Owen Burns (developer)
Owen Burns (October 31, 1869 – August 22, 1937) was an American
Early life
He was born into a North Carolina family that dates to Francis Burns, who left Ayrshire, Ayr County, Scotland for America in 1734 with Gabrielle Johnston (who came to act as a colonial governor). Francis Burns was granted land by the king of England, which remains in family ownership. The county seat,
He married Vernona Hill Freeman, a woman he met while she was vacationing in Sarasota. As she was leaving town by rail to return to Massachusetts, Burns impetuously boarded the train as well and courted her as she was returning home. He successfully persuaded her to return to Florida in order to marry him.[6] They were married in Sarasota on June 4, 1912, raising their five children in the community in a large home near the harbor. They also became the parents of the most important historian for the community, Lillian G. Burns.
Lillian became a significant benefactor for the community as well, donating a large collection of historical materials and artifacts related to her family and Sarasota to the county archives so that they would become resources that would be preserved and kept open to the public. She also taught researchers how to conduct effective interviews of historical figures and to create unbiased research, held free brown-bag luncheon lectures downtown, and conducted tours of the community that were enriched by her extensive, first-hand knowledge of its history.[7] Her younger sister, Harriet Burns Stieff, continued the donations and participation in the historical community after the death of Lillian.
Career
Not only did Owen Burns become the largest landowner in the city, but he founded its first locally-owned bank, Citizens Bank of Sarasota, promoted the development of other businesses, participated in the founding of a board of trade that was the precursor of the
He dredged the harbor and around
Now popularly known as Burns Square, Herald Square was on First Street before new street numbering and naming was introduced. The historic Burns building forms a triangle as Orange Avenue and Pineapple Avenue diverge in the midst of what also is called "Little Five Points". Architect Dwight James Baum was involved in the design. Although the building featured shops on the first floor, Burns entitled the triangular building as the "Pineapple Apartments".[9] This is where downtown Sarasota began in the 1920s. The shops continue to thrive. To the east of the triangular building and across one of the diverging streets, on Orange Avenue Burns built the first Herald (newspaper) building that years after relocation of the newspaper became the home of the Sarasota Woman's Exchange, now just entitled, The Exchange. The presence of the newspaper building lent its name to the square at that time, which now is unknown to many, hence the popular drift toward calling the building and the square by Burn's name. In 2001, a historical marker was placed on the site by the county that relates many details about Burns and his square.
The Owen Burns building at Herald Square has been restored recently, a second renovation by its owner of more than thirty years, Denise Kowal. In the first renovation she added new features to the exterior, such as balconies of wrought iron and stylish colors,[10][11] replacing the wooden originals made with pecky cypress timbers. The second renovation was a restoration, going back to the historic character of the building. Added features were removed and the original finish of the building restored, including its color. The building contains shops, a restaurant, offices, and apartments.
On what currently is First Street, near the hotel he named after his wife and his real estate office, Burns built the second Times Building (another newspaper). Nearby stands the
In 1925, Burns built the
Ironically, it was the same former partner, John Ringling, who took advantage of the situation and purchased the hotel for a small portion of its value,[13] although several years later, he also would follow Burns into financial ruin. All of the real estate sales for development of Lido Key were transacted through the Burns real estate
He then founded several businesses, including a citrus growing and jelly enterprise. Retaining his interest in game fishing and
By a proclamation on November 2, 2009, that cited many of his achievements, the week ending with the anniversary of his birth on the last day of October, was declared Owen Burns Week by the city commission. Many special events to honor him also were celebrated during November 8–14, 2009, which closely followed. The centennial anniversary of the arrival of Owen Burns in Sarasota was celebrated in 2010.[14]
References
- ^ Sarasota History Alive!, details transcribed from historical markers erected by Sarasota County
- ^ Favorite, Merab, The Pirate and the Proprietor, The Bradenton Times, April 9, 2023
- ^ "Fifth Generation". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
- ^ "My Entire DataBase – pafg3412 – Generated by Personal Ancestral File". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
- ^ Sarasota Times II A Sarasota History Newsletter, Historical Society of Sarasota County, announcement of a discussion by Harriet Burns Stieff, April 2008 [1]
- ^ Benz, Kafi, Lillian G. Burns and Owen Burns, an Enduring Family Legacy for Sarasota, Seagate Press, Sarasota, Florida, 2001.
- ^ Benz, Kafi, Lillian G. Burns and Owen Burns, an Enduring Family Legacy for Sarasota, Seagate Press, Sarasota, Florida, 2001.
- ^ Favorite, Merab-Michal, by The Rise of Sarasota, The Bradenton Times, Sunday, December 28, 2014, 12:09 a.m. (part one of two)
- ^ Benz, Kafi, Lillian G. Burns and Owen Burns, an Enduring Family Legacy for Sarasota, Seagate Press, Sarasota, Florida, 2001.
- ^ Sarasota History Alive!, Pineapple Apartments at Herald Square, reprint of an undated article published by the Sarasota County History Center that contains a typographical error indicating that Denise Kowal purchased the building in 1886 rather than the correct date, 1986 – photograph shows the building before the 2009–2010 restoration
- ^ "About Denise Kowal". Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ As Area Grew, so did St. Martha's Catholic Church, Sarasota History Alive!, Newsletter, August 22, 2012
- ^ Benz, Kafi, Lillian G. Burns and Owen Burns, an Enduring Family Legacy for Sarasota, Seagate Press, Sarasota, Florida, 2001.
- ^ Bubil, Harold, Developer Gets His Due, Sarasota Herald Tribune, July 4, 2010
Further reading
- LaHurd, Jeff (2006). Sarasota: A History. Charleston, SC: History Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-59629-119-5. Chapter IV, Setting the Stage.
- LaHurd, Jeff (2005). Gulf Coast Chronicles: Remembering Sarasota's Past. Charleston, SC: History Press. ISBN 1-59629-029-3. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- Owen Burns,[2] Sarasota History Alive!, video linked to March 14, 2012, edition