Drawing by John Hardy for the Sarasota Herald Tribune circa 1951 |
The bustling roundabout intersection known as ‘Five Points’
is, historically, the anchor of downtown Sarasota. Located at the Pineapple, Main and Central Intersection,
this downtown spot is well-known to us ‘Hometowners’.
My memories go back to
the mid-fifties and include pushing my little sister, who was on a float in the
Sara de Soto Pageant Parade, down Main Street, headed for the Sarasota Municipal
Auditorium. I remember feeling awkward and almost embarrassed being on display
at the time, but now it’s a fond memory. I also remember passing by Five Points
on the way to the City Pier to get permits with my dad, who was a builder here
in the fifties and sixties. The Sarasota government offices were located on the
pier at that time before moving to their downtown location. (More on this in
a future Blog!)
Many activities thrived and culminated at Five Points back then. My wife remembers blisters on her heals from marching down Main Street to
Five Points with the Sarasota High School marching band back in the late
sixties. Her mom often told stories of her participation in the parade and the
filming of the movie, The Greatest Show
on Earth, about the Ringling Brothers Circus...and I was in the crowd watching the grand parade as it was being filmed.
Her dad, artist John Hardy,
labeled Five Points as ‘The Hub of a Great Art Center’ in the late forties. He was
attending Ringling School of Art (as it was known back then) and worked at the
Sarasota Herald Tribune as the Art Director. His drawing of Five Points for the
Herald Tribune depicted here shows lots of activity during those bustling days before
the malls took much of the downtown business away to the suburbs of Sarasota.
The centerpiece of the drawing is the stone monument, which was installed in
1928, honoring our Sarasota soldiers who served us proudly. The monument was moved to Gulfstream Avenue on the Bayfront
in 1954 because it was considered a traffic hazard. I remember it as the focal point of downtown Sarasota and will hold on to my memories!
If you are looking for real estate in downtown Sarasota, call me at 941-315-1185 and I can show you today's beautiful Sarasota and tell you stories about the wonderful history of my Hometown.
Here’s a great article about Five Points and the Monument by ABC
7/My Suncoast’s Linda Carson. As Linda said: “It still remains the heart of
Sarasota.”
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/sarasota-s-five-points-the-hub-of-sarasota-since-its/article_3fba1f8e-27d7-11e4-9fb3-001a4bcf6878.html
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