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After Captain James A. Howze’s death in 1897, Frankie Howze left the Howze homestead for Thomas and his family and moved with the younger children into a home built on this site. This house is shown on the 1917 Sanborn maps. The house has been torn down and replaced with this new, though older looking house. Many of the trees on the property are some of Mrs. Howze's plantings.

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.


Mrs. Frankie Howze

Mrs. Frankie Howze

Mrs. Frankie Howze greets her class c. 1920 at Palmetto Primary School

Mrs. Frankie Howze greets her class c. 1920 at Palmetto Primary School

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.

After Captain James A. Howze’s death in 1897, Frankie Howze left the Howze homestead for Thomas and his family and moved with the younger children into a home built on this site. This house is shown on the 1917 Sanborn maps. 

Mrs. Howze continued to teach school and later became principal of the primary school. She also served as librarian at the Carnegie Library. When she retired in 1940, she had served Manatee County school’s for 67 years. Mrs. Howze was called "the Mother of Education in Manatee County." Two schools were named for her. She never stopped learning. After her retirement, she returned to school and earned another degree. Mrs. Howze died on July 29, 1956.

The house has been torn down and replaced with this new, though older looking house. But, many of the trees on the property are some of Mrs. Howze’s plantings.

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.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collections M01-09232-A

Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collections M01-09235-A