An interesting item that came before the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Committee on December 12th, was the rezoning of a .16 acre portion of a 1 acre lot from Agriculture to PDP/NC (Neighborhood Commercial). The property is in the eastern portion of Hernando County in an area called Richloam. It's a few thousand feet south of Cortez Blvd on Richloam Clay Sink Rd.
The property owner, Eric Burkes explained to the Planning and Zoning Committee that his great Uncle Sidney Brinson originally constructed a building in 1920 to serve as both a Post Office and General Store for the Richloam Community.
Fivay.org records a statement written by Jean Brinson Ward that gives some historical background on the area,
“Richloam is in Hernando County and Clay Sink is in Pasco County. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (“The Goat”) ran through Richloam at that time. Richloam even had a depot, grocery store and post office during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The residents of Clay Sink bought their groceries at the store and used the post office. The post office closed the day I was born. The store which housed the post office was owned by my uncle, Sidney Brinson, and the building still stands in Richloam, not in the best condition. My brother, John, bought it from our uncle years ago.”
The building burned in 1928 and was rebuilt that same year. The general store and post office served the Richloam area until 1936. Burkes explained that it is the oldest historical structure still standing in the Richloam area. In 2016 he renovated the building and completely rebuilt it back as it had originally stood. Burke’s goal is to operate it as a general store and post office once again. He would also like it to serve as a community museum, but one that is functional because he explained, “I don’t want you to feel like you are stepping into a museum.”
Burkes reached out to the US Postal Service under a village postal program. He explained they are in agreement with the plan. Burkes stated that he still has the original post office sign and post office window. He explained that it would most likely be a sub-post office off of the City of Webster’s Post Office. He spoke to the Postmaster of the Webster Office and he’s agreed to provide them with a Richloam cancellation stamp. He also has letters from the Richloam Post Office with the cancellation stamps on them.
“The goal is to step into a 1920’s working general store but at the same time try to preserve the history,” said Brinson.
Planning and Zoning Chairman John Scharch is enthusiastic about the idea. “That’s cool, I like that,” said Scharch. “A lot of our history has been burnt down over the years. I know Monroe Station on the Tamiami Trail recently burnt down… It’s really ashame to see stuff like that go away."
Burkes explained that the original 1928 metal structure of the Richloam general store remains, but the wood had been badly damaged by termites so he had to replace the majority of it.
Before the renovation he said, “You could just about push the whole building down with your hands. It underwent a long drawn out process, but we’ve got it restored back to its original state.”
Board Member Thomas Communale brought up the concern of making sure there was adequate parking and lighting. Scharch felt that parking issues are secondary to the historical aspect of what Burkes is trying to do.
In reference to usage, Burkes’ goal is to have sightseers rather than customers. He would like to offer time period products to give the right atmosphere.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with some modifications of Burkes’ request to rezone the .16 acres of the 1 acre site from AG/Agriculture to PDP/NC, Planned Development Project Neighborhood Commercial.
The Board of County Commissioners will make the final decision on rezoning at their meeting on January 10th, 2017.