201 Howell Avenue

The History

Brooksville was started in 1856 but didn't officially incorporate until 1880.  This building was built in 1970 and was originally the home of the Mid-State Federal Savings and Loan. According to Old Brooksville in Photos and Stories, In 1978 Charles Eppley was the bank’s president. In 1996, the building was purchased by the City of Brooksville to be used as their administrative headquarters. Pat Brayton was the mayor when the purchase was made. Today, you can visit City Hall’s Art Gallery and view different types of art by local residents.

Prior to this building being built in 1975, this site was the location of a wood-framed livery stable in the 1890s which later became a concrete block factory. Shortly after the turn of the century the large masonry Brooksville Hardware and Supply was built at this location, housing an armory and undertaker in addition to paints and hardware. The hardware building burned down by 1920. In the 1930s a Standard Oil filling station stood on this corner.

CITATIONS/CREDIT: Old Brooksville in Photos and Stories, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1895-1924, Historic Brooksville Walking/Driving Tour