William Joel Drumright would buy 40 acres along Phillippi Creek from the Florida Land and Improvement Company owned by Hamilton Disston at a price of $50 in 1883.

Drumright would end up selling his land to George H. and C. Woodburn Matheny in 1910 who would plat a subdivision named Phillippi Park the next year.

Other buildings that were once on the property included a water tower, home for a chauffeur and a variety of sheds for farming related activities.

Keith would die in 1939 and his wife would sell the land to Mae Hansen Prodie, a doll clothing designer from Chicago.

Prodie would retire in the 1960s and reside in the home and when she died in 1986, Sarasota County would buy the land to be used as a park through a bond referendum.