15 N Main Street

The History

This building complex originally housed McCrory's Department Store. 

“J.G. McCrory, head of the McCrory chain of five-and-ten-cent stores, visited Brooksville recently...to inspect the McCrory property on Main Street, now used for Democratic Headquarters of this county. McCrory said that his property here is not for sale, as he considers Hernando county one of the best counties in the state.  More industrious farmers are needed to till the wonderful soil and realize the great possibilities, he said.” (“Head of McCrory Chain Visits Florida Stores,” The Tampa Daily Times, October 19, 1932, pg. 12)

LINGLE’S 5c & 10c was housed in the “McCrory Building” in the 70s. The Lingle family came to Brooksville from Kentucky in the late 1920s. They operated Lingles 5c & 10c and Lingles department store in the next building over for 56 years. Member of the Single family still live in Brooksville today. (Photos & information credit: “The Era of Main Street” by Frances Lingle Siebert)

It was also the location of Ryoke’s Alterations and Gene Hood Bail Bonds and the second floor housed Joe Johnston’s law office until the early 1950s. In 1955, the Buckner Family purchased the building and it has housed many businesses.

CITATIONS/CREDIT:

Old Brooksville in Photos & Stories, July 2006, Vol 98

“Head of McCrory Chain Visits Florida Stores” The Tampa Daily Times, October 19, 1932, pg.12

Darryl Johnston