Miles and Nora Harmon House

Miles and Nora Harmon House. Built 1908. This house was built in 1908 by Miles Lampkin "Lamp" and wife Mary Honora "Nora" Purcell Harmon. "Lamp", born in 1871, was the son of original settlers Turner Hunt and Nancy Harmon. "Lamp" was one of the thirty one qualified voters that signed the petition to incorporate Panama City. He was selected to be the first Town Constable in 1908. In 1909, he was elected as the new Panama City "Town Marshal", and his duties allegedly included lighting kerosene street lights every evening. He and his brothers were all active in the new Panama City., He was a good carpenter and built several homes in the Harmon Plat for residents to buy and cottages for the trainloads of "excursionists" to rent. By 1922 he began to acquire a reputation as an excellent boat builder, and in 1925 the Pilot newspaper ran an article calling him "one of the best boat builders on the bay., "Lamp" died in 1934 and his wife Nora continued living in the house until her death in 1957. At the time this house was built, Panama City was not officially a "city"; there was no bridge across Massalina/Harmon Bayou; and there were no water, sewer, or telephone lines. All roads were sandy and unpaved, but the Harmon Addition was considered one of the most desirable spots in the new town to build a home and raise a family.