How Dearborn Street Got Its Start

Dearborn Street carries a name brought south from Illinois, thanks to the Nichols brothers. They came from Englewood, Illinois, and in 1896, they laid out a new town here, giving the main street a familiar title. 

Oddly enough, the street itself followed the same path the Goff family used. William and Mary Goff had been the first white settlers in the region. When they arrived at Lemon Bay in 1878, the Goffs made do with a tent before putting up a log cabin. Wilderness surrounded their sixty acres, with the closest neighbors scattered as far as what’s now Nokomis, Punta Gorda, and Boca Grande. The trail the Goffs carved out by horseback, later by wagon, turned into a main road for the new town.

The Nichols brothers had high hopes for Englewood. They wanted to turn it into a lemon-producing hub. Nature had other plans. Two brutal freezes wiped out their lemon trees by the mid-1890s, forcing them to scrap that dream.

By 1912, their involvement in Englewood was winding down. That year, they sold the town’s only supply business, along with the post office rights, to Peter and Florence Buchan, all for $315. The catch? The deal didn’t include the building, the land on Yale Street, or the dock. So, on top of the purchase, the Buchans had to pay $10 every month for rent.

Determined to avoid ongoing rent, Peter Buchan bought land at the corner of Dearborn and Olive Streets for $100 in 1913. There, the Buchans put up a big two-story building, a store and post office on the ground floor, and everyone’s living quarters upstairs. They also took the time to build their own dock, stretching 250 feet into Lemon Bay.

Back then, no roads connected Englewood with the outside world. Every bit of merchandise for the store came in by sailboat. Buchan’s place quickly earned a new nickname: Buchan’s Landing.

Moving the store was a gamble. People thought shifting the business those extra blocks away from Yale Street, then the heart of town, just didn’t make sense. But others soon followed, and before long, Dearborn Street became Englewood’s new center of commerce.

The Tamiami Trail is Born

When work on the Tamiami Trail kicked off in 1923, every small town along the route lobbied to be included. Englewood wanted in as well. By 1925, the town incorporated, spanning thirteen square miles and becoming Sarasota County’s second-largest town in terms of acreage. That gave Englewood a stronger case to get the Trail routed through town. As planned, the Tamiami Trail would come in on Olive Street, cross east on Dearborn, then follow River Road out.

When the Trail officially opened, folks marked the occasion in style. On April 25, 1928, the governor’s motorcade stopped in Englewood for speeches in front of Ziegler’s Store on Dearborn Street.

Even after the Trail’s route moved elsewhere in the 1930s, Dearborn Street stayed the heart of Englewood’s business life. It’s where locals experienced so many “firsts”—the first newspaper, doctor, dentist, bakery, 5 & 10 store, barber, modern bank, drugstore, auto garage, flower shop, shoe store, funeral home, appliance store, and even the community theater. Dearborn Street has long been more than a road. It’s the backbone of Englewood’s history and the stage where so much of its story played out.

To learn more about the history of Englewood, visit the Lemon Bay Historical Society, click here.

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Step inside the new space and you’ll meet a team that actually cares about its customers. The agents and support staff at Gulfstream Insurance Agency work hard to deliver great service and top-quality insurance options. Whether you’re new or already a customer, they’re ready to help—home, auto, commercial, boat, flood, you name it.

Kristen Wagenseil put it best: “We are really excited to share our love of the community in this new location. We can’t wait to grow into this space.”

Want to reach them? Call 941-460-0348 or check out gulfstreamagency.com.

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Many pioneers pushed inland, settling places like Winter Park, Orlando, Tallahassee, even Tampa, which sits away from the Gulf. But not everyone wanted to live far from the water. The poorest families in early Florida often landed right along the coast, scraping a living on the barrier islands. They set up rough camps on thin, salty soil, land that could barely support a few crops. These families couldn’t afford a mule, let alone a proper farm.

Everyday survival meant living off whatever they could fish, hunt, or coax out of the ground. Ships passing the Gulf would stop to trade, scooping up winter vegetables, dried fish, and animal pelts for northern markets. When a hurricane hit, saltwater would flood the islands, ruining what little farmland they had. If families ran out of food before the soil healed, they’d just pick up and move on.

