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Tag: Anna Maria Island Historical Society

Parade honors veterans

Parade honors veterans

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Veterans, an honor guard, marching bands, local businesses and organizations – including a group of youngsters from The Center of Anna Maria Island, a pirate ship, police boats, police vehicles, a fire truck, a dump truck, old trucks and cars, motorcycles, a mounted patrol and more made their way down Pine Avenue on Monday during the third annual Old Soldiers & Sailors Parade.

Hosted by the city of Anna Maria and celebrating Veterans Day, this year’s parade featured the Lakewood High School, Manatee High School and Southeast High School marching bands.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and his wife Barbara led a group of Island veterans down the parade route Nov. 11. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The musical duo Brigid’s Cross also performed as they traveled down the parade route on a trailer filled with folks from the Bridge Tender Inn.

The parade route began at the Gulf Drive intersection and ended at City Pier Park, where the annual post-parade Veterans Day ceremonies took place. During the ceremony, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy welcomed the visiting elected officials who hold city, county and state offices. After the invocation, the honor guard presented the colors and stood at the base of the City Pier Park flagpole while the Lakewood Ranch High School Band played the national anthem, followed by a trumpeter from the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra playing “Taps.”

Murphy asked the spouses and significant others of those who served to come forward and be recognized. He then asked the attending veterans to come forward according to the branch of the military branch they served in.

“This is their day, Veterans Day,” said Murphy, a veteran himself. The band then played a rousing rendition of John Phillip Sousa’s “King Cotton” and a song from the 60s called “The Horse” that featured the trombone section standing front and center.

AMI Historical Society board members and volunteers scooped out free ice cream at a Veterans Day ice cream social. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After the ceremony, many folks headed over to the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum for a free ice cream social where AMI Historical Society board members scooped out bowls of chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

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Celebrating Island history

Celebrating Island history

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, History.

Members of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society welcomed the public to celebrate the history of the Island’s early settlers at the annual Heritage Day Festival and Settler’s Market. The festivities took place last Saturday, March 2, at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum and Park on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

There was fun for all ages including a children’s scavenger hunt and other games, a sale of antiques and collectibles, an authors’ corner where readers could purchase books signed by the authors, and a pirate invasion with the Anna Maria Island Privateers aboard their land-bound ship, the Skullywag. Island craftsmen were also on hand for the event, including a beekeeper selling fresh honey, a wool spinner, candle maker, canners with jams and jellies, a quilt maker, barbecue, refreshments and more. The annual event is held to give residents and visitors a small taste of what it was like for the Island’s earliest residents who began settling the area in the late 1800s.

Ron Prouty and Peggy Donoho sold and autographed their book, “Miguel’s Bay” about early settlers to the area that were related to Donoho. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Ron Prouty and Peggy Donoho sold and autographed their book, “Miguel’s Bay” about early settlers to the area that were related to Donoho. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Bradenton beekeeper Kevin Lausman brought a demonstration hive and sold local honey at Heritage Day. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Bradenton beekeeper Kevin Lausman brought a demonstration hive and sold local honey at Heritage Day. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Joan Pettigrew shows the quilt she designed that is being raffled as part of The Center’s upcoming Tour of Homes. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Joan Pettigrew shows the quilt she designed that is being raffled as part of The Center’s upcoming Tour of Homes. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Island resident Lori Gyson brought her grandson, Spencer, with her to the Heritage Day festivities. The well-known Old City Jail is in the background. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Island resident Lori Gyson brought her grandson, Spencer, with her to the Heritage Day festivities. The well-known Old City Jail is in the background. - Tom Vaught | Sun

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Heritage Day celebrates Anna Maria’s history

Heritage Day celebrates Anna Maria’s history

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun, Festivals.

ANNA MARIA – As part of Manatee County’s Heritage Days celebration, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society will hold its annual Heritage Day Festival on Saturday, March 2 at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum and Park at 402 Pine Ave. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Howie Banfield and the AMI String Band will provide music, and BBQ and refreshments will be available.

Local crafters will demonstrate arts and crafts as practiced by early Island settlers including beekeeping, wool spinning, candle making, woodworking, soap making, jam and jelly making, basket weaving and quilt and rug making. A Settler’s Market will offer local produce, herbs and Early Settler’s Bread baked by local volunteers, and there will be a collectibles tent with items for sale.

Local authors will sign books at the author’s table, the Anna Maria Island Privateers will stage an invasion and children can participate in a scavenger hunt and games with prizes. Raffle tickets will be available for a host of prizes, and there will be a silent auction. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc. will have educational booths, and Belle Haven Cottage, the museum, and the surrounding native plant garden will be open for tours.

For more information, call 941-778-0492.

