In August 1944, while the United States was engaged in World War II in the European and Pacific theaters, Manatee County residents Al "Jiggs" and Agnes Metcalf stood on the banks of the Braden River looking over their recent 7-acre purchase and pursuing their dream of building a fishing camp. That dream became one of Manatee County's most popular and recognizable landmarks for more than 40 years. Jiggs, from a family of carpenters, handcrafted single-bedroom cabins measuring 10 by 20 feet, smaller overall than today's average family room, with a screened-in porch and wrap-around wooden awning, a bedroom with toilet closet, and a kitchen. Agnes painted the cabins in her favorite pastel colors of pale blue, green, rose, and cream with contrasting trim. The cabins rented for $18.50 a week for a single cabin or $25.00 a week for a double cabin, including fresh bed linens and towels, and some families rented two cabins to accommodate extended family members on vacation. Overlooking the Braden River, these bright and cheery cabins offered a welcome respite from the tensions of wartime life and continued to do so in peace.