Englewood in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Buchan Airport

Photographed by Michael Cece

1. Buchan Airport Marker

Inscription. During the heyday of land speculation in the 1920s, a development of slightly less than 100 acres was planned west of (now) Old Englewood Road at N. Indiana Ave. Designed as a mecca for vacationing stars and the wealthy, it was to be called Hygeia. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford reportedly would build there.

On the subdivision plat that was filed April 21, 1925, the streets were given Native American names. Today, the remaining street is Osceola Drive. When the Great Florida Land Boom suddenly ended, Hygeia was forgotten.

In April 1949. on the advice of Peter E. Buchan, Sarasota County purchased 93 acres of the Hygeia land for an airport. The new mosquito eradication program planned to use the airport for aerial spraying in the southern part of the county. The County Commissioners named the airport to honor Buchan's "long and efficient service to the county."

Beginning in the 1960s. homes with hangers were built along Osceola Road. After neighbors raised safety concerns, the county commissioners adopted the Buchan Airport Master Plan in 2003.

Erected by Sarasota County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1949.

Location. 26° 59.416′ N,

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82° 22.148′ W. Marker is in Englewood, Florida, in Sarasota County. It can be reached from Old Englewood Road south of North Indiana Avenue (Florida Route 776), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1390-1398 Old Englewood Rd, Englewood FL 34223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Commander Clyde E. Lassen, United States Navy (approx. 1.9 miles away); Historic Englewood (approx. 2 miles away); Lemon Bay Woman’s Club (approx. 2 miles away); Historic Dearborn Street (approx. 2 miles away); Indian Mound Park (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Paulson Point Midden (approx. 2.4 miles away); Lemon Bay Cemetery (approx. 2.8 miles away); Green Street Church and Museum (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Englewood.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Michael Cece of Sarasota, Florida. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 34 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Michael Cece of Sarasota, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

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