This Week in History

A glimpse of the way things were from the Pelican Press archives.

March 17, 1977

A human skull and bones were unearthed on Siesta Key’s bayfront two weeks prior, and local anthropologists and archaeologists studied the remains to learn from where they originated. Marion Almy, a Siesta resident and professional archeologist, provided her professional opinon: The remains were part of a refuse mound located nearby, the Martin Midden. The Martin Midden, a large mound that was as deep as 5 feet in waste products in some parts, was the 57th Native American site identified in Sarasota County. Almy told The Siesta Key Pelican that the skull most likely belonged to a person who was a member of the Timucua or Calusa tribe. 

March 17, 1988 

GTE, a phone book company, ran an ad in the Pelican Press to remind people to check their phone book listings for errors. The company was going to start printing its next edition the following month, so GTE encouraged people to call in with corrections or updates.

“After all, it’s your phone book. When you see your name in print, it ought to be the way you want to see it,” the ad stated.

March 18, 1993 

Siesta Key and Lido Key were hit with a major tropical storm March 13, sending catamarans and small yachts flying into trees and yanking up anchors. The storm raged for about six hours, flooding homes. Cleanup was delayed because of high winds following the storm. Gregg Feagans, the director of emergency management for the county, said the storm was a reminder of the dangers of living on the barrier islands and the precautions homeowners should take. However, one resident, Bill Wolgamot, decided to provide some comic relief in the Village after the storm by dressing up in a gorilla suit and waving at passersby.