Site of Madam Joe Atzeroth's home and S.S. Lamb's home

Today, the home to the Regatta Pointe Condominiums, this was once the location of the Atzeroth family home. Madam Joe sold the house in 1866 to Sarah Campbell, sister to Joel Hendrix (Palmetto's first postmaster), and in 1868 resold the house to S.S. Lamb. The Lamb home was later used as a school for the Lamb children and their neighbors.

Mrs. Julia "Madam Joe; " Atzeroth, and her husband Joseph, originally from Bavaria, were the first permanent white settlers on Terra Ceia.

In 1850 at a Sheriff's Sale, Madam Joe Atzeroth who originally settled on Terra Ceia in 1843 purchased the 46.46 acres of property owned by John Reese for $230 on the river where we are now. Reese left a partially completed log cabin under six oak trees. Madam Joe built a larger residence covered with clapboards and finished ceiling inside nearby and the original log house was converted into a store (the first in Palmetto) with the home serving as a combination residence and lodging place for travelers. A wharf, the first in Palmetto and the second landing place, was constructed here as well. Four years later, Madam Joe purchased an additional thirty eight acres from Simon Turman for $3.00 an acre. 

The Atzeroth's lived on this site until 1866 when they sold the property to Sarah Campbell, an older sister of Joel Hendrix (Palmetto's First Postmaster). Mrs. Campbell did not live long on the property. On February 3, 1868, she sold it to S.S. Lamb. The Lambs moved into the house built by Madam Joe, and he continued to operate the store in the log cabin until he moved it farther west on the river. The family, then, used the log cabin for a school and a private teacher was hired to teach the Lamb children and their neighbors. 

Lamb envisioned his property divided into a village. He surveyed and platted it. Over the years he donated land for the Palmetto Cemetery, three churches, the Carnegie Library, the Women's Club, and a park. It was also due to his foresight and planning the Old Main Street (10th Avenue) is so wide. Lamb intended to have a fine avenue stretching all the way between the two entrances to Palmetto, the wharf on the river and the Seaboard Air Line Depot. When the city became officially established in 1897, Lamb served as one of the first aldermen. Lamb continued to be active in Palmetto until his death in 1910. His wife, Sarah, lived here until her death in 1922. 

The Regatta Pointe Condominiums were built here on the location of their home in 1961.

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