BEE RIDGE Preview

START YOUR TOUR AT URFER FAMILY PARK, 4012 Honore Ave, which is at the corner of Bee Ridge Road

I am Marilyn Gerkin & on behalf of the Sarasota County Centennial 2021 Committee, I want to thank you for taking the time to discover some of the history of Sarasota County that you may not be aware of. Our hope is that you will become more interested in the history of this area & will do your part to make the next 100 years something that future generations will be proud of. These tours would not be possible without the generous contributions of our sponsors.

I will be talking with you through this tour, which starts at Urfer Park, before touring the Town of Bee Ridge. Be sure to enjoy the scenery along the way. Please get out at the stops with parking, so you can get a feel of each location & drive carefully!

Our first stop is right here (and there are restrooms)...

Wilson Family Home at Urfer Family Park: This property was pasture land for cattle until Sarasota County purchased the property for a county park. This is a wonderful place for families because it includes age appropriate playgrounds, walking trails, as well as a Life Fitness Trail

In 1907, Dr C B Wilson Sr. purchased a home that was located on the SE corner of Ringling Blvd and S Orange Ave. in Sarasota. This home also served as a medical office and the garden was used for growing many of the plants used to create healing medicines. Dr Wilson was the proud owner of Sarasota’s first automobile. Dr Wilson also served as a board member of Sarasota Memorial Hospital until his death in 1941.

In 2004, attorney Clyde H Wilson Jr & his sister, Paula, were instrumental in relocating their father’s family home to the Urfer Family Park.

HISTORIC MARKER INFORMATION

DIRECTIONS TO NEXT STOP:
Leave the parking lot & turn right on Honore. Go for approximately 9/10 mile (you will passing Wilkinson) to Proctor Rd where you will be turning RIGHT

Go for approximately 9/10 mile to Proctor Rd you will passing Wilkinson Road. Turn RIGHT on Proctor Road.

Turn RIGHT on Proctor Rd.

As we make our way to our next stop, the Gillespie School, I'd like to tell you about a Bee Ridge business that lasted 138 years.
The Albritton Fruit Company was founded in 1880 by Tom Albritton. Tom was an original member of the Sarasota Good Roads Committee & later supported the county’s separation cause. After Sarasota County was formed, he soon became a County Commissioner. Grandson, Karl Albritton, began at an early age working with the family crops. Karl designed and built the packinghouse system used in their business. He worked closely with the Sarasota County Extension Service to enhance citrus programs, 4-H, Future Farmers and was a key member in the Citrus Growers Inc, which was the forerunner to the Florida Farm Bureau. His farming experience contributed in working towards the efforts to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly.
Karl originated the idea of opening specialty shops to sell fruit, honey and fudge, eventually opening seven stores in the area. The last store on Proctor Rd closed in 2018. Karl proved that hard work can lead to a long life, as he lived to be 101!

On Proctor Road, to McIntosh Rd. There is a traffic light with turn arrow you will be turning left onto McIntosh Rd

Turn left on McIntosh Rd. drive .5 mile, then turn right onto Ashton Rd

Turn right onto Ashton Rd & go 161 ft into the parking lot of The 360 Church on the right, this was the location of the Gillespie School,

(From Albritton Citrus to Gillespie School 5250 McIntosh): exit left on on Proctor Rd, drive 1.2 miles to McIntosh Rd, past Honore Ave There is a traffic light with turn arrow & you will be turning left onto McIntosh Rd, drive .5 mile, turn right onto Ashton Rd & go 161 ft into the parking lot of The 360 Church on the right. This was the location of the Gillespie School, listen to the narrative about the school.

Gillespie School was located at (5250 McIntosh Rd) (parking) which is on the NW corner of McIntosh & Ashton and is currently the home of The 360 Church. The school was named for Sarasota’s first developer, John Hamilton Gillespie. Karl Albritton was a trustee for the Gillespie School. The children of Hulon and Alma Taylor, who lived on Proctor Rd across from the Presbyterian Church, attended this school as well as other local families. Gail Albritton, who attended the first grade there the last year the school was open, shared some of her memories of the school. The school consisted of two rooms with three grades. In the mornings the students would line up & walk to a separate building used as the cafeteria to be given a glass of juice containing a vitamin. After school the older children got to walk over to the Post Office to get the mail. It was such a treat when the younger children were allow to go along to the Post Office. Behind the school was the railroad track converted to extend the Legacy Bike Trail connecting Venice to Sarasota.

