VAMO to LAUREL Preview

Tour starts at Vamo Drive Park, 1690 Vamo Dr.

Intro: I am Marilyn Gerkin and 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 and will do your part to make the next 100 years something that future generations will be proud of. This tour is sponsored by the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center. It was produced by the Sarasota County Centennial Committee.

Vamo Drive Park (1690 Vamo Dr) in the mid 1920’s this property was part of the City of Sarasota, but now the southern city boundary is near Bee Ridge Rd. This area was formerly known as Bayonne Community until the Gibson & Wren families purchased the property from the Bertha Palmer estate. The Vamo name came from developers from Virginia and Missouri, who used the abbreviation of each state to name the area. These gentlemen were very clever and would only sell every other lot with the hope the new owners would buy the lot next door. Their marketing plan included a trip-tick type map that gave the routes from the two states down to the Vamo area.

The property is located on Little Sarasota Bay and was known for the abundant fishing. The homes were built with stucco walls and flat roofs, which was the popular Spanish architecture at that time. This is truly a reflection of “Old Florida”.

In 1912 a three story, eight bedroom home was built. It was first used as a clubhouse for the community. It then became the residence for a doctor, who delivered a number of neighborhood babies. In 1946 it was used as a small hotel. The yellow building on the left when you entered the park is now in need of a historic renovation, which is under consideration at this time.

Sarasota County purchased the area by the bay and has enhanced the site as a county park with a canoe and kayak launch.

The original route for the Tamiami Trail went through Vamo and parallel to the bay. Today we also refer to the road as US 41, but early maps listed it as State Route 45. The road was only 9 feet wide and was the second section of the original Tamiami Trail-the first section being in Hillsborough County. Drivers were courteous to each other and with the road being so narrow, if a car had to pass another, one driver had to pull off the road. Many times the car that pulled off would get stuck and the other one would help pull them out before moving on. It was not unusual for the passengers in the two cars to share a picnic lunch along the road.

Directions Vamo to Spanish Point: leave parking lot the way you came in on Vamo Dr,

Turn Right on Vamo Rd for a short distance & it turns into Vamo Way, there will be a wall on the right,

Follow the road for approximately 1/2 mile where you will

Turn Right on Tamiami Trail/US 41 at the stop sign...

(Additional Directions will be heard as you travel.)

===

Here are complete directions if you have a Passenger/Navigator:

Leave parking lot the way you came in on Vamo Dr, R on Vamo Rd for a short distance & it turns into Vamo Way, there will be a wall on the right, follow the road for approximately 1/2 mile where you will turn R on Tamiami Trl/US 41 at the stop sign, go 1.2 miles, you will pass the Oaks Community & go over the North Creek bridge, Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point Park will be on R, at the entrance booth veer to the L into the parking lot, park in front of the Administration Building, where there will be a Historic Marker for Osprey School, as well as a small branch of the Sarasota County Library system and listen to the audio.

Turn Right on Tamiami Trail/US 41 at the stop sign

Go 1.2 miles, you will pass the Oaks Community & go over the North Creek bridge,

Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point Park will be on your Right...

Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point Park will be on your Right,

At the entrance booth veer to the Left into the parking lot,

Park in front of the building that will be the temporary home of the Sarasota County Historical Resources Center where there will be a historical marker for Osprey School as well as a small branch of the Sarasota County Library System and listen to this audio.

We are at the historic Osprey Schoolhouse. This building houses the Osprey Public Library and temporary headquarters for the Sarasota County History Center. There is a Historic Marker for the Osprey School. Park and we'll tell you about the Schoolhouse, the History Center and Spanish Point.

The land where the schoolhouse resides is part of the 145-acre homestead of John and Eliza Webb, who settled in Spanish Point in 1867. When it became apparent that the community needed a new school, the land was sold to the school board for $10 on December 28, 1926, by Mabel Webb Johnson and her husband, Ernest. The school was designed by Tampa architect M. Leo Elliot. His plan for the Spanish Colonial Revival-style building recognized the importance of cross-ventilation in a hot and humid climate as air conditioning was not commonly available until the 1950’s. The layout, with all the classrooms in a line, took advantage of cross breezes for cooling and an exterior hallway shaded classrooms from the afternoon sun.

Hiram Childs, who attended this school, said his grandfather helped build it. This school as well as the other schools in the county were closed in 1933 for several months due to the dwindling tax base, when the real estate boom went “bust”.

