Celebrate the Greater Sarasota Chamber's 100th year anniversary with a party you won’t want to miss! Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, entertainment, and dancing.
This year is a one in 100 kind of opportunity - literally! Over the last 100 years, the Chamber has contributed to the economic growth and vitality of Sarasota, acted as a regional convener, amplified the voice of business community, and contributed to major community projects - such as the iconic Ringling Bridge. In 100 years of work, our organization has been part of a true variety of projects, ranging from mosquito control initiatives to the Miss Sarasota contest to our more recent Change the Date campaign. We invite you to share in the celebration and look forward to serving you and the Sarasota region for another century! |
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A historic look at commerce in sarasota
We continued our centennial celebration at our 2021 Annual Chamber Breakfast, featuring Guest Speaker, John McCarthy, Selby Gardens' Vice President for Historic Spanish Point and local historian. Watch the video below to learn about the roots of business in Sarasota, and the path of commerce of the last century.
Centennial capsule
Experience snapshots of our Chamber's history over the last 100 years.
Where THE ILL AND INFIRMED CAN REGAIN HEALTH
The Northern impression that the Florida summer is intensely hot is erroneous; they are by no means as exhaustive as the Northern summer. “No sunstrokes occur here…The breezes from the Gulf arise every evening about dusk, and one is fanned gently to sleep, awaking in the morning feeling refreshed and invigorated.” The Sarasota Times wrote that “many cures of invalids are reported here. Sarasota’s climate [is] a marvelous boon to the afflicted.” Noting that it could offer numerous examples of those who regained their health here, the paper told of Judge Goodhue of Alabama, whose heart trouble was improved “almost immediately.” In the same story, it was reported that a lady from Findlay, Ohio, who had arrived with limbs so badly swollen that she could not walk one hundred yards, could, within two weeks of her arrival, walk a mile; the swelling had disappeared, and her heart problem was cured. The paper enthused, “Sarasota is coming to be known as one of the most wonderful health resorts in all America.” It prompted its readers to persuade any of their family or friends to come down if they were experiencing heart trouble, bronchial trouble, or asthma. “Our air and sunshine will do the rest, aided by plenteous supplies of distilled water.”
The paper enthused, “Sarasota is coming to be known as one of the most wonderful health resorts in all America.” It prompted its readers to persuade any of their family or friends to come down if they were experiencing heart trouble, bronchial trouble, or asthma. “Our air and sunshine will do the rest, aided by plenteous supplies of distilled water.”
The Chamber of Commerce advertised the HEALTHFUL attributes of life in the sun, in the Sunshine State, but especially in Sarasota where you could spend the summer during the winter was an oft repeated theme.
The paper enthused, “Sarasota is coming to be known as one of the most wonderful health resorts in all America.” It prompted its readers to persuade any of their family or friends to come down if they were experiencing heart trouble, bronchial trouble, or asthma. “Our air and sunshine will do the rest, aided by plenteous supplies of distilled water.”
The Chamber of Commerce advertised the HEALTHFUL attributes of life in the sun, in the Sunshine State, but especially in Sarasota where you could spend the summer during the winter was an oft repeated theme.
The chamber on air
The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce sponsored radio station WJBB, “The Voice of the Semi-Tropics”, which went on the air on December 11, 1927 to advertise the virtues of Sarasota--Where Summer Spends the Winter - around the Country.
By January 19, 1928, the Sarasota Herald reported the station had received 1,200 letters and 172 telegrams from 42 states and nine points out of the country from as far away as Honolulu.
Van Orden’s Sarasotans (pictured) were one of the first bands that performed on WJBB.
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john ringling brings the circus to town
When John Ringling was President of the Chamber in 1927, and
Sarasota was going through the doldrums of the real estate bust, he brought the Winter Headquarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to town in time for Christmas that year. At once he lifted the spirits of the locals, providing jobs and bolstering the economy.
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Rose colored glasses
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Among the few female charter members of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce was Rose Wilson who had come to Sarasota in 1899 with her husband Cornelius Van Santvoord Wilson, a newspaper man who founded Sarasota’s first newspaper The Sarasota Times. After Cornelius passed away in 1910 the operation of the paper was assumed by Rose. She published the weekly each Thursday without missing as issue.
Her paper championed many progressive movements and was four-square behind the right of women to vote and to break away from Manatee County. When the split occurred, she immediately changed the name of her paper to The Sarasota County Times. |
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In her last editorial written in 1923, she passed the baton: “Now that larger plans speak of a greater Sarasota there are none who feel a greater interest and pride than those, who in the pioneer days caught the vision and paved the way.” Having paved much of the way Rose died in 1964. |
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Centennial mural
The two, new 30-foot murals that cover the western and eastern sides of the Chamber building are a colorful celebration of the last 100 years of Chamber and community history. The artist, Matt Myers, with Ringling College, created the murals to highlight and represent 100 years of achievements and leaders in our Sarasota community. The murals were made possible by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, as well as the generous support of SpeedPro Imaging Affinity Solutions and partners. We invite you to come and check out the murals - they are for our whole community to enjoy!
interested in learning more?
When we look back over the last 100 years, our chamber has been at the epicenter of community involvement, lending to the development and strengthening of local businesses. [...]
