Thomas Reed Martin
(1866-1949)

Died aged c. 83

Thomas Reed Martin was born in 1866 in Menasha, Wisconsin. He came to Sarasota in 1911 and secured his first local commission to construct "The Oaks" for Mrs. Potter Palmer. By 1923 he had established himself as one of the "Builders of Sarasota." He made the original sketches for John Ringling’s home, Ca’ d’ Zan, although his design was not executed. He designed more than 500 houses in the Sarasota area, ranging from "Floridian" homes to the use of glass block and formed concrete in later compositions. His work often reflected modern streamlined forms embellished with Mediterranean Revival features. Some of Martin’s 1920s work included residences for Dr. Fred Albee, a surgeon and real estate developer; John J. McGraw, manager of the New York Giants baseball team; and Samuel W. Gumpertz, a successful showman. He also designed Exhibition Hall, a 1930s Works Progress Administration building. Thomas Reed Martin died in 1949.

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Thomas Reed Martin (born April 28, 1866 in Menasha, Wisconsin - died February 1949) was an architect who was brought to Florida by one of its major developers during the turn of the twentieth century. He designed some 500 residences and various public and private buildings in Sarasota, as well as commercial buildings. His Florida buildings are located from Tampa to Fort Myers with many in Nokomis. He drew the original sketches for the home of Mable and John Ringling, but the design by Dwight James Baum was selected by Mable Ringling and built by Owen Burns after Martin declined a fee reduction proposed by John Ringling. Many of Martin's buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). He was listed as a Great Floridian in 2000.

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