The school was rewired in 1959 to allow for air conditioning and heating units. Osprey School survived without further improvement until June 1976, when it closed for good. After students were redistricted to other elementary schools, this building was used in a partnership between the Sarasota County School Board and Junior League of Sarasota. During the 1970s and 1980s, volunteers served as docents to fourth grade students, who came on field trips to learn about the early pioneer days in Sarasota and experience learning pioneer crafts. Docents dressed in period style gingham dresses and white aprons.

In 1994 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2023 the Sarasota County History Center relocated here for a 3-year stay until a brand new History Center is completed next to the Fruitville Library.

The History Center is your one-stop shop for information and resources about Sarasota County's remarkable past. The History Center is also the headquarters for Sarasota County's historic preservation programs, which aim to identify and protect significant historic buildings and archaeological sites.

The History Center's large collection of archival records, historical newspapers, photographs, maps, and other materials are open to the public for research and enjoyment. No appointment is required, but be advised that some collection material is stored offsite and must be brought to Osprey for you to use it. For information about the collections call 941-861-6090.

A bit about Spanish Point:
Bertha Palmer was a visionary and in 1910 she recognized the subtropical paradise of Sarasota as one of the world’s choicest locations. She purchased a large portion of the present day Sarasota County. She set about planning her acreage for real estate development, cattle ranching and citrus groves.

This was the site of her Florida home, where she designed elaborate gardens while preserving the pioneer dwellings and Native American shell mounds.

This is definitely a destination you will want to come back to see, including the Duchene Lawn and Classic Portal, Butterfly Garden, Guptill House, packing house, archaeological exhibit at “Window of the Past” and much more. Also located here is Mary’s Chapel that was named after Mary Sherrill, who came from Louisville in hopes the Florida sunshine would cure her tuberculosis. This chapel is a perfect location for a small unique wedding.

If you want to visit (there is a fee), leave the parking lot and go straight past a little booth on your R. There are signs pointing the way to the entrance. A membership to Selby Gardens will also allow you entrance to Spanish Point.

Directions Historic Spanish Point to Blackburn Point Park: Turn Right on Tamiami Trail go approximately 1.6 miles...

On Tamiami Trail Go approximately 1.6 miles, you will pass Walmart & the Post Office on the Left,

Turn Right at second traffic light (there will be a Shell Gas station & a CVS at the intersection)

On Blackburn Point Rd. Go 1/2 mile,

Go to the First entrance to Blackburn Point Park, which is directly across from Blackburn Point Marina Village. This park has walking trails, a boat launch and a boardwalk connecting two parking lots.

Directions HSP to 421 Blackburn Point Park: R on Tamiami Trail go approximately 1.6 mile, you will pass Walmart & the Post Office on the L, you will turn R at second traffic light (there will be a Shell Gas station & a CVS at that intersection) on Blackburn Point Rd go 1/2 mile, turn to L into Blackburn Point Park, which is directly across from Casey Key Marina Village. This park has walking trails, a boat launch and a boardwalk connecting two parking lots.

Blackburn Point Park (421 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey) (restrooms) “The community of Osprey was named for the Osprey bird. Be sure to go over the boardwalk to see down by the water and look at one of the few remaining swing truss bridges that is listed on the historic register. They are also photos included in the app at this stop. Today a bridge tender uses electronic equipment to open the bridge. This bridge, along with the Stickney Point Bridge, was one of the first capital improvements projects in the 1920’s after Sarasota became a County. This is the north entrance to Casey Key, which is a barrier island between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The island was named after the surveyor, Captain John Casey. Captain Casey and Billy Bowlegs, Seminole Indian Chief, met and brokered peace between the first Seminole War and the Second Seminole War. This is a popular destination for boaters and many people enjoy the outside dining overlooking the water at the Casey Key Fish House & Tiki Hut just across the bridge.

Blackburn Family Property According to Betty Freant, who is the granddaughter of Albert Earl and Molly Blackburn, citrus groves began to flourish in Florida, John Slemmons Blackburn and family took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862. He chose an area from South Creek north to Blackburn Point Road, as well as an additional 90 acres. The families arrived in the area in 1881 where John Slemmons Blackburn served the community as a doctor helping to combat the epidemic of Yellow Fever. He died in 1899 and his wife Belinda in 1900. They are both buried in Mary's Chapel Cemetery at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point.

His son, Benjamin Franklin "Frank" moved to the area as well and homesteaded 160 acres between W. Laurel Rd and Blackburn Rd. Frank had an 80 acre orange grove and built a packing house on the bay in Laurel. They packed the fruit and took it to Tampa on a scow schooner, which had a “blunt nose” that he built called the “Sea Turtle” (be sure to look at the photo of the boat). Legend has it that the waters around Sarasota had “millions of fish!” The trip back to Laurel was used to haul such supplies as groceries and lumber to the area.