Life around Lemon Bay meant living rough but resourceful. Folks ate what they caught: fish, catfish, oysters out of the bay, wild game, heart of palm, and simple garden crops like sweet potatoes. Cornmeal mush and grits featured heavily, not by choice but by necessity. 

If you grew up around here, maybe you remember early mornings spent fishing, then throwing fresh fish over a campfire for lunch or dinner. Back then, entire businesses closed up shop when it was time to fish in the late morning or afternoon. Life revolved around the tides and seasons.

Life also revolved around the weather, everything from summer rains to heat waves and the constant threat of storms. Kids learned young how to fend for themselves, gathering food from land and sea.

Fish and oysters kept tables full; records from 1898 show hundreds of tons of both leaving the area each year. Settlers turned to shellfish and even turtles, which ended up in stews. Corn was king. People baked cornbread, made big pots of grits, and stretched sacks of beans or salt pork bought from the general store. Fall meant scavenging for hickory nuts and acorns, washing out the bitterness before mixing their bounty into rations.

People hunted deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, and quail. The cabbage palm tree, sabal palm, was a lifeline. They’d cut the tender heart for salads or boil it up with whatever else they’d foraged that day. Old survival foods stick around: swamp cabbage, honey-drizzled fry bread, and the classic breakfast of grits and fish still show up at Gulf Coast barbecues, fish camps, and backyard cookouts.

Local flavors have roots in both Indigenous and pioneer cuisine. They still serve swamp cabbage stewed or boiled. Fry bread, once a necessity, now comes flavored with honey or paired with wild game. Grits with local fish like mullet or catfish are as common now as they were a century ago.

And, of course, seafood still rules the table here. From October to May, everyone cracks open sweet Florida stone crab. Smoked mullet and classic fish dip show up everywhere, from waterfront bars to informal gatherings. Fresh grouper, pan-fried or blackened, is the go-to sandwich at just about every coastal spot. You’ll even find gator tail, battered and fried, a taste that’s survived centuries.

Next time you dig into a platter of fresh-caught fish or a side of grits, remember: you’re part of a tradition as old as Englewood itself.

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Neighbors said things got loud around 8 p.m. Monday with shouting, some yelling, and a strong smell of smoke hanging in the air.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the man threatened to kill his own family and law enforcement during a heated domestic dispute. When deputies showed up, he locked himself inside his house and refused to come out. During the standoff, he set his own car on fire.

The situation escalated, he fired several rounds at armored trucks and deputies. Deputies fired back. One bullet hit him in the hand. After that, he finally surrendered.

Sheriff Bill Prummell addressed reporters: “Once he’s out of the hospital, he’s facing a long list of charges. We’ve also learned that Renal is a convicted felon and, from what we understand, is in the country illegally from Haiti. We’re working with Border Patrol and ICE to handle that.”

Deputies still can’t fully search the home. Fire and the gas SWAT used to subdue the suspect left the place hazardous. The investigation is ongoing, and Englewood REVIEW will keep sharing details as they come in.

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On the side, Tony wrote a ten-book mystery series featuring a fictional New Orleans lawyer, Tubby Dubonnet. Tony’s books picked up Edgar and Anthony award nominations along the way. 

As Tony says, “Nancy and I moved to Englewood in 2018 and settled on Gottfried Creek, where we got flooded in 2024 and only just moved back home. Between us, we have three kids and, so far, two grandkids.”

He’s also written three “Florida Fables” about Gawain McFarlane, an old-time Sarasota County lawman. In 2024, Tony made a bid for State Representative, which he “luckily lost,” as he puts it, “since I don’t want to live in Tallahassee.”

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A perfect day for me is working outdoors in the woods. I volunteer at two area parks.

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that people will forget how to get along. This is a wonderful country when people listen to each other and quit calling each other names.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My greatest extravagance is a good bottle of wine and dinner at a great restaurant – and we have several in this neighborhood.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

I’d say the most overrated virtue is “prudence.” Acting a little crazy sometimes can be good for your health.

Which living person do you most despise?

“Despise” is a hard word, but Vladimir Putin is right up there.

Which living person do you most admire?

