Olive, Ava, & Otella Weeks

115 North Main Street – Olivia, Ava, and Otella Weeks – Weeks Hardware and Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions

In the heart of Brooksville, Florida, where Spanish moss drapes over ancient oaks and brick-lined streets tell tales of a bygone era, the Weeks family carved out a legacy that helped shape this charming town. Among them were sisters Olivia and Ava Weeks, and later, Otella Weeks, who stood as trailblazing women whose grit, business savvy, and love for their community left an indelible mark on Brooksville. From running Weeks Hardware to establishing the Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions upstairs, these women transformed downtown Brooksville into a hub of commerce and connection. 

Olivia and Ava Weeks: Pioneers of Weeks Hardware

Born in the mid-19th century into the Weeks family, one of Hernando County’s pioneer clans, Olivia and Ava Weeks grew up in a rugged outpost called Melendez, which would become Brooksville, incorporated in 1880. Alongside founding families like the Howells, Mays, Hales, and Parsons, the Weeks helped transform this frontier into a thriving hub, known as the “Home of the Tangerine” during its citrus boom. In an era when women rarely took the reins in business, Olivia and Ava broke barriers by running Weeks Hardware, a cornerstone of Brooksville’s early economy located at 115 North Main Street. Initially called Miro Hardware—a name blending their nicknames, Rosie and Mammie—the store opened in 1913 in a two-story brick building, becoming a lifeline for farmers, builders, and townsfolk needing everything from nails to tools.

Managing a hardware store in 1913 was no small feat, especially for women in a Southern town. Olivia and Ava handled the business with sharp eyes and steady hands, navigating the challenges of a community reliant on agriculture and trade. The Weeks family’s broader ventures in turpentine, mining, and naval stores bolstered the store’s significance, making it a hub of activity. John and James Weeks took over running the store. When the Great Depression hit in the 1920s, and cash was scarce, Weeks Hardware became legendary for accepting chickens and sides of bacon as payment, a testament to the Weeks’ compassion for their neighbors in tough times. Their business acumen kept the store afloat, supporting Brooksville’s economy during lean times. 

Beyond their roles as shopkeepers, Olivia and Ava were woven into Brooksville’s social fabric. Their leadership earned respect across Hernando County, and their store supported the construction of historic homes along brick-lined streets, like those on Olive Street. Recognized by the Brooksville Main Street Program’s Women Leading the Way initiative in 2016, the sisters are celebrated for their trailblazing spirit in a male-dominated field. Their legacy laid the foundation for future generations of the Weeks family to continue shaping downtown Brooksville.

Otella Weeks and the Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions

The Weeks family’s influence continued into the 20th century with Otella Weeks, the wife of Joe Weeks, the grandson of the store’s founder and its sole owner for 33 years. By 1916, Joe’s father, John, and Uncle James had reestablished the business as Weeks Hardware, and Joe took over after his naval service and graduation from the University of Florida. Otella, a savvy businesswoman in her own right, ran the Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions, a dress shop located on the second floor of the Weeks Hardware building. This boutique, known for its high-end fashion, offered a curated selection of clothing that catered to Brooksville’s women, adding a touch of elegance to the hardware store’s utilitarian roots. When not at her boutique, Otella often kept Joe company downstairs, contributing to the store’s warm, family-oriented atmosphere.

The Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions complemented Weeks Hardware’s role as a community hub. While farmers and builders browsed screws and stovepipes below, women upstairs explored Otella’s carefully selected dresses, creating a unique blend of practicality and style under one roof. The boutique’s presence reflected Otella’s entrepreneurial spirit and her ability to cater to the evolving needs of Brooksville’s residents. The hardware store itself retained its historic charm, with a hand-powered freight elevator, a high tin ceiling, and a plywood case for bolts and screws built by A.R. Brown in 1901, as noted in a 2003 St. Petersburg Times article. Otella’s boutique added a layer of sophistication, making the building at 115 North Main a destination for diverse shoppers. By 2016, Otella, then 89, was still a vibrant presence at Weeks Hardware, which celebrated its 100th anniversary as Hernando County’s oldest retail business, according to historian Bob Martinez.

A Lasting Legacy in Downtown Brooksville

The Weeks sisters—Olivia and Ava—and Otella Weeks left a legacy that resonates in Brooksville’s historic downtown. Olivia and Ava’s leadership at Weeks Hardware during its early years helped sustain the town through economic hardships, from the citrus boom to the Great Depression. Their compassion, evident in the bartering of goods for tools, and their business acumen ensured the store’s longevity as a community anchor. Otella’s Olive Leaf Elegant Fashions brought a new dimension to the family’s enterprise, blending fashion with the hardware store’s practicality and reinforcing the Weeks’ commitment to meeting the community’s needs.

Standing at 115 North Main Street today, you can almost hear the clatter of tools, the rustle of dresses, and the chatter of neighbors in Weeks Hardware and the Olive Leaf. Olivia, Ava, and Otella were more than businesswomen—they were pillars of Brooksville, their resilience and heart shaping a town that grew through their hard work. Their stories, celebrated by the Brooksville Main Street Program and etched into the brick-lined streets, continue to inspire, reminding us of the women who built this community with grit and grace.

Citations

Believing in Brooksville with Women Leading the Way, NatureCoaster.com, October 22, 2020, https://naturecoaster.com

Hernando County: Our Story by Alfred A. McKethan, 1989, Hernando Historical Museum Association, https://www.hernandohistoricalmuseumassoc.com

Owners know nuts and bolts of city’s oldest business, Tampa Bay Times, September 2, 2005, https://www.tampabay.com

Hernando’s oldest retail business, Weeks Hardware, celebrates 100 years, Tampa Bay Times, August 2, 2016, https://www.tampabay.com