Historical figures in the banner above are (L-R):
Rev. Jesse Knight, Frank Higel, Bertha Honoré Palmer, Dr. Fred Albee, John Nolen
Welcome to VAHS
Please support VAHS in the upcoming Giving Challenge! As you know, due to the Coronavirus Disease, the Society canceled its Historic Venice Train Depot tours and the Betty Intagliata Lecture Series for the foreseeable future. This has eliminated raffle income and Depot donations that VAHS relies on. But you can help! Get ready.
The Giving Challenge (an online only event) starts April 28 at Noon! Click here to donate starting at Noon on April 28 and ending at Noon on April 29. DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! Preserve Key Historic Assets at Venice Train Depot.
The Patterson Foundation will Match Donations 1:1 between $25 and $100. VAHS has provided tours of the Historic Venice Train Depot to over 40,000 visitors. It now needs funds to provide ongoing maintenance of key historic assets that it leases at the Depot—the Depot waiting rooms, a caboose that is on display at the Depot campus, and a soon-to-be-donated-and-leased circus train car. The latter is a retired Ringling train car that VAHS has purchased and is refurbishing. When completed and placed on the Depot campus, it will provide exhibits and displays to educate the public about the 30+ years that Venice was the Winter Headquarters for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Preserve the Venice Depot's Circus Train Heritage! Both the Gulf Coast Community
Foundation and the Kathleen K. Catlin Foundation at the Community
Foundation of Sarasota County have awarded significant grants to VAHS to
help preserve the Venice Depot's Circus Train Heritage! VAHS welcomes
Gulf Coast and the Community Foundation as partners in preserving
Venice's Circus and railroad heritage in a visible and exciting way.
For more information about the project, see the Circus Train Page.
Pictures of the circus car's renovation and its prior move to Venice. March 2020. Ceiling insulation and thermal barrier over performers' rooms has been completed.
Train Car Interior-March 2020
Interior-February 2020
November 2019-Wheel trucks primed and ready for final coat of paint.
October 2019-Side 2; painting is completed; windows installed.
October 2019-Side 1; painting completed; windows and Dutch door installed.
September 2019-Royal Air Conditioning and Heating has begun to mount HVAC equipment.
September 2019-The exterior repair and painting are virtually complete, with only a final coat of paint and a clear coat remaining to be applied on one side of the car.
June 2019 End 2 of Circus Train Car
June 2019 End 1 of Circus Train Car
Side 1 as of May 2019.
VAHS is grateful to master craftsman Bill Dovel for creating a scale model of the Venice Circus Arena to be displayed in the Circus Train Car.
The vinyl covering on the steel roof was replaced with two layers of vinyl providing a 10-year warranty. The underlying steel roof was found to be in excellent condition.
Side 1 before renovations.
Side 1 as of November 2018.
Side 2 before renovations.
Side 2 as of November 2018.
Corner detail before renovations.
Corner detail as of November 2018.
Short Leaf Pine in early morning fog before move to Venice on 12/22/16.
Car is raised with jacks, and orange metal girders and wheeled dollies are placed under it.
Each dolly has eight wheels.
Car is prepared for departure.
Front-loader pulls the car onto the road.
The car is connected to the Johnson & Sons cab with counter-weight behind it.
Before departure, Johnson & Sons employees secure air brakes and electrical connections for brake lights.
The Short Leaf Pine departs for Venice under bright sunny skies.
On the road!
Traveling through Parrish, Florida.
The car straddles Spur Avenue in Venice before being pulled into the yard of Uni-Glide Trailer Company.
The journey is complete.
VAHS members celebrate the arrival of the Train Car.
Johnson & Sons employees lift the car with jacks and prepare to remove dollies.
The dollies are pulled out from underneath the car.
The car will rest on these supports while it is being refurbished at Uniglide Trailer Company.
Visiting Venice's Historic Depot If you are considering a trip to the Historic Venice Train Depot, either for yourself, your family and friends, or a large group, check out relevant information at The Depot.
| Upcoming Depot Tours & Events
 Click logo above to see a calendar of upcoming programs in the series. 
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Join VAHS
There are many benefits to becoming a member of VAHS. All members
receive both the Society’s newsletter and first-hand notification of
Society events. Members also participate in Society decision making
by attending member meetings. To become a member of VAHS, download this Membership Brochure.
Contact Us:
information@veniceareahistoricalsociety.org 941-412-0151 PO Box 995, Venice, FL 34284-0995 |
Venice Area Historical Society Proud Partner of
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| Venice Area Historical Society Proud Member of
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