The people I most admire are in heaven, but I’d have to give pretty high marks to Nancy and the kids, all of whom have made great lives and impressive careers for themselves.

Every edition, Englewood REVIEW spotlights someone who stands out in the community. We ask each person to tackle The Proust Questionnaire; a classic set of questions created by Marcel Proust, the French writer.

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The Englewood REVIEW just arrived, and it’s our final official issue of the summer.

Oscar Wilde once put it perfectly — “…and all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” We’ve all heard it before, but it hits home every time. One minute the kids are racing out of school, summer stretches out ahead, and we’re knee-deep in trips and late nights. Blink, and suddenly it’s back-to-school shopping, nerves, and those last, golden sunsets.

By now, the first day is behind us. Our local kids have pushed through the first day with all the emotions: jittery, excited, and ready. You’ll find more of our Back-To-School Tips as you ease into the new season. The school year may have started, but these ideas hold up, no matter the month.

There’s plenty on the horizon for Englewood. Pioneer Days lines up with Labor Day weekend, and the next Englewood REVIEW will be a special, expanded Pioneer Days edition. We’ll dig into local history, bring you the latest event details, and share stories that’ll get you into the spirit.

Don’t miss “From Woodstock to Octoberfest,” where Sydney Martin and The Artist Colony roll out a whole lineup of can’t-miss autumn events and surprises.

Catch our Englewood Examiner Profile of Tony Dunbar. Lawyer, novelist, public servant: he wears many hats. Plus, our travel feature “Join the Adventure” follows Dave and Donna Needham’s latest journey with the Englewood REVIEW.

We’ll leave you with a line from Hal Borland: “Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.” That feels about right here. Summer fades, but the good spirit sticks around.

So, swing by and grab your Englewood REVIEW. Let’s savor what’s left of summer, together.

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Step into Manasota Mystique: Derby After Dark and experience a night at the races like no other. This event gathers 200 of Englewood’s most familiar faces for an evening filled with great food, good bourbon, lively music, and all the excitement you’d expect from Derby night, just with our own Englewood twist.

Dinner comes courtesy of Smoke & Thyme, and the drinks flow from Sportsman’s Pub. There’s even a private bourbon tasting hosted by Mark Knauf, CPA, for those looking to sip something special.

Crossfire Creek keeps the energy up all night—if you know, you know. They’re the “MOST WANTED” Rock n’ Country Band around. Passion Folkloria will make a special appearance, and Teddy the Cow will be ready for your photo ops.

So, dust off your best Derby attire, try your luck at the betting table, raise a glass, and celebrate the people and spirit that make Englewood one of a kind.

There’s more to this night than incredible fun. Manasota Mystique helps shape our community’s future. The event funds scholarships for Lemon Bay High School students and supports the Englewood Chamber’s lineup of free community events. We’re talking classics like Pioneer Days, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, and so many programs that bring people together throughout the year.

Whether you’re joining us as a guest, sponsor, or volunteer, your support fuels the heart of Englewood and ensures its best traditions carry on.

Manasota Mystique: Derby After Dark
Saturday, November 7, 2026
5:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.

Click here for more information.

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The theme for the 70th Pioneer Day Parade is 70s Disco. Get ready for bell-bottoms, funky music, and plenty of sparkle as Englewood celebrates seven decades of this beloved tradition.

Englewood Pioneer Days happens every year over Labor Day Weekend. Here’s what’s lined up this year:

– Little Miss/Mr. Englewood Pageant
– Cardboard Boat Races
– Diaper Derby
– Parade on Dearborn Street
– Family activities at Pioneer Plaza

Want more details? Pick up the Englewood REVIEW’s special Pioneer Day edition when it hits newsstands on August 28, right before the festivities kick off.

Looking Back

Englewood Pioneer Days started in 1956 thanks to local newspaper editor and historian Josephine Cortes. She dreamed up the festival as a way to give the sleepy fishing village of Englewood a jolt during the slow summer months. 

The first celebration was simple: a luncheon for early settlers, a parade with fire trucks, a conch-shell band, some good old-fashioned foot races, a beard contest, and of course, the infamous shipwreck party.