The Homestead was eventually divided between the families as the children grew up. Frank Blackburn had 5 children and their property stretched along the bay. Albert Earl married Molly Wrede (granddaughter of Jesse Knight) in 1907. They met at the one or two room “Venice” school that was actually located in Osprey, which at the time was east of the current Jesse Knight Cemetery. Albert would deliver goods to Molly's father's General Store and Post Office in Nokomis. He continued to help his father with the citrus packing, hauling freight and fishing. In 1912, he started working for Mrs. Potter Palmer managing her cattle herd. After leaving the Palmer Ranch he eventually got into the real estate business around 1920.

Floridaland was located south of Blackburn Point Rd from the bay to Tamiami Trail, which is now the South Bay community. Floridaland was really 10 small theme parks in one place. These included a western ghost town with cowboy shoot outs & can can girls. There was also a Billy goat mountain, porpoise shows, a deer park, Indian village, exotic orchid gardens, covered wagon rides and a sternwheeler riverboat. The two main attractions were the western ghost town complete with a saloon, bank, general store and undertaker. The trained porpoises and sea lions performed shows throughout the day. Other attractions were the miniature tour trains taking visitors through 40 acres of tropical gardens through Deer Park & Billy Goat Mountain. You could feed tame deer, watch ducks play drums, chickens play baseball or a bunny kiss his girlfriend “until she blushed.” This was definitely a must go to place for entertainment in this area at that time. Floridaland closed the same week Disney World opened in1971.

Directions Blackburn Point Park to Bay Point Church:

Exit parking lot, turn right on Blackburn Point Rd go approximately ½ mile

Turn right onto Tamiami Trail ...

(Additional Directions will be heard as you travel.)

===

Here are the complete directions if you have a Passenger/Navigator:

Exit parking lot, turn right on Blackburn Point Rd go approximately ½ mile

Turn right onto Tamiami Trail, go approximately 4.5 miles

You will pass Oscar Shearer Park on your left

Go under 681 past lights at Laurel Rd and Albee Rd

Turn right on Palm Ave just past the flashing light

stay to the left where Palm and Palmetto split, Bay Point Church will be 750 ft. on the right

On Tamiami Trail, Go approximately 4.3 miles

You will pass Oscar Shearer Park on your left...

Go under 681 past lights at Laurel Rd and Albee Rd

Turn right on Palm Ave just past the flashing light

Turn right on Palm Ave just past the flashing light

Stay to the left where Palm and Palmetto split

Bay Point Church will be 750 ft. on the right.

Directions Blackburn Point Park to Bay Point Church: exit parking lot, turn right on Blackburn Point Rd go approximately ½ mile & turn right onto Tamiami Trail, go approximately 4.5 miles, you will pass Oscar Shearer Park on your left, go under 681 pass lights at Laurel Rd and Albee Rd, turn right on Palm Ave just past the flashing light, stay to the left where Palm and Palmetto split, Bay Point Church will be 750 ft. on the right.

Bay Point Church, 208 Palm Ave:

(pull over and park in front of church)

The Bay Point subdivision was planned by John Nolen for Dr. Albee. The church on your right was built in 1979 to replace a smaller 1927 church. When the original Methodist Church known as Knight’s Chapel on Colonia Lane was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926, the community pitched in and immediately began to build another one. Dr. Albee came forward and offered a plot in Bay Point on Palm Ave. and the Church was started.

The members had figured it would cost $25,000 to complete. The roof was on and the subfloor in place. It was rough but usable until a permanent floor was installed. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Higel gave the money to buy flooring, and Wesley Higel, being a carpenter, put down the floor. Mr. Porter left $30,000 in his will, which helped to pay off the church debt. Another member, Jesse Hill, a grandson of Jesse Knight built Fellowship Hall. Two newcomers, Tom Blalock and his brother Jim, who later became manager of Venice Nokomis Bank and Mayor of Venice, also helped.

From a little shelter covered with palmetto fronds, they now had over $200,000 worth of finished property, and it has continued to grow. If you look up in the belfry, you can see the bell from the original church and the one stained glass window above the front door that was saved. The Methodist Church has served the community since 1868.

Directions Bay Point Church to Point O’ Palms: Continue on Palm Ave, turn R on Bay Point Ave....

