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The History Behind the Island's "Most Popular Sign, "Welcome to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island"
Holmes Beach, FL – August 8, 2022
Think Anna Maria Island (AMI), and the images most likely to pop into your head are the beautiful gulf beaches, the white fine sand, the lush landscaping, the quaint island lifestyle and of course, that famous sign that reads, "Welcome to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island." For many visitors to the island, it's the first thing they see on the way in and the last thing they see on the way out – that is, unless they bought any of the numerous souvenirs that bear its image. We all know the sign, but where exactly did it come from?
The original sign was contributed to the community by the Anna Maria Island Rotary club back in the 1980s. In 2001, Ernie Kerr was an island resident and current president of the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club. He felt the old sign "...just didn't portray the true island flavor that we have come to love." Ernie was a retired commercial artist, so he made it his mission to replace the old sign. He then designed and fabricated a model of his vision. The model was presented to the Rotary Club and city officials where it was unanimously approved.
Ernie enjoyed every minute of fabricating the elements of the sign in his workshop garage. It took about six months to complete the construction and installation. The project was solely sponsored and funded by the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club. "Looking back, I have to say that I'm grateful for the support of my wife, Becky Smith, Branch Manager with Wagner Realty on the island, for her patience while I spent literally all my days into the evening perfecting every little detail of the sign. There were many nights that Becky sat at the dinner table alone, while listening to the annoying sound of the skill saw," says Kerr.
The new sign was erected in 2001 and continues to attract both young and old. Ernie admits that although this was the only monument he designed and built, he looks back with fond memories, and feels so much satisfaction every time he sees smiling families photographing themselves in front of "the sign that Ernie built." A sign built with a lot of love for the local community.