Palmetto in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Heritage Station Post Office 1880
Palmetto Historical Park
Heritage Station is Palmetto’s first free-standing post office. It was built for Mrs. Mary Nettles, Palmetto’s 2nd and 4th Postmaster, who served 1880-1889 and again 1893-1897. During her service and through the turn of the century, mail destined for Palmetto traveled first by rail to Cedar Key, then 125 miles south by steamer and into the Manatee River to Palmetto.
In 1982 Heritage Station was scheduled to be burned as a fire-fighting exercise before being saved by the Palmetto Historical Commission. It was moved to the Palmetto Historical Park site, the site of Palmetto’s first bond supported public school, with the approval of then-Mayor Ken Burton and the City Council. It was restored through the efforts of the Historical Commission and the City of Palmetto with many donations from individuals and businesses. The heart of the restoration was the installation of the 1880 oak postal windows and boxes donated by Judy and Belmont Whittle. Richard Hebble, regional postmaster and descendant of Mrs. Nettles, provided antique postal furniture as did local post offices and private citizens. The Historic Post Office was the first building moved into the Historical Park.
Each March on Heritage Day, Heritage Station is open for business from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. All mail posted through the antique post office is hand cancelled with a special cancellation used only on that day at this place.
Erected by The City of Palmetto and the Palmetto Historical.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 27° 30.954′ N, 82° 34.566′ W. Marker is in Palmetto, Florida, in Manatee County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of 10th Avenue West and 6th Street West when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 515 10th Ave W, Palmetto FL 34221, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1914 Carnegie Library (a few steps from this marker); The Schoolhouse (a few steps from this marker); The Cottage Museum (a few steps from this marker); Sugar Kettle (within shouting distance of this marker); Heritage Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Cypress House Military Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory Of All Veterans (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Palmetto Baptist Church / Dr. M.B. Harrison (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmetto.
Regarding Heritage Station Post Office 1880. The Palmetto Historical Park is a step back in time, a tiny village of historical buildings from Palmetto’s past. The park consists of an 1880’s post office, one-room schoolhouse, and a turn-of-the century cottage sited around a brick-paver circle. The back o the Carnegie Library, built in 1914, sits just off the circle, with a military museum and chapel across the way.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.