CHARLES RINGLING /NEW COLLEGE

By Liz Reed

After their last brother, Alfred, died in 1919, John became the front man and Charles ran the circus.

Charles, or “Mr. Charlie” as he was known, and Edith Ringling came to visit John.  They loved the area and purchased the property next to John. While their new house was being built, they moved into the little house that was already on the property. They also built another house, now known as Cook Hall on the New College campus, on the property for their daughter, Hester, and her children. There is a joining walkway that connects both homes. They were all known to go out there and have breakfast together on the walkway.

Charles bought land, opened a bank, and built the Sarasota Terrace Hotel. It opened in 1926 and was 10 stories high. The Atlantic Coast Line railroad ended right in front of the hotel. He also donated land for the first courthouse. Ringling Boulevard is named after him and not John as most think. He was a major influence in building up the downtown area.

Charles’ and Hester’s homes are now part of New College along with the Ralph Caples home.  It opened in 1964 with 101 students. Today it has 800 students. It is an honor college. A lot of fundraising was done to get the college going but one donation that stuck out was from an 8-year-old girl in Ohio who donated a dollar bill. It now has 33 buildings on the property, and they continue to add more. 

You are welcome to take a stroll on the campus and stop by Charles’ house. Take a look at the music room. You will find the original pipe organ enclosed in Plexiglas and at times you will feel the energy of someone sitting there. You may be able to catch them on camera. Footsteps are often heard in the music room.     

I found it to be very interesting that at both John’s and Charles’ homes the pipes for their organs went through the whole house. So, isn’t that considered surround sound?

You may not be surprised to hear music, since everyone in the family sang and played instruments.  Charles was able to play every type of instrument. His son Robert was an opera singer, and it is thought that his practice sessions took place in the back hallway. The area was perfect for him not to be disturbed while practicing. You can feel the presence of someone in that hallway.

While sitting in front of the DVR system during an investigation, Andrea Knies and Ron Reed heard music, dancing, and talking coming from the music room when no one was in the room. This went on all through the investigation.

If you play music from their era, especially opera, in the music room, you may hear Robert saying that he “knows that song” or he may even sing along.

Charles’ daughter Hester was a psychic. Rumor has it that her mother Edith didn’t like it. Audio was caught when asked if it bothered her that her daughter was psychic. Edith answered “No.” So that put that rumor to rest.

Charles died in his Florida home on December 3, 1926, the day after his 63rd birthday and six months after moving into the house. Edith called John and John ran across his and Hester’s property to get to Charles in time. Charles died from a cerebral hemorrhage caused from the pressure of running the circus and the debt it was in. His viewing and funeral were in his home. Flags flew at half-staff and businesses closed so people could attend the funeral. Charles did a lot for the local economy and the development of downtown Sarasota. He was buried in Manasota Cemetery in Bradenton, later to be joined by his wife, Edith, and his daughter, Hester.

After Charles’ death, Edith took over and brought the circus out of debt. Not only did she ensure that the circus would survive, she funded the banks that Charles had founded to make sure depositors did not lose their savings as so many had during the Great Depression. Edith was truly the driving force, and we owe her a debt of gratitude. Edith and Hester continued to live on their properties for decades more. Edith became known as “Mrs. Charlie” by those who relied on her to continue in her husband’s role. Edith passed away in 1953, Hester passed away in 1965, and Robert passed away in 1950.

Shadows have been caught walking around upstairs and voices are heard throughout the house. You receive a warm and friendly welcome upon entering the house. As with John’s house, you feel warmly embraced and they are pleased to have you in their home. Like John and Mable, Charles and Edith loved to entertain. So, upon entering their home, be sure to say hello to “Mr. Charlie” and “Mrs. Charlie,” and they will welcome you with open arms.

Ask any student or staff member if they know of any activity, and they will almost all have a story to tell. Some will tell you while in a classroom by themselves, things will move off desks and fall to the ground on the opposite side of the room. The students are used to the activity and just accept that it is part of New College life.

There is a chair that was built by a student in the middle of nowhere on the grounds. Legend has it that, after building it, the art student committed suicide. He was said to have slit his throat and died at the edge of the bay. There is some strange activity that surrounds that chair, and students don’t care to be around the area.

It was recently announced that the Ringling Circus is no longer. This is a sad announcement, but then again, it was not the same circus that John and Charles had started years ago. The circus that we all knew and loved is gone, and its memories live on at the circus museums at The Ringling. Thank you, John, Mable, Charles, and Edith Ringling for the joy and magic.