John and Mary Dunnebacke
In 1926, John J. Dunnebacke and his wife, Mary, purchased a large parcel of property in Rhodes and Hale Subdivision that included the subject site. The Dunnebackes were from Kenosh, Wisconsin. Mr. Dunneback was said to be an “entrepreneur” who also purchased and maintained several residential investment properties in the Sarasota area. Mr. and Mrs. Dunnebacke themselves resided in a home on Rawls Avenue.
The Dunnebackes were charter members of St. Martha’s parish when it officially came into existence on October 1, 1927. In 1940, Mr. Dunnebacke contributed financially to the building fund for the construction of a new church building for St. Martha’a. Mary Dunnebacke died in July, 1937 and was followed in death by her husband in April of 1943.
Mr. Dunnebacke’s brother, Anthony, purchased John’s land holdings and permanently moved to Sarasota in 1944, after visiting during earlier years. He had the house relocated to Morrill Street from an orange grove near Bradenton that had formerly been owned by a doctor.