The Orchid House was built in 1914 by Robert and Florence Beall. It was rumored to have been purchased through the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Robert Beall owned and operated a general mercantile on old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. He was forced to close that location store during the Depression but was then able to reopen when the economy recovered. That was the beginning of what would become Bealls Department Store.
Our parents purchased the property from the Bealls in 1975. They lived there for over 40 years until they both passed. When the house came to us it was in need of extensive repairs. We made the decision to renovate rather than demolish in order to keep the home in our family. Point Pleasant is a very special and historic part of the downtown Bradenton area.
We began our renovation in 2019 and spent the next two and a half years upgrading the windows, doors, replacing plumbing and wiring. We rebuilt the front porch and refinished the floors throughout the house. The kitchen and bathrooms were gutted and we replaced all appliances. We were able to handle the majority of the work ourselves and only hired help for those things for which we lacked the expertise. The Orchid House renovation was a true labor of love. We are now happy and proud to share our beautiful historic home with you.
The name Orchid House was chosen because at one time the backyard was home to 1000+ orchids. Our father raised and hybridized many different species of orchids well into his 90s until he could no longer care for them. His portrait hangs on the north wall of the living room.
We hope that you will love our home as much as we do.
** There is information on the side of McCabes on Main Street regarding the historical facts about the Mercantile.