What's Your Florida Preservation Story?

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation's big goal this year is to better engage with our community of supporters to protect Florida's extraordinary history and heritage.

We are getting started by asking what's important to you. You can let us know by submitting a nomination for the 2017 Florida's 11 to Save, the listing of the state's most endangered historic sites, or by submitting aPreservation Award nomination (both nominations are due this Friday, March 3, by the way!).

We want to hear your stories. On January 20, we took the call to social media in a post that said: "The Florida Trust represents a big state full of different people, histories and unique stories. In an effort to build our knowledge of this unique history and better understand our members, we are asking you to share your preservation story with us."

This is how the story of The Franklin Redd House, a 100-year-old home turned into a pre-school in Sarasota, found us. The home belonged to Frank Redd, Sarasota County's first prosecuting attorney, and had been moved by Redd's son to its current location in the 1930s. These men were descended from Isaac Alderman Redd, an early pioneer in Sarasota.

"The house now has a new life as a small child care center. Finding new uses for historic buildings that contribute to the community is a great way to save these structures," said Robin Fehnel Schmidt, who along with her husband is the new owner of the house. "Sarasota has lots of history, but often the historic spotlight goes to the powerful and influential families like the Ringlings, the Palmers and the Selbys. Pioneer families don't get as much attention."

As we wrap up Women's History Month, we were thrilled to learn about Edna Pearce Lockett, a female Florida pioneer who was named to the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1998. Born in 1908 she grew up on a ranch near the Kissimmee River and became a distinguished cattle rancher, a Florida legislator and a pioneer for women.

In 1993 the Circuit Court of Highlands County held a hearing on the proposed gift/sale of the Pearce Lockett estate to the South Florida Water Management District. The transaction was approved on the condition that SFWMD commit in writing to transfer the Lockett residence and other historical sites to a Florida agency that would preserve the sites and keep them open to the public. 

For more than 20 years SFWMD has been unsuccessfully trying to find a state or federal agency to take over and maintain the historic site. There remains interest in preserving this historic site, and Highlands County has announced it will accept public bids through 2 p.m. on March 22, 2017. Interested? Learn more about this piece of Florida history that is for sale. 

Please consider the historic places that make Florida special for you, and share those stories (and photos!) with us. Learn more and feel free to share with us on our social media, #MyFloridaStory.

Melissa Wyllie is the Executive Director of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, the non-profit dedicated to protecting Florida's extraordinary history and heritage. @MSWyllie