Walking Through the Past

Hailey Heseltine
ECB Publishing Inc.

Monticello had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1827 as a small community consisting of a small store, post office and a few houses. Yet with time's passage, Monticello began to flourish, no doubt due to its agricultural potential and the newly installed railroad tracks. More houses were built as settlers arrived. Businesses opened. A proper courthouse was constructed. Monticello became the beloved home of hundreds of people. Though we may long to speak with those original settlers and learn more of Monticello's rich history, the passage of nearly two centuries has denied it. But there is still a way to experience the same world they once did – many of its fine historical locations continue to live on. The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce provides free brochures (map included!) for a walking and driving tour to witness many of Monticello's historic locations, which can be obtained at their office at 420 W. Washington St. Feel free to pick up one! Below, we have compiled some of the locations from their list and a few additional places of interest to consider visiting.
1. Jefferson County Courthouse (1909); 1 Courthouse Cir.;
Jefferson classic two story: brick with stucco, cupola and porticos on major facade. Focal point and central symbol of the city and county. First round-about in State of Florida surrounds the courthouse.

 

2. Monticello Opera House (1890); 185 W. Washington St.;
National Register; Romanesque Revival, two story brick with corbelled cornice, cast iron and stained Glass storefronts on the first floor and acoustically perfect theater on the second floor. (850) 997-4242

3. Wirick-Simmons House (1833); 230 N. Jefferson Hwy.;
Greek Revival, built by Adam Wirick an early Methodist Circut rider. Call (850) 997-5552 to arrange a tour of unusual collections, furniture and historical printed materials.

 

4. Monticello News Building (1859); 180 W. Washington St.;
The weekly newspaper subscription was only two dollars per year when it began in 1859. Its founder strongly defended Jefferson County and advocated railroad and other developmental interests.

5. Masonic Temple (1914); E. Washington St., two blocks from the courthouse;
Erected by Hiram Lodge No. 5, F.A.M., the building had a theater on the first floor where residents could enjoy the exciting new invention of moving pictures.

6. Commissioner Clifford Brown Park; Intersection of Chase Dr. and South Railroad St.; Opened daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clifford Brown was the first African-American commissioner elected in Jefferson County

7. Simpkins Variety Store and Laundry Mat; First St.

8. Blue Heron Cafe; 965 First St.;
Across from Simpkins. Diner, pool hall, entertainment room, and boarding house. Robert Peterson and the House Wreckers of Valdosta, GA and Tiny “Gike” Smith of Thomasville, Ga. were regular performers.

9. Dressie Sloan Home; Intersection of First St. and Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.;
Dressie Sloan was a beautician and Civil Rights activist. The house was once a boarding house, but now it is vacant.

10. Old American Legion Post 34 Building; Near King St. and Martin Luther King St., on the left going South.

11. Old VFW Post 251 Building; Branch St.; It was donated and deeded to Post 251 in 2001, formerly the home of an Amaryllis Garden Club and Jefferson County Men's Club. A picture of the old garden club can be found in the courthouse.

12. Memorial Missionary Baptist Church; 780 2nd St.; It is one of the oldest local MB churches. Many mass meetings were held there by the voter league, NAACP; there were many well-known speakers during the 1960s, including Kent Spriggs (a civil rights attorney from Tallahassee) and Dr. John Due from Atlanta (a FAMU student during the 1960s).

13. Bethel AME Church (1866); 410 E. York St.;
Robert Mecham served as a state senator from Jefferson County from 1868-1878, founded the original church on this site. It was the site of the first Freemens school in Monticello. After the original church burned the present building was constructed in 1975.

14. Howard Academy (1936); 100 Chestnut St.;
When the original Howard Academy buildings burned, African-American students were taught in local churches and the Masonic Lodge until the two buildings on this site were built. The smaller was used for all grades until the larger building was built to instruct high school students. There is a Historical Marker on Mamie Scott Drive in front of the larger structure.

15. Solomon Lodge #7 (Masonic lodge) (1868); Mamie Scott Dr.;
After the original Bethel AME Church burned, this two story wooden structure served as their worship hall. When the original Howard Academy burned, it was used as a schoolroom until the new school on Chestnut Street could be built. The lodge is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Henry Street. As one faces the cemetery the driveway that borders the east side of the cemetery is Henry Street. The lodge is the third building on the right.

16. Elizabeth Elementary School (1938); Groover Rd.;
This three room vernacular shingle clad building was built on land donated by Miles Groover and his wife Daisy Black Groover. As enrollment and interest increased, funds were raised by the African-American families to begin construction. Once the foundation was built the structure was completed as a WPA project. The school originally taught grades 1-12. When transportation became available to take high school students into Monticello, it continued as an elementary school until 1962.

17. Howard Academy High School (1957); Intersection of 2nd and Park streets.

 

 

18. Roy Glenn Cafe (1930s); Cherry St.;
It was a cafe from the 1930s until the 1970s. Afterward, it became a Mexican restaurant, which has since moved across the street from the location.

