Woodmen Hall (Stuart, Florida)

Woodmen Hall is an historic 2-story wooden Woodmen of the World building located 217 SW Akron Avenue, corner of SW 3rd Street in Stuart, Martin County, Florida. It was built between 1913-1914 by local master carpenter Sam Matthews. Like many fraternal buildings built in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the ground floor was designed for commercial use, while the upper floor was designed for use as a meeting room for Pineapple Camp No. 150, Woodmen of the World as well as community groups. Prominent members of Pineapple Camp include George W. Parks, who had a general store in what is now the Stuart Heritage Museum and in 2000 was added to the state's list of Great Floridians.[1] Early users of the first floor include H.A. Carlisle's Feed Store. From the 1930s until 1959, Southern Bell used the first floor as a business office, while the Stuart telephone exchange was located on the second floor. Recent uses have included a church (the Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church) and a coffee house and open mic music venue. One group performing in it even calls itself, Woodmen Hall. The building has been recently renovated through the efforts of Stuart Main Street. An elevator has been added.[2] The double outside staircases on the eastern part of the south side have been reduced to one, while an outside staircase has been added on the north side toward Akron Avenue. The two large front windows differ from those shown in a 1925 photograph. "[3] [4] [5] [6]

Woodmen Hall
Woodmen Hall in 2010 after being renovated
General information
Architectural styleframe vernacular
Town or city217 SW Akron Ave.,
Stuart, Florida
CountryUnited States
Coordinates27.19847°N 80.2553°W / 27.19847; -80.2553
Construction started1913
Completed1914
Technical details
Structural systemwooden frame
Design and construction
ArchitectBuilder: Sam Matthews

In 1989, Woodmen Hall was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press. "[3] Today Woodmen Hall is occupied by a regional insurance firm, Wiglesworth - Rindom Insurance Agency, Inc.[7][8]

References
  1. The Great Floridians 2000 Program
  2. State elevator license for the building
  3. A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 139, ISBN 0-8130-0941-3
  4. Thurlow, Sandra Henderson, Stuart on the St. Lucie: A Pictorial History, 2001, pp. 43 & 163 ISBN 0-9630788-4-4
  5. Stuart Main Street
  6. Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church in America
  7. Wiglesworth-Rindom Insurance Agency website
  8. Historical Vignettes: Stuart's Woodmen Hall, by Greg and Alice L. Luckhardt for TCPalm, May 5, 2017


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