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The Bakery Building, 320 12th Street West, (1910):

This was once the home of the Bradenton Board of Trade as well as a bakery. The ovens were located external to the building. It later became the Union Bus Station.

Coe Block Building, 302-318 12th Street West, (1897-1912):

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 servant's 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.

The Palmer Building, 410 12th Street West (1913):

This masonry building once housed Paul Duckwall Grocery Store and Hawkin's Studio, a commercial photographer. Much of the detailing was removed in the 1920s.

Bradenton City Hall, 406 13th Street West, (c. 1914):

This building was built about 1914 and once housed Bradenton's City Hall and Fire Station. The columns on the front, the shutters, and the wings on the sides were a later addition. The building once had a cupola on top of the entrance. Notice the brickwork above the ground floor windows to the left of the entrance. This is the location of the door to the garage where the fire engine was stored. The City Hall was located here until 1968 when the current City Hall was built. This site is also important because it was the location of the Braden stockade or Fort Braden. When Joseph and Hector Braden arrived in Manatee County in 1843, they claimed 160 acres of land under the Armed Occupation Act. This entitled them to the area from Ware's Creek to 10th Street West between the Manatee River and present day Manatee Avenue. Later the brothers built a sugar plantation at the intersection of the Braden and Manatee Rivers, but a sandbar in the river prevented large sailing ships from getting to their plantation so the sugar was poled down the river to a log dock at the end of present day 12th St. W. A stockade was built on this site to house their slaves and employees. It was 300 feet square and 15 feet high with two buildings inside. In 1857, Joseph Braden went into bankruptcy and his creditors sold this property to John Crews Pelot.

Wyman and Green Building, 414 12th Street West (1923):

This building was opened by a real estate firm but later became Crews Department Store and the W.S. Babcock Corporation Furniture Store. The hounds tooth course along the parapet is original and contributes greatly to its authenticity.

The Harvey Building, 420 12th Street West (1910):

This three story building features prominent detailing and massing. Leon Harvey operated a dry goods concern here until 1920 when Crews Department Store expanded. The second and third floors constituted the Cecil Hotel. The building still retains the original masonry fabric on the upper levels.

The Baer-Clifton Building, 424 12th Street West (1909-1912):

This building was originally constructed as two buildings and then, joined by a major alteration of the main facade. The southern portion housed a plumbing concern. The original parapet and some floral designs are reminiscent of the original facade.

Walcaid Building, 1101-1111 6th Avenue West (1924):

This building is a well preserved example of Mediterranean Revival Arcade construction. It was built as an office building and housed the Top O' The Town Bookshop, Bradenton Electric Company, several real estate firms and offices.

Washington Square Building, 1115 6th Avenue West (1925):

This building's name is derived from the fact that it fronted on Washington Avenue (now 6th Avenue). The rectangular one story structure originally contained seven storefronts. It retains a handsome wooden awning which is suspended from the parapet by iron rods.

The Iron Block Building, 528-532 12th Street West (1896):

The structure was originally located on the southwest corner of Main Street and Manatee Avenue West. It was occupied by Reed's Cash Store with offices upstairs. It retains one of the best preserved pressed metal facades in Florida on three sides of the building.

United Abstract Building, 526 12th Street West (1925):

This handsome masonry building displays a Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical Revival main facade of buff colored brick with Georgian Limestone detailing. Presently in excellent condition and unaltered, this building continues to be occupied by the same business that originally built it.

Singletary-Cummings Building, 518-520 12th Street West (1922):

Although the store fronts are altered, this handsome blond brick building retains the essential design that it originally had. The lower portion housed Lloyd's Drug Store and Wing Brother's Realty. The second floor was reserved for offices.

The Juplinor Hotel Addition, 435 12th Street West (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. It prospered until the mid twenties.

Bradenton Publishing Company, 436-440 12th Street West (1910):

This building was originally used as a commercial printing shop. It later became a Western Union Office. A chamfered entrance is still adjacent to the alley which was once a narrow street. The southern elevation features the original circular headed windows with double hung sash.

The Fuller Block and the Clifton Addition, 442-456 12th Avenue West and 1206 Manatee Avenue West (1905-06):

Mr. Fuller and Mr. Anderson constructed the main section of this Renaissance Revival Eclectic structure of native yellow rock from Mr. Fuller's quarry further up the Manatee River. The concern housed " a magnificently fitted room" on the third floor. The addition was made the following year and housed two drug stores and attorney's office on the second floor. The decorative parapet with tile insets was added at a later date. The entire block, including the Clifton addition, came to be known as the Fuller Block. It later housed the Manatee River National Bank.

Tri-City Trust Building, 402-406 12th Street West (1925):

The Mediterranean Revival styled building was originally occupied by the Sunnyland Restaurant and 15 other professional concerns. It features extensive use of decorative ceramic and Spanish tile.

Bradenton Bank and Trust Company Building, 1023 Manatee Avenue West, (1926):

This structure was hailed in 1926 as "one of the most prominent evidences of the modernity and substantial growth of the city." It officially opened on February 22, 1926 with the bank on the main level and ninety tenants on the floors above representing all phases of commercial endeavor. However, this glowing account was short lived. In 1929, with the end of the "boom" and the beginning of the depression, the number of tenants had dwindled to twenty, including the bank. In 1933, the bank closed and was placed in the hands of liquidators. Later, the structure became known as the Professional Building because of the growing number of dentists, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals occupying the offices. It is an excellent example of Neoclassical Revival architecture. The northern elevation displays fine terra cotta and concrete detailing.

The Jennings Arcade, 417 12th Street West (1926):

This arcade was built by F.M. and C.W. Jennings. It is a unique structure for downtown Bradenton. The upper level contained office and stores, including Foster's Tonsorial Parlor. The interior of the arcade is light and airy because of the sky lights and open air vents. There is an original balustrade and wrought iron grill work in the center of the building. There are several original light fixtures still suspended by wrought iron chains. Although the exterior has been heavily altered, the interior is still an excellent example of a Mediterranean Revival Arcade.

Curry's Garage and Machine Shop, 544-546 12th Street West (1913):

This building housed the first automobile garage in the city of Bradenton. Mr. Whitney Curry was the first person to operate an automobile in this area. His one cylinder Cadillac was the envy of every young man in this town. The Curry brothers later constructed race cars here.

The Anderson Finkham Building, 421-429 12th Street West (1901):

This building has undergone numerous renovations. It maintains the original massing and one of three early store fronts. Mrs. S.A. Reasoner purchased the building in 1911 and joined this and the building immediately to the south to form the Juplinor Hotel on the second level. In the 1920s, the buildings were stuccoed in a Mediterranean Revival style. A parapet and pent roof were added tying the structures together. The unaltered store front is complete with cast iron pilasters flanking the central double leaf entrance. There are transoms above the plate glass windows and a wooden awning suspended by forged iron rods.

 

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Page updated 10/26/01