Largo’s Historic Feed Store

By: Bob Delack

Since at least 1902, there was a "feed store" near the Atlantic Coastline railroad in Largo, serving the needs of local cattle ranchers, citrus and produce growers who were primary to the economy of the area.

By 1910, Largo was an incorporated town with a population of 291. That was the year young John Gainey, operator of a nearby sawmill and concrete plant, built the present feed store building of rusticated block. It replaced an earlier wooden structure on the site, 30 Church Street (now West Bay Drive, at the intersection of Missouri Avenue). Both streets were as yet unpaved and wagons visiting the store frequently got stuck in the soft "sugar" sand.

Francis Marion Campbell, who came to Largo in 1867, was proprietor of "the only exclusive feed and grain store in Largo ...near the railroad" according to the Pinellas Counselor, a local weekly paper. Campbell was also owner/operator of the Hotel Largo built in 1908, and still standing on Railroad Avenue. These buildings, together with the adjacent train depot, formed the core of downtown Largo.

In 1912, Campbell died and the feed store passed to citrus grower Warren O'Brien and partner Wallace York, who also operated a livery stable and stockyard adjacent to the feed store. By 1920, York was the sole proprietor.
From 1922-23 to 1925, E.A. Marshall became the owner, followed by E.C.McLaughlin and Sons from 1925 to 1931. In 1931, Alec and Lucy White, who earlier had started a feed store in the Wadford Building (where the business is now again located), rented the building at #30 from the Jackson Grain Co. of Tampa and operated there until 1941.
During the depression years, the feed store was a source of employment for many local young men, an important social hub for the area, and a source of supply.

Austin Tyner owned the business from 1941 to 1949 followed by Edgar Harn who operated it until 1962. That year, Bert Worsham bought the building and operated it until 1984.

Preserving Local History

In 1982, the Florida Department of Transportation decided to widen Bay Drive, putting the feed store in jeopardy. A 1985 DOT report found the building to be of "local historical significance" and in "good condition, unaltered in its original use."

The Historical Society then undertook to preserve the building. In 1988, after many efforts, the Society obtained agreement with the City of Largo to move the feed store to its permanent site in the newly planned Largo Central Park. In 1992, at a cost of $49,000.00, the Society had the building moved to its present location, behind the Cultural Center, and placed on a new foundation. Members spent many working weekends cleaning out the building, patching the roof, pressure washing it inside and out, and de-ratting it. The blocks were repointed and the whole building repainted and rotten wood replaced.

In 1996, with matching funds from the Society and the City, a preservation grant from the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources was obtained, and in April, 1998, the completely refurbished feed store was dedicated. Now better than new, it has been brought up to current codes, structurally reinforced, with a new roof and front porch, and climate control. Still it retains all of its original elements, such as heart pine flooring and ceilings, and rusticated block walls and sliding doors intact, preserving an important view into Largo's agricultural past.

The Feed Store was moved to its present location in 1992 by Roesch Housemovers, Inc. at a cost to the Historical Society of $49,000.00. We paid $25,000.00 down and Roesch allowed us to pay the remaining $24,000.00 over a ten year period at no interest. We had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving November 24, 2002, when we made the final payment on this debt. It is now free and clear! We owe a debt of gratitude to the Roesch organization for their generosity in giving us such liberal terms.