St. Pauls Designation Report & Historic Documents Revised
DESIGNATION REPORTS
* 1895 SCHOOL FOR BLACKS OPENED - Northwest 5th Avenue , now
the west parking lot of
greater Mt . Olive Baptist
Church. Block 28 , Lot 2.
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* 1896 GREATER MT. OLIVE MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH - 40 Northwest 4th Avenue .
Block 28 , Lot 7.
* 1897 ST. PAUL AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 1 1 9 Northwest Fifth
Avenue . Block 27 , Lot 5 .
* 1899 THE FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS
DELRAY BEACH LODGE 275 - 85 Northwest 5th Avenue .
Block 28 , Lot 1 .
* 1911 ST. MATTHEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH- 404 S. W. 3rd Street.
Block 32 , Lot #1
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I . PURPOSE
II. LOCATION
III . HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
IV. PRESENT USE , CONDITION AND ZONING
V. IMPACT
VI. RESOLUTION
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Revised
I . PURPOSE
The purposes of designating the following sites and building to the
Delray Beach Local Register of Historical Places are to appropriately
note and recognize and thereby enrich the history of the total Delray
Beach Community ; most importantly to develop a deeper and a more
sensitive appreciation of the cultural , religious , economic and
educational contribution of Blacks that gave early Delray Beach a much
needed sense of permanence and kindled a high sense of community
belonging , togetherness and understanding .
II. LOCATION
These sites are located in what is one of the oldest and most permanent
sectors of Delray Beach-the Western Sector , bounded on the East by
North West and South West First Avenue , the West by North West Eighth
Avenue , the North by Lake Ida Road and the South by South West Fourth
Street . This sector was settled principally by Blacks when it was the
part of North Dade County. It was in this Sector that the first and
most permanent institutions were established- homes , schools and
churches . Indeed , a compact six or eight block area , lying north of
Atlantic Avenue to Northwest Third Street-Blocks 3 , 5 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 27 , 28
- is where the basic educational , religious and fraternal and business
institutions and ventures were started , even before it was incorporated
as Linton in 1895 . Much of Delray Beach' s history and beginnings are
found in this area .
III. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
**SCHOOL NO. 4 DELRAY COLORED,' October, 1895
Proposed Local Historic Site
According to the County School Records during the 1894-1909 period when
Palm Beach County was part of Dade County , Blacks who had come and
settled in this area , petitioned Superintendent C. H. Lum for a school
and a teacher in 1894. Because there was no place to house the school -
a requirement at that time-the school did not open until October , 1895.
B. F. James opened the four month school term in a thatched hut on 5th
Avenue , a part of which is the west parking lot of Greater Mt. Olive
Missionary Baptist Church. The official school record reveals this
about that lot: " Linton-1894, Delray Colored- 1895 , Delray Training :
School -1914-39. ' A historical marker designation for this site is most -'
appropriate . One of the more arresting aspects of this venture was
that the petitioners made provisions for educating their children
before purchasing land for building churches . The school has a strong
feeling in the Black community - even today.
Revised
• III. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ( Cont ' d . )
GREATER MOUNT OLIVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH , 1986
40 Northwest 4th Avenue
Proposed Local Historic Site
• Organized in 1896 , Trustees Albert Cohen , Ed Chambers and Fagan Henry
on behalf of the Mt. Olive membership purchased Lot 7 in Block 28 from
the Model Land Company on January 26 , 1898. It is the third oldest
church in Palm Beach County , the oldest in Delray Beach . Mt . Olive
constructed a frame edifice on said lot before purchase and shared it
with the African Methodist Flock , organized a year later ; it shared its
copious facility for the school commencement exercises , and recently
purchased the lot where the school was opened in 1895.
ST. PAUL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1897
119 Northwest Fifth Avenue
Proposed Local Historic Site
Organized in the Jane and Fagan Henry Packing House on the corner
Northwest Third Avenue and Second Street ( now Martin Luther King , Jr .
Drive ) as the African Methodist Episcopal Church , Trustees Moses Baker ,
George Hanna and Jesse Cole purchased Lot 1 , Block 28 from the Model
Land Company on October 13 , 1899. It shared the edifice of Mt. Olive
as Mt . Tabor A.M. E. Church until it purchased Lot 1 in Block 27 from
George and Josie Green and built a church there as St. Paul A-.M. E. on
August 30 , 1911 , having sold Lot 1 , Block 28 to the Free Accepted
Masons January in 1904.
FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, LODGE 275
85 Northwest Fifth Avenue
Proposed Local Historic Site
Organized in 1899, the Free Accepted Masons purchased Lot 1 , Block 28
from the African Methodist Episcopal Church and filed claim on OCTOBER
11 , 1904, with Trustees George H. Green , George Hanna and Jesse Cole
" party of the first part and Robert B. Wilson , James Monroe and D.