Turn Right on Bay Point Ave

Go 1/3 mile to the roundabout, where you will be traveling through Bay Point Subdivision designed by John Nolen for Dr Fred Albee.

Turn Right onto Pavonia Rd

Continue back onto Tamiami Trl/US 41 to blinking light

Turn right on Tamiami Trail, go 1/3rd mile.

As soon as you cross Dona Bay and reach Nokomo’s Sunset Hut,

Turn right on Sunset Dr

Stay on Sunset to dead end at Cherokee Place

There will be a “Point O’ Palm” on the pillar, turn left,

Follow the stone wall about ½ way down street and there will be a clearing in the trees to see the house, pull over to listen to audio.

Directions Bay Point Church to Point O’ Palms: Continue on Palm Ave, turn R on Bay Point Ave, go 1/3 mile to the roundabout, where you will be traveling through Bay Point Subdivision designed by John Nolen for Dr Fred Albee. Turn R onto Pavonia Rd & continue back onto Tamiami Trl/US 41 to blinking light, right on Tamiami Trail, go 1/3rd mile. As soon as you cross Dona Bay and reach Nokomo’s Sunset Hut, turn right on Sunset Dr, stay on Sunset to dead end at Cherokee Place, there will be a “Point O’ Palm” on the pillar, turn left, follow the stone wall about ½ way down street and there will be a clearing in the trees to see the house, pull over to listen to audio.

Point O’ Palms is the white house facing Dona Bay was the home of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Albee. It was built in 1922 as their winter home until 1945 when Dr. Albee died. The architect for this was Thomas Reed Martin and the contractor was William Fletcher Rigby.

Dr. Fred Albee was a famous orthopedic surgeon who pioneered the art of bone grafting and spinal fusion. He served in WW I and II as a surgeon and saved many lives. He continued in this field in private practice locally. He bought the Park View Hotel in Venice and redesigned it for his hospital. It was torn down and replaced by the U.S. Post Office in 1965. Patients were flown in for treatment from various states and countries on his private plane piloted by his nephew.

Dr. Albee and his wife visited friends near Philippi Creek in 1916 and he liked this area. In 1917, they bought 112 acres on Dona Bay and in August 1925, bought 1468 acres from the Palmer Estate and planned to build a city where Venice stands today. He paid $185,000 and hired John Nolen, a renowned city planner, to draw the plans for the present Venice and for Nokomis. He sold it later to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) for $1,000,000. They had a dream of building this ideal city for their members. Eventually the depression came and in 1928 the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers went broke and plans for Venice were dashed. Colonia Lane was named after Colonia, New Jersey, where the Albee’s maintained their northern home.

For more info on Dr. Albee visit the permanent Dr. Albee exhibit at the Venice Museum located in the historic Triangle Inn building at 351 South Nassau Street in Venice.

Directions Point O’ Palms to Evergreen Restaurant (formerly Venice-Nokomis Bank/Hotel Villa) at 801 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis,

Continue on Cherokee Place, left on Colonia Lane...

Immediate left on Martha Lane directly behind Capt. Eddie’s restaurant,

Look for two story building on left, park in Evergreen Restaurant parking lot.

Directions Point O’ Palms to Evergreen Restaurant formerly Venice-Nokomis Bank/Hotel Villa 801 S Tamiami Trl, Nokomis, Continue on Cherokee Place, left on Colonia Lane, go through light, immediate left on Martha Lane directly behind Capt. Eddie’s restaurant, look for two story building on left, park in Evergreen Restaurant parking lot.

Venice-Nokomis Bank/Hotel Villa 801 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis (parking):

Walk around to the front of the building. Dr. Fred Albee acquired much of the land in this area and platted the Albee-Nash subdivision that established the town of Nokomis. He then hired urban planner John Nolen to design a community for him.

This building is the original Venice-Nokomis Bank Building built for Dr. Fred Albee about 1925. This was the first bank in the area. It has also been a post office, bed & breakfast, a clock repair shop and is now the Evergreen Restaurant. This building is one of the original business structures that has survived from the Dr. Albee era in the 1920s.

Across Pocono Trail to the north, you will find Pocono Trail Preserve. The Pollyanna Inn once stood there. Opened by Dr. Albee and Ellis Nash in 1922. It was the first hotel in the area and was the social center of Venice-Nokomis for many years. The community met here to debate the decision of whether or not to break away from Manatee County. Soon after it was renamed the Villa Nokomis. In 1971, it was burned as a training exercise for the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department as it was abandoned and in a deteriorated state.

