BRADENTON BEACH – Bev Liddle watched her Gulf Drive family vacation home containing decades of memories being demolished on Oct. 23.
Due to the storm surge from Hurricane Helene, the 739 square foot bungalow at 1201 Gulf Drive S. was lifted off the concrete foundation blocks it had stood on since 1930 and floated to the end of 12th Street South before coming to a stop, sustaining substantial damage along the way.
“We came down after Helene to see it, but we couldn’t do anything. We retrieved the flag and I washed it,” she said.
Liddle and her son, Bob, made the trip down from their homes in North Carolina to retrieve some personal items before the demolition of the home.
“I just had to come say goodbye,” Bev said. “I started coming here in about fourth grade and I’m 87.”
Bob Liddle remembered visiting as a child and walking to the beach and fishing off the back pier.
“This was my great-great grandparents’ house,” he said.
After the front wall of the home was taken down, demolition crews were able to enter and carry out some of the Liddle’s personal items.
Bob noted that the house had stood since 1930, and homes such as theirs represented the charm of the Island.
“I think it’s important that we preserve the history and the beauty of Anna Maria Island and do whatever we can to keep it the way it was,” Bob Liddle said.