Campbell and their successors party of the second part. " Masonic Lodge
275 is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in South Florida , and
is located on the very same lot.
ST. MATTHEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH
404 Southwest 3rd Street
Proposed Local Historic Site
Organized in 1911 , the year Delray Beach was incorporated , it is one of
the first Black churches erected South of Atlantic Avenue , especially
for communicants from the Bahamas Islands . • As a structure , built in
1916 , it has the major trimmings and architectural design for the
Anglican Episcopal services. One of its founding members is Mrs . Susie
Russell ..
77)
Revised
IV. & V. PRESENT USE AND IMPACT
These sites that played such a vital and stabilizing part in the early
history and development of Delray Beach , and have an abiding and
lasting residue of pride of and respect for efforts of many of the
pioneering Blacks , need to be designated by appropriate historical
markers , so that their real meaning may be demonstrably shown to and
appreciated by the more recent residents here .
This is especially needed and required today as Delray Beach embarks on
and engages in the much needed efforts to realize the goals enunciated
in Visions 2000 in all sectors and sections of the city.
The ravages of time , circumstance and opportunity and the demands for
change to meet the future needs and desires have destroyed and are
likely to replace much that was original ; leaving in far too many
instances the land- the sites . Understandably, progress has forced -
changes in the structures of two of the churches and the Masonic Hall
and the first school has long since moved . _
Dare we forget the places and sites on and for which many of the early
pioneers living in this sector struggled and shared in giving our city
shape and form , stability , foresight and vision !
Dare we attempt to rekindle and stir anew the spirit of togetherness
and community uplift that made for struggling but steadying progress in
the early years and which is needed in meeting the even more complex
and varying demands of today and tomorrow! .
These markers and designations are deserving of historical notice on
their merit and sufficiency, but have additional value at this time .
They will serve as a precursory stimulant for those in this sector and
in the total community to give added and favorable effort to preserve
and to improve this sector and thus enrich the entire community .
Preserving the old an-d blending it with the new and accepting both with
dignity and grace require and demand positive and forthright commitment
and action .
Iv. & V. PRESENT USE AND IMPACT ( Cont ' d. )
All these sites , even the one where the initial education effort
started , are serving the community in the same manner as when they
began as concepts nearly a century ago . Indeed , Greater Mt . Olive
Missionary Baptist. and St. Paul A.M. E. Churches are in the midst of
separate $500 , 000 building and expansion programs in Blocks 27 and 28
respectively. When completed , they will be fitting and lasting
testaments and memorials to an honored past to be remembered and a
hopeful future- to be fashioned . They , along with the unique St.
Matthew Episcopal Church and newly remodeled Masonic Hall , are and will
be beacons of historical notice and singularity that will assist the
planners of the new Atlantic Avenue West Corridor to better serve the
total community.
VI. RESOLUTION
It is therefore resolved that the above mentioned four sites and one
building be recognized for their historical , cultural and architectural
contributions to the City of Delray Beach by being placed on the Local
Historic Register . No. 4, Delray Colored , opened October , 1985 , on
what is now Block 28 , Northwest 5th Avenue ; Greater Mt. Olive
Missionary Baptist Church, Block 28 , organized 1896 and purchased 1898
• on which building was erected the same year , rebuilt after the 1928
Hurricane rebuilt again as is today , 140 N. W. 3rd Avenue ; Free and
Accepted Mason , Lodge 275 , Delray , organized 1899 , purchased from
African Methodist Church in 1904 and rebuilt structure after 1928
Hurricane ; and St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church , organized
1897 , purchased and erected structure in Block 27 , 1911 and 1916
respectively and rebuilt after the 1928 Hurricane and remodeled to
present 1955 , 119 Northwest Fifth Avenue , be designated local historic
sites .
St. Matthew Episcopal Church, 404 S. W. 3rd Street . Organized in 1911 ,
built in 1916 and rebuilt in 1926 when the present cornerstone was
laid , and completed in 1928
The Historic Preservation Board recommends that this church be
designated a Local Historic Building .
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REVISED
COPY
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LOCATIONS -- -
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PROPOSED HISTORIC SITES
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2• St. Paul A.M.E. Church
• Free and Acce , 1Z9 Northwest Fifth Avenue
3. Greater Mount Olive Miss ons* 85 Northwest Fifth Avenue
• School Na. 4 Delray Calored N thweonary st Church, 40 Northwest nth Ave,` 5. St. Matthew Episcopal Church, 404 Southeast 3rd S reet e