Are you passionate about Englewood history? Then you want to meet John Valickas. He’s passionate about local history and the fight to save the Placida Bunk House.
Join John as he shares the story of the Placida Bunk House on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 7 p.m., at Englewood’s Historic Green Street Church, 510 S. Indiana Ave. This one-of-a-kind building will take you back to 1907, when the bunk house went up to shelter railroad workers building the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad. That line changed everything, hauling phosphate ore down to Port Boca Grande.
John’s not just talking about the building, either. He’s diving into the railroad days, the old fishing industry, and the families who shaped this place for generations. You’ll get the big picture, not just faded black-and-white photos.
The Placida Bunk House is in real trouble right now, and if we don’t act, we could lose it for good. John’s also going to talk about kicking off a fundraising campaign to restore and bring it back home.
Admission is free, and the Lemon Bay Historical Society would love to see you there. If you want to pitch in, donations are more than welcome. Mark your calendar: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 7 p.m. Come connect with your local history and help save a little piece of it, too.
