First Public Building
1877
When Hettie Austin came to this community from Indiana in 1876, she immediately began roaming about in her "sad little mule-drawn cart" soliciting contributions for a Methodist Church. Henry DeLand convinced her that the greater need was for a school, to which he would donate the land and much of the building cost if it could be used by all denominations for worship on Sundays. Thus, on this corner was built the first public building which served as both school and church. Much later, in 1908, Victor Fountain paid J.T. Cairns $10,000 to erect this brick building which was home to Fountain's Men's Store for many decades.
Marker is at the intersection of East Indiana Avenue and North Woodland Boulevard (U.S. 17 / 92) on East Indiana Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
