HOLMES BEACH – Everyone sees the sign that says, “Welcome to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island” as they cross the Anna Maria Island Bridge, but not everyone knows how the 21-year-old sign originated.
Back in the 1980s, the original sign was donated to the community by the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club. And while the old sign welcomed visitors to the Island community and featured some of the local organizations and businesses, by 2001, its life was coming to an end. That’s when then-president of the Rotary Club, Ernie Kerr, decided that a new sign was needed, one that would better illustrate the character of the community.
As a retired commercial artist, Kerr took it upon himself to design a new sign which was approved by both Holmes Beach city officials and Rotary Club members. He then began fabricating the design in his workshop garage. It took about six months to complete construction and installation of the sign, which still stands today welcoming residents and visitors to the Island. The project was sponsored and funded by the AMI Rotary Club.
Kerr said he enjoyed every minute of building the sign and thanked his wife, Becky Smith, who served as branch manager for Wagner Realty on the Island, for her patience with him while he built the sign. He added that he has fond memories of the time spent fabricating the sign and that it gives him a sense of satisfaction every time he sees a family photographing themselves in front of the one and only monument that he ever designed and built.
