Palmetto Historical Park

Palmetto Historical Park was founded in 1982 with the preservation and relocation of the 1880 Heritage Station Post Office to what is now the current location of the Palmetto Historical Park. Today, the park operates as a partnership between the City of Palmetto, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, the Palmetto Historical Commission, and the Manatee County Agricultural Museum.

On February 20, 1982, under the leadership of Mrs. Murray (Josephine) Harrison, a group of civic-minded individuals organized to save Palmetto’s original post office building (c.1880) from demolition. As the formal organization developed, its members were appointed to the Commission by the Palmetto City Council. The Commission was incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida and acquired as a nonprofit organization exemption under Section 501 {c} (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The post office building was saved and moved to the southwest corner of 10th Avenue and 6th Street West, a historic site formerly occupied by Palmetto’s original city hall and school building. The late Ernest Parrish, Palmetto historian, and Mrs. Harrison chaired the restoration. The work was overseen by Belmont Whittle, who with his wife donated the postal window and boxes from another 1880 facility.

March 25, 1983, Heritage Day, the post office was dedicated as Heritage Station and was opened for business with a special cancellation (postmark) designed by Marvin Thompson, affixed to all mail. Thompson’s design became the Commission’s logo. There has been a new special cancellation designed annually and used each subsequent Heritage Day. The late Jack Roland landscaped the land on which Heritage Station sits. The Park was dedicated as Heritage Park and the garden as the Jack Roland Memorial Garden.

In 1984, with a matching grant from the State, the Palmetto Historical Commission conducted a historical survey of Palmetto and the adjoining area, including Snead Island, Terra Ceia and Rubonia. Gini Berry and her volunteers recorded over 350 sites with redeeming value and completed the project in less than one year.

In 1985, recognizing the importance of preserving Palmetto’s rich agricultural heritage so well documented by the survey, the Palmetto Historical Commission voted to begin amassing agricultural implements and related material for inclusion into a Manatee County Agricultural Museum. To highlight this and other history, the Commission hosted four luncheons each year. The Commission prepared a video to be used in its Manatee County Fair exhibit in January of 1986. The Commission has won ribbons each year for its Fair exhibits. Under its sponsorship, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum was incorporated independently to build the museum.

Also in 1985, the Historical Commission erected a historical marker at the site of Palmetto’s first cemetery, the “yellow fever” cemetery, at 5th Street and 14th Avenue West. The Commission raised funds for and oversaw the restoration of that cemetery.

On December 30, 1986, as a result of the historical survey, a National Register Historical District was created when the Palmetto Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

In 1988-1989, under Chairman David Manning, the Historical Commission published The Palmetto Pantry, a historical cookbook, the funds from which were used for historical preservation projects.

The Commission, under Chairperson Virginia Smith, acquired and moved to Heritage Park, Palmetto’s first public kindergarten building. It has been restored in the style of a one-room schoolhouse.

With another state matching grant, the Commission produced a video slide film show “The History of Agriculture in Manatee County.” This project was chaired by Alice Myers and completed on July 31, 1989. Copies of the video have been furnished to all Manatee County high schools and middle schools.

In 1990, author Joe Warner and his wife Libby gave the Historical Commission copies of his book Palmetto Revisited, a history of the development of Palmetto and adjoining areas. Copies are for sale in the Carnegie Library.

Preliminary planning for the restoration of Palmetto’s Carnegie Library was completed in 1990-1991. The project, chaired by Gini Berry, was possible because of a matching grant from the Florida State Division of Historic Resources.

The Carnegie Library Project, chaired by Josephine Harrison, received three construction grants from the Florida Division of Historic Resources. This work included the installation of an elevator, interior restoration, remodeling and refurbishing of the building and the erection of a wrought iron fence. The City of Palmetto has been a partner throughout this restoration and the creation of the Palmetto Historical Park.

