Crosley Carriage House Restoration

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Crosley Estate in Bradenton, Florida was the winter retreat built and owned by entrepreneur Power Crosley, whose main residence was in Cincinnati, Ohio. In January of 1983, the entire Crosley estate was placed on the national Register of Historic Places. In August of 1991, Manatee County purchased the estate and all of its buildings. Three years later, the county would begin restoration of the mansion. At the same time, the University of South Florida purchased (for its own facilities) the estate’s remaining acreage. One of the buildings on the Crosley property was the Carriage House, a small two-story structure built to house the Crosley’s servants and store his cars. In 2006, Manatee County began to explore the fate of the Carriage House. The building was in complete ruins, and there was opposition to its being saved. The idea was to build a new structure in its place. Through the efforts of the Crosley Foundation and Manatee County, however, it was determined that this unique piece of architecture should, and could, be saved. In 2007, the historical renovation would begin. Today, the Carriage House has been returned to its original splendor. A building which once lodged chauffer, pilot, and boat captain now functions in a variety of new and important ways for the community.