Floridiana Magazine

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Bradley’s Country Store

Whether it was during my time at Florida State University in the 80s, or family visits to Tallahassee to see my uncle and his family at Thanksgiving, Bradley’s Country Store was always one of those places we had to go. We’d load up on sausage then count the days until our next visit.

It wasn’t until I started this blog in 2017 that I began to appreciate the value of hidden gems like Bradley’s. So, when I moved to Tallahassee in October 2020, I put it at the top of my list of old Florida places to visit near my new home. My only question: Why did I wait so long to go?

The drive to Bradley’s is well worth the 12-mile trip from Tallahassee. Two-lane canopy-covered Centerville Road provides a peaceful, relaxing journey. It’s a journey that is regularly made by thousands of locals, as well as visitors from throughout the Southeast. When we arrived on a recent Saturday, the front parking spaces were full, as well as the adjoining picnic area and spaces across the street – a testament to its popularity.

The Store

From the road, Bradley’s looks like you would expect an old country store to look.  There is no glitz or glamour, no neon lights to draw you in.  In fact, the exterior of the store holds true to its heritage, looking much the same as it did in 1927 when Bradley’s opened its doors for the first time. The storefront itself is iconic and can be seen in photos across social media platforms. The front porch is a throwback to grandma’s porch, with its wooden rocking chairs, reaching out to the traveler to “come and sit a spell.”

Inside, the old country store charm continues. The history of the store can be seen on walls and counters wherever you turn. Three aisles of merchandise, from fresh vegetables to Bradley’s branded sauces and preserves, and old-fashioned hard candy await visitors.  An old Coca Cola drink case filled with bottled sodas sits just inside the front doors, along with a juke box and a manual cash register that no doubt has seen its share of sales. Photos of the Bradley family, along with old newspaper clippings, and a framed presidential note of thanks for Bradley’s grits are also on display.

The Sausage

The main attraction, however, is at the back of the store, Bradley’s famous country smoked sausage. A chalkboard spells out the offerings, a meat case holds the goods, but it’s not until you bite into the sausage that you understand why it is so popular. Bradley’s is very selective about the ingredients in the sausage they sell.  It is seasoned and smoked using the same recipe Grandma Mary Bradley used four generations ago. Oak and green hickory are used to cure the sausage out in the smokehouse behind the store. The aroma from the smokehouse permeates your senses as you walk past it.

On any given Saturday, you can expect to stand in line to get one of Bradley’s daily lunch specials – a six-inch sausage dog with chips and a drink.  The line moves fast, and the service is friendly and personable.  While the sausage dogs are divine, make sure to order up a pound or two of the sausage links.  If you get back home and want more (or want to share with friends and family across the country), Bradley’s also ships their sausage.  Just visit their website to place your order.

Grits!

While sausage is Bradley’s claim to fame, another draw to the store is its country milled grits.  Just outside of the main store is the mill house which houses the grist mill used for grinding corn into cornmeal and grits. History has it when the mill opened nearly a century ago, local farmers and sharecroppers visited the mill house to have their own corn ground for personal use.

True to history, the mill was cranking the Saturday we were there – ground corn falling into tubs below, an old Ford 600 tractor providing the power to keep the mill churning.

Bradleys_WorkingMill

Visiting Bradley’s Country Store

Four generations of the Bradley family have kept the business going and thriving, while at the same time holding on to family traditions. As their brochure states, they are “A Link with the Past.”  So, if you’re tired of today’s rat race, take a visit to yesterday.

Bradley’s Country Store is located at 10655 Centerville Road, just outside of Tallahassee. Once you get there, plan on staying awhile and enjoy the peaceful country atmosphere.   Sit on the front porch or enjoy your lunch on the picnic tables under the trees.  Additional tables and a pond are located just across the street.

Bradley’s is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The store is closed Sundays and major holidays.

Whether you are roaming the aisles in the store itself, or walking around the grounds, it is truly an old Florida treasure to be experienced.

Watch the slideshow below for more photos of our visit to Bradley’s Country Store.