The Carnegie Library is open Tuesday through Friday and the first and third Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm with staffing provided by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Under the direction of Chairman Alice Myers and continuing the project begun by Chairman Robert Miller, the core of the exhibits within the Library is the Commission’s Alice V. Myers Archives Center, a collection of historic documents, photographs, maps, interviews and memorabilia of North Manatee County history. The fully restored Library is used for public events and the “Ree Hunt” Auditorium is available for rental.

In 1995-1996 under the leadership of David and Nan Manning, the Commission began a fund-raising campaign by designing and selling cotton afghans portraying the history of North Manatee County. The successful effort was followed with a Manatee County afghan depicting historic scenes of the entire County. This project was overseen by Steve Davis and Rose Worley. Funds from these sales are used for Commission preservation projects.

Two additional buildings were brought into the Historical Park. One is the Joe Stephens home, currently named the Cottage. It was located across from the old fire station and occupied by Mr. Stephens, a fireman, and his family. The second building is a 1930 cypress house.

On Heritage Day, March 15, 1998, Mayor Pat Whitesel and the Palmetto City Council rededicated the entire southwestern corner of 10th Avenue and 6th Street West as the Palmetto Historical Park.

The Mayor and the City Council signed a long-term lease with the Manatee County Agricultural Museum for the renovation of the old municipal public works building/fire station. The museum opened on March 9, 2002. It houses exhibits on all of the major agricultural commodities in Manatee County, including livestock, vegetables, horticulture, citrus, a barn area and a garage featuring a restored Model-T. It also houses the Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The Cottage Museum was opened on Sunday, November 15, 1998, with a special program sponsored by the Palmetto Historical Commission and the Heritage Doll Club. Five families who formerly occupied the turn of the century cottage have advised on its restoration. The museum houses dolls from the Josephine Harrison collection and others, as well as antique radios from Belmont Whittle’s collection and sewing machines from Bill and Ada Ormond’s collection.

The Cypress House Military Museum opened to the public on July 3, 2004. It houses a growing collection of military artifacts, as well as tape-recorded interviews with local WWII Veterans. Along with the Manatee County Historical Commission, the Manatee County Historical Society and Florida State University, the Palmetto Historical Commission is in the process of collecting interviews and manuscripts from World War II Veterans.

The Commission works closely with the City to promote Palmetto and its heritage. The Commission welcomes community participation and encourages the exhibit of private collections in the Carnegie Library.

The Palmetto Historical Commission participates actively in community events, including the Manatee County Fair. The Commission has traditionally hosted the Farm City Week luncheon. This is the occasion on which nominations are made to the Agricultural Hall of Fame. Each December it hosts Palmetto’s Christmas in the Park. Also, it continues to host the annual Heritage Day celebration held each March. On the second Saturday in March, an open house is held in the Historical Park. The Carnegie Library serves as the welcoming center for persons returning home for the Heritage Day events, and Heritage Station Post Office is open for business. During the year, the Historical Commission also hosts many events including “Summer Socials,” a Halloween Social a “Gospel & Games Social,” a yard sale and interesting guest speakers. Click here to learn more about our events.

The Historical Commission has been improving the buildings in the Historical Park in many ways. The Commission participated in the construction of Heritage Chapel. It also continues to work cooperatively with the Manatee County Agricultural Museum. It is continuing to expand the collections in the Carnegie Library. The Commission has been honored by the Bradenton Herald and the Manatee Herald-Tribune for its continuing work in historic preservation.

During the 2002-2003 school year, the Historical Commission along with the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, began sponsorship of a new school program aimed at Manatee County’s elementary students. Children in grades Kindergarten-5th grade are invited to the Palmetto Historical Park for a hands-on educational field trip.

The Palmetto Historical Commission welcomes new members and volunteers. It encourages those interested in the preservation of local history and historic buildings to become involved. Its meetings are open to the public.

This entry was created by Palmetto Historical Park staff using Palmetto Historical Park’s records and photos.