Last year I took a Trolley Tour of historic Delray Beach sponsored by the Spady Museum. The oldest existing home in Delray was built in 1898. Anything older than 50 years is considered to be historic. Holy crow’s feet! That means I am historic by Florida standards.
On the tour, I learned about the five historic districts of Delray. Each district is small and contains houses unique in to its period. A few cottages have been moved to the Northwest district from nearby towns, demonstrating the commitment of the town to South Florida’s history. The NW district is traditionally African-American, and the Spady Museum illustrates the background of this population who first came to the area as fishermen and farmers. Delray Beach was originally settled by folks from Michigan who used the fertile soil and mild climate to grow vegetables like cabbages, green peppers, and tomatoes, shipping them to northern cities.
Banker's Row
Old School Square is well preserved by the town which has turned the old schools into Crest Theater and Cornell Museum. The surrounding square is used for festivals and other events. Cason Cottage, once owned by a founding minister, is open for tours. This district includes Banker's Row for the wealthy and the colorful Mackeral Cottages where fishermen lived. Del-Ida Park is a residential neighborhood near Lake Ida that is noted for its many old stucco cottages and streets on a slant rather than a square grid. The diagonal streets create little triangular parks with beautiful flower gardens maintained by the locals.
A Mackeral Cottage
Nassau is a district near the beach with houses in the Bahamian style. Rose-covered trellises and picket fences deck these colorful wooden cottages. The Marina district is on the Intracoastal Waterway where enormous Banyon trees shade two Mizner cottages designed by the famed architect. Our final stop on the Trolley Tour was the Sundy House, now a restaurant, bar, and guest house surrounded by lavish pools and tropical gardens. In my watercolor class, I am working on a series of paintings of these historic homes which I find to be picturesque and inviting to the imagination.
A Nassau Cottage
3 comments:
I had no idea that Florida had so many interesting historical houses! They look diverse and interesting, and I love your paintings. Neighborhoods are a wonderful idea, and naming them makes them real. Good job Delray Beach!
A lot of Florida consists of strip malls, high rises, and new gated communities. So I appreciate the historic nature of (parts of)Delray Beach as the authentic Florida. Although quaint, the historic houses are not old by New England standards.
They are beautiful. I wish I were there with you visiting them.
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