July 2023

Dear VAHS Members and Friends,

Since we sent out our Winter newsletter, many wonderful events have occurred associated with the culmination of the Circus Train Car Project.  You did not receive a Spring newsletter from VAHS because we are currently without a newsletter editor, and I am writing today to be sure the excitement of the past several months does not pass your notice.

On February 23^rd, VAHS joined with Sarasota County to host a fabulous ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Circus Train Car Museum, attended by Kenneth Feld, owner of the Ringling Bros. Circus, many donors to the project, and several city and county dignitaries.  The weather was beautiful, the ceremony was joyous, and the event will be long remembered in Venice!

On May 6^th, as part of Venice Museums Day, VAHS held a grand opening celebration for the museum.  Between 350 and 400 visitors enjoyed touring the exhibits, viewing the extensive display of model circus trains in the Freight Room, laughing at the antics of several clowns including Chucko the Clown, and witnessing Alex and Clare Wallenda on the highwire!  Many visitors arrived at the Depot campus via the trolley that circled for several hours among the Venice Museum and Archives, the Lord-Higel House, and the Depot campus.  All in all, it was a great day!

I am proud to report that Venice Area Historical Society has won two awards for completing the Circus Train Car Project!  The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation selected VAHS for its 2023 Organizational Achievement Award, and several Board members attended a lovely celebratory dinner and awards ceremony at the Van Wezel on May 6th. 

Similarly, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation selected VAHS for its state-wide 2023 Organizational Achievement Award!  George Miller and Mary Huba traveled to Ocala on July 20^th to accept the award on behalf of VAHS.  The Florida Trust awards ceremony was held during the 2023 Preservation on Main Street Annual Conference.

Representatives of Venice MainStreet also attended the conference.  They accepted a 35^th Anniversary Award from Florida Main Street for serving the Venice community since their inception in 1988.  Did you know that Betty Intagliata (our Vice-President) and Paul Intagliata were instrumental in the founding of Venice MainStreet, and that Paul was its first president?  Kudos to Betty and Paul for launching another great organization in Venice!

As this extraordinary series of events comes to an end, I thank all of you for your support of VAHS.  We could not have achieved these successes without you, our members.

And by the way, we urge anyone who may be interested in serving as newsletter editor to contact Carol Bailey (membership@veniceareahistoricalsociety.org).  Our newsletter is our primary means for keeping in touch with our members during the year, and we always have more than enough to share.  Maybe you could help!

Sincerely,

Frank Wright, President

Venice Area Historical Society

PO Box 995, Venice, FL  34284-0995

941-412-0151

www.veniceareahistoricalsociety.org

information@veniceareahistoricalsociety.org