Historic Buildings

The Cocoa Village newspaper had a feature column about historic buildings in downtown Cocoa Florida. In that column and this web site page featured historical excerpts about the down town area of Cocoa Florida and web site links to more information.

Return to Main Introduction: www.cocoavillage.com
Return to Cocoa Village News: www.cocoavillage.com/cvnews
Return to Yesterday in Cocoa FL: www.cocoavillage.com/history

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Oldest commercial wood building.

Originally located at 415 Delannoy Avenue, is the oldest existing commercial wooden building in Historic Cocoa Village.

The building has been referred to as the Sur Le Parc building. Sur le Parc means "On the Park" in French. Charlotte Griffin, who continues her business as Cousins II gallery at 631 Brevard avenue had a business in the building for twenty-two years called 'Sur Le Parc' in the building teaching art, and a later business Cousins II gallery in the right side addition. The right side addition to the building on Delannoy was removed before moving. Calling the structure the 'Sur Le Parc' building is likely because Charlotte's art teaching was located in that building over a generation with signage. With the new location away from the park, we wonder how the future generation may refer to it.

Said to have been built in 1888, it was owned by Miss Julia Roberts who was the city dressmaker. A later family member of Julia thought that the building was actually built in 1886. The building had a tin roof, built over cedar shakes. In 1889, a terrible fire destroyed all the other wooden structures along Delannoy Avenue. Only Miss Roberts’ house survived.

Over 100 years old, the building was purchased by Sean Roberts. On April 22, 2006 it was moved from 415 Delannoy Avenue to 501 Florida Ave at the corner with Lemmon Street across from the Post Office. Pictures of the moving are in the gallery at www.cocoavillage.com/gallery/cv2006/200604/house_move/

You can get more information about the properties from the Brevard County Property Appraiser's website: click here for a link to Appraiser's information about 501 Florida.

If you have more information, photographs or movies to contribute about this building, contact us so we can publish it, phone 321-633-4990 or email cvnew@cocoavillage.com

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Although the famous 1926 Brevard Hotel is no longer with us, many of its furnishings and fixtures can be found at Murdocks, located at 600 Brevard Avenue across from City Hall. In the building that was once Murdock's grocery, every type of window from the old hotel was incorporated into the restaurant that opened in 1996. The bar was built out of the hotel room doors and an antique organ cabinet and buffet supports the soup pots and cash register. The floor lamps and picture frames which decorate the restaurant were originally located in the main lobby and over the main fireplace. The claw-foot bath tub used to ice up beer and wine was typical in all the hotel rooms.

Before this building became Murdock's from 1935-40, it was also The Corner Shop run by W. J. Murdock's mother which sold women's dresses, hats and children's clothing. A Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store existed next door. In 1965 the Douglas J. Gibbons Trust bought the building from W. J. Murdock.

In 1975-1986, All Saints Anglican Church bought it until it relocated in Port St. John. At that time, Doctors Henry Thistle and William Patterson bought the building with plans to move their practice there, but this did not materialize.

For ten years, the building remained vacant until Aleck Greenwood purchased and renovated it into the beautiful structure that it is today. A visitor can appreciate the legacy of the historic Brevard Hotel, which reflects the life and times of the 1920's and 30's.

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Picture: 1928 - Smith Motor Co (Wooten Ford) - moved from location where Village Playhouse was built

In 1923 at the corner of Brevard Avenue and Highway 520, the Provost Office Supply building became the second location for Smith Motor Co. In 1917 Amos L. Wooten became a partner, and the company became known as Smith and Wooten. The original site of the Smith Motor Co. was a building used as a livery stable -- where the Cocoa Village Playhouse is today (in 1928 it was called the State Theatre). Rumor had it that after the playhouse was built, mules kept coming back to their old home after the new automobiles were brought in. The building at Brevard and 520 (see photo) was used for servicing automobiles, school buses and trucks in its six bays.

Today several businesses on the first and second floors call it home, including Mama D’s Deli, a popular restaurant for breakfast and lunches, a sports clothing store, and the Victorian Trunk, which offers antiques and fine furniture.

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The Masonic Temple, now the Village tower

Also known as the Village Tower, the Masonic Temple is a three story brick building shown on the left in the above picture taken in the 1920’s. It was built in 1919 and was the site of many dances and wonderful evenings for the residents of Central Brevard. At one time there was a large clock next to the right balcony. Little change has been made to the exterior can still be seen in A Country Life boutique store). During Prohibition, it was a favorite watering hole. Today, the Village Tower is home to other businesses and retail stores, including Mangos, Country Pleasures, and several others. The photo below shows the Masonic Temple as it looks today with the revitalization of this historic village. The wooden floors may creak, but the structure is a monument to its construction of masonry made to last forever. It is one of the original buildings in Cocoa that has survived fires, wars, depression, land booms and development.

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Porcher House,

The grand neoclassic building located at 434 Delannoy Avenue was built in 1916 by Edward Postell Porcher, a pioneer in the citrus industry.

The groves were on Merritt Island and the fruit was brought by boat to a dock which was in the back of the house. It was then transported by railroad from Cocoa.

The beautiful home which incorporates coquina block construction, was designed by his wife, Byrnina Maria Peck. It was returned to its original beauty when the City of Cocoa received a grant in 1987 for restoration.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is used for weddings, business meetings, family gatherings, engagement parties and many other events and celebrations. It can accommodate up to 200 people and seat up to 80. The Porcher House is open for public visits Monday through Friday. 9am - 5pm. Evenings and weekends it is closed for special events. For more information call (321) 639-3500.

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What we know today as the Cocoa Village Playhouse, was built as the Aladdin Theatre in 1924 in the Italian Renaissance style for approximately $80,000.00. It was one of the finest theatres in the state and Cocoa was probably the only town of its size in the whole county to have such a "magnificent structure". Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been restored to its original splendor.

Prior to the construction of the theatre, the site was a livery for wagons coming overland from the St. John’s.

In the 1940’s it was a movie house, known as the State Theatre (see photo), that ran Saturday afternoon children’s cartoon shows, westerns, musicals, and serials ("continued next week").

Rumor has it the theatre is haunted from time to time by "Joe the Ghost". Even so, the beautiful building is a treasure for Cocoa Village and thousands of visitors enjoy its many productions each year.

For more information about the Cocoa Village Playhouse see www.cocoavillage.com/playhouse

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Picture from the collection of Ada Parish

Excerpt from the "Cocoa Village - The Historic Way"
a self guided walking tour by the Brevard Heritage Council.

Travis Hardware Store, 300 Delannoy Street, Col. S. F. Travis came to town in 1885. His first store was located on Brevard Ave. However, in 1897, he purchased this brick building and business from Ed Stilling. Ed Stilling was clerk to G. A. Fernald of Stanford who had established this hardware business in 1885. Mr. Stilling purchased the business in 1887. Mr. Travis had initially established a business on Brevard avenue, however with the purchase of Stilling’s Hardware he moved all his business to the river front. Travis ran a sloop, sail boat, called the Merchant for delivery to residents up and down the river. The dock is gone now the river site has been filled in. The building serving as the main entrance today received a second floor around 1907.

Travis remains the oldest continually run family business in Brevard County. The building is masonry vernacular, simple and utilitarian, in keeping with the desire to build something durable. Walk inside and notice the tin ceilings, original shelving, and hardwood floors. Little has changed either inside or out in this remarkable establishment.

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More history is available at the Tebeau-Field Library in the old Federal building in Cocoa Village
and also on the Internet at www.florida-historical-soc.org

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