Site of the 1885 Howze Homestead

James A. Howze came to Manatee County in 1885 from Alabama. He was a Captain in the Confederate Army. He opened up a store west of S.S. Lamb's on the river. In August of 1888, a salesman from Tampa arrived on a steamer and went to call on Howze. The man was ill and Howze took him to his uncle, Dr. Alston's house, nearby to rest. That afternoon when the steamer made its return trip to Tampa, the man left on it and word came back shortly after that he had died of Yellow Fever. A few days later, Mrs. Howze (1st Wife) was afflicted with the symptoms of the disease. The Howze children soon came down with the fever. The children recovered, but Mrs. Howze died. She was the first victim of yellow fever. Prior to this time, there were only a few graves in the old cemetery on 5th Street and 14th Avenue. There was not even a road to the cemetery. When Mrs. Howze died, a path wide enough to carry a coffin was cut northward from 4th Street to the cemetery.

James A. Howze came to Manatee County in 1885 from Alabama. He was a Captain in the Confederate Army. He opened up a store west of S.S. Lamb's on the river. In August of 1888, a salesman from Tampa arrived on a steamer and went to call on Howze. The man was ill and Howze took him to his uncle, Dr. Alston's house, nearby to rest. That afternoon when the steamer made its return trip to Tampa, the man left on it and word came back shortly after that he had died of Yellow Fever. A few days later, Mrs. Howze (1st Wife) was afflicted with the symptoms of the disease. The Howze children soon came down with the fever. The children recovered, but Mrs. Howze died. She was the first victim of yellow fever. Prior to this time, there were only a few graves in the old cemetery on 5th Street and 14th Avenue. There was not even a road to the cemetery. When Mrs. Howze died, a path wide enough to carry a coffin was cut northward from 4th Street to the cemetery.

In December of 1889, Captain Howze married Miss Frankie McKay, who had arrived in Palmetto to teach school in the newly constructed frame schoolhouse.

Captain Howze died in 1897 of a heart attack. His four sons continued to live in the area and became civic leaders in Palmetto. Thomas A. Howze lived here in the family home. He was a city councilman and the president of Manatee County State Bank.

In 1903, the Howze family built a dock between 12th Ave W & 13th Ave W. There were several packing houses on the dock and on the shore near by. A boardwalk ran from this site to the dock along the edge of the ricer. Also in this area was Palmetto's first jail. It was a wooden building set out in the water. A prisoner escaped from it one time, by setting his mattress on fire and burning a hole in the wall to escape into the water. A large hurricane in 1921 destroyed the boardwalk and the wood from the wreckage was used to heat the Carnegie Library that winter.

To learn more about Mrs. Frankie Howze and her impact on Palmetto, please visit Palmetto Historical Park for a 2:00PM FREE guided tour Tues-Fri.

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