The Manatee County Commission approved the property as the county’s first locally designated historic landmark (Image Credit: Facebook/ @Manatee County, Florida Government)
The walls of this Florida house have witnessed more than a century of history, including 41 years with the same couple who refused to let its past disappear. After moving into the 1908 home in 1985, Margi and Pat Nanney devoted decades to preserving its original character. The three-story Johnson Helm House in Oneco, Florida, has retained much of the character it had when it was built in 1908. The Manatee County Commission unanimously approved the property as the county’s first locally designated historic landmark, according to Bay News 9. The Nanneys moved into the house in 1985, beginning what would become more than four decades of caring for the property. Nanney said the house is still approximately 95% original, according to Bay News 9. Their children were born in 1988 and 1992, and height marks made on the walls remain as reminders of their childhood. Bay News 9 reported that Manatee County Commissioner Amanda Ballard said the County established its local historic designation process about 13 years ago, but the Johnson Helm House is the first property to complete the process and receive the designation.
Because of its age, the house is notable not simply.
It was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style, an architectural style characterised by substantial forms, arched openings and elaborate masonry, according to WWSB. The home has now become Manatee County’s first local historic landmark. Original features including its woodwork, windows, floors and staircase have survived, offering a glimpse into the area’s past. The home was already recognised on the National Register of Historic Places, but its latest distinction is different. The Johnson Helm House dates back to the early 20th century and is associated with Johnson and Fannie Helm, who were among the property’s early residents. Rather than extensively modernising the historic structure, they worked to retain its original features. The property also became the setting for the Nanneys’ own family history. the county’s local designation provides another level of recognition and protection Although the property was already listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county’s approval also means future changes to the property will be subject to review. That helps protect the historic characteristics that made the house eligible for the designation in the first place. The approval followed about a year of work on the designation process. The Manatee County Commission ultimately voted unanimously to recognise the property.
The new designation gives the Johnson Helm House a distinction it did not previously have.