BRADENTON, Fla. — A well recognized spot on Manatee Avenue, just west of Downtown Bradenton, has earned national distinction.
- Bradenton Woman's Club added to National Register of Historic Places
- Building chalk full of roaring 20s charm
- Certain requirements needed to be added to list
The Bradenton Woman's Club is the newest addition to the National Register of Historic Places.
"The Manatee Players started here, the Red Cross started here," explained Janet Ott, a club member.
The building was built in 1921 and is still chalk full of that roaring 20s charm.
From the 100-year-old dance floor to the original seats fixed on the balcony — it's kind of like a time capsule.
However, in September 2017, their dream of getting on the national register seemed like a far fetched one. The flat roof was damaged in Hurricane Irma and water just rained through.
They said it took months and thousands of dollars to bring the building back to life.
Historian Cathy Slusser has been immersed in Manatee County history for 35 years and said there are a few requirements before you can get on the list.
Buildings that are considered for the register are usually more than 50 years old, are associated with an important event, and architecturally significant.
Slusser said the Bradenton Woman's Club embodies a Mediterranean Revival form of architecture that was used all over Florida in the 1910's and 20s.
Slusser also said getting onto the register can help with making funding more accessible.
"Whenever you have a historic building it's a money pit, so the group will need additional funding to help with the up keep of the building and this gives them greater chances of doing that," she said.
The Bradenton Woman's Club will continue to restore and repair with the help of their new spot on the National Register of Historic Places.