Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District
Posted by: Markerman62
N 30° 58.069 W 087° 15.423
16R E 475452 N 3426063
Located at Jefferson Ave and Front St
Waymark Code: WMY87F
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 05/08/2018
Views: 4
In 1901, one of the largest and most advanced southern pine sawmills east of the Mississippi River was built here. In the tradition of the era, the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company built its own town to house and supply the families of mill workers. By 1915, the mill town of Century included a hotel, hospital, commissary, post office, executive club, business district, schools, churches, and segregated housing districts for black and white families. Housing ranged from small shotgun houses to large two-story, executive homes. Standing along Church Street is one of the lumber company’s last built town structures - a large theater and recreation hall completed in 1922. After a remodeling in 1946, it became lumber company offices. The deteriorated black residential district along Pond Street was largely demolished and the homes replaced in 1986 through a state block grant. The remaining residential district along Front, Church, Fourth, and Mayo streets, and Jefferson and Pinewood avenues represents a rare intact example of an early-twentieth century planned company town in Florida. The district, consisting of 45 historic buildings and a formal garden site, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Marker Number: F-988
Date: 2017
County: Escambia
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, The Town of Century and the Florida Department of State
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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