Horse and Chaise,
otherwise known as Venice
Human settlements on the Gulf Coast of Florida can be traced
back for more than 10,000 years, and found nearly 100 miles
offshore. Over thousands of years, the aboriginal people
flourished, giving rise to the expansive Calusa Indian nation.
By dominating most of South Florida, this civilization thrived
for many generations. Evidence of Native American inhabitants
remains in the Venice area today, including a 4,000-year-old
shell midden (mound) which can be observed at Historic Spanish
Point in Osprey (near Venice).
In the early 19th century,
the complete lack of roadways into the area known today
as Venice forced seafaring pioneers
to become creative in locating access to the land. Soon,
a small formation of trees resembling a horse and carriage
became known as the best way to reach the area. Hence,
the earliest known name for the Venice area was Horse and Chaise.
With the passing of
the Homestead Act, which promised the
sale of 160-acre land tracts, Horse and Chaise saw a new era of settlement.
Some of the first takers were well-known families like John and
Eliza Webb, the Reverend Jesse Knight, Dr. Fred Albee, and Robert
Roberts. Another settler, Frank Higel, brought with him fond
memories of Venice, Italy, and developed his property with hints
of Italian Renaissance architecture, some of which is still evident
today. Higel also submitted the name Venice for the 1888 post
office in what is today the Nokomis area. In 1910, Bertha Honore
Palmer purchased 140,000 acres of land, which facilitated the
extension of the Seaboard Airline Railroad. By 1927, the city
of Venice was incorporated, with Ned Worthington as the first
mayor. In 1928, the first Tamiami Trail (then called the Velvet
Highway,) which connected Tampa to Miami ran down the coast and
through Venice. The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus
began to winter in the Venice area in 1960, and by 1962, the
population had reached 27,000, a significant increase from 1957’s
population of 10,000.
Today, Venice is a designated Florida MainStreet
City and enjoys a rich and cultured heritage, including a professional
symphony, theatres, museums, and close proximity to many of Florida’s
most breathtaking beaches.
Courtesy
of Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau
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