19. First Presbyterian Church (1867); 290 E. Dogwood St.;
Greek Revival design with three bay portico and large masonry Doric columns. This is one of few remaining Greek Revival religious structures from the mid 19th century in Florida.

 

20. Simpkins House (1844); E. Washington St.;
Classic Revival built by Smith Simpkins, a lawyer who served as a Jefferson County sheriff and ex-officio tax collector in the 1840s.

 

 

21. William S. Dillworth House (1853); E. Washington St., across from Simpkins House;
Classic Revival built by Mr. Dilworth, a prominent attorney who once commanded all confederate troops in the district of middle and east Florida during the Civil War.

22. William Budd, Jr. House (1856); E. Washington St.;
Greek Revival, built by a tobacco warehouse father and son as one of Monticello's earliest citizens. It is the latest true Greek Revival style dwelling in town.

23. Christian Bless House (1852); E. Washington St.;
Classic Revival with a Greek Revival influence unusual for this type of home for the period.

 

 

24. Giradeau House (1890); 950 E. Washington St.;
Colonial Revival style with Queen Anne influence. J.H. Giradeau developed the LeConte pear and paper shell pecan. He became the county's first game warden.

 

25. Avenue of Oaks (1889); A plaque near Marvin St.;
dedicated March 19, 1965, commemorating the planting of this 19th century lane by J.H. Giradeau.

26. Henry Mallory House (1884); Intersection of Pearl St. and High St.;
“I” style Queen Anne influence. John M. Henry established the Monticello Power Company, operated a lumber mill and sales yard.

27. Budd-Rainey House (1858); Intersection of High Street and North Cherry Street, behind Christ Episcopal Church;
The full-length porch of this Classic Revival style home with simple rectangular capitals are classic elements that give impressions of symmetry, balance and stability.

 

28. Cuthbert House I (1840); Intersection of N. Jefferson St. and High St., next to Christ Episcopal Church;
Classic Revival; built by John A. Cuthbert, a prominent local leader who helped to found the Masonic Lodge in mid 1830s and was active in local political resolutions calling for the establishment of a state government.

29. Scott-Simmons House (1855); Intersection of N. Jefferson St. and High St.
Classic Revival, built by James Scott and moved by Margaret Bailey Scott from Bailey's Mills area (Lloyd) after her husband's death. This move allowed her son, Robert, to attend medical scool or risk depredations of Indians who were roaming the county.

30. Christ Episcopal Church (1885); 425 N. Cherry St.;
Geometric pattern of Classical Revival with applied Stick style which departs from Episcopal architecture during this period. Designed by J.W. Ferguson, reportedly the architect for the New Orleans Exposition, and D.A. Finlayson.

 

31. Denham-Brinson House (1850); Intersection of N. Jefferson St. and High St., next to the Scott-Simmons house.
Classic Revival, built by James Denham who served as mayor for over 20 years and thereafter as county commissioner.

32. Budd-Pafford House (1833); 110 York St.;
Classic Revival, built by William Budd, an early Monticello resident and prominent merchant. Occasionally called “Gulf Coast Vernacular style,” the house is a stylish link to other parts of the South.

33. Roseland Cemetary (1872); 650 Henry St.;
Union and Confederate soldiers were laid to rest here after the Battle of Olustee, along with many families of the earliest settlers. A local World War II hero, Ernest “Boots” Thomas, is also buried there.

34. Josiah T. Budd House (1884); Intersection of N. Jefferson St. and Madison St.;
Bracketed style, clapboard with bracketed eaves. J.T. Budd was a prominent local merchant and builder.

35. First Methodist Church (1888); 325 W. Walnut St.;
English Gothic Revival style. Jospeh Trummer, an Austrian cabinet maker, did much of the interior trim and installed imported English stained glass windows.

36. Finlayson-Kelly House (1904); Intersection of Mahan Dr. and Hickory St.;
Queen Anne style. D.A. Finlayson served as an attorney, bank president, state senator and president of Atlanta-Tampa Highway Association.

37. Clarke House (1890); 580 W. Washington St.;
“I” style, built by Thomas L. Clarke who served as a state legislator and delegate to the Constitution Convention of 1885.

 

 

38. Jefferson County High School (1852); 425 E. Washington St.;
Colonial Revival style, constructed of local brick. The “Jefferson Academy,” established in 1832, earned a reputation as a leader of middle Florida schools.

39. John Denham-Lacy House (1872); 555 W. Palmer Mill Rd.;
Italianate style; John Denham's factorage handled cotton, purchased supplies and provided crop-cycle credit services for plantation families.

 

40. Casa Bianca Missionary Baptist Church (1873); 1097 Waukeenah Hwy.;
The land it stands on was once part of the Casa Bianca Plantation, until it was purchased in 1873 by Alfred Williams, William Maguire, Is[h]am Nelson, Anthony Robinson, and Tony Robinson. David Straws, Sr. was the church's first pastor.