The URL can be used to link to this page

Ord 46-99 ORDINANCE NO. 46-99 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, DESIGNATING THE FELLOWSHIP HAT.I. OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH LOCATED AT 36 BRONSON STREET, AS MORE PARTICUL~.RLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AS A LOCAL HISTORIC SITE TO BE LISTED IN THE LOCAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES; PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE "ZONING I~LAP OF DELKAY BEACH, FLORIDA, 1994" TO SHOW THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION IN AN OVERLhY I~La, NNER; PROVIDING A GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE, A SAVING CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Section 4.5.1 of the Land Development Regulations of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Delrav Beach provides for the designation and protection of historic sites; and WHEREAS, the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason Street, miuated the nomination of the Fellowship Hall for historic designation, and a designation report was subsequently prepared; and WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Board held a duly noticed public hearing in regard to the historic designation on October 20, 1999, and voted unammouslv to recommend that the property described herein be designated a local historic site; and WHEREAS, the CiR' Commission of the CIR-}' of Delray Beach has conducted a duly noticed public hearing in regard to the designation of the properS- described herein as a local historic site. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the following described property in the City of Dekay Beach, Florida, is hereby designated as a local historic site in accordance with and under the provisions of Section 4.5.1 of the Land Development Regulations of the CitT of Dekay Beach, to-wit: THE FELLOWSHIP HALL OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH, located at 36 Bronson Street, Delray Beach, Florida; more particularly described as Lots 16, 17, 18 & 19, Block 3, OCEAN PARK SUBD1-VISION, as recorded in Plat Book 5 at Page 15 of the Public Records of Palm Beach CountT, Florida. Section 2. That the Planning Director of said City shall, upon the effective date of this ordinance, amend the Zoning Map of the City of Dekay Beach, Florida, to show the historic designation, in an overlay manner. Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed. Section 4. That should any section or provision of this ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by ~ court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invahd. Section 5. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage on second and final reading. PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this the 1 6th day of November ,1999. ATTEST: ' J-Cin--~fe~ r First Reading November 2, 1999 Second Reading N°vembeS: 16, 1999 - 2 - Ord. No. 46-99 O~ 1148~ Pg :,,~. ! t ii ~.s~ ,,,: 1 I ii ..------ ,, " ..... -- '~ ~ ; ~ :'~:' , t ' '' SrA. V~T~RANS ~ 2~_ ~A Y~ ~ ' S_ vz~tT ~ ~ROVE NO. PARK ~ ZS',DO ~ CONDO TLAN TIC ~ -- PLAZA · ,DD RIVER MAWR~5 TT , ~ ~ESORT A TL AN T~ C AVE N U ~ ~ C OND 0 SEA S~ Tf ~'~ ~:~' ~J oz~*~ ~ ' , CONDO J N FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY :,"- or D~.',~A~ B~:,. ~. - FELLOWSHIP HALL - ~.ANNIN0 A' ZONINg, -- DISIT~ ~S[ ~ S~TE~ -- ~= ~5r ORB I 1 ,~.~,~a pg DOROTHY H. WILKF. R, ~ PB COLI~ITY, FL [IT¥ DF I]ELRR¥ BER[H DELRAY BEACH CITY CLERK lOO N.W 1st AVENUE. DELRAY B~AC, H, FLORIDA 33444. 407/243-7000 C :E ~ TI T I C ~ TI 0 ~l I, ALISON MacGREGOR HARTY, City Clerk of the City of Del_ray Beach, Florida, do hereby certify that the attached is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 46-99 as the same was passed and adopted on second and final reading by the Delray Beach City Commission in regular session on the 16e' day of November, 1999. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the official seal of the City of Dekay Beach, Florida, on this the 26~h day of November, 1999. ": " '~'" City :r ~ ' _ . Clerk : '~ :". ' ' r,',')," '. " City of Delray Beach, Florida · "o. I ?:J ; ," ,.., 'V.'.: :, -- ..-. ,.