderful night !!”
Here are just a few pictures from the performance…
PRESS RELEASE:
Thanks to All For Making Our Open-Mic Night a Great Success!
When Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for “poetic expression in the American song-writer tradition”, song-writers all over Englewood held their heads a little higher.
On January 24th at 7pm, they got the chance to share their songs for a good cause – namely The Historic Green Street Church and Museum. This local landmark offers an intimate venue with unique architecture that contributes to great acoustics. The building is owned by the Lemon Bay Historical Society and all proceeds from this event will go toward the building’s preservation and maintenance.
All singer-song-writers were welcome. Songs had to be original and family-friendly. Audience members were encouraged to “vote” for their favorites with cash donations and there were prizes for the songs that raised the most money.
Among the prizes sponsored by local organizations and businesses, was a $50 cash award sponsored by the Suncoast Writers Guild, Inc. “Songwriters are among the many kinds of writers our guild encourages.” Said Kari Burgess, the guild’s President.
In 2009 members of this local writers group formed a band and called themselves Englewood’s Little Band of Writers (ELBOW). They are frequent performers at the Green Street Church, leading community sing-alongs and adding music to original productions.
“There are so many singer-song-writers in our community,” said Linda Lou Lewis, founding member of ELBOW. They are performing at local restaurants, gathering for weekly jam sessions. Some are singing at church or with family and some just sit alone in their living rooms and sing their songs.”
This event was a chance for us all to get together, share and celebrate what we do. It was also a chance for the community to hear some great homegrown “American” music while they help to preserve a piece of Englewood history.
(Photos courtesy Jean Evans Joyce)
Samantha Gentrup writes:
“A fabulous open-mic night to raise money for Green Street Church Historical Building.”
She posted these photos…
Dec. 20 7 PM Historic Green St. Church “Christmas Sing A Long” with The Englewood Little Band of Writers. If you play an instrument, feel free to join in and play with the Band.
Jan. 24 7 PM Historic Green St. Church Regular Meeting and Program
Feb. 11 Cracker Fair 10 AM to 4PM
Feb. 28 7 PM Historic Green St. Church Regular Meeting and Program
Mar. 28 7 PM Historic Green St. Church Regular Meeting and Program
April 25 7 PM Historic Green St. Church Regular Meeting and Program
At the November meeting, the following Directors were elected to the Board, Don Bayley; Charlie Hicks; Esther Horton and Janet Landis. Charlie and Esther have served for years and we welcome Don and Janet. Also at the November meeting, Dr. John Flowers, Englewood’s first dentist and a well-known photographer, gave a humorous recollection of his years in Englewood. The early part of his practice was mainly pulling teeth and he decided he wanted to save teeth so he educated the citizens on proper dental hygiene. Thank you, Dr. Flowers. Dentists were few and far between on the southwest coast of Florida at that time. Englewood was very lucky to have his services.
Dues are due. Please send your check for single – $15, family – $20 to LBHS, P.O. Box 1245, Englewood, FL 34295.
Come to the December meeting, join in the Sing A Long, check out our new Christmas tree, pay your dues and get in the Christmas spirit.
The OEVA Art Show was Dec. 3 & 4, 10 AM to 4PM. Thank you to all who worked at our booth. Set up and take down, Charlie Hicks, Dwayne Karsten and the Garretts. Manning the booth, Don Bayley, Janet Landis, Cathy Mrasak, Linda Schilke and Nancy Wille. The Art Show was the debut of our revised “Then and Now” book. Nancy Wille worked very hard taking pictures of scenes that had changed since the first publication in 2011 as well as reshooting some pictures that were a little fuzzy. She is a talented person as well as a great asset to the Board. The book’s debut at the Art Show almost didn’t happen. Nancy sent it to the printer and was assured it would be ready for the show. When she received the books on Wednesday before the show, they were printed incorrectly. The wrong button had been pushed at the printers. Oops! Alta Systems Inc. in Gainesville reprinted the books and overnighted them so we had them on Friday.
Check out the web site, www.lemonbayhistory.com. Don Bayley has done a great job of updating the site. There is also a link to Lemon Bay Fest, Cracker Fair vendors’ applications, Dessert Contest entries and information on the Society. Thank you Don.
Esther Horton would welcome any suggestions for future programs. Cracker Fair is happening on February 11, 2017. Please put it on your calendars and volunteer to help.
