LBK Historical Society can use your help

Every progressive town in America seeks ways to strengthen its economy, enhance the quality of life for its citizens and develop a
distinctive character of its own.

With Longboat Key’s vigorous economy, wide-ranging amenities, well-educated and affluent population, it is safe to say our island community is distinctive indeed. From our beaches and parks, to our sports, educational, religious and scientific offerings, the town has options normally only found in much larger communities.

Despite all the incredible things Longboat Key offers, there remains one missing asset, an amenity found in all great cities and towns: A permanent place to honor our history. But that is about to change.

The citizens of Longboat Key now have a once-in-a-century opportunity to preserve our precious heritage and to demonstrate that history does matter.

Longboat’s historical preservation efforts officially began in 1980, when Longboat Observer founders Ralph and Claire Hunter established The Longboat Key Historical Society. Guided by dedicated volunteers for the past 37 years, but without a permanent home, the group was committed to archiving photos, documenting stories and memorabilia and increasing awareness of the island’s history. And, what an interesting story it is.

From the Timucuan, Tocabaga and Caloosa tribes who inhabited Longboat Key as early as 500 B.C. to Spanish explorers who landed on our shores in the 1500s; from homesteaders who fished and farmed the island in the 1880s; to the arrival of John Ringling and his industrialist pals of the 1920s, the history of Longboat Key is long and rich.

In the late 1930s, Longboat Key began to attract an increasing number of winter visitors. To accommodate the newcomers, many of whom would eventually become residents, Lora and Gordon Whitney created The Whitney Beach Resort, 11 cypress cottages on the sugar-white sands of the Key. The cottages eventually were moved from the gulffront into Longbeach Village. Some were used as single-family homes, and two would be repurposed for use as studios on the campus of the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Yes, the arts-history connection has been in the Key’s DNA for many years.

With the sale and subsequent demolition of the Center for the Arts in June, the future of the last two surviving Whitney Beach cottages was at risk. In less than 45 days, Elevation Development’s own site work would begin, and the cottages could have been gone forever. But they were spared through the generosity of the new land owners, Elevation Development, which agreed to gift the cottages to the Historical Society.

Recognizing the significance of the opportunity and the chance to fulfill the Hunter’s vision for a permanent home, the Historical Society’s board embarked on a strategic planning and fundraising campaign to immediately move the cottages, then purchase property where The Longboat Key Historical Museum would thrive in perpetuity. Through the generosity of the Historical Society’s early supporters, including the Observer Media Group, the Columbia Restaurant Group, Elevation Development, Edwina Nelon and many more island backers, we quickly exceeded our first goal — raising $58,000 in fewer than 60 days.

These first donations funded the creation of a site plan, the physical move of the two cottages to 521 Broadway, the pour of concrete foundations and the final resetting of both structures. Because of our immediate need, the owner of the new site, kindly agreed to accept the placement of the cottages prior to our purchase of the land.

The Historical Society is now under contract to purchase the parcel at a price of $450,000. Until the sale is finalized, the society continues to
incur a land rental fee.

Once again, time is of the essence.

It is critical to raise land acquisition funds quickly, so we may transition from tenants to owners — and bring the dream of The
Longboat Key Historical Museum to life. Relative to most other Longboat Key endeavors, our funding need is modest, yet vitally important.

We invite you to drive by the site and view the cottages in their new home at 521 Broadway. One look, and you’ll think they’ve been there forever. It’s a perfect fit and easy to visualize what could be. If you believe in the power of history, the fundamental role it plays in our everyday lives; if you believe a history museum is the right complement to Longboat Key’s outstanding amenities, institutions, parks and beaches — a place of pride for all Longboat Key residents, we ask you to lend your financial support to the creation of this important museum.

Donations may be made by mailing a check to P.O. Box 8744, Longboat Key, FL, 34228; or by visiting our new website at LBKHS.org. Naming opportunities are available.

Michael Drake
President, Longboat Key Historical Society