Gillespie School to Bee Ridge Baptist Church 4210 Proctor Rd:

Exit parking lot & go to the right on Ashton Rd, look behind the building, where the railroad tracks are replaced with the Legacy Trail, Drive 5/10 mile to Sawyer Rd & turn right.

on Ashton Rd, Drive to Sawyer Rd & turn right,

Turn right on Sawyer and go for 5/10 mile to Proctor Rd & turn right

Turn Right on Proctor.

As you are traveling towards Bee Ridge Baptist Church, the Bee Ridge Dairy was on the corner of Sawyer & Proctor roads. The cows were herded down the road to the south to graze in what is now Red Bug Slough Preserve County Park on Beneva Rd. On the opposite corner, Mr. Saunders owned a general store & a grapefruit grove.

Turn Right on Proctor Road.

At 4210 Proctor Rd Turn right into the Bee Ridge Baptist Church front parking lot, to listen to audio.

(Gillespie School to Bee Ridge Baptist Church 4210 Proctor Rd): exit parking lot & go to the right on Ashton Rd, drive .5 mile to Sawyer Rd & turn right, continue on Sawyer for for .5 mile to Proctor Rd & turn right into the Bee Ridge Baptist Church front parking lot, to listen to audio

Bee Ridge Baptist Church (4210 Proctor Rd)(parking)According to Charles Peters, a longtime Sarasota resident, the first building was a former school house that was transported from Wauchula and set up at this location on the Taylor family property. This location gives you the opportunity to get a better perspective of what the Town of Bee Ridge was like in the early days.

Pioneer families had been living in this area since the Civil War. In 1912 the “Town of Bee Ridge” was platted by Bertha Palmer’s Sarasota-Venice Company & the town was promoted for speedy development. The town was named because of the number of bees found along that relatively high, dry ridge of land. The town was bounded roughly by Clark Rd & Bee Ridge Rd, Cow Pen Slough & Phillippi Creek. The center of Bee Ridge was at the corner of McIntosh Road & Proctor Rd. In the 1920’s, the area between this the Bee Ridge Baptist Church and the Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church would have been considered the Main Street of the “Town of Bee Ridge”. Isaac Alderman Redd was the first settler. His daughter Laura married S C Rawls & settled in an area that later was part of Albritton groves.

As you leave the church parking lot the area just past Andrew Ave was the Seaboard Air Line Railway station, which extended the tracks from Fruitville to Venice. The railway gave quick access to northern markets for the vegetables, fruits & citrus crops. A cannery was also built in this area. Lumber for the booming town was supplied by the Palmer sawmill. For entertainment & shopping you could take the train round trip from Bee Ridge to Sarasota for only 15 cents.

On the right side of Proctor Rd between Andrew Ave and Harris Ave, you can see the Legacy Trail where the railroad tracks were previously located. Also the Bee Ridge Hotel was constructed in 1914 in that area, which symbolized the growth of the Bee Ridge Community. Just past that on Harris Ave is where the Sarasota-Venice Company granted a Post Office in 1912.

To get to our next stop, Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church: Leave Bee Ridge Baptist church parking lot on Andrew Ave go left & make an immediate right turn onto to Proctor Rd, go to next street which is Harris Ave & turn right, turn left into church parking lot.

Go to next street which is Harris Ave and turn right, turn left into church parking lot.

Turn left into church parking lot

(FROM Bee Ridge Baptist Church TO Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church, 4826 McIntosh): Church is on the corner of Proctor & McIntosh, but you will be entering from Harris Ave before you get to McIntosh. Leave Bee Ridge Baptist church parking lot on Andrew Ave and make immediate right turn onto to Proctor Rd. Go to next street which is Harris Ave & turn right, turn left into church parking lot. Park in front of the little White Church for audio & to read the historic marker.

Bee Ridge Presbyterian Little White Church (4826 McIntosh, which covers the area over to Harris Ave on Proctor) (parking) was established in Jan 1917 with 29 charter members. Bertha Palmer’s Sarasota-Venice Land Company presented the church with the two corner lots at Proctor & McIntosh Roads in 1919. In 1926 a major hurricane demolished the church; it was rebuilt in 1927, only to be struck with lightning 3 months later & burned to the ground. The third church, the Little White Church, was built in 1927.

In 1989 the Albritton family completed restoration of the Little White Church in memory of family members. The Sarasota Historical Commission honored the Little White Church with a historical marker, which was dedicated in 1999. The church is still used today.

Exit the parking lot the same way you came in but turn LEFT on Harris Ave. Follow Harris Ave to the 2nd intersection which is Gypsy St & turn right.

