On the Corner

I've been by and in this old building in downtown Venice many times but sometimes it pays to look up.  I got an angle on it with the palm tree that I really like.

Train Station Tour

Today I took the opportunity to take a tour of the historic train station.  A few years ago this building was in total disrepair.  Today it is a beautiful landmark in Venice.  This was largely due to the foresight of making it a transit transfer station the the county public transit system.  It's a very logical use that made funds available for restoration.

We had a great guide name John (in the photo) who really brought local history alive for us.  If you're in the area I recommend taking some time for this tour.  Check out the Activity/Program Calendar on the Venice Area Historical Society's web site for times.

Gunther Gebel-Williams Statue

As the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus made their winter home here in Venice for many years, so did it's performers and workers.  Some choose Venice as their home and where active in the community after the circus as well.  One of those was famed animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams.

Mr. Williams died in his Venice home in 2001.  Today his life in this community is honored  with a statue in his memory standing by the train station that he and his Circus family departed from and arrived to with great fan fair for many years.

Historic train depot and Legacy Trail

In 1927 the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers built this train depot to bring people in and market Venice.  It was the last stop of the rail line and for many years it also welcomed students from the Kentucky Military Academy and The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus to their winter homes here in Venice.

Today the depot is on the national register of historic places it also serves as a bus transfer station for Sarasota county transit.  The rail tracks between Venice and Sarasota are a walking and biking path known as the Legacy Trail.  There is a park just west of the depot that features a public boat ramp to the Inland Waterway and there is soon to be a new city park just to the east. 

More information on the depot history can be found at the Venice Area Historical Society web site and through tours, please see their web site for tour times.

Christmas at the Historic Triangle Inn

Originally built as an inn today this beautiful building is residence to the Venice Archives with changing exhibits on the history of Venice Florida.  Through the holidays it is featuring "Yes, Venice, there is a Santa" A delightful fun exhibit if Santa's donated over the years.  See photo below.

The Inn is officially open Mon - Wed 10 am to 4 pm in season, however someone is usually there every weekday and will always open to the public if someone would like to stop by.  It is located at 351 S. Nassau St. behind the library and community center.  It is also right across from the Venice Arboretum.  With a park full of tropical trees decked out for the season, this makes for a wonderful holiday destination in Venice.

 

Park Tree Lighting Festivities

 Last night there was a very nice holiday celebration at West Blalock Park, this is the location of the Venice Arboretum and the trees here are lit up for Christmas.  The festivities included a choir, Santa Claus, hot chocolate, hammered dulcimers (pictured here), and lot's of lights.

 Different groups decorated trees in the park and are quite interesting day or night.  Many of them are palms giving it a distinctly Florida feel.  I will be sharing other photos from this park as well.

The park is located right behind the library, art center, and community center, if you'd like to see it for yourself.  There is also a nice Santa Display across the street at the history center in the Historic Triangle Inn

Peacocks in the lobby

Yesterday I showed the courtyard of Summerville at Venice a local retirement and assisted living community inside of one of Venice Florida's most beautiful and historic buildings. Today I thought we would go inside. While the whole place is very impressive there is one thing that I particularly wanted to show you. That is the stunning Peacock light fixture/sculpture. This photo was taken on a tour a couple years ago and I actually should go back to find out more about them. (Notice one in the background by an open door as well.) I've never seen peices quite like these before and thought they are very beautiful.

Fountian Court

In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice. Originally it was built as the Venice Hotel today it is Summerville at Venice a retirement and assisted living community. The building features this lovely courtyard and the inside is even more elegant. There is an abundance of dark hardwood ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a massive fireplace in the lobby area giving it an aura of sophistication.

Once there was another hotel very similar in design to this building, for a while it had been converted to a hospital, later it was torn down and replaced by a very unimpressive modern post office. To me that is one of the greatest losses of Venice history. How wonderful it would be today if that building was still here. The community is very fortunate that this one is.

Granada Apartments up close

Yesterday I had a photo of the historic Granada Apartments and mentioned that the buildings have sculptural reliefs this is a close up of one of those. Every one I've seen is different, it's a detail that you just don't see on many buildings. Details like this add a lot of charm and character. I believe these apartments where originally built for the working class rather than for the wealthy which makes details like this even more exceptional.

Granada Apartments

Built in 1927 the Granada Apartments are part of the Armada Road Multi-family Historic District. There is no pool, but with wrought iron gates, two courtyards, curving stairs, and sculptural reliefs on the buildings. These apartments have a lot of charm and character that is missing in more recent construction.

Fine Living

While I'd rather have an urban loft myself I very much appreciate the beauty of other styles of living. This to me is one of the most beautiful homes on the Island. It is also one of the earliest in a prominent location on Venice Ave. between downtown and the beach. It's Italian influence and lush tropical landscaping is spectacular.

Venice Train Station

Built in 1927, the Venice Train Station was the last stop on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The station was built as the arrival point for people interested in buying Venice property which where attracted by large marketing campaigns.

In November 1960 over 5000 people welcomed the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus to their their new winter home in Venice at the train station. This winter arrival and departure continued to draw large crowds every year until the circus left town in 1992 when the train tracks were no longer usable.

With the increase of freeway use and the decline in rail travel passenger trains quit running to the station in 1971. After that the station fell into disrepair for a couple decades.

Sarasota County purchased the property from the railroad company that owned it and restored it to its original condition. The newly renovated station opened in January 2005. It is now used as a terminal for the county mass transit system. Tours are available on Saturdays.

The station sits beside the inland waterway across from Venice Island providing very nice views of the island and waterway.

Window Treatment

This is one of the original homes built under the Venice master plan in the mid 1920's. Other windows on this house are rather plain, but this one off to the side got a bit of flourish to make it stand out.

The City Plan

No, this isn't one of my photos. Early on I shared a photo I took of this plan replicated in one of our parks. Today I thought I'd share an image of the real thing.

As nice as much of the architecture is, John Nolen's comprehensive plan from 1926 is what really makes Venice Florida what it is. This plan did an exceptional job of defining residential, commercial, industrial, and civic use with a great deal of respect given to park space and nature. For John Nolen nature was to lead the way with this plan, it gives Venice it's sense of place. All communities could use such forethought in planning.

This image is courtesy of the Venice Archives, I highly recommend a visit there if you are interested in learning more about the area.