1913 Sears and Roebuck Home

The 1913 Sears-Roebuck house was the home of Julius A. ("Dool") Lamb, the son of Palmetto founder Samuel Sparks Lamb. They Moved to Palmetto when Julius was 9 years old and in poor health. Julius grew up and became a local businessman. Julius owned Lamb & Willis Real Estate, Guarantee Abstract Company and was Vice-president of Manatee County State Bank, which his father helped to establish in 1899. He also established the first livery stable in Palmetto. This house was a Sears and Roebuck House, which was ordered from a catalog and came complete and ready to put together. The porches have been enclosed.

This is now the Palmetto Riverside Bed & Breakfast.

Julius A. Lamb, son of S.S. Lamb, built this house, in 1913. Julius, nicknamed "Dool", was a nine years old when the family came to the area. On the family's journey to Florida from Mississippi, he drove the barouche, which transported his mother and five sisters. Julius owned Lamb & Willis Real Estate, Guarantee Abstract Company and was Vice-president of Manatee County State Bank, which his father helped to establish in 1899. He also established the first livery stable in Palmetto.

When Julius married Lillie, he built a large home (house next door) in 1899. He later ordered this home from a Sears and Roebuck catalog and sold the home he built.

This house was a Sears and Roebuck House, which was ordered from a catalog and came complete and ready to put together. The porches have since been enclosed. 

Evelyn Winter was a niece of Lillie & Julius. She lived with the couple and cared for them while her husband was serving in WWII. Evelyn and her husband were the owners of the Sea Horse Gift Shop, which was at the foot of the Green Bridge for many years and is now represented by a large seahorse statue.

The house later opened as a bed and breakfast establishment, it was called Five Oaks (in honor of the six oak trees that have been on this property since S.S. Lamb purchased the land, but one of the six original oaks died). There is a portrait inside the B & B of Julius' wife - Lillie Lamb. The first family to turn this home into a B & B told the story about when they were in the midst of the project, they took down Lillie's picture, and then everything started going wrong - so they hung the picture back up and things started going right again. If you have an appointment to go inside, you can see her photo still hanging in that staircase.

The property was purchased in 2009 by Wim & Mieke Lippens and has been renamed to the Palmetto Riverside Bed & Breakfast.

This local landmark is listed on the ‘Nation’s Registry of Historical Homes’ and is a premier wedding destination.

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