Turn right on Gypsy, Right after you cross the Bike Trail, turn right onto a narrow road called Andrew Avenue

Right after you cross the Bike Trail, turn right onto a narrow road called Andrew Avenue and drive approximately ¼ mile & Bee Ridge Women's Club is on the right.

(Bee Ridge Presbyterian to Bee Ridge Woman's Club, 4919 Andrew Ave): exit parking lot to the left onto Harris Ave, follow Harris Ave to the 2nd intersection which is Gypsy St & turn right. You will pass over the old railroad tracks & again have the opportunity to see the Legacy Trail. At the first intersection which is Andrew Ave, turn right & drive approx ¼ mile & Bee Ridge Woman's Club is on the right, pull into the parking lot & savor the old south while you listen to the audio & read the historic marker.

Turn right into the Women's Club parking lot & savor the old south while you listen to the audio & read the historic marker. There is a video about the Club in your app.

Bee Ridge Woman’s Club (4919 Andrew Ave) (parking) was organized in 1915 as the “Get Together Club” which helped with the growth and development of the Bee Ridge community by providing a social outlet, community pride and support of public interest projects. Before the clubhouse was built, the group met at the Bee Ridge Hotel, which was owned by Bertha Palmer. In early years, they contributed substantial support to Gillespie School. The main fundraiser has been a food booth called Bee’s Diner at the Sarasota County Fair. Some of the current club members are third and fourth generation members. (NOTE: A video about the Club is included here in the app.)

To get to our next & last stop, Phillippi Crest, exit parking lot, turning right onto Andrew Ave. Go short distance to 1st cross street which is Proctor Rd, turn left

Turn left on Proctor Rd; Stay on Proctor for 1.8 miles passing Sawyer & Beneva

Stay on Proctor, you will be turning left on Swift Rd.There is a light at Proctor & Swift with a left turn arrow.

At the corner of Proctor & Beneva you will be passing the Suncoast Technical College. Their programs are designed with the economic development of the community in high quality academic programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills & behaviors demanded by Sarasota area employers and colleges.

Turn left at the light onto Swift Road

On Swift go ½ mile where you will turn right at the light on Ashton, just past a fenced wall.

Turn right on Ashton, just past a fenced wall.

On Ashton go less than ½ mile, turn right on Portland Way.

There will be No Outlet, Dead End and Private Road signs, but continue on as we have permission to go back there.

Turn right on Portland Way, go a short distance and then turn left on Burlington, it is a dirt road and we have permission from the Phillippi Crest Board to enter the property. The Clubhouse will be directly in front of you.

Turn left on Burlington, it is a dirt road and we have permission from the Phillippi Crest Board to enter the property. The Clubhouse will be directly in front of you.

(Bee Ridge Woman's Club to Phillippi Crest): exit parking lot & go short distance to 1st cross street which is Proctor Rd, turn left on Proctor for 1.8 miles passing Sawyer & Beneva, you will be turning left on Proctor & there is a light at Proctor & Swift with a left turn arrow, go ½ mile where you will turn right on Ashton, the Post Office will be on your left, go less than ½ mile, turn right on Portland Way, go a short distance & turn left on Burlington, it is a dirt road & the Clubhouse will be directly in front of you.

Phillippi Crest Club also known as the Maine Colony Club, 2421 Burlington Ln (parking) was established in 1916, this was one of the earliest vacation communities in the area. David Wade, a real estate investor, purchased the land near Phillippi Creek from the Palmer family on behalf of a group of Boston & Maine Railroad retirees. By the1920’s, a number of houses had been built. These “kit homes” that came from up north, traveling via train to Tampa & then by boat to the Maine Colony sites. The houses were one-story, wood-frame with large front porches, big windows & gabled roofs. The clubhouse was built in 1923. Other homes reflect Dutch Colony Revival, Bungalow & Craftsman-style inspired architectural details.

Although four miles from downtown Sarasota, the Maine Colony developed an active social life, including fish fries, picnics & covered dish suppers. In the 1970’s the area had a 9-hole golf course. In 2005, this community was put on the National Register of Historic Places. Today this area maintains a rural feel, with mature palms, oaks, & banyan trees….adding to the old Florida atmosphere. The clubhouse is currently being renovated by local residents.

PHILLIPPI CREST CLUB WEBSITE

These tours would not be possible without the generous contribution of our sponsors. This tour is sponsored by the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center. It was produced by the Sarasota County Centennial Committee.

This ends our tour. I hope you enjoyed this trip back in time and now have a better appreciation of the Bee Ridge area of Sarasota County. Have a great day & encourage your friends to also take these tours.

To exit, go the way you came in, left on Burlington, right on Portland, left on Ashton & back to Swift Rd.