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Places to See in Palatka

Once known as the “Gem of the St. Johns,” Palatka is located in northeast Florida, east of Gainesville and south of Jacksonville.  Even though I lived and worked in Gainesville for several years, I never experienced Palatka as a visitor.  But recently I had a chance to visit twice – and each time saw something different than before.  Palatka is full of history, culture and fun.

The name Palatka comes from the Timucuan Indian word Pilotakata which means “crossing.”  Palatka was once a prosperous town with world-class hotels and was known for its timber and citrus, as well as its natural beauty.  But in 1884 a fire in downtown destroyed many of the town’s fine hotels. Then in 1894 and 1895, freezes devastated the citrus industry.  What was once a booming town, saw a sharp decline in visitors and industry.

Palatka’s Historic District

Palatka is home to not one, but two historic districts, the North Historic District and the South Historic District.  The North District is composed of 350 acres and 76 buildings with boundaries including the St. Johns River, Bronson Street, North First, North Fifth and Main Street.  The South District is bounded by the St. Johns River, Oak, South 9th, and Morris Streets.

St. Marks Episcopal Church (circa 1846), Palatka

One of the more famous houses in the district is the Bronson-Mulholland House, built around 1853 for Isaac Bronson, who proposed the legislation for Florida to become a state. A long and storied history, plus the city’s intent to demolish it after purchasing the property in 1965, have brought the house full circle.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is now open to the public for tours.

Ravine Gardens State Park

When you are done strolling down the brick streets of the historic districts, take a drive out to the Ravine Gardens State Park.  It is one of nine New Deal-era parks in Florida and is also included on the National Register of Historic Places.  It was created in 1933 by the Works Progress Administration and Federal Emergency Relief Administration in an effort to help Palatka recover from the Great Depression.

Today you can walk or drive along the nearly two-mile road around the park and get a glimpse of the two ravines. The ravines are up to 120 feet deep and have steep banks with springs that flow into the St. Johns River. Because the ravines are considered active, there is a chance of them getting wider and deeper.

There is more to the park than just the ravine. A formal garden, an amphitheater and reflecting pool also provide visitors with intriguing views.  The Court of States sits just inside the entrance and displays 48 of the 50 state flags – leaving out Alaska and Hawaii because they were not states when the Court was built.  An obelisk dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt can also be viewed in the Court of States.

A few notes about the park:

  • The best time to see the flowers in bloom is from January to March, during the peak flowering period.
  • The main park drive is open to vehicles beginning at 8:00 in the morning and closes an hour before sunset.
  • There is a minimal entrance fee to the park. If the ranger station isn’t staffed, make sure to use the honor box to pay.
  • The park is open 365 days a year, including all holidays.

City of Murals

To learn even more about the history of Palatka, print out a map and tour the city’s murals.  Part of the Florida Mural Trail, the Conlee-Snyder Murals are larger than life renderings of the history, culture and natural riches of Palatka and Putnam County.  Mural efforts began in 1998 and now include more than 20 artistic representations, including the Battle at Horse Landing, Putnam County Wildflowers, Senator B.C. Pearce Agricultural Mural and Cattle Drive to Payne’s Prairie. The mural To God be the Glory depicts the story of Billy Graham, from his baptism in Putnam County to his first pulpit at the Peniel Baptist Church.

Battle at Horse Landing

Putnam County Wildflowers

Senator B.C. Pearce Agricultural Mural

Cattle Drive to Payne’s Prairie

To God be the Glory

There are also additional murals painted by local students and artists not sponsored by the Mural Committee.

Riverside

The St. Johns River has played a big role in Palatka’s history with steamboats plying areas south of Palatka.  In its heyday, Palatka was known as the gateway to the interior of Florida.  The river is still one of the most picturesque locations in Palatka today.  A clock tower stands tall at the edge of the riverside park.  Placards provide information about the river or the history of the Doughboys. It is worth a stop to walk out onto the docks and view the boats anchored offshore or watch the personal watercraft riding the river.

But from August through October, the docks take on a whole new look.  This part of the St. Johns River is a popular spot for shrimpers, all vying for that perfect spot to cast their nets.  Nets are rolled and prepped, then thrown with precision into the water, some nets creating perfect circles as they hit the surface.  They are then hauled back in to check for shrimp, then rolled and cast all over again.

