STEVEN D. CARLISLE

Caladesi Island Film

It took almost 5 months to create the Sandpearl Resort History Wall, which is permanently installed in the lobby of the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. I scanned over 100 historical photographs to tell the story of a Swiss immigrant who petitioned the President of the United States for the rights to live on this primitive island in the Bay near Dunedin, Florida.

It was the early 1900's and fortunately he had regular visitors from up North who had excellent cameras, so there are many fine photographs describing the little island he homesteaded. I retouched the antique prints and, in a few cases, hand-colored them for a added effect.

Henry married and had a daughter. When his wife passed away he continued to live on the island surrounded with farm animals and raised his daughter. Years later Myrtle's daughter chronicled her mom's unusual life in a book titled "Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise." I gather the many photos needed to tell this story I met her daughter, who let me scan the photos.

I invited her to speak at my Rotary Club meeting and I thought it would be nice to show the photos used in the project. I made a documentary using the photos and added narration and a soundtrack.