County installs historic marker at Jiggs

Manatee County and the Old Braden River Historical Society celebrated the completion and installation of the historic marker for the cabin at Jiggs Landing.

The marker reads: 

In August 1944, the United States was engaged in a great struggle in the European and Pacific theaters of World War II. In contrast, standing on the banks of the Braden River were Manatee County residents Al "Jiggs" and Agnes Metcalf, looking over their recent 7-acre purchase. Sharing this idyllic place by building a fishing camp was their dream, and the realization of that dream became one of Manatee County's most popular and recognizable landmarks for more than 40 years.

This is a replica of one of the cabins handcrafted by Jiggs, who came from a family of carpenters. Single-bedroom cabins, which at 10-by-20 feet were smaller overall than the size of today's average family room, included a screened-in porch with a wrap-around wooden awning, a bedroom with toilet closet and a kitchen. Current building codes have made some modifications necessary, but furnishings are period pieces consistent with those available to the Metcalfs when they owned Jiggs Landing.

Agnes painted the cabins her favorite pastel colors of pale blue, green, rose and cream with contrasting trim. Cabins rented for $18.50 a week for a single cabin or $25 a week for a double cabin, which included fresh bed linens and towels for guests. Some families would rent two cabins to accommodate their extended families joining them on vacation.

These bright and cheery cabins looking out over the Braden River provided a welcome respite from the tensions of life during wartime and continued to do so in times of peace. The restoration of this historic landmark will hopefully provide the same to visitors today.