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CONTACT:
Dean Dixon
Historical Resources Assistant
(941) 749-1800 ext. 4070
July 2003 Article
Introduction: The Manatee
County Historical Records Library is a wealth
of information about our local past. Documents from
as early as the 1850's describe the life and times
of Manatee County residents and weave many an interesting
tale. Each month, we will post a new story for you
based on documents in our library. We invite all of
you to come to the library, located
at 1405 4th Avenue West, to see these documents
for yourself and to touch, feel and experience our
heritage.
Bradenton's Historical District
The Manatee
County Courthouse circa 1920
Have you ever wondered about the history of the older buildings
that populate the downtown area of Bradenton? So much of the
rich history of this County is wrapped up in those few blocks.
The city of Bradenton declared the downtown area an historic
district in 1981. Since then their histories have been recorded
and preserved, even though not all of the original buildings
survived. But most of them can still be seen on a short casual
walk through the downtown area.
The building located at 406 13th Street West was built about
1914 and housed Bradenton's City Hall and Fire Station until
1968. It was built on the site where the namesake of Bradenton,
Joseph Braden, built his sugar cane mill. Across the parking
lot at 1405 4th Ave. West is the Carnegie Library. This building
was built by the City in 1918 with a grant from the famous
steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. After making millions of dollars,
Andrew Carnegie became a philanthropist and supported many
charitable causes. One of his favorites was his library foundation.
The people of Bradenton petitioned the Carnegie Foundation
twice for a grant. The first time they petitioned as group
of individuals, but the foundation only liked to deal with
governments. The second time they petitioned as a city and
they were awarded the grant.
Located at 302-318 12th Street West is the Coe Building, built
between 1897 and 1912. This large masonry building is one
of the oldest commercial brick buildings in Bradenton. It
is actually comprised of three structures that were joined
in 1914. The west end was once the servants' quarters for
the St. James Hotel, which was on the second floor of the
building along Main Street. A post office and a movie theater
were among the early occupants of this building. When you
view it from Third Avenue (once called Turner Avenue), you
can see the original three buildings clearly.
At 435 12th Street West is the Juplinor Hotel. Built in 1912,
this building was built by Mrs. S.A. Reasoner as a second
floor hostelry in 1912. She named it for her children, Julia,
Pliney and Norman using the first syllable of each name. The
Reasoners were early settlers in Manatee County who started
a nursery of exotic plants from all over the world. Today
it is known as the Royal Palm Nursery.
And, of course, there is our beloved courthouse. The eighth
courthouse of Manatee County, it is the second courthouse
on this site. Built in 1912, it has weathered many changes,
but it retains its original look. It once had a dome on the
roof, as can be seen in some of the pictures in the corridors,
and the south side of the building was added on in 1966. It
has been the site of band concerts, hangings and many of the
historical events that fill our County's history.
These are only a few of the buildings that are included in
the Downtown Bradenton Historical District. Anyone can learn
about these buildings by a simple glance through the historical
survey that was made of the downtown area when the City created
the district. Housed in the Carnegie Library, it is a wonderful
way to learn about the buildings that are still standing and
a few that are no longer with us.
You can also read:
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