Auburndale in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Patterson Retail Building
Circa 1916
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 24, 2014
1. Patterson Retail Building Circa 1916 Marker
Inscription.
Patterson Retail Building. Circa 1916. Nearly all of the early commercial buildings in Auburndale were constructed from wood. As a result, three fires destroyed the heart of Auburndale's business sector in 1912, 1913, and 1915. The fire of 1913 was magnified by a great explosion that occurred when flames engulfed a large cache of dynamite. In response to the disaster, Mayor E. S. Anderson appointed a committee to draft a fire zone ordinance requiring fire resistant structures within the downtown commercial district. Because of this requirement, John Patterson, an active member of Auburndale's early business community, constructed the Patterson Retail Building in 1916 using masonry building techniques. The Masonary Vernacular building is an example of the style that became more common for commercial buildings of the 1920's. The Patterson Retail Building has been home to at least two drug stores and a professional office.
Nearly all of the early commercial buildings in Auburndale were constructed from wood. As a result, three fires destroyed the heart of Auburndale's business sector in 1912, 1913, and 1915. The fire of 1913 was magnified by a great explosion that occurred when flames engulfed a large cache of dynamite. In response to the disaster, Mayor E. S. Anderson appointed a committee to draft a fire zone ordinance requiring fire resistant structures within the downtown commercial district. Because of this requirement, John Patterson, an active member of Auburndale's early business community, constructed the Patterson Retail Building in 1916 using masonry building techniques. The Masonary Vernacular building is an example of the style that became more common for commercial buildings of the 1920's. The Patterson Retail Building has been home to at least two drug stores and a professional office.
Erected 2011 by City of Auburndale, Auburndale Community Redevelopment Agency, Auburndale Historic Preservation Commission, Centennial Celebration Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 28° 3.928′ N, 81° 47.307′ W. Marker is in Auburndale
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, Florida, in Polk County. It is at the intersection of North Bartow Avenue (State Road 559) and Main Street, on the right when traveling north on North Bartow Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 E Park St, Auburndale FL 33823, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida. 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. 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.
2. Patterson Retail Building Circa 1916 Marker shown on building front
Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 781 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
