Built around 1929, this was once Bacon's Drug Store.  Since 1989 it has been the Main Street Eatery and is run by Peggy and her wonderful crew.  Pressed Cubans, Reubens and Buzzards' Breath Chilli are just a few of the "Eat Healthy" theme items on this menu.  Open until 4pm Monday to Saturday with extended hours until 8pm on Bandshell Bash days.  The Horse and Carriage belonged to ST.FRANCIS CARRIAGE SERVICES.

 

Sunday morning in July - breezy and cool in a Mayberryesque atmosphere. 

Bult in 1954 - this was Brooksville's original Department Store.  It now houses Kesseltech and a few other businesses.  The horses are Belgian Draught horses.  These are the strongest horses in the world and are larger and stronger than Clydesdales.  This team was specially chosen because of their immense strength as a champion pulling team.  To them, even with the coach fully loaded and pulling up hill, their load is quite light.

Home at Sea is now a part of the scene in Brooksville.

Built in 1902 - Neoclassical Revival.  It was originally The First National Bank.

Built in 1895 this cavernous more than just a coffee shop completely surprises the visitor entering its doors.  Expecting just another small cafe, this space could well hold a full blown restaurant or popular night spot.  Upscale and clean, take a look inside and form your own opinion.  Live entertainment (violin, keyboad, singing) is often provided here during lunch from 12 pm until 2 pm Monday through Fri.  Check the calendar page of this site for details.  There are some special forms of entertainment booked as well from time to time.  See their photo gallery for details.

Built in 1885 by Wesley Grimsley and called "The pantry".  Brooksville Printing has been in this spot since 1977.

Built around 1892, this is a Colonial Revival.

This and other Walking Tour pages to come are credited to:

 

The Brooksville Mural Society as Sponsored by Florida Power, A Progress Energy Company.

 

Special thanks to Jane Maitski (Compiler of original printed version)

Virginia Jackson, Frasier Mountain, Mary Alice Queiros, Hernando County Historical Museum, Old Brooksville In Photos & Stories by Bob martinez, A History fo Hernando County by Richard J. Stansback, Sun Journal and all other swho took the time to help gather this information.

 

Web page design by David Curtis

Photography by David Curtis

 

Thanks also to:

The Brooksville Mural Society, Inc.,

The Brooksville City Hall Art Gallery

 

This web site is financed for the community out of courtesy by the members of the Brooksville Business Alliance.

Our online tour deviates from the printed form in that the Main Street tour starts here.  Built in 1913 and run by the Week's family to this day - This is not only the oldest retail store in Brooksville, it is the oldest retail store in the entire county of Hernando.  Here time has truly stood still - step through these doors to take a peek into the past, breathe it in, and savor it for a while - pick up some spare batteries for your camera while you're there and poke around for whatever else Mr. Weeks, 78 years young, has in stock that you might need.

Built around 1945, and originally a music store, many of the things inside are older than the building itself.  Worth stopping in - with about sixteen antique vendors and venues on two floors there are lots of specialty areas well covered.

Organized and Federated in 1910, this building was built in 1931 based on the plans drawn up by then president Lena Hawkins.  On Sundays, this building is also the current meeting place of the Universalist Unitarians "UU In The Pines".

Built in 1848 this is perhaps the oldest frame building in Brooksville, and certainly the oldest house listed on this tour.  This house was home to Creative Porch and Garden which has now changed to online sales only.  Renovated, this house was built by Theopholis Higginbothem.  An excellent location for a professional office just a block south of the Hernando County Courthouse, this house is currently for sale (813) 334-1087.

 

Built in 1914 as a livery stable and up until 2007 the starting point for historic tours ST.FRANCIS CARRIAGE SERVICES, Horse & Buggy Historic Tours 158 S. Main Street, Brooksville, FL 34601.

 

Current stories include a St Petersburg Times Article

This grass roof covered structure called a "Chickee" provides a roof for the tour horses, and was built by Seminole Indians from Immokallee Florida just due east of Ft. Myers.  This is an interesting addition to our walking tour, and the first place you saw when you took the St. Francis Carriage Tour.

Read Some of Our Local Writers

 

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WALKING TOUR - Page Three