Directions, Bank and Hotel to Nokomis Groves: Exit parking lot, right on Pocono Trail 3/10 mile, Left on Colonia Lane, 8/10 mile...

Turn left on Colonia Lane

Go 8/10 mile,

Driving in this area, please be aware of the bicycles and pedestrians around the Legacy Trail.

We will be passing the Venice Ice Plant at Central Ave just before the Legacy Trail, which was built in 1926 by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to supply ice to the hotels and houses being built in Venice, as well as to farms that shipped their produce north. The plant was next to a railroad line that is now the Legacy Trail. Ralph Chadwick, a commercial fisherman from Englewood south of Venice purchased the Ice Plant and supplied fish to restaurants near Albee Road Bridge, now the Pelican Alley Restaurant, and to a restaurant on Blackburn Point in Osprey.

We will also be passing the Jesse Knight Cemetery,

left on Albee Farm Rd

The hard freezes of 1894 and 1895 almost completely wiped out Florida’s citrus industry north and east of Tampa. Farmers and investors moved to warmer climates southwest of Orlando. They started planting groves throughout this area, then still part of Manatee County. By the early 1900s, Manatee County produced almost 59,000 boxes of oranges—the third highest in Florida. Twenty-five years later, Sarasota County agriculture was valued at over $2.7 million.

Perry and Annie Lee Hayes started Nokomis Groves in 1948 on Albee Farm Rd. Sadly, they closed in 2022.

Stay on Albee Farm Rd to dead end at Laurel Rd 1 mile,

Turn Left on Laurel Rd for 1 mile,

Go under Legacy Trail overpass,

Go under Legacy Trail overpass,

Go three streets and just before Dollar General store on the left,

Turn left on Forest St Go .2 mile,

Turn left onto Collins Rd, Community Center will be on left.

Sandra Sims Terry Community Center, 509 Collins Rd, Laurel: This park has tennis courts, a playground and has an entrance to Legacy Trail, which offers walking, running & inline skating where people enjoy nature while keeping physically fit. This is also the location you can schedule a “surrey” ride by making reservations by calling 941-486-2757, which takes you on the Legacy Trail.

This Community Center was named for community activist, Sandra Sims Terry, who has deservedly earned the reputation as de facto mayor of Laurel, Florida. A third generation resident, she is the daughter of turpentine and railroad industry workers. She has brought many improvements to the largely neglected area of Laurel including paved roads, drainage ditches, food for many children and elderly in need, supplemental educational services and opportunities for children and teenagers, and has provided housing for many elderly residents.

According to J. C. Sims, who was born in the location that is now Mission Valley off of Laurel Rd, this area was known for the railroad, timber, the sawmills and turpentine. Turpentine processing and lumber milling reached this area around 1910. One of the early turpentine stills & prisoner stockades operated by the Hall & Harrison Turpentine Company was located west of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in Nokomis.

In the 1920’s, what we know as Laurel, which was named after the laurel tree, was just woods. In the 1930’s the woods caught fire and burned down the entire area. At that point, the landowners allowed the laborers to move into homes on their property. The turpentine business was replaced by the lumber business.

We can thank the African American people, who lived on the east side of Laurel, for their dedication and labor to build the railroad. As evidence of the cemetery for the African American, located on a knoll east of the turpentine still has disappeared.

Directions Sandra Sims Terry Community Center to Johnson Chapel, 506 Church St:

Exit parking lot,

Turn Left on Collins Rd

Go .2 mile, Collins goes to right and becomes Church St.

Go .2 miles and church will be on Left

Johnson Chapel, 506 Church St, Laurel: The only remaining and still active rural church in southern Sarasota County dating back to the 1910s, Johnson Chapel, was built as the Osprey Missionary Baptist Church, in 1915 on the west side of the Tamiami Trail in Osprey, six miles north of Laurel, by Bertha Potter Palmer. When a new church was constructed in 1947, the Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church purchased and moved the one-story, wood frame vernacular building to its present site. It has since served as a church, community center and a meeting place for the Lily White Lodge #22, which is an African American society association established to provide burial benefits and health care.

This ends our tour. I hope you have learned some things about this area of Sarasota County and will return again to explore this area.
This tour is sponsored by the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center. It was produced by the Sarasota County Centennial Committee. Have a great day and encourage your friends to also take these tours.

To leave here and get back to Tamiami Trail, exit parking lot on Church St, go short distance and, turn L on Spencer go .3 mile, Tamiami Trail will be approximately 1 mile.