A Place In Local History

The Woman’s Exchange began operations in 1962 in the back room of the small building still standing on the corner of Palm Avenue and McAnsh Square. The enterprise, as a continuing means of fund raising for the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Youth Orchestra was the suggestion of Mrs. Eileen Gray, then Vice President of the Symphony Women’s Association. The shop was staffed by volunteers from the Symphony Women’s Association.

By December of 1962 the operation had outgrown its quarters and moved to a house at 1277 First Street. Consignments were taken in the kitchen and consignors waited in the yard under trees. On December 11, 1962 the Exchange was incorporated. The original Board of Directors were: Eileen Gray, President, Emmy Astheimer, Vice President, Elizabeth Lindsay, Secretary and Dolores Smolders, Treasurer. It was at this location that Gloria, Bonnie and their mother, Dee Hunt, joined the Exchange as volunteers.

On April 12, 1963 the Exchange presented the first major amount, $3,800.00 to the Florida West Coast Symphony, David Cohen accepting for the Symphony.

As the Exchange grew and prospered there was constant need for larger quarters. Three more moves were made before we arrived at our permanent home. Each of these locations, 1519 Main Street, 120 S. Orange Avenue and 1506 Third Street had several common factors: the rent was reasonable, the parking uniformly bad and the arrangements for taking consignments and merchandising strictly make-shift. Of course, none of these buildings had heat or AC and customers, consignors and volunteers burned or froze at the mercy of the elements. In 1965 Mr. A.L. Sainer donated a room at 125 Central Avenue for our use and thus was born the Bargain Box. Ruth Weinstein took immediate charge. Articles that did not sell in the regular shop were sold there at reduced prices.

In November of 1966 the name was changed from Symphony Women’s Exchange to Woman’s Exchange and that year monies were given to several cultural organizations. As the success of the Exchange continued, it was deemed wise to broaden the base of operations to include a variety of cultural groups and activities. On April 22, 1967 the Exchange activities came under the guidance of the then active Allied Arts Council, and Mrs. Ward Patton was named President.

The growth of the Exchange made permanent workable quarters necessary so the Board of Directors of ACC with the help of several supportive, far-sighted bankers (particularly Emmett Addy) arranged to buy the former Sarasota Herald Tribune building, our present site. After necessary structural changes we moved in November 18, 1969, and at last we had a facility adapted to our own special needs.

At the Annual Volunteers Luncheon at the old Gulf and Bay Club in 1979 we “burnt the mortgage”, and since that time except for improvements and necessary contingency funds, our monies earned have been returned to the community.

Since the Woman’s Exchange was founded in 1962, the total amount awarded in Grants and Scholarships is over Seven Million Dollars and Millions more in donated merchandise!