300-304 South Sanford Avenue
Sanford (Fla.)
African Americans--Florida
Georgetown (Sanford, Fla.)
Bars (Drinking establishments)
The building located at 300-304 South Sanford Avenue in the Georgetown, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of Suite 300 was A. E. Philips, who was the only druggist in Sanford by 1892. Although Philips transferred ownership of his drugstore to his brother, Lucien R. Philips, in 1894 and established a new business in Clear Water Harbor, he still maintained residence in this location around 1911. Besides being a store owner, Philips was also a published writer on pharmaceuticals and well-respected within the community. Philips joined the Florida State Pharmaceutical Association in 1887. In 1891, he was in attendance during the fifth annual Florida State Pharmaceutical Association in Jacksonville, where he submitted a paper that won a gold medal from the association. He also addressed the issue of large department stores undercutting the prices of local pharmacies. He proposed resolutions that the association denounce the practice of cutting prices and that the druggists should do whatever they could to keep drugs from being sold in department stores. Philips was also elected to the office of president, presumably of the association.<br /><br />In 1917, the lot was the residence of J. M. Saucer, a representative of District 3 (which included Alachua, Clay, Duval, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties) in the Florida Budget Commission from approximately 1931 to 1941. This lot was then occupied by E. Mable-Saint Drugs from approximately 1924 to 1926. Dr. Edward D. Strickland, a successful African-American dentist who previously practiced at 507 South Sanford Avenue in 1924, had his office in Suites 300-302 from 1926 until 1946. In 1926, Dr. Strickland also shared his office with Dr. O. A. Prince, a black physician. Dr. Strickland resided at 305 South Sanford Avenue in 1917 and moved to 511 South Sanford Avenue by 1926. From approximately 1947 to 1952, the Sanford Jewelry & Luggage Company was housed at this location. In 1965, the lot was occupied by Grant's Clock Shop. The lot was listed as vacant in 1975. <br /><br /> The Knights of Pythias Hall was the first known occupant of Suite 302 in 1917. The Knights of Pythias is a secret fraternal organization that was founded by Justus H. Rathbone on February 19, 1865, in Washington, D. C. This particular chapter consisted of African-American men. William Rosseter, who was also an African American, was also listed as a resident at this address that same year. From approximately 1924 to 1926, Albert Gramling, a local black businessman, operated a billiards room at this location. During that same period, the Knights of Pythias Hall was listed at 302 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. Victory Beer Garden was listed at this address in 1947 and Victory Tavern was listed here in 1952. Both of these African-American establishments were likely under the same ownership. In 1952, the Victory Taxi Company was listed at this address, but later returned to Victory Tavern in 1965. Around 1966, the tavern's owner, Jerry Bentley, passed away and his beer and wine license was transferred to his widow, Natherine Bentley. <br /><br /> In 1911, two occupants were listed at 304 South Sanford Avenue: A. Foster, a resident, and J. H. Lee & Company. The people who occupied this lot described below were all African Americans. Two local businesses were then run from this location: Braboy & Sapp in 1917 and Scipio Bracey's barbershop was here from approximately 1924 to 1947. From approximately 1924 to 1926, blacksmith W. O. Green ran his business in the rear side of the building. In 1947, Isaiah F. Frazier also operated his billiards room at this address. 304 1/2 South Sanford Avenue was listed as the residence of James Austin in 1947 and Louis A. Loyd in 1952. In 1952, Preston Williamson was listed as a resident at this location, as well as the Frazer & Fulton Pool Room. Williamson owned the Seminole Barber Shop, located at 420 South Sanford Avenue, from 1963 to 1969. By 1965, the Suite 304 was vacant. <br /><br /> At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, Suites 300-304 were being occupied by Jason's Martini Club. Jason Turner, the owner of the club, purchased the building in 2002 and began leasing it to a tenant who opened Rhythm and Brew's. A second tenant opened the bar as Sharkey's, until Turner decided to open his own martini bar in the building called Jason's Martini Club in December 2007. Turner also opened Fat Rat's Lounge, a 1920s-style bar, at 410 South Sanford Avenue in 2010.
Rock, Adam
Original color digital image by Adam Rock, January 23, 2012.
<a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a>
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Georgetown, Sanford, Florida
412-418 South Sanford Avenue
Sanford (Fla.)
African Americans--Florida
Georgetown (Sanford, Fla.)
The lot located at 412-418 South Sanford Avenue in Georgetown, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known residents of this lot were both African Americans: Randall Turner in 1911 and Gilmore Felder in 1917. In that same year, Turner was also listed as resident of 410 S. Sanford Ave. By 1924, Felder had moved across the street to 413 South Sanford Avenue. In 1926, J. W. Williams, a black businessman, ran his restaurant from this address. This building was listed as vacant in 1947, but became occupied by Everybody's Hardware and by Sylvester Tavern, another black-owned business, as late as 1952. Cave Tavern was located here in 1965. <br /><br /> The first known occupant of Suite 414 was Leamon Gaynor, an African-American barber who ran his business from this location in 1926. He had previously had his barbershop at 405 S. Sanford Ave. Between approximately 1947 and 1952, this lot was vacant. In 1965, Knights Bicycle Shop was located at this address, but moved to 303 South Sanford Avenue by 1975. <br /><br /> The earliest known occupant of Suite 416 was Morris Cleaner & Dryer in 1926. Morris Narvis, who operated his clothing trade at 320 South Sanford Avenue in 1924, was likely the owner of this business. Black businessman Robert Burns was listed as a resident at this location in 1947. He also owned a beer store at 316 S. Sanford Ave. during that same year. Rainbow Pool Room was also listed at this address in 1947. By 1952, this lot was being occupied by Metz Shoe Shop, an African-American business. From approximately 1965 to 1975, the business operated from 422 S. Sanford Ave. under a new name: Metz Shoe Shop Repairs. It is likely that this business was owned by William Metz, a cobbler who operated his business from 321 South Sanford Avenue in 1947. In 1965, Ansley TV Service was located here, but later moved to 400 S. Sanford Ave. by 1975. In that same year, Williamson & Son Barber Shop occupied this lot. <br /><br /> Druggist A. M. Staup was the first known occupant of Suite 418 in 1926. The Seminole Barber Shop occupied this location from approximately 1947 to 1952. The barbershop, owned by Preston Williamson, moved to 420 South Sanford Avenue by 1963 and remained there until 1969. It is likely that Williamson & Son Barber Shop was owned by Preston Williamson as well. The address was listed as vacant in 1965. In 1975, Steen's Dry Cleaners was housed here. The building was also previously occupied by Beverly's Hair Cutting. In 2011, the building was being occupied by Miracle House Healing Ministries, Inc. a non-profit religious organization established on November 1, 2003. The organization is operated by Thomas and Patricia Williams, who married on September 18, 2000. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, these suites were vacant.
Rock, Adam
Original color digital images by Adam Rock, January 23, 2012.
<a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a>
image/jpg
eng
Still Image
Georgetown, Sanford, Florida