Apalachicola in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards
Photographed By Bill Royal, December 28, 2009
1. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
Inscription.
Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards. . The Franklin Guards, a company of Infantry organized in Apalachicola in 1884 by J. H. Coombs and Fred Betterfield, erected the first building in the city to be used solely as an armory in 1898. Made of simulated brick, it was located at the corner of High Street and Center Avenue. On May 25, 1900, fire destroyed it and much of the downtown. On July 3, 1900, a committee was formed to build a new armory. The facility was designed by Frank and Thomas Lockwood of Columbus, Georgia and constructed by John H. Hecker. It was completed in 1901 at a cost of $12,000. The replacement armory features real brick walls and a gable roof with a gable parapet. Solid massing of the walls, slit windows, and a corner tower that resembles a medieval watchtower make this an imposing military structure. Fort Coombs is a unique example of "fortress architecture" in Florida, and has served as the military and social nexus of Apalachicola for more than a century. Units stationed here have been mobilized for service in World Wars I and II, the Gulf War and the War with Iraq. Bronze plaques located on the exterior front wall memorialize the names of generations of Apalachicola and Franklin County citizens who have served their State and Nation.
The Franklin Guards, a company of Infantry organized in Apalachicola in 1884 by J. H. Coombs and Fred Betterfield, erected the first building in the city to be used solely as an armory in 1898. Made of simulated brick, it was located at the corner of High Street and Center Avenue. On May 25, 1900, fire destroyed it and much of the downtown. On July 3, 1900, a committee was formed to build a new armory. The facility was designed by Frank and Thomas Lockwood of Columbus, Georgia and constructed by John H. Hecker. It was completed in 1901 at a cost of $12,000. The replacement armory features real brick walls and a gable roof with a gable parapet. Solid massing of the walls, slit windows, and a corner tower that resembles a medieval watchtower make this an imposing military structure. Fort Coombs is a unique example of "fortress architecture" in Florida, and has served as the military and social nexus of Apalachicola for more than a century. Units stationed here have been mobilized for service in World Wars I and II, the Gulf War and the War with Iraq. Bronze plaques located on the exterior front wall memorialize the names of generations of Apalachicola and Franklin County citizens who have served their State and Nation.
Erected 2004 by Florida Department of Military Affairs and the Florida Department
Click or scan to see this page online
of State. (Marker Number F-532.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1795.
Location. 29° 43.587′ N, 84° 59.07′ W. Marker is in Apalachicola, Florida, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street and Avenue D, on the right when traveling east on 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 66 4th Street, Apalachicola FL 32320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Additional commentary. 1. "Bronze plaques located on the exterior front wall memorialize the names..." The plaque transcriptions that follow are shown in chronological order.
Roll of Honor Franklin County’s Volunteers 1917 World War 1918 Raymond
Photographed By Jon Craig
2. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
