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Location: Webber Street between U.S. 41 and Osprey Avenue |
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Southside
School opened its doors to 170 students January 11, 1926, one
of several schools built in Sarasota County's land boom of the
1920's. These schools included two richly ornamented Mediterranean
Revival style elementary schools along the new Tamiami Trail,
Southside and Bay Haven. They were inspired by Italian and Spanish
Renaissance architecture and both were the work of Tampa Architect
M. Leo Elliott, who also designed the Gothic Revival style Sarasota
High School. Southside featured open hallways around an interior
courtyard, a barrel tile roof, and separate arched portals to
boys' and girls' playgrounds. On opening day, Southside School
was located south of the city limits in the center of what was
called "South Side School Subdivision" created in
1925 by the Board of Public Instruction. Doris Brownell was
Southside's first principal. During her administration, the
school's first PRA was organized and the school lunch program
was started.
Sarasota's land boom was short lived. Within months of Southside's
completion, land values dropped, Sarasota's economic base rapidly
declined and the population dwindled. During the Great Depression
which followed, Sarasota schools suffered. By 1933, Southside
and the rest of the city's schools were closed for lack of money.
Only those students who could afford tuition were allowed to
return. Enterprising students developed money-making schemes.
Coat hangers and cola bottles were collected and odd jobs were
sought. During these hard times elementary students were permitted
to attend classes barefooted. After World War II, Sarasota experienced
renewed economic vitality and dynamic growth. By 1952 the population
soared to 22,000 and Southside underwent the first of many expansions
and improvements to meet continuing growth and changing needs.
The school facilities later expanded to include a student-designed
playground, a one-quarter mile track, a botanical garden, an
outside stage, and a media center.
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