Panama City in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Van Kleeck Company
1936
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
1. The Van Kleeck Company Marker
Inscription.
The Van Kleeck Company. In 1936, the Van Kleeck Company, a hardware store, moved into two of the units of his new building, built by Deeb Construction Company. Panama Recreation Parlor opened in the unit at 131 Harrison Avenue. The most newsworthy event that occurred here was the murder of the store's owner, Roy Van Kleeck, on January 16, 1939. In 1961, Robert and Doris Hurst bought the building from Van Kleeck's last owner, Norman A. Smith, et al, heirs of Alonzo Nathan Smith, former owner. They moved their hardware store called Surplus Sales Service into the building, which operated here until 2002. The two story masonry vernacular building, with its original balconies, pine floors, walls, wood shelving, skylights, and some light fixtures, has one of the best preserved interiors in the Downtown. ,
Historical Society of Bay County .
In 1936, the Van Kleeck Company, a hardware store, moved into two of the units of his new building, built by Deeb Construction Company. Panama Recreation Parlor opened in the unit at 131 Harrison Avenue. The most newsworthy event that occurred here was the murder of the store's owner, Roy Van Kleeck, on January 16, 1939. In 1961, Robert and Doris Hurst bought the building from Van Kleeck's last owner, Norman A. Smith, et al, heirs of Alonzo Nathan Smith, former owner. They moved their hardware store called Surplus Sales Service into the building, which operated here until 2002. The two story masonry vernacular building, with its original balconies, pine floors, walls, wood shelving, skylights, and some light fixtures, has one of the best preserved interiors in the Downtown.
Historical Society of Bay County
Erected by Historical Society of Bay County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 30° 9.249′ N, 85° 39.702′ W. Marker is in Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. It is on Harrison
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Avenue 0.2 miles south of East Beach Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 133 Harrison Ave, Panama City FL 32401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 446 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
