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Myrtle Scharrer Betz

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Myrtle Scharrer Betz
Born
Myrtle Scharrer

(1895-02-22)February 22, 1895[1]
Caladesi Island, Pinellas County, Florida, United States
DiedJanuary 2, 1992(1992-01-02) (aged 96)[2]
Other namesMyrtle Betz

Myrtle Scharrer Betz (1895–1992) was an American writer who wrote about life on Caladesi Island in the early 1900s.[3]

Betz was born on Caladesi Island. Her mother died when she was six, and she stayed on the island with her father, the homesteader Henry Scharrer.[4] She would live on the island for 35 years.[5]

At the age of 20, she married Herman Betz and they had one daughter.[6] She and her husband moved to the mainland.[7]

At age 87, Betz wrote the book, Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise (ISBN 9781597320337) telling of her life on the barrier island.[8][9] Yesteryear I Lived In Paradise was first published in 1985 in a loose-leaf binding made possible by the interest and generosity of 105 friends of Myrtle Betz. This edition was presented to Myrtle as a surprise gift for her 90th birthday.[10][5] In 1990 Honeymoon Island State Park began celebrating Myrtle Scharrer Betz Day on the island.[11][12]

Betz died in 1992,[13] and she was later profiled in Linda Taylor's book on women exploring nature.[14]

In 1994 a play based on her book about Caladesi Island, The Islander, was presented at the cultural center in Tarpon Springs, Florida.[15] Betz's descendants presented her life in period costumes to people interested in life on the island.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Betz, Myrtle Scharrer (2009) [1984]. Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise: the Story of Caladesi Island. Tampa, Florida: University of Tampa Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-159732033-7.
  2. ^ Betz 2009, p. 184.
  3. ^ Tomalin, Terry (June 21, 2002). "Beauty and the Beach". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  4. ^ Kirby, Sharon (1982-08-29). "Myrtle Betz tells of 35 years of life amid Caladesi's beauties". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. pp. [1]. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  5. ^ a b Kirby, Sharon (1985-02-24). "On her 90th birthday, woman gets a party and her manuscript published". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  6. ^ Washington, Ray (1984-03-25). "Outsider from the island". Fort Pierce Tribune; Fort Pierce, Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  7. ^ Brenner, L.C. (1944-06-02). "American Pageant". Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Fort Worth, Texas. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  8. ^ Caladesi Island State Park official website
  9. ^ Reviews of Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise
  10. ^ "The Story Behind Yesteryear". Caladesi Memories. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  11. ^ "Author to receive honor at park". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. 1990-11-16. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  12. ^ Landry, Sue (1990-11-18). "Island living subject of celebration". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. pp. [2]. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  13. ^ Lamm, Sharon Kirby (1992-01-04). "Myrtle Scharrer Betz, 96, writer of book about Caladesi Island". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  14. ^ Taylor, Linda (2008). Great Women Exploring Nature. Author House.
  15. ^ Lamm, Sharon Kirby (1994-10-21). "Woman's island life comes to the stage". Tampa Bay Times; St. Petersburg, Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  16. ^ Clark, Robert (2001-02-16). "A homesteader's tale of perseverance and survival". The Kingston Whig-Standard; Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-02.


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