This week in history 10.29.15

A glimpse of the way things were from the archives.

By Amanda Morales
| 6:00 a.m. October 29, 2015

Residents and visitors aboard the temporary ferry that transported people during repairs to the New Pass bridge.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Oct. 27, 1983

Residents, visitors and commuters could only travel to Longboat Key from Sarasota by ferry when the New Pass bridge broke down in 1983.

The south span of the bridge broke when it was being lowered for a sailboat, and traffic was rerouted to the north end of Longboat Key, a distance of 35 miles back to Sarasota.

The Florida Department of Transportation worked out a deal with La Barge owner Ed Place that would allow the use of his boats to ferry people to Longboat Key. Between the ferry and buses, FDOT shelled out nearly $3,000 a day to transport people while the bridge was being repaired. Crowds aboard the ferry ranged from businessmen to golfers looking forward to a day on the links.

Hetty Lange, then 86, competes in the Senior Games.

Oct. 30, 1997

Age was nothing but a number for the athletes who competed in the Senior Games. Hundreds of seniors from across the county participated in javelin, tennis, horseshoes, swimming, track and more. Hetty Lange, then 86, put her skills to work on the javelin throw — the same event she once competed in at the 1932 Olympics.