Site of the First Methodist Episcopal Church

This parking lot once house the first church building for the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1890, the church exchanged lots with the Lamb family, and were provided a new lot at the intersection of Main Street (10th Ave.) and Myrtle (5th St). By Fall of 1892, the sanctuary was completed. The church met on this property until they relocated in 1923.

In 1925, this lot became home to the second building of the Manatee County State Bank.

First United Methodist Church of Palmetto became officially organized and appointed under the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Prior, it had been a mission of the First Methodist Church of Manatee, and pastors from Manatee and Bradenton held monthly sermons at a schoolhouse. In 1884, land for a church was gifted to the congregation by the Lamb family. An attempt to raise money to build the sanctuary during the 1880s was largely unsuccessful due to the financial ramifications of the yellow fever as well as several bad agricultural seasons. In 1890, the church exchanged lots with the Lamb family, and were instead provided a lot at the intersection of Main Street (10th Ave.) and Myrtle (5th St). By Fall of 1892, the sanctuary was completed.

The sanctuary was moved in 1923 from its location here to the another new property at the corner of Lay (4th St) and Lamb St. (11th Ave), which was also donated by the Lamb family. The previous property was sold to help finance the building of a new brick sanctuary to hold the growing congregation. In 1924, another new sanctuary was built at the new location. The older church was used for Sunday schools and other church activity. In 1938, the church was sold to Mr. S.F. Devereaux of Palmetto for $250 and the lumber was used to build his home at the southeast corner of 5th Street and 12th Avenue.

The first brick building in Palmetto was the Manatee County State Bank, formed in July 1899. It was the first bank in Manatee County, as well. Major stockholders were S.S. Lamb, C.C. Whitaker, the well-known Tampa attorney Peter O. Knight, Lon Sims and C.E. McNeill. This lot was home to the second location of the Manatee County State Bank from its construction in 1925 until it caught fire and was demolished in 1980.

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