These are photos to accompany an article in the Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores Neighborhood Association's October 2013 newsletter called "Cha...cha....cha...changes." As in the David Bowie song about changes.

The photos come from a variety of sources such as the State of Florida online historical archives, the Verizzo family, the Sarasota County History Center, Sarasota County GIS mapping online services, Dan Byrd (the New Pass bait shop), and I'm sure a few others.

Since the Verizzo family has been on Whitaker Bayou since 1959, that's the most available area of interest for my parents and myself and now, to show changes. Even though your home may not be included in these photos, one can grasp the effect of time, politics, nature, development, and economics. Some of the photos are outside of IBSSA, included for their grin value.

Notes:
1. The highway we call US 41 or the Tamiami Trail used to be known as Florida Road 45. In fact, it still is, officially, at the state level!
2. One picture is of Road 45 and 27th street. There is no 27th St. today. Do you know the name since about 1968? (Answer: Martin Luther King Blvd. It cuts through Newtown, the historic black community.)
3. The two very jungle-y photos of "Whitaker's" - that's how it was known once - Bayou have the notation "Whitaker's Bayou '69". Is it possible that these were taken in 1869? Certainly not impossible, but why would any photographer want to journey to what would have been a decrepit, mosquito infested, post-Civil War homestead? And not include the stick docks of William Whitaker, which he probably had? A mystery.
4. Do you know what the Bay Haven Hotel building is today? Hint: It's on the north side of "27th St." a block east of Road 45! (Answer: The original sole building of the Ringling School of Art.)
5. The Whitaker Bayou ca. 1900 postcard is a real gem. It shows a view westward from probably right about my property! Longboat key is in the background. There is a note on the image, mostly legible. Look at the image of the other side and check out the complete address! From April, 1908.

There are three pairs of photos taken on the family home in the early 1960's and now, 2013.

I encourage viewers to look at the various aerials of "way back when" and check out the tree canopy. Cha....cha....changes, anyone? Most of the IBSSA neighborhood was typical sandy Florida soil with slash pine, sand, and palmettos. The latter don't show up on aerials. There were live oaks, too, but not such major players as they are today, best as I can see and figure.

But the slash pines weren't particularly desirable as developers scraped the native vegetation and build homes. Cabbage palms, sure. Live oaks, sure. Pines, not in the Florida image.

Click on any image for a large version

Paul Verizzo