Ever heard of the Alachua County Library District's Heritage Collection? No?! The Heritage Collection consists of over 1,100 historical photographs from all aspects of daily life in the Alachua County area. Treat yourself to a journey of amazing historical detail and profound human interest through this annotated photographic exposé of the Alachua region spanning the 1870s through the 1970s. Experience and understand local history in a different way, through the faces and places of the past that still influence the present.
This month we'll highlight photographs of buildings from the collection and include present-day photos of what the buildings look like now.
Alachua County Administration Building - 12 SE 1st St., 1966 and 2023
This building was the third courthouse in Gainesville and was built in two stages. The first part, running parallel to University Avenue, was completed in 1958, and the old courthouse remained standing behind it until the time came for the construction of the second part, running parallel to Main Street. That eastern wing was built in 1962. A new courthouse was built in 1976. This building was remodeled and now serves as the Alachua County Administration Building.
Florida Gymnasium - 1864 Stadium Rd., 1950s and 2023
The Florida Gym opened in 1949 as a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena that was home to the Florida Gators men’s basketball team and was known as “Alligator Alley.” Most of the original floorplan has been remodeled, but the court surface remains and is used for student recreation and other purposes. Situated next to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, this historic building currently houses departmental and dean’s offices, research laboratories, two full-length basketball courts, six 100-plus seat lecture halls, classrooms, reading rooms, and faculty locker rooms.
Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church - 630 NW 2nd St., 1997 and 2022
Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on July 16, 1867, for $160, with the Reverend Isaac Davis serving as the first pastor. The original wood frame building was replaced in 1887 with a brick structure, which was destroyed by fire in 1903. The present church, built of red brick in the stately Romanesque revival style, was completed in 1906 and is noted for its beautiful stained glass windows. In 1968, the congregation was renamed the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church.
Hippodrome Theater - 25 SE 2nd Pl., 1911 and 2018
Built for $150,000 to house the post office (1st floor), federal court (2nd floor), and land office (3rd floor), the neoclassical building was the pride of the town when it opened in 1911. When the post office outgrew the building in 1964, its fate was uncertain. In 1979, the Hippodrome theatre group bought the building and with funding from the state, an NEA grant, and donations, the $2 million renovation resulted in a 276-seat, theatre, 75-seat cinema, an art gallery, bar, and offices. Since 1980, the Hippodrome has delighted 60,000 patrons annually on its mainstage and the cinema has more than 700 screenings each year.
Dauer Hall - 228 Buckman Dr., 1940s and 2018
Built in 1936, the Florida Union (its original name) was a multipurpose student center. The Union contained meeting rooms, a recreation room, a soda fountain, and offices. In 1941, an addition was added, almost doubling the size, and included a dining room, auditorium, and arts and crafts center. In the 1950s, it was clear a larger building was needed. It took many years, but in 1967 the current student union, the J. Wayne Reitz Union opened. The old Florida Union building was converted into the Arts and Sciences building. In 1975, the building was renamed in honor of Manning J. Dauer, who founded the Department of Political Science in 1950 and served as chair for 25 years. In 1998, the building was renovated and the Keene Faculty Center was created in the west wing.
Masonic Lodge Building - 215 N. Main St., 1914 and 2023
Gainesville Lodge No. 41 was chartered in 1857. In 1908, the members of the Lodge purchased a block of property on Main Street and erected the historic Masonic Lodge Building. The dedication ceremony was a major event for the city and thousands of Masons, dignitaries, and well-wishers attended the ceremonies. In 2020, the lodge moved to a new location, and the building was bought by Keith Perry of Perry Roofing. The restoration project of this local gem began right away with brick repair, a new roof and windows, updated plumbing and electrical, and a total refurbishment of the interior. The building was renamed 1908 Grand and is an elegant venue for weddings, meetings, and special events.