555 S. Osprey Ave. – Joseph H. Humphries. & Irving M. Nelson
The two-story former residence at 555 S. Osprey Avenue is a two-story, wooden structure that was constructed c. 1903 and moved to its present location in 1937 from Wares Creek in the nearby city of Bradenton. J.H. Humphries purchased the land on March 3, 1903 from W.A. Vinson for $532. The building is designated locally as historic.
It now occupies a formerly vacant comer lot at the intersection of Osprey Avenue and Oak Street. The house features weatherboard and novelty exterior siding, a front-gable main roof surfaced with terne-coated (steel shingles coated with a lead-tin alloy) metal shingles, and rests on a continuous concrete block and brick foundation. The residence still has its original 2/2-light double-hung, wood sash windows, and the main facade has a one-story, full-width porch with a stick balustrade and chamfered posts that support the hipped roof.
A wrap-around porch, asymmetrical front facade and steep gabled roofs well as a lack of exterior ornamentation make this an excellent example of the folk house in the Queen Anne Style.
Several businesses have operated out of the location. It functioned as a tourist facility from 1938 to 1971, when it was known as the Nelson Lodge and the Tourist Home. In a Jan. 25, 1960 classified from the Sarasota Herald Tribune, the Nelson Lodge was advertised as “Double occupancy, all conveniences $6 daily”.
Then it was Melody’s Skin and Body Therapy. Currently it is Red Property Management.
Joseph H. Humphries
J.H. Humphries was born in Thomasville, GA on January 24, 1857, and came to Florida in 1865, where he initially settled in Bartow to practice law. In 1887 he married Ms. Emma C. Blount in Bartow.
In 1888, one year after Bradenton became the county seat for Manatee County, J.H. Humphries moved there to start the Manatee River Journal. He was able to publish the first issue of the Journal, 250 copies, on Aug 30,1888, in spite of a yellow fever epidemic. He remained in the newspaper business working with several newspapers throughout his career.
In 1922, he organized the Manatee County Fertilizer Company and was its first president. He remained active in its management until ill health forced him to retire.
Beside his business interest, Humphries made significant contributions to politics in the region and the state. A Democrat/Prohibitionist, he was elected to the State Constitutional Convention of 1885 to represent Pol County. He was a State Senator for 1904 to 1912, serving two terms.
On a local level, Humphries was Secretary of the committee with successfully lobbied for the incorporation of Bradenton in 1903. He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to serve as Postmaster for Bradenton in the mid-teens. Click here for obituary of Humphries as reported by the Manatee River Journal-Herald on Jan. 15, 1925
Irving M. Nelson
Little is known about Mr. Nelson other than he worked as a circus strongman before working for the Sarasota City police department during the 1930’s through the 1950’s.