Commercial Building. ca. 1900. Contributing.
Two-story brick Commercial Style building of pressed brick with narrow mortar joints. It appears that the building has been sandblasted. Two equal storefront bays are separated by a door leading to the second floor. Storefronts are altered with modern materials. Six one-over-one windows under round arch overlights remain on the second floor. Crenellated corbelled cornice, blonde brick string course at the second story window sill, perforated brick string course at the first floor cornice and between the second story windows are some of the other details of the building. In 1943 this was in use as a dress manufacturer (Sanborn maps).
Ripley Building
Ca. 1848.
Two-story coursed ashlar stone commercial structure built by Colonel Valentine Ripley and believed to be the oldest surviving structures on Main Street. The building has a hipped roof with broad eaves. A modern storefront has been added between existing stone piers. Six tall, double hung windows at second story replace paired casement windows. Stone corbelling under eaves and a one-story brick addition to rear.
(According to Betty Thomas, Roy Huggins operated an automotive repairs business in the brick building to the rear, built in 1946, and used this building as his offices. Purchased in 1974 by the Thomas Family. Served as a restaurant briefly. Interior remodeled in 1985. Today, Thomas Produce Co. has its office here. Text added 2.3.2009)
Historical Marker placed 2009
The Ripley Building ca. 1847
Built by Col. Valentine Ripley, early businessman, this is the oldest building on Main Street. Served as a skating rink, an armory during WW1, office for Huggins Automotive with car repairs in the rear building, the Herb Garden Cafe and since 1984 Thomas Produce Co.
Pace's Market. ca. 1925. Contributing.
Two-story Commercial Style brick building with an intact original storefront. Double leaf doors in the center of the storefront area, corbelled cornice, and flat brick arches over windows. Window sash has been replaced with modern one-over-one windows. Brick is painted on the façade and part of the north and south elevations. This building was known as Pace's Market from the 1920s through the early 1940s. Ellison's Market occupied the building from the mid-1940s through at least the mid-1950s (Henderson County property records; Sanborn maps; city directories)
Commercial Building. ca. 1950. Contributing.
One-story stuccoed building comprised of two distinct blocks. On the north side is the garage bay with the original multi-panel door, and a three-light fixed pane window, a later addition. On the south side is a store with its original display corner window. Built as a service station, this is a typical design of this time period. It appears on Sanborn maps by the early 1950s (Sanborn maps).
Skyland Hotel
1929.
Six-story beige brick structure with cast concrete details on cornice and frieze. Concrete band runs beneath sixth floor windows. Metal replacement windows when building converted to apartments. Central three bays of second floor project out over sidewalk supported by brick and metal piers. This originally served as a balcony from the second floor (from the Banks of the Oklawaha, photograph). Modern storefronts. Built at the urgings of individuals who wanted a hotel in the main commercial district, the opening came only months before the crash of the stockmarket which ended the 1920s boom era. The hotel survived the Depression and received considerable additions in 1947.
HISTORIC MARKER PLACED 2009
Skyland Hotel 1929
Built at a cost of $300,000 and dedicated on June 25, 1929, it operated as a 76 room hotel until the early 1970s when the rooms were reconfigured and became privately owned. Famous guests include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Lee Marvin, Minnie Pearl, Robert Mitchum and later president Ronald Reagan.
Photo from 1987.