A Century at 831 Florida Ave: The Story of Roberts Hall
A Cherished Community Space Rich in History
The Humble Beginnings
Founded in 1912 by pioneer entrepreneur and Idaho transplant Leslie James “Lee Jay” Roberts, the hall originally served as a vibrant hub in Lynn Haven—a meticulously planned city established a year earlier by Civil War veterans from the North wpct.beachtv.tv. Roberts rented the ground floor to local businesses—mercantiles, a restaurant—and reserved the upstairs for dances, political rallies, fundraising dinners… even impromptu school classes after the town’s original elementary burned down
From Community Center to Lodge
In 1922, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows purchased the building for $4,000, using the upstairs exclusively for lodge meetings. The ground floor continued bustling with commerce—most notably “Papa and Kitty Lloyd’s Country Store,” a beloved old‑time general store that operated downstairs for over four decades. Locals still recall buying penny candy while waiting for school buses at a nearby bench.
Murals & Music: Artistry Through the Ages
In 1941, Lithuanian immigrant John Zelm adorned the upstairs walls with stunning murals evoking Florida landscapes and scenes of the Holy Land—rendered with waterfalls, palm trees, and mystical mountains. These frescoes, long hidden and nearly forgotten, became a driving force behind modern restoration efforts.
Legend has it that Hank Williams Sr. performed here in the late 1930s and early 1940s with the Pappy Neal McCormick Band—the “four‑sided guitar” group. A former Lynn Haven resident fondly remembered dancing all night with the future country music icon.
Near Demolition, But Saved
By the early 2000s the structure, locally known as The Country Store, was deteriorating. A 2007 tour by the Lynn Haven Heritage Society galvanized a restoration project led by Harry Warnberg (a retired Green Beret), Richard Walker, and James Dean. Warnberg’s ingenuity shone through—he used oversized bolts to reattach separating walls and meticulously jacked up the foundation over years—lifting the building seven inches without cracking plaster .
Despite initial resistance from the lodge over liability, local volunteers joined as members to permit renovation work. Restoration officially began in May 2008, and within two months the hall’s exterior was dramatically transformed just in time for that year’s July 4th celebration.
A Community Treasure Reborn
The restoration spanned six years, culminating in a building that once again hosted weddings, non-profit events, Thanksgiving dinners—and recently, concerts and garage-style music gear markets like the “Musicians Garage Sale” held in April 2025 . Today, Roberts Hall serves as one of Bay County’s premier venues for Americana, and Community events.
The rooms have remained essentially unchanged throughout its history. In 1922 a second story was built above the North room, adding a stage and kitchen. Anything big that happened in the community occurred upstairs including concerts, weekly dances, school plays, graduations, fundraisers, political events and fish fry’s This corner of Florida Avenue and 9″ Street was the town center.
In 1948, the building was covered with a brick-print asphalt siding — (some people thought it was brick). Over time the building deteriorated and very nearly was condemned and destroyed. The Lynn Haven Heritage Society joined the order and began to restore the Hall in May 2008.