ENGLEWOOD

TWO COUNTY TOWN ON LEMON BAY

ENGLEWOOD, the two county town on Florida's West Coast, was settled in the late 1800's by pioneers like William Goff, who opened a trail from El Jobean to Vineyard (Dearborn Street), and Lorin Ainger, who set up a store to serve area fishermen.

In 1896 the three Nicolas Brothers started a twenty-four block community and named it Englewood after their Illinois hometown. The town remained agricultural until the 1940's since the Tamiami Trail passed east of the peninsula.

People taking a beach drive down Manasota Key, should note the rescued THE HERITAGE (1902), 6660 Manasota Key Road, an old beach house, built as "Palm Ridge" by master carpenter Carl Johanansen. Later the house was a nudist colony and the home of author Ruth Swayze.

Another side trip off Old Englewood Road west on Stewart would lead to LEMON BAY PARK (1992), 570 Bay Park, Sarasota County's newest nature complex.

The original center of Old Englewood is the corner of Old Englewood Road and Dearborn Street, where you spot the site of the RICKARD'S GUEST HOUSE (1896), 2 Old Englewood Road, once the winter home for Ohio State professor Edward Sommermeir and later Amy Jergens of the Jergens Lotion family. At the foot of Old Englewood is BUCHAN LANDING RESORT, where Peter Buchan set up his port, its house of stilts, THE ROYAL CASINO (1925), its remains moved to 240 Dearborn Street and now part of Kelly's Tavern. .

You should park on Dearborn Street to walk along OLDE DOWNTOWN ENGLEWOOD. At 463 Dearborn is the 1919 FRANK ZIEGLER GROCERY , now a sports club. Another old structure is the CHAPIN WHOLESALE and RETAIL at 200 Dearborn. At 96 Dearborn is the LEMON BAY PLSYHOUSE (1925) which startted as the Englwood Bank until 1928 when the bank's funds vanishbed as did head cashier Abner Silkey. Later the place became a funeral home.

RICHARD’S GUEST HOUSE

To the north along the Bay is the SITE OF THE ENGLEWOOD SAW MILL (1898), end of Harvard Street, and the site of the Englewood Inn (1898), end of Perry Street. The PAT LAMPP HOUSE (1922), on 604 Perry Street, is an early house. At the foot of Yale Street was the NICHOLAS BROTHERS TRADING POST SITE.

East of Old Englewood at 321 Cedar and Yale is the LEMON BAY GARDEN CLUB. At Coconut and Maple is the unusual Prairie Style LEMON BAY WOMEN'S CLUB, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright pupil Clare Hosmer.

South of Dearborn at Winson and Green is the OLD METHODIST CHURCH, (1928) restored by the Lemon Bay Historical Society. South of Magnolia is the INDIAN MOUND PARK, with a small mound well marked for vegetation.

South of FL 775, on the right, is the LEMON BAY CEMETERY, somewhat barren, but site of the pink tombstone of Emile Gauguin, son of the French painter, and the wonderful boat grave of fishing pioneer H. H. Bill Ainger.

Before crossing the bridge to Englewood City Beach, one might want to drive along New Point Comfort Road, site of old cottages and the former BASS BIOLOGICAL LAB (1931). The last cabin known as the Cookie House was moved to Cedar Point Park so only a marker remains.

Crossing the TOM ADAMS BRIDGE (1964), one should turn left to notice the huge WHITE ELEPHANT PUB BUILDING (ENGLEWOOD BEACH) (1947), once the focal point of Steve Chadwick's cottage colony. If you Head southward on the Gulf, you'll end at a deserted beach park that ends at Stump Pass.

NEARBY PLACES:

PALM ISLAND is a different place to stay, although expensive. You take a no automobile ferry from Harbortown, 10 miles south at 7092 Placida Road, and arrive at a condo and cottage community overlooking northside of Stump Pass. Restaurant, tennis, boats. (800) 697-4800.

WHITE ELEPHANT PUB at Englewood Beach at 1855 Gulf Boulevard, is a 1946 shell of a Pavilion resort used for years as a seafood spot (Captain's Club) on Chadwick's Cove.On the bayside is the Chadwick Fish Pier. At the south end of the key is a State Park heaving down to Stump Pass. Parking is limited here, next to the classic Weston Resort.

STUMP PASS at the end of the Port Charlotte State Park is a delightful place to take a scenic beach walk. Parking is limited so most of the beach goers land by private boat.