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Located down the quaint winding Main Street of Alachua is a treasured piece of history. A part of the town that is as original as you will find. And there, standing among the grand daddy oaks, is the Century Building and a story worthy of telling. This cornerstone of Alachua is being offered for lease or sale. In the late 1800's when the building was new and towered over the hustle and bustle in the core of the cotton warehouse district, the original owner looked out from his 2nd story office to see Alachua's farmers, businessmen and residents conducting business and living the good life of a small southern town. Streets were not yet paved and horses and buggies passed along the window front on their way to the livery stable, ice house or the mercantile. Housed in one of the largest buildings of the day was one of Alachua's finest Hotels and Boarding establishments.
This historic building was home to Alachua's first newspaper, The Alachua Booster, which occupied the main floor. The upstairs was home to a dental practice in 1912 and converted into a boarding house around mid century. A copy of the first paper was discovered in the building during renovations and hangs on the wall in the lobby and reception area. The ambiance of this era has been recaptured and wonderfully restored to the Century building by owners Tom & Kay Tomberlin. As fitting as the name, this cherished piece of Alachua's history will extend into the future and provide a touch of the past to generations that follow. The Tomberlin's started major renovations in 2001 and completed the
final touches in December of 2002. The building is once again in
glorious condition and ready to make news and history on Main Street in
Alachua. |