Anderson · Wm. H. Allen · T.E. Austin · Glenn H. Ballou · J.L. Barbee · Ellis Barber · J.W. Bailey · P.G. Belleau · Wm. H. Bowington · A. Boylston · Alva Bragdon · Osceola Bragdon · Stanford Bragdon · Emery Branch · Hardy Branch · Roland E. Brown · Willie E. Brown · O.Z. Brookins · D.F. Burns · F.C. Cable · Geo. Carrin · ★W.V. Carrigan · J.A. Cesaroni · Jas. P. Coombs · C.B. Coombs · C.G. Cantrell · Ross V. Coburn · G. Calhoun · E. Cruise · A.S. Cooper · Wm. Cooper · Henry Crowson · B.B. Caldwell · Ernest R. Cotter · Jas. P. de Cosmo · Jno. H. Edwards · Alfred Floyd · Percy E. Floyd · Albert B. Floyd · Wm. J. Floyd · W.O. Floyd · Andrew Fowler · Jas. T. Grantham · Wm. J. Glasgow · Reed J. Hartsfield · Hal Hoffman · Sam Hoffman · Albert M. Hickey · Jean Hickey ·Willis Ham · D.S. Hose · H.H. Hance · J.W. Holloway · R.H. Johnson · Jno. G. Johnson · Wm. Johnson · Leonard A. Jenkins · James A. Jenkins · M.J. King · Jos. Lewis · Carl Lewis · S. Lucido, Jr. · Lewis B. Long · P. Lovett · Fred Maddox · Eddie R. Maddox · Ernest Maddox · Roy Maddox · Robert L. Maige · ★Willoughby R. Marks · Jno. Marshall, Jr. · Frank Messina · Herman Messina · Guy E. Messina · Ansel Messina · Geo. Mitchill · C.F. Mahoney · Clarence Mahoney · H.R. Maige, Jr. · C.H. Montgomery · J.B. Montgomery · C.B. Moore · Jesse O. Mock · Bryan R. Moore · ★J.W. McCranie · Morris E. McLeod · H.D. Marks,
Photographed By Jon Craig
3. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
Jr. · Herman McNeil · S.R. Mohr · Herman Mohr · Karl Mohr · P.S. Murphy · Carl J. Newman · Abram Nedley · Witham Nedley · Gilbert Nedley · Lee Peters · E.B. Porter · G.W. Roberts · ★Claude J. Roberts · W.A. Roberts, Jr. · G.G. Rocco · Veto Romeo · W.H. Rogers · Clarence Russell · Will J. Russell · Geo. Roberts · Jos. Roberts · Leon Rocco · Jos. Ramsey · Emanuel Redets · Edwin G.W. Ruge · Ernst H. Ruge · J. Herman Ruge · P. Schoelles · Herman Stewart · Ramsie Summerford · Gad W. Segree · Lucius A. Smith · Milton Smith · Robert L. Smith · Edwin B. Smith · Henry Smith · Francis Smith · Geo. Sizemore · Antonio Spano, Jr. · W.L. Sharit, Jr. · Wm. S. Shepard · Aaran Sarvis · Dewey Sarvis · S.F. Tucker · Arthur Tucker · Tasos Themis · J.B. Thompson · N.M. Thompson · Tabor Williams · Asa B. Warren · Geo. L. Warren, Jr. · Shields Warren · Earl K. Wakefield · F.B. Wakefield, Jr. · Geo. C. Wilson · Henry Waldo · Harry Waldo · H.L. Wiggins · Geo. W. Warren, Jr. · T.H. Watkins · R.M. Yent, Jr. · H.S. Yent
In honor of all the men and women from Franklin County who served in the Armed Forces during the Second World War and in memory of those men who gave their lives while in their country’s service. Robert L. Brown · Clarence B. Burke · Julian Rex Buzzett · Christmas Castorino · Charles Corneliuson · Chauncey Ford · Artis Hollie · James Bewal Jones · John Judah McKnight
Photographed By Jon Craig
4. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
· Lawrence Fred Meyer · Andrew Stark Nixon · David Leroy Rickards · James J. Russell · Lawson H. Scott · Timothy Simmons · William Ellis Van Vleet · Raymond W. Witherspoon, Jr. Franklin County Board of County Commissioners · 1999
Roll of Honor Volunteers World War II Company E 106th Engineers Combat Albert V. Adams · Albert H. Adkisson · Andrew J. Ambra · Joe D. Ambra · Charles D. Bailey · Bill Barnard · William M. Bass · Charles E. Black · Benjamin F. Bloodworth · Woodroe B. Bohannon · Charles M. Bouington · James W. Brown · Julian R. Buzzett · Roger P. Coombs · Walter N. Creekmore · Rocco Donato · Dewitt D. Duggar · Mell Duggar · Wilbur W. Faircloth · William D. Faircloth · Alfio J. Fichera · Elmer D. Gilbert · Albert C. Glass · John D. Glass · Forrest T. Gordon · Ollie L. Gunn · Earl W. Ham · Alfred L. Harrison · Jay L. Harrison · Dewey Hayes · George W. Hendels · Crawford I. Henry · James M. Henry · Marcus L. Hodge · Karl E. Holland · George A. Keith · Jay L. Kilgore · Mabrey L. Langston · L.C. Lashley · Macey C. Lewis · Jefferson E. Little · Robert E. Little ·Arron E. Lynn · Herbert O. Marshall · Ollie B. Martin · Raleigh Martin · James W. Mercer · Luke V. Moren · Clyde L. Morrison · John A. Newell · Otis A. Newell · Charles A. Pace · Francis P. Patrenos · George T. Patrenos · Horrace L. Pilkinton · Richard G. Power · Glover E. Raker · Fred W.