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History comes to life at Heritage Day

Historical society readies for busy season

Historical society readies for busy season

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Museums.

ANNA MARIA – A record 8,000 people visited the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum last year, according to Society President Lynn Brennan. She spoke at the group’s Feb. 5 luncheon, her last as president.

Brennan pointed out improvements to the Belle Haven Cottage, such as replacing windows and trim on the historic building in preparation for tourist season, and told members visitors likely will exceed last year’s count.

At the meeting, members installed society co-founder Pat Copeland as their new president, Liz Hager as vice president, Barbara Murphy as recording secretary, Evelyn Hoskins as corresponding secretary and George McKay as treasurer. Board members installed include Brennan, Arlene Clark, Caryn Hodge and Valerie Wilson.

AMI Historical Society book
Peggy Donoho holds her book, “Miguel’s Bay,” at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society luncheon. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Guest speaker Peggy Donoho, of Bradenton, spoke about her book, “Miguel’s Bay,” that she co-authored with Tampa Bay Times newspaper reporter Ron Prouty. The book is about Miguel and Frederica Guerrero, two of the earliest settlers on Terra Ceia Island, a barrier island west of Palmetto. Donoho is a descendant of Guerrero and while researching the book, she learned Prouty was a descendant of the settlers, too.

Donoho sold autographed copies of her book after the meeting. The book is also for sale at the museum, 402 Pine Ave.

Heritage Day

History comes to life at Heritage Day

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment.

ANNA MARIA – Chilly Saturday morning temperatures didn’t keep anyone away from this year’s Heritage Day celebrations at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum.

Members of the Anna Maria String Band have a laugh during an 80s music set list during Heritage Day festivities. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Members of the Anna Maria String Band have a laugh during an 80s music set list during Heritage Day festivities. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Liz Hager strolls around showing off a sign for sale from long gone Island hot spot Fast Eddies. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Liz Hager strolls around showing off a sign for sale from long gone Island hot spot Fast Eddies. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One little corn hole game winner shows off his winnings, a pair of goofy glasses. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One little corn hole game winner shows off his winnings, a pair of goofy glasses. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Nancy Deal, Jack Brennan and Barbara Murphy man a booth selling fresh produce and baked goods. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Nancy Deal, Jack Brennan and Barbara Murphy man a booth selling fresh produce and baked goods. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Quilter and head of the Tropical Treasures Boutique for the 25th Annual Tour of Homes, Joan Pettigrew sells raffle tickets for this year’s quilt, created especially for the Tour by the Eyeland Needlers. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Quilter and head of the Tropical Treasures Boutique for the 25th Annual Tour of Homes, Joan Pettigrew sells raffle tickets for this year’s quilt, created especially for the Tour by the Eyeland Needlers. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A group of little pirates in training breaks through the lines of the Anna Maria Island Privateers to help rescue imprisoned pirate Bill “Sparkles” Rosencrantz from the old Anna Maria City Jail. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A group of little pirates in training breaks through the lines of the Anna Maria Island Privateers to help rescue imprisoned pirate Bill “Sparkles” Rosencrantz from the old Anna Maria City Jail. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Privateer Bill “Sparkles” Rosencrantz takes a break from sword fighting to greet a few little pirates and share some of his loot. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Privateer Bill “Sparkles” Rosencrantz takes a break from sword fighting to greet a few little pirates and share some of his loot. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Attendees at this year’s event seemed most excited about two things – the loaves of Settler’s Bread available for purchase and the pirate invasion.

Bravely manning the bake sale table, volunteer Barbara Murphy said the loaves of Settler’s Bread sold out quickly. Within an hour of sales opening, none of the bread was left and few baked goods were still available for purchase.

Kids of all ages got into the spirit when members of the Anna Maria Island Privateers swept into the celebration with a yell and a swashbuckling sword fight. As more pirates arrived on the crewe’s land-bound ship, the Skully Wag, rowdy pirate Bill “Sparkles” Rosencrantz was clapped in irons and put into the Island’s historic jail. He was joined by several little pirates in training who attempted to break him out and hold on to a bag full of treasure. Despite the crowd voting to keep him in jail, Sparkles and his comrades escaped.

Many local craftspeople also were on hand, helping visitors take a step back in time as they toured the museum’s grounds. Experts in everything from sustainably collecting local honey to bonnet making, spinning, quilting and candle making gave demonstrations in their craft, answered questions and offered their wares for sale.

Visitors were invited to take a piece of history with them as they departed with items ranging from historical books by local authors to antique implements and signs from long ago Island landmarks. Tickets also were available for purchase for the 25th Annual Tour of Homes taking place March 17 and the corresponding quilt raffle, sponsored by the Eyeland Needlers.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum.