Apalachicola in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Cook Insurance Building
Apalachicola Historic Walking Tour
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 18, 2025
1. The Cook Insurance Building Marker
Inscription.
The Cook Insurance Building. . Originally the site of the Cook Insurance Building was covered by a portion of Mr. Singer's saloon and pool hall. This two-story wooden building stretched from the corner of Commerce Street and burned in the fire of 1900. John H. Cook, the owner of the land, built this building with a simple gable roof in 1901 further west on the property and rented it out to a restaurateur. A decade later this building was moved to its current location when Mr. Cook constructed the two-story brick building on the corner of Market Street and Avenue D., In 1913 Mr. Cook opened the Cook Insurance Agency in the building. The business remained in the building until 2004. The building retains the rich wood interior that has distinguished it since it was constructed., Born in Germany, John Henry Cook graduated from Sewanee Military Academy and was active in the community, in business, and in politics. He served several terms as Mayor of Apalachicola and was elected to the Florida legislature. also served in the local militia and was a Mason., The photo of John H. Cook, above, was taken on the occasion of his marriage to Marietta Ida Porter. The photo is from the private collection of their grandson, Apalachicola City Commissioner, Frank Cook., To learn more, visit www.DowntownApalachicola.com
Originally the site of the Cook Insurance Building was covered by a portion of Mr. Singer's saloon and pool hall. This two-story wooden building stretched from the corner of Commerce Street and burned in the fire of 1900. John H. Cook, the owner of the land, built this building with a simple gable roof in 1901 further west on the property and rented it out to a restaurateur. A decade later this building was moved to its current location when Mr. Cook constructed the two-story brick building on the corner of Market Street and Avenue D.
In 1913 Mr. Cook opened the Cook Insurance Agency in the building. The business remained in the building until 2004. The building retains the rich wood interior that has distinguished it since it was constructed.
Born in Germany, John Henry Cook graduated from Sewanee Military Academy and was active in the community, in business, and in politics. He served several terms as Mayor of Apalachicola and was elected to the Florida legislature. also served in the local militia and was a Mason.
The photo of John H. Cook, above, was taken on the occasion of his marriage to Marietta Ida Porter.
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The photo is from the private collection of their grandson, Apalachicola City Commissioner, Frank Cook.
To learn more, visit www.DowntownApalachicola.com
Erected by Apalachicola Main Street and VisitFlorida.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 29° 43.647′ N, 84° 59.014′ W. Marker is in Apalachicola, Florida, in Franklin County. It is on Avenue D south of Commerce Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 Ave 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.
Also see . . . Discover Apalachicola, Florida. Florida's Forgotten Coast website entry (Submitted on March 20, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
3. The Cook Insurance Building
Now houses Hole in the Wall Seafood
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
