Palatka in Putnam County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bronson-Mulholland House
Photographed By James R. Murray, February 9, 2015
1. Bronson-Mulholland House Marker
Inscription.
Bronson-Mulholland House. . , The Bronson-Mulholland house was constructed for Isaac H. Bronson around 1853. A lawyer and United States congressman from New York, Bronson served as a member of the Committee on Territories in the late 1830s. He proposed the act for Florida statehood. After Florida attained statehood in 1845, Bronson was appointed to the US District Court for Florida by President James Polk. He lived in St. Augustine with his wife Sophronia and two daughters, Gertrude and Emma. Through a settlement in a land transaction, he acquired ten acres of land along the St. Johns River in Palatka and began construction of his estate, calling it “Sunny Point.” This Greek-Revival Style mansion was surrounded by groves of orange trees. Bronson prepared and sponsored the charter for the City of Palatka and petitioned for it to become the Putnam County seat. He donated the land both for the Putnam County courthouse and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Judge Bronson died in 1855 as was buried on the property as was customary at that time. His widow lived in the house until 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil War prompted her return to New York.
(Continued on other side). Reverse:
(Continued from other side). During the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops separately occupied the house. A friend of Sophronia Bronson, Charlotte Henry, established a school for freed slave children in the house from 1866 to 1868. Henry purchased the property and married Nathaniel P. White in 1873. In the 1890s, Mary Mulholland, a nurse from Boston, provided care for an ailing Mr. White. She inherited the estate when Charlotte White died in 1904, and subdivided the land. Mulholland employed a housekeeper, Taurina Rivero, who lived at Sunny Point with her sister Edelmira. In 1935, Edelmira Rivero inherited the property from Mulholland, which she sold in 1945. The house eventually was divided into apartments. In 1965 the city of Palatka acquired the property with intent to demolish the house. Prompted by the Putnam County Historical Society and concerned citizens, the house was saved. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and in 1975 a grant was obtained to restore the house. The Putnam County Historical Society provided period furnishings while the City of Palatka owns and maintains the property.
A Florida Heritage Site.
The Bronson-Mulholland house was constructed for Isaac H. Bronson around 1853. A lawyer and United States congressman from New York, Bronson served as a member of the Committee on Territories in the late 1830s. He proposed the act for Florida statehood. After Florida attained statehood in 1845, Bronson was appointed to the US District Court for Florida by President James Polk. He lived in St. Augustine with his wife Sophronia and two daughters, Gertrude and Emma. Through a settlement in a land transaction, he acquired ten acres of land along the St. Johns River in Palatka and began construction of his estate, calling it “Sunny Point.” This Greek-Revival Style mansion was surrounded by groves of orange trees. Bronson prepared and sponsored the charter for the City of Palatka and petitioned for it to become the Putnam County seat. He donated the land both for the Putnam County courthouse and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Judge Bronson died in 1855 as was buried on the property as was customary at that time. His widow lived in the house until 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil War prompted her return to New York.
(Continued on other side)
Reverse:
(Continued from other side)
During the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops separately occupied
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the house. A friend of Sophronia Bronson, Charlotte Henry, established a school for freed slave children in the house from 1866 to 1868. Henry purchased the property and married Nathaniel P. White in 1873. In the 1890s, Mary Mulholland, a nurse from Boston, provided care for an ailing Mr. White. She inherited the estate when Charlotte White died in 1904, and subdivided the land. Mulholland employed a housekeeper, Taurina Rivero, who lived at Sunny Point with her sister Edelmira. In 1935, Edelmira Rivero inherited the property from Mulholland, which she sold in 1945. The house eventually was divided into apartments. In 1965 the city of Palatka acquired the property with intent to demolish the house. Prompted by the Putnam County Historical Society and concerned citizens, the house was saved. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and in 1975 a grant was obtained to restore the house. The Putnam County Historical Society provided period furnishings while the City of Palatka owns and maintains the property.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2014 by Putnam County Historical Society, Palatka North Historic District Neighborhood Association, Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-828.)
Location. 29° 38.974′ N, 81° 37.706′ W. Marker is in Palatka, Florida, in Putnam County. Marker is on Madison Street west of North 1st Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Madison Street, Palatka FL 32177, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Street sign locating the house at 100 Madison Street.
Also on the grounds are the offices of the Putnam County Historical Society Museum,with very interesting exhibits of the town history.
Photographed By James R. Murray, February 9, 2015
6. Bronson-Mulholland House Gravesite
Judge Bronson's gravesite on the property. He was buried on his estate, as was the custom of the time.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 9, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.