Palatka in Putnam County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bronson-Mulholland House

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

1. Bronson-Mulholland House Marker

Inscription.
The Bronson-Mulholland house was constructed for Isaac H. Bronson around 1853. A lawyer and United States congressman from New York, Bronson served as a member of the Committee on Territories in the late 1830s. He proposed the act for Florida statehood. After Florida attained statehood in 1845, Bronson was appointed to the US District Court for Florida by President James Polk. He lived in St. Augustine with his wife Sophronia and two daughters, Gertrude and Emma. Through a settlement in a land transaction, he acquired ten acres of land along the St. Johns River in Palatka and began construction of his estate, calling it “Sunny Point.” This Greek-Revival Style mansion was surrounded by groves of orange trees. Bronson prepared and sponsored the charter for the City of Palatka and petitioned for it to become the Putnam County seat. He donated the land both for the Putnam County courthouse and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Judge Bronson died in 1855 as was buried on the property as was customary at that time. His widow lived in the house until 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil War prompted her return to New

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York. (Continued on other side) Reverse: (Continued from other side) During the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops separately occupied the house. A friend of Sophronia Bronson, Charlotte Henry, established a school for freed slave children in the house from 1866 to 1868. Henry purchased the property and married Nathaniel P. White in 1873. In the 1890s, Mary Mulholland, a nurse from Boston, provided care for an ailing Mr. White. She inherited the estate when Charlotte White died in 1904, and subdivided the land. Mulholland employed a housekeeper, Taurina Rivero, who lived at Sunny Point with her sister Edelmira. In 1935, Edelmira Rivero inherited the property from Mulholland, which she sold in 1945. The house eventually was divided into apartments. In 1965 the city of Palatka acquired the property with intent to demolish the house. Prompted by the Putnam County Historical Society and concerned citizens, the house was saved. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and in 1975 a grant was obtained to restore the house. The Putnam County Historical Society provided period furnishings while the City

Bronson-Mulholland House Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

2. Bronson-Mulholland House Marker reverse

of Palatka owns and maintains the property. A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2014 by Putnam County Historical Society, Palatka North Historic District Neighborhood Association, Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-828.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #11 James K. Polk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 29° 38.974′ N, 81° 37.706′ W. Marker is in Palatka, Florida, in Putnam County. It is on Madison Street west of North 1st Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Madison Street, Palatka FL 32177, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in First Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Bronson-Mulholland House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

3. Bronson-Mulholland House and Marker

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: Historic Palatka (a few steps from this marker); Saint Mark's Episcopal Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Reid's Garden (about 700 feet away); City of Palatka Florida 9/11 Memorial (about 800 feet away); Fort Shannon (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Spirit of the American Doughboy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bartram Trail in Putnam County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Explore the St. Johns River (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palatka.

Also see . . . Bronson-Mulholland House. City of Palatka (Submitted on February 10, 2015.)

Bronson-Mulholland House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

4. Bronson-Mulholland House

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

5. Bronson-Mulholland House

Street sign locating the house at 100 Madison Street. Also on the grounds are the offices of the Putnam County Historical Society Museum,with very interesting exhibits of the town history.

Bronson-Mulholland House Gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, February 9, 2015

6. Bronson-Mulholland House Gravesite

Judge Bronson's gravesite on the property. He was buried on his estate, as was the custom of the time.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,134 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 9, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.