Annual Report
Boca Grande Historical Society Annual Report for 2024
History Center Accomplishments
We would like to thank all our supporters at every level for helping us to continue our mission to the community during this challenging past season. We also appreciate the feedback you give us on our various programs and activities.
The Ian Project, which was started shortly after the hurricane in 2022, was presented in January 2024 to an audience that filled the auditorium and then aired on BocaGrandeTV.com. The Project included dramatic footage from the storm itself and its aftermath as well as giving voice to the many residents who led the Island’s recovery. The Ian Project will be documentation for historians of the future. Thank you to the Lighthouse United Methodist Church, Boca Grande Woman’s Club, Whitty Ransome and Tom Wilcox, Ginny Nicholas, Elsa and Peter Soderberg, Cathy and Robert Gale, Safety Harbor Builders and our many sponsors for keeping this project afloat, and to Rick Montgomery of Island TV Boca Grande.
The Boca Grande History Center continues to add items to its vast archives with your thoughtful gifts. The total amount of collections catalogued for public access online has increased from 2,500 items to about 2,703 items. In addition to digitized artifacts, we continue to care for items stored in a stable environment with archival-quality materials for perpetual care.
The History Center gains in popularity among residents and visitors and had a record number of at least 700 visitors thus far in 2024 as we added an exhibit based on the book “One Island, Three Hometowns” the story of the Island’s three towns from 1890 – 1960: Gasparilla Village, the town of Boca Grande and Port Boca Grande opened in October 2023. We received a gift of antique fishing reels, one of which is named for Delmar Fugate and the reels were on display in the History Center.
In March 2024 we welcomed new staff members, Cindy Crespo and Para Painter. Para Painter moved to Seattle to further her education at the end of August; we thank her for helping to update the digital archives.
We are planning our eventual move into a new space as part of the Community Center Campus project in a section of the Crowninshield Community House and continue to seek donations to fund this project. We look forward to creating professionally designed interactive exhibits about Island history, improved research & office facilities, and events that share the stories of the place and the people of Boca Grande
Education/Outreach Accomplishments
Let’s Talk About Florida
We offered five virtual book conversations about Florida with author moderators. What started as a necessity when we could not meet in person, has branched out into a successful program open to all, on-island or off. Special thanks to our sponsor Fergeson Skipper Law Firm in Sarasota and to Sarah Younger, Kim Kyle, Jason Vuic and Gary Mormino who joined us to discuss their books, and to moderator Cindy Crespo.
- Windstill Night: A Journey on the Bellamy Road by Sarah A. Younger-October 2023
- One Island, Three Hometowns edited by Charles Blanchard, Kimberly Kyle and Robert Edic-December 2023
- The Swamp Peddlers by Jason Vuic-February 2024
- Dreams In The New Century by Gary Mormino-April 2024
- Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz-November 2024
Lecture Series-November 2023
We were able to host John Pether, Director of the Gulf Coast Maritime Museum, who with his wife, wrote Wood, Fiberglass and Steel – The History of Boat Building on Florida’s Gulf Coast. He took us across 7000 years of boat building from Chokoloskee to Pensacola with details of the boats and the boatbuilders including Boca Grande builders. Pether also updated us on the progress of the building of a Gulf Coast Maritime Museum which promises to be a great addition to area attractions.
Veterans Day Memorial Rededication on Boca Grande-November 2023
Several years ago, we began investigating the history of the Veterans Memorial located at Gilchrist Ave. and Fifth Street. We were able to work with Lee County to begin a restoration of the memorial site after Hurricane Ian damaged the plaque. A reception was held at the History Center to honor local veterans. We plan to continue our involvement in the rehabilitation of this site and the staging of Veterans Day services in the future.
Research Library
James and Rose Marie Blaha have worked tirelessly for many years researching the history of the Island and the Charlotte Harbor area, creating a series of notebooks and other tools for use by residents and visitors. We fittingly dedicated the research area of the History Center as the James and Rose Marie Blaha Research Library in December 2023.
Workshops-November 2023
Margaret (Peg) Kapustiak, a Genealogist, led us in a workshop covering the organization, preservation and uses of family photos and documents and other elements of family history. We hope to continue workshops relevant to the collection and preservation of personal and family histories.
History Bytes-February 2024
This continues to be our most iconic series presenting up close and personal stories and recollections of island history. We could not do this program without our host, Betsy Fugate Joiner, and the support of Bank of America Private Bank, the Shively Charitable Foundation and the Johann Fust Library Foundation which graciously hosts these programs. This season’s History Bytes were dedicated to the memory of Captain Robert Johnson, long-time Society historian. Over the years, the audience for History Bytes has grown significantly with this year bringing consistently large crowds.
- Picturing the Three Communities of Gasparilla Island 1890-1960
- HERSTORY: Mary Ellen Vickers Parkinson 1918-2004
- HERSTORY: Effie Sapp Joiner 1900-1996
- HERSTORY: Viola Dyer, Living and Working in Boca Grande 1980’s to Present
Pop Up Exhibits-2024
This year’s Pop-Up showcased celebrities who have lived on or visited Boca Grande over the years. These events take local history to where we engage both residents and visitors with stories of the area on Park Avenue in town. Thanks to Scot & Jill Shively who organized this year’s event and to Sandy Melvin and Patricia Lowe.
History First 2023-2024
We continued a program to extend our hours for the first Saturday of the month during the height of season. We were all amazed to see our cozy History Center buzzing with 100 plus visitors per Saturday.
Membership – Donations – Sponsorships
Our members, donors, and sponsors deserve our gratitude for choosing to support our mission of keeping Boca Grande history alive through our programs and exhibits. You have shown us the true meaning of community as we grow our history-loving family. Thank you for helping us to continue the chapters of Boca Grande’s story with new and time-honored friends. We look forward to growing with you in 2025-2026.
We were planning to celebrate our 30th anniversary year with a special event for the public in February 2025 on the campus of the Boca Grande Community Center grounds, due to damage from the two recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, it has been post-phoned until April 2026.
Our calendar of events for 2025 is uncertain due to the ongoing restoration of hurricane damaged buildings on the campus of the Boca Grande Community Center grounds and on the island in general. The History Center located in the Historic Teacherage Building at 170 Park Avenue along with Boca Bargains was severely damaged. Our staff & volunteers moved out on October 1, 2024, after Hurricane Helene, and are working remotely from home.
Like with other Boca Grande non-profits, the recent storms have challenged our ability to offer the kind of premiere events that have been our hallmark. In everything we do our aim is to bring history to life.
The Board, Staff and Volunteers thank you for being a part of the Boca Grande Historical Society & History Center family and look forward to seeing you in our new space in the Crowninshield Community House!
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