Eateries and Places to Drink in Palatka

No trip is complete to a Florida town or city without looking for some of the area’s favorite foods.  Palatka lays claim to the state’s oldest diner – Angel’s.  Set up in an old train dining car, Angel’s has been serving its customers since 1932 – and it still offers curb service.

Angel’s is a favorite of regulars and visitors alike. Cooks are busy keeping up with the orders.  Menu highlights include the Puscalow – a chocolate frosty drink that tastes a lot like a Yoohoo, and the Black Bottom – scrambled eggs, bacon and ground beef on a bun.

Puscalow

Black Bottom

While you’re in Palatka, head on over to Uncork & Unwind on South 2nd Street for a drink and a little relaxation.  This modern establishment offers a wide variety of craft beer and wine. In fact, there are about four pages of drinks to choose from.  Not sure what to order? The owner/bartender is extremely knowledgeable and can recommend the perfect drink.  This hidden gem is a great place to end the day!

If you plan a trip to Palatka, plan for a whole day to see all the sights – from the historic districts to the riverfront to Ravine Gardens. Get out and learn a little more about another of Florida’s old towns.

Monticello, Florida

For years, I have been driving Interstate 10 west to Tallahassee either as a student at Florida State University or the parent of two daughters at FSU. In all of those years, I rarely ventured off the main highway to visit any of the smaller towns. However, now that I have moved to Tallahassee, Monticello is becoming one of my favorite small Florida towns.

First, let me say, the drive into Monticello on U.S. Highway 90 will more than likely be full of color in the coming month, as crepe myrtles lined both sides of the road. That in itself would be worth the drive, but there is much more to this charming town.

Jefferson County Courthouse

Monticello is the county seat of Jefferson County, named after Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. If you know history, you might know Jefferson’s home in Virginia also bore the name Monticello. The town was named after that home and serves as the hub of the county. The Jefferson County Courthouse sits in the center of town and was built in 1909. The Latin phrase “Suum Cuique”, can be seen above its doors, meaning “to each his own” or “may all get their due.”

Walking and Driving Tour of Monticello

Monticello is known for its historic buildings. If you want to get a glimpse of them, all you have to do is to take a drive off the main highway through town and meander through the side streets.  In all, there are more than 600 buildings in the area that were built before 1920. A walking and driving tour has been established to lead visitors to 26 of those structures.

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce

Make sure to stop at the Chamber of Commerce on the way in to pick up a brochure showing the route along with a brief history of those buildings.

Tour brochures can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce

The Avera-Clarke House was built in 1890 by state legislator Thomas L. Clarke.  It sits on the corner of U.S. 90 and Pine Street and now serves as a bed and breakfast. With its red shutters and white picket fence, the building itself seems to say “welcome home.”

Avera-Clarke House in Monticello

Other homes in Monticello represent those typical of the Old South.

Budd-Pafford House (1833)

Monticello Opera House

One of the primary historic structures is The Monticello Opera House, built in 1890 by businessman John H. Perkins, in what is known as the Perkins Block. Sitting across from the courthouse, it still serves as a cultural and arts center for the area.  The second floor of the building houses the theatre itself, which is often said to have nearly perfect acoustics.  Local companies regularly put on musical and theatrical shows, as well as other musical groups. (Check the calendar of events for dates and times.)

Monticello Opera House | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Shopping and Other Activities in Monticello

We visited on a Sunday, and other than church activities, the streets of Monticello were relatively empty. The shops were closed, but the town still showed off its charm with antique stores, restaurants and other locally owned businesses.

 

As is the case with small towns, Monticello also lays claim to other activities. The second weekend in May is the Southern Music Rising Festival featuring musicians from all over the country. They set up in the Opera House and on the porches of the houses throughout downtown to entertain visitors with old time music. The town also comes to life during the third weekend in June with the Jefferson County Watermelon Festival.

And if you are into haunted ghost tours, Monticello is known as the “South’s Most Haunted Small Town.” Historic Monticello Ghost Tours are held through September and cemetery scavenger hunts are also offered through reservations.

Monticello is a small town with a big heart and a big history.  This trip definitely taught me a lesson: make it a point to get off the main highways and visit some of the smaller towns in the state. Those towns are where you will experience the “real Florida.”