Edson Keith Farmhouse Restored

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources has officially completed the restoration of the Edson Keith Farmhouse at the Phillippi Estate Park. The ribbon cutting was held on April 2, 2025.

The farmhouse, a 1916 Sears catalog home constructed by Edson Keith, provided accommodation while the retired hat maker from Chicago oversaw the construction of the adjacent mansion. When the mansion was completed, Keiths family moved in, keeping the farmhouse for housing domestic workers and farm staff to help run the estate.

Photos courtesy of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.

To read the County's blog about the project with detailed updates, visit their website. For more information, take a look at this article from The Observer about the ribbon cutting.

SAHP supports the County's responsible stewardship of such an important historic resource, and is incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and funding that went into this project. Might be a good Heritage Award candidate (nudge, nudge).