-;: ?.,~,, THE EFFORT ALWAYS MATTERS Printed or~ Rec~,clod P&oer MEMORANDUM TO: Celeste McDonough, Administrative Assistant FROM: Alison Harty, City Clerk SUBJECT: Recording/Ordinance No. 46-99 DATE: November 27, 1999 Attached is a certified copy of Ordinance No. 46-99 which designates the Fellowship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church as a local historic site. It was approved by the City Commission on November 16, 1999. It is ready to go to the County for recording. When it comes back, please forward a copy of the recorded ordinance to Pat Cayce for her file. The original should be returned to me. Thank you. AMH/m Attachment ORDINANCE NO. 46-99 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, DESIGNATING THE FELLOWSHIP HAl.I. OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH LOCATED AT 36 BRONSON STREET, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AS A LOCAL HISTORIC SITE TO BE LISTED IN THE LOCAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES; PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE "ZONING MAP OF DELtL~Y BEACH, FLORIDA, 1994" TO SHOW THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION IN AN OVERNhY ~L~NNER; PROVIDING A GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE, A SAVING CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECT1YE DATE. WHEREAS, Section 4.5.1 of the Land Development Regulations of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Deka¥ Beach provides for the designation and protection of h/storic sites; and WHEREAS, the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason Street, miuated the nomination of the Fellowskip Hall for historic designation, and a designation report was subsequendy prepared; and WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Board held a duly noticed pubhc hearing in regard to the historic designation on October 20, 1999, and voted unanimously to recommend that the propert3.' described herein be designated a local historic site; and WHEREAS, the Ciw Commission of the City of Dekay Beach has conducted a duly noticed pubhc hearing in regard to the designation of the property described herein as a local historic site. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITT COMMISSION OF THE 'CITY OF DELtL~,Y BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the following described propert3, m the Ciw of Delray Beach, Florida, is hereby designated as a local historic site in accordance with and under the provisions of Secuon 4.5.1 of the Land Development Regulations of the City of Del.ray Beach, to-x~4t: THE FELI.OWSHIP HALL OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH, located at 36 Bronson Street, Delray Beach, Flor/da; more particularly described as Lots 16, 17, 18 & 19, Block 3, OCEAN PARK SUBDIVISION, as recorded in Plat Book 5 at Page 15 of the Pubhc Records of Palm Beach County, Florida. Section 2. That the Planning Director of said City shall, upon the effective date of this ordinance, amend the Zoning Map of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, to show the historic designation, in an overlay manner. Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed. Section 4. That should any section or proxfsion of this ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a comrt of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validiu' of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid. Section 5. That this ordinance shall become effective immediateh, upon its passage on second and final reading. PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this the 16th day of November ,1999. ATTEST: First Reading November 2, 1999 Second Reading November 16, 1999 - 2 - Ord. No. 46-99 MEMORANDUM TO: MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS FROM: CITY MANAGER~YL/N SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #/0 ~" - REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 16, 1999 ORDINANCE NO. 46-99 (DESIGNATING FELLOWSHIP HALL AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AS LOCAL HISTORIC SITE) DATE: NOVEMBER 10, 1999 This is second reading and a public hearing for Ordinance No. 46-99 which designates the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach as a local historic site to be listed in the Local Register of Historic Places. The Fellowship Hall is located at 36 Bronson Street on property legally described as Lots 16, 17, 18 & 19, Block 3, Ocean Park Subdivision, recorded in Plat Book 5 at Page 15 of the Public Records of Palm Beach County. Constructed in 1924 in the Mediterranean Revival architectural style, this was the first church to be built east of the Intracoastal Waterway. Located on Bronson Street one block south of Atlantic Avenue, the structure was originally the sanctuary for the Gibson Memorial Baptist Church. It was purchased by the Presbyterian congregation in 1928 and was renamed the Community Presbyterian Church. It remained the Presbyterian sanctuary until the new church at 33 Gleason Street was constructed in 1977, just to the west of the subject property. After the construction of the new sanctuary, the building became the congregation's Fellowship Hall. The building is noted for its symmetrical front fagade which consists of an arched entranceway with large double doors flanked by fluted pilasters crowned with an impressive cornice. Square bell towers with domed roofs anchor the two front corners. A decorative curved parapet, with a molding trimmed cap, connects the bell towers. The building was designed and built by Fred J. Shrader who established a contracting business in the city in 1911. