Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
March 22, 2016 5:13 p.m.
New owners of 110 Centre Street, will do their best to preserve a ghost sign on the east wall of a historic downtown building built in 1900. The iconic advertising sign was painted by the father of local resident Kasey Sapp. Her father, Tommy Askins was the owner of Askins Advertising Company.
In a quest to date the mural a trip to the Amelia Island Museum of History was in order. Teen Peterson, curator of the Amelia Island Museum of History proved helpful. We focused on the “Phone 58” next to the McJunkin Lumber Company banner. The 1908, 1911, and 1914 telephone books listed the number 58 in the name of “L.T. Galphin Dr. Drug Store.” Unfortunately, other phone books which would reveal when the McJunkin Lumber Company began using number 58 are not available. Since Askins was born in 1911, a good guess would be it was painted in the mid to late 1930’s or early 1940’s. If this is incorrect, perhaps Askins family members can set us straight!
A 1900 city directory listed the building was once the location of J & N Hardee (Hardee Brothers). According to a Florida Master Site File dated 3/20/2007, the building was built in 1900.