Timeless Style

At the time of its construction in 1916, The Sarasota Times proclaimed it "one of the handsomest, if not the handsomest [home] along the west coast of Florida." It remains an imposing structure even in today's era of mega-houses. Designed by the prestigious Chicago architectural firm of Clark and Otis, it was probably the area’s first Italian Renaissance home, the forerunner of a style that would be prevalent in the 1920s.

In those long-ago days, the home was literally in the middle of nowhere, off the Sarasota-Venice Road, which was so narrow that there was barely enough room for two cars to pass without swapping paint. The Keiths’ transport of choice was boat. The home was practically self-sufficient, with a large garden, citrus trees, hen house, chickens, cows, pump house and water tower.

The multi-talented Keith earned engineering and law degrees and ran a successful business, the Keith Brothers Hat and Glove Company of Chicago. He was fluent in French and also read Latin and German.

An avid music lover, he studied music in Paris at the Sorbonne and went on to perform in the Paris Opera for several years. According to his grandson, he had a large piano and composed and published many songs about Sarasota. His wife, Nettie, played the harp. Their mansion was the scene of grand parties held for the area’s prominent Chicago Colony; the ladies dressed in Paris gowns and the men in tuxedos.

In the 1940s the home was purchased by Mae Hansen, a designer of doll clothing, who converted it into the Phillippi Plantation Inn. Later it became a guest house.

Sarasota County purchased the Edson Keith estate in 1987 and it became part of the Phillippi Estate Park. Today it’s used for weddings, luncheons and a host of other events.

Jeff LaHurd is a historian and author of several books about Sarasota.