Arcadia in DeSoto County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Arcadia City Hall
1926
Photographed By PaulwC3, March 14, 2014
1. Arcadia City Hall Marker
The Town of Arcadia was settled in 1883, incorporated in 1886, and became the county seat in 1888. By the late 1880s the population was 300. On Thanksgiving night 1905 the town burned. Three brick stores survived. Using only brick or block, rebuilding began immediately. Most of those buildings remain today. During World War I with its two flying schools, Carlstrom and Dorr Fields, Arcadia became known as the “Aviation Capital” of Florida.The land for Arcadia’s first city hall (140 x 142) was a pineapple patch bought in 1917 for $3,000 from Fred and Ida Gore. City Hall was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style and was furnished in June 1926 at a cost of $45,216, including all furnishings. A section of the original nine-foot office counter and steel shelves for the vault are still in use. The fire station first housed a solid, rubber-tired, auto driven hose wagon with chemical tanks and a 1924 American La France fire truck which is still owned and running. The original 20-foot brass fire pole and the 400-pound siren are to be placed in the City Hall Museum. In 2004, restoration of City Hall began with funding from
this page online
Erected 2005 by City of Arcadia and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-563.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1926.
Location. 27° 13.028′ N, 81° 51.723′ W. Marker is in Arcadia, Florida, in DeSoto County. Marker is at the intersection of North Monroe Avenue and West Hickory Street (State Road 70), on the right when traveling north on North Monroe Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 West Hickory Street, Arcadia FL 34266, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Arcadia Historic District (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeSoto County (approx. ¼ mile away); DeSoto County War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); DeSoto County Veterans Memorial Flag Pole (approx. ¼ mile away); DeSoto County World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Florida Baptist Orphanage (approx. half a mile away); Arcadia Oak Ridge Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); The British Plot (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arcadia.
Also see . . . The day Arcadia burned.... Desoto Co, FL. Dusk
Photographed By PaulwC3, March 14, 2014
2. Wide view of the Arcadia City Hall Marker
Holocaust was ahead. In less than six hours Arcadia's wooden business houses would be smoldering rubble and ashes. Few remain who can remember that day 75 years ago when downtown Arcadia was destroyed. Yep, those old timers who do remain refer to that holiday holocaust as "the big fire". (Submitted on March 24, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)
Photographed By PaulwC3, March 14, 2014
3. Arcadia City Hall (1926)
Photographed By PaulwC3, March 14, 2014
4. Detail of the Arcadia City Hall Main Entrance
circa 1940
5. City Hall, Arcadia, Fla. - Postcard View
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 690 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 23, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 24, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on December 1, 2017.
