Apalachicola in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Historic Orman Building

— Apalachicola Historic Walking Tour —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 17, 2025

1. The Historic Orman Building Marker

Inscription.

The Historic Orman Building. . Thomas Orman (1799-1880) was an ambitious entrepreneur and significant member of the Apalachicola mercantile community. In his lifetime, Orman held title to over 39,000 acres in Franklin County. Of the many cotton warehouses once located on Water Street, fourteen belonged to Orman., Orman acquired the property on which the current building stands in 1856. This site was the original location of the two-story wooden Central Hotel that burned in the devastating fire of 1900. The existing Orman acquired the property on which the current building stands in 1856. This site was the original location of the two-story wooden Central Hotel that burned in the devastating fire of 1900. The existing building was constructed of brick in 1901 by Thomas Orman's granddaughter Sadie and her first husband John Fenimore Cooper Griggs. It was through the doors of the Orman Building that the family supplied goods up the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river systems into Alabama and Georgia., Descendants sold the building in 1978, ending years of continuous family ownership. Repurposed many times, it previously boasted the switchboard of the first Apalachicola Telephone Company. Upstairs office space was leased. Signs painted on the brick advertised early automobile sales; residents also patronized a beauty salon and shoe repair shop. From 1936-1963, the Orman Building was the home of Gordon's Department Store, a staple of Apalachicola's downtown. , , In 1999, in consultation with the Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation, the Florida Archives, and examination of local period structures, a restoration plan was begun. The basic structure of 18-inch hand fired brick walls and lime putty mortar (oyster shell and sand) was in satisfactory condition; characteristic of this period are bricks of varying color, depending on how close each lay to the kiln fire. All salvageable heart pine joists and floors were reused; first floor exterior doors are constructed of original floor joists. Exterior stucco circa 1930 was repaired and repainted. The Orman Building continues its long history as a significant downtown commercial structure., To learn more, visit www.DowntownApalachicola.com

Thomas Orman (1799-1880) was an ambitious entrepreneur and significant member of the Apalachicola mercantile community. In his lifetime, Orman held title to over 39,000 acres in Franklin County. Of the many cotton warehouses once located on Water Street, fourteen belonged to Orman.

Orman acquired the property on which the current building stands in 1856. This site was the original location of the two-story wooden Central Hotel that burned in the devastating fire of 1900. The existing Orman acquired the property on which the current building stands in 1856. This site was the original location of the two-story wooden Central Hotel that burned in the devastating fire of 1900. The existing building was constructed of brick in 1901 by Thomas Orman's granddaughter Sadie and her first husband John Fenimore Cooper Griggs. It was through the doors of the Orman Building that the family supplied goods up the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river systems into Alabama and Georgia.

Descendants sold the building in 1978, ending years of continuous family ownership. Repurposed many times, it previously boasted the switchboard of

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the first Apalachicola Telephone Company. Upstairs office space was leased. Signs painted on the brick advertised early automobile sales; residents also patronized a beauty salon and shoe repair shop. From 1936-1963, the Orman Building was the home of Gordon's Department Store, a staple of Apalachicola's downtown.

In 1999, in consultation with the Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation, the Florida Archives, and examination of local period structures, a restoration plan was begun. The basic structure of 18-inch hand fired brick walls and lime putty mortar (oyster shell and sand) was in satisfactory condition; characteristic of this period are bricks of varying color, depending on how close each lay to the kiln fire. All salvageable heart pine joists and floors were reused; first floor exterior doors are constructed of original floor joists. Exterior stucco circa 1930 was repaired and repainted. The Orman Building continues its long history as a significant downtown commercial structure.

To learn more, visit www.DowntownApalachicola.com

Erected by Apalachicola Main Street and VisitFlorida.

Topics. This historical

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 17, 2025

2. The Historic Orman Building Marker

marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 29° 43.629′ N, 84° 59.016′ W. Marker is in Apalachicola, Florida, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Avenue D and Market Street, on the right when traveling north on Avenue D. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32 Avenue D, Apalachicola FL 32320, 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Cook Building (a few steps from this marker); Apalachicola Post Office and Customs House (within shouting distance of this marker);

The Historic Orman Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 17, 2025

3. The Historic Orman Building

The Cook Insurance Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fradozia Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Coombs - Franklin Guards (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Gibson Inn (about 400 feet away); J.E. Grady & Co. (about 400 feet away); The Sponge Exchange (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Apalachicola.

Also see . . . Walking Tour - Apalachicola Site of Interest. (Submitted on June 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 158 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.