Late 20th Century “Have a Seat” Hand-Printed and Painted Architectural Photograph Sarasota Ringling Towers

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Late 20th century photo image size is 21 3/4 x 15” black and white photograph is hand-printed on 20” x … Read more Late 20th century photo image size is 21 3/4 x 15” black and white photograph is hand-printed on 20” x 24” watercolor paper and hand painted in traditional transparent oil paints. It is not framed and not mounted.Hence there may be some variation in the wave of the paper. It is signed 82’ by Alene Dowden and numbered 6/25 and had a limited number of 25 prints. This image is an historical record of a vanishing America.
The Burns Realty Company-Karl Bickel House is a historic home in Sarasota, Florida. It was located at 101 North Tamiami Trail. On March 5, 1987, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building was razed in 2000 to make room for the Sarasota Ritz-Carlton.
Built in 1920's Karl Bickel (1935/1978) was the President United Press
Served as Ringlings Administration Offices at one time by Owen Burns
About the Bickel Estate:
The grounds of the estate was ornamented with fountains, reflecting pools and many images embedded in stucco walls. All created from hand painted tiles.
The Bickel Estate was located in Sarasota, Florida and unfortunately demolished in 2000. The legacy of John Ringling lives on in Sarasota through The Ringling Museum of Art, Ringling College of Art
Karl Bickel and his equally dynamic wife, Helen Maderia Bickel, visited Sarasota for the first time in 1928. He was a leading light in American journalism, the president of United Press. For years the couple traveled the world and were known internationally by statesmen, captains of industry, political bigwigs and royalty. Sarasota Fl
The land boom had crashed and Sarasota was in the doldrums. As A.B. Edwards, the former mayor observed, “The sponge had been wrung dry.” And it showed.
But the Bickels, first attracted here by their friend, Sarasota Herald Publisher George Lindsay, fell in love with the tranquil beauty and winter climate of Sarasota, which they found to be perfect. They purchased what had been developer Owen Burns’ office during the heady days of the land boom, located adjacent to the El Vernona, and renamed the John Ringling Hotel and later locally referred to as John Ringling Towers.
They moved here permanently after Bickel retired in 1935, and their home became a well-known landmark, the Bickel House, transformed into a showplace filled with art and antiquities reflecting their far flung life style.
Immediately Bickel channeled his legendary drive, intellect and business acumen to the betterment of his newly adopted community, playing a central role in Sarasota’s growth and development for more than 35 years. The home became a regular meeting place for Sarasota’s civic leaders. See less