125 years ago,
Sarasota was quite a contrast to
John Hamilton Gillespie's home town of
Moffat, Scotland. It must have been difficult to say the least, coming from a refined and thriving European town and settling in Florida's rustic pioneer colony. When 33 year old Gillespie and his wife
Mary arrived in Tampa for the last leg of their transatlantic journey they even had a hard time finding anyone who knew where Sarasota was. He finally arranged steamer passage to Manatee and from there came to Sarasota by way of horse and buggy.
Moffat, Scotland
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| Moffat, Scotland - High Street |
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| Moffat, Scotland - Well Street |
Gillespie wasted no time in putting into place the infrastructure required of a bona fide town. Schooners arrived bringing building material and workers. The streets were grubbed and cleared. The Sarasota House, a two story boarding house, was built at Five Points and housed the influx of workers who also lived on boats, in tents and other temporary shelters while the community began to take shape.
Sarasota, Florida
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| Sarasota, Florida - Downtown 1887 |
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| Sarasota, Florida - Main Street and Pineapple Avenue looking south, 1909 |