Over the years, the festival has grown. Now, folks come out for cardboard boat races, the Little Miss/Mr. Englewood Pageant, car shows, and street dances, traditions that keep getting bigger every season. Pioneer Days even led to the formation of the Lemon Bay Historical Society in 1983, making room for open houses of treasured historic buildings like the 1925 Lemon Bay Woman’s Club during festival weekend.

Seventy years. That’s a long time, and it hasn’t always been easy. The festival survived its share of ups and downs, from funding scares, hurricanes, red tides, even pandemic shutdowns. But the community’s spirit and resilience pulled through every time.

Here’s to the 70th Englewood Pioneer Days, and to the people who keep this tradition alive, year after year. Thanks to the Englewood Chamber for making sure Pioneer Days continues for years to come.

Click here to go to the Englewood Chamber website for more Pioneer Days information.

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To the Editor,

Every child deserves a safe route to school. At SKY Academy in Englewood, that basic expectation isn’t being met.

The school sits by a sharp curve on River Road, a 45 mile per hour zone where too many drivers go even faster. Parents turning left after drop-off or pickup face a real risk, merging into fast-moving traffic with limited visibility. Kids who walk or bike must cross to the only sidewalk on the opposite side. All without a designated school zone. That’s unacceptable. We shouldn’t wait for a close call or worse. 

I urge the Sarasota County School District, county leaders, and transportation officials to establish a marked school zone with reduced speeds during arrival and dismissal. Let’s act now. I encourage our community to send letters to the county to request the same. 

Safety isn’t a luxury; it’s a responsibility.

Respectfully,
Brian Faro
Englewood, Florida

The Englewood REVIEW encourages our readers to share their thoughts. Our opinion section exists online as a space where the community can discuss and debate issues that matter to our community. We receive a high volume of letters, so we can’t publish every submission. To submit your letter, email michele@englewoodreview.com with “Letter to the Editor Submission” in the subject line.

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Some kids get excited for the new year, the buzz of seeing old friends, finding out who’s in your class. Others feel a little sad, maybe even nervous. That’s normal. Letting go of summer’s freedom can be tough, and the first-day jitters are real.

Back-to-school anxiety isn’t unusual. But there’s plenty you can do to help your child manage those nerves. 

First, be sure to listen. Let them talk about what’s worrying them, without jumping in to fix it or telling them to “just relax.” Validation goes a long way. Say something like, “It’s completely normal to feel nervous meeting new teachers.” Kids pick up on your mood, so stay calm yourself. And if you’re anxious, your child will feel that, too.

Next, get the routine started early. A week or two before school starts, start shifting bedtimes and wake-up times so the first morning isn’t such a shock. Visit the school together, walk around, check out their classroom, and even find the bathroom. Getting familiar with the building helps. Try out the morning drive or walk to the bus stop so they know what to expect.

Let your child have some say in the process. Picking out their own backpack or first-day outfit helps them feel more in control. If they need extra support, reach out to the teacher or school counselor, just to make sure there’s a plan. Teach your child a simple breathing exercise so they can use it when nerves hit.

For more advice, check out guides from the Child Mind Institute (childmind.org) or Harvard Health (health.harvard.edu). Just being present and paying attention, being in their corner, can make the biggest difference as the new school year starts.

Here’s what you need to know for back-to-school in Englewood, Florida, for the 2026–2027 year. 

School starts on August 10, 2026. If you have a student at Englewood Elementary, the Meet the Teacher event happens on August 6. For VPK and Pre-K, drop by at 1:00 p.m. Kindergarten through fifth grade meet their teachers from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The new school hours for elementary students: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Shopping for supplies? The sales tax holiday runs from July 20 through August 20, 2026, so you can buy school items tax-free during that window.

Before orientation, check your child’s assignment on the Sarasota County Schools Focus Portal. If you need more information, just call Englewood Elementary at (941) 474-3247.

For middle and high school students, start dates depend on your district. North Englewood falls under Sarasota County Schools, while Charlotte County Public Schools handles the southern part. Both districts will launch the school year on August 10, 2026. Easy to remember.

Important links for more information:

Sarasota County: sarasotacountyschools.net 

Charlotte County: yourcharlotteschools.net

This is the first of a two-part series exploring all-things Back-to-School. Part two will be published on August 14, 2026.

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