Happy Birthday Owen Burns!

Mr. Owen Burns would have been 141 years old today. My, oh my, that's a lot of candles! Happy Birthday Mr. Burns and Happy Halloween! You treated Sarasota well. We promise that our celebration of your steller life November 8 - 14 won't be tricky. It's just a great way for Sarasota to say "THANK YOU".

Owen Burns Slept Here

Owen Burns purchased the Halton Sanitarium for his residence in 1910 shortly after staying there as a guest.

Mrs. Burns described their home to the Sarasota Herald Tribune as "delightful in its early days with the view of the bay unparalleled. Downstairs, it had a large living room and on either side a sun room and music room. Upstairs there were eight bedrooms and two baths. On the third floor there were three bedrooms and a bath."

The house sat on the northeast corner of Tamiami Trail and Gulf Stream Avenue where One Sarasota Tower is now located.

Halton Sanitarium

After Mrs. Burns sold the property it became a rooming house and motel named The Admiral. After its demolition in 1961 many long-time residents still remember it well as the Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lot.

The Admiral - Looking closely you can see the the brick patterned sidewalk and brick paved street that the Burns & McAlpin Company laid throughout the city.

Building Cà d'Zan

In 1925 Owen Burns built Cà d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's home, and was responsible for the remarkable and swift construction of less than a year. The mansion was built from terra cotta "T" blocks, concrete, and brick, covered with stucco and embellished with glazed tile. The original roof was made of 16th century Spanish tiles imported by Mr. Burns. The spectacular terrace on Sarasota bay is made of domestic and imported marble. The Venetian Gothic residence is five stories, 36,000 square feet, with 41 rooms, 15 bathrooms, a full basement and an 81-foot Belvedere tower. 

In April 2002, a six year, $15 million comprehensive restoration and conservation was completed.

Owen Burns - Developer Extraordinaire

Owen Burns developed Sarasota's most significant properties:

• Cá d'Zan

• Burns Office Building / Bickel House

• El Vernona / John Ringling Hotel

• Burns Court

• Washington Park

• Ringling Estates

• Gillespie Park

• Pineapple Apartment Bldg. / Herald Square

• Sarasota's seawall

• The Ringling Causeway

• St. Armands

• Golden Gate

• Lido Beach Pavilion

• Citizens Bank

• Sunset Park

• Cedar Point

• Inwood Park Subdivision

• Ritz-Carlton Longboat Key

• Payne Terminal

• El Vernona Apartments / The Belle Haven

and

• nearly every brick street and sidewalk in the city!

Veterans Day Flagpole Dedication at Five Points

Don't Miss This Special Ceremony During Owen Burns Week!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

10:00am

Five Points - intersection of Pineapple Avenue, Main Street and Central Avenue

Sarasota, Florida

Veterans Day will be celebrated with a parade paying tribute to Sarasota’s longstanding history of honoring military personnel and this year with a special flagpole dedication at Five Points. The guest speaker will be Jeff LaHurd, author of the soon to be released book "Owen Burns, The Man Who Bought and Built Sarasota".

  

Take a glimpse of Five Points shortly before Owen Burns arrived in Sarasota. The trough in the center of Five Points was replaced in 1917 with a flagpole. The rusticated block Gillespie Building on the corner (where Zenith is today) was acquired by Mr. Burns in 1910.

"Suitcase Full of Blues" to Perform at Burns Court Street Party!

Jimmie Fadden of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame and Al Fuller will be performing sensational acoustic blues as the Suitcase Full of Blues Band at the Owen Burns Celebration Street Party Sunday Nov. 14, 2010.  Come enjoy the sounds by these talented performers beginning at 5 pm.

Jimmie has graciously agreed to fly back from touring with the NGD Band just to do this gig for Sarasota. The band is currently on a major, cross-country tour as their most recent album Speed of Life climbs the charts to #10.

The Burns Court Street Party will run from 3 to 7pm with food from Owens Fish Camp, Nancy's Bar-B-Q and Hukilau Hut Shaved Ice. Featuring antiques, vintage cars and photographs, a special tribute to Mr. Burns and reading of the Official City of Sarasota Proclamation by Special Guests Mayor Kelly Kirschner and Burns family members.

Owen Burns in Rosemary Cemetery

Owen Burns died Aug. 28,1937 and was buried in Rosemary Cemetery.  The two acre cemetery, platted in 1886 was donated to the town of Sarasota by the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company in 1903. The cemetery is located on Central Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets and is the resting place for nearly all of Sarasota's pioneers. The cemetery is both a National Register and locally designated historic site. 

Owen Burns Kick-off Reception and Book Signing at Mattison's City Grille

Just Announced! On Monday, November 8th the Owen Burns Celebration will have an opening reception and book release party at Mattison's City Grille in downtown Sarasota, Florida.

Owen Burns stepped off the train in this very location 100 years ago, catching the first glimpse of the town he would make his home. Join us as we kick-off the week of events in his honor and celebrate the release of Jeff LaHurd's new book, “Owen Burns, The Man Who Bought and Built Sarasota”. Free Event. Cash Bar.

November 8, 2010
4:30 - 6:30pm
Mattison's City Grille
1 N. Lemon Avenue 
Host: Chef Paul Mattison, Mattison's™ Restaurants & Catering