Photographed By Jon Craig
5. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
Richards · Harley B. Roberts · Kenneht R. Roberts · Everett S. Roberson · James A. Roddenberry · James J. Russell · William T. Sanders · Edmund G. Scott · John P. Scott · Lawrence A. Scott · Robert F. Stansberry · George C. Strickland · Harold L. Sturman · Ellis M. Varnes · John N. Vathis · Dewey L. Wages · Raymond W. Walden · George W. Walker · Joe Wilson · John C. Wilson · Robert C. Wilson · George S. Wright · Joseph F. Zingarelli
In honor of the men and women from Franklin County who served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War and in memory of the two men who did not return from the conflict Earl Lewis King Cpl Army Sept. 1, 1950 Claude L. Stokes Pvt Army July 11, 1953 Franklin County Board of County Commissioners · 1999
In remembrance of the men and women from Franklin County who answered their country’s call and faithfully served in the Vietnam War and in memory of the five men who never came home from the war: Clifford G. Rhodes · May 17, 1966 Herbert Eugene Smith · July 29, 1966 James Henry Clary · January 3, 1968 Robert O’Neal Cato · August 25, 1968 Robert Clifford Millender · February 14, 1970 Dedicated by the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners, 1998
Roll of Honor Volunteers of the Persian Gulf War 710th Service Company Paul C. Abbott · Arthur G. Boone · Johnny C. Bryant
Photographed By Jon Craig
6. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
· Harry D. Bulzer · Jerry N. Bunyon Jr. · Orias R. Butler · Carl R. Carlson · Bobby L. Carrin · Tracey L. Carroll · Ronald L. Carter · Bailey J. Chumney · Willie E. Clark Jr. · Andrew M. Cole · Charles H. Cooper · Jerry J. Cooper · Joseph E. Cooper · Leroy L. Dearinger · William R. Deeson · Carl W. Duncan · James L. Elliott · Aaron D. Esses Sr. · Fredrick Estes Sr. · Robert S. Estes · Stephanie J. Evans · Charles E. Everett · Edward L. Fisher · Lester Forrest Jr. · Jack E. Frye · Charles H. Galloway · Tim M. Garner · Teresa E. Grice · James R. Ham · Bobby L. Hand · Irskel M. Harless · Larry G. Hatcher · Terry J. Hoppenbrouwer · Everett H. Horton · Michael J. Hunter · Eddie Julius Jr. · Lewis E. Julius · Vernon L. King · Jerry L. Lolley · Joseph W. Mallon · Harold R. Mangum · Stephanie F. Marlowe · Kevin L. Martina · Charles J. McCollum · Donald R. McCormick Jr. · Kelley A. McKinley · Eric L. McNair · Willie J. McNair Jr. · James I. Murray · Eulon W. Nelson · James G. Norris · John W. Owens · Tonja F. Parker · Jeffery W. Paterson · William L. Pederson III · William Porter · Timothy W. Register · Tommie L. Robinson Jr. · David J. Roche · Henry Rochelle Jr. · Henry Rochelle Jr. · William E. Scott · James M. Sewell · Mery L. Shively · Elzie L. Shiver · Leonard E. Shiver · Robert E. Smith · Tonald E. Spinks · Patricia L. Stroud · Terry L. Swindell Jr. · Coy C. Todd · Michael D. Todd
Photographed By Jon Craig
7. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
· Dennis L. Varnes · Darrell E. Ward · Charles W. Watkins · Charlotte B. Williams · John C. Williams · Luther E. Winfield · Roberts M. Yent Sr. · Harry Young
Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted August 3, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
Photographed By Bill Royal, December 28, 2009
8. Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2010, by Bill Royal of Sun City Ctr, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,466 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on January 1, 2010, by Bill Royal of Sun City Ctr, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 7, 2015, by Jon Craig of Knoxville, Tennessee. 8. submitted on January 1, 2010, by Bill Royal of Sun City Ctr, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
