by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A tour of the Cecil W. Powell & Company building on Newnan Street isn’t just a tour of a local insurance company. It’s a stroll through history with one of Jacksonville’s most colorful businessmen.
Fitzhugh Powell is chairman of the board of the company his family has owned since 1935. While the company revels in its 72-year history and its clientele, the building that houses the company has a story of its own.
Shirley Temple has danced there and President Teddy Roosevelt stopped by in 1910.
“I am sure this was the only stage around at the time,” said Powell of the stage that used to be in the building. Once owned by the Morocco Shrine Temple, Powell has gone to great lengths to preserve the building’s history while showing off a little of Jacksonville’s own history. From huge murals depicting ancient Egyptian life to pictures of Downtown Jacksonville just years after the Great Fire of 1901, the walls are trips through time.
In 1985, Powell bought the building and moved the company from its address at the corner of Adams and Market streets. Today, the four-floor building houses Powell’s company, Stewart Title of Jacksonville, and a couple of other small companies.
Powell’s son, Fitzhugh Jr., handles much of the day-to-day operations of the insurance company. Powell Sr. is still around plenty.
“I work about half a day. The first half, about 12 hours,” said Powell. “I don’t do a whole lot. I come down here to stir things up and watch what goes on. I don’t call on new clients, but I help with old clients.”
Over the years, Powell’s company has insured Gate Petroleum since Gate owner Herb Peyton opened his first gas station in the 1960s, Miller Electric, The Vestcor Companies, JEA’s $1.6 billion Northside generating station and the City of Jacksonville.
Powell is also politically active and is especially involved in law enforcement. An active member of the National Rifle Association, Powell isn’t hesitant to call out the mayor or sheriff on a variety of issues.
“John Delaney would only call when he got mad at me,” said Powell, explaining how he and Delaney clashed over the location of the new County Courthouse. Powell sent letters to many of the lawyers in the area around the Courthouse urging them to oppose the new site near LaVilla. “He got wind of the letter. After that, he canceled all the insurance we had with the City. He’s doing a good job at UNF [where Delaney is president], though.”
He likes Mayor John Peyton, too.
“I think our current mayor is doing a good job. He’s thinking way ahead.”