The historic Leigh/McKennon residence off St. Armands Circle served was an appropriate venue for the Sara De Soto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution's annual Silver Tea.
The event Feb. 26 raised money for the DAR's local historic preservation projects.
While local, state and national DAR members perused the preserved, fully renovated home owned by Nancy and David Morgan, local Children of the American Revolution, called the Chichi-Okobee Society, joined in for the multigenerational event dressed as flappers.
At the Silver Tea, Caroline Gans, 7, from Saint Stephen's Episcopal School, Christiana Petty, 16, who is home-schooled, and Grace Madden, 17, from Pine View School, gracefully walked through the corridor. Each carried a plate of culinary delicacies, greeting DAR members with affection and warmth. Christiana explained she has a patriotic ancestor, and she has been
involved in CAR since she was 6 years old, attending teas, studying history and dressing up according to the celebrated era.
Caroline also enjoys the organization and dressing up.
"This is actually my first tea with DAR and it's really exciting to meet some of the DAR members," said Grace, CAR president and youth history buff who credited her history teachers at Pine View.
Those attending the tea learned that the home was originally built in 1937 on land purchased in the 1920s. The the downstairs was the servants' quarters with the owners' living quarters upstairs. The house was one-third of its current size.
Gretta Archer, vice president general of the national society of DAR, said she had eight ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. She savored the experience of being served a beverage by Jean Catsakis, dressed as Martha Washington, for the annual event.
"Historic preservation is one of the main goals of the national society because it is preserving our history, and people need to know how people lived in certain times during the history of the United States," Archer said.
DAR launched nationally in 1890 and in Sarasota in 1924. McFate said the scholarship and preservation programs are still going strong. Catsakis, who is chairwoman of three DAR committees, has been a member for 41 years. DAR is the oldest nonprofit in Sarasota, she said, and offers 34 committees, including conservation, American history, issues relating to women, and projects and education relating to historic conservation.
"Because we have such a diverse mission, there's really something for everybody," said Mary Lou McFate, DAR's honorary regent. "We do this annual historic tea, and the proceeds from the donations go to historic preservation projects in Sarasota County.
"So, it's appropriate to do this event each year in a historic home as we celebrate our culture and heritage."
DAR member Nancy Morgan, the hostess and homeowner, said she grew up in Sarasota and can remember the house since the 1950s. It is the 11th home she and her husband have restored and lived in.
She admitted that some of the restoration was inspired by the Ringling Ca' d'Zan mansion, which is evident upon entrance to the property.
Jennifer Turner, CAR's senior society president, stepped out to the back of the home toward the end of the tea and admired the ornate architecture from the waterside.
She was moved by generations of women joining together for the day to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism, while raising money for local preservation projects. Jennifer said she was proud of the core seven members of CAR's Chichi-Okobee Society who are curious and passionate about history.
"The nice thing is that there is a lot of different levels of DAR," she said. "Really, no matter what you are interested in, someone else is also just as interested, and it's an organization where there's truly something for everyone."
