The Good Old Days - But How Did We Get to Here?

Charlie Huisking wrote a terrific article in the SHT Sunday about Jeff LaHurd, a Sarasota author and historian who grew up here in the 50's - and hasn’t left yet.

Jeff has just written new book, "Gulf Coast Chronicles: Remembering Sarasota’s Past." Huisking says this book "is an elegy for a Sarasota that no longer exists - a small, uncrowded but sophisticated town with undeveloped offshore islands, distinctive architecture and a character all its own."

LaHurd says in the introduction that Sarasota was not like it is today, "the community had a sense of its identity. We were unique - and we knew it."

The article describes LaHurd’s memories of Sarasota’s past - fishing from the pier at the foot of Main St, living in a small town that had great beaches, a superb Museum, circus winter quarters, an active artist and writer’s colony and major league spring training baseball.

A friend of mine also grew up in Sarasota in the 50's. His recollections and comments:

"Looking around today, it’s tough to be an old timer here, after having the run of Sarasota from the time I was 7 years old. Swamping a boat on the bay, camping and parties on Longboat Key or South Lido. Shucking oysters and eating them during November in Little Sarasota Bay. Watching huge herds of colorful Fiddler Crabs on the bay beaches, or huge flocks of birds flying east to their rookeries in the evening. Life was great.Now, you had better not eat the oysters, the King Mackerel, the large Grouper, Snapper, or any other large fish, because of the high levels of mercury. There are no fiddler crabs, and if you see a few wading birds flying, you are very lucky. There is less of everything in nature including trees. All within my lifetime. It is hard to believe."

Time has not treated Sarasota well. True, many have discovered the pleasures of living here, and that fact continues to stress our small town. We all know that growth puts great pressure on the resources in a community and no community can resist these forces forever. Sarasota has seen such tremendous growth in the last few years that it is overwhelming most people's sensibilities.

A quote from LaHurd puts our growth in perspective:

"Growth was inevitable. But it didn’t have to be unbridled growth. And our leaders should have found ways to protect our landmarks.

You know, I talk to a lot of visitors who have returned to Sarasota after being away for many years. I’ve never heard anyone say, "Wow, we really love what you’ve done with the place.’"

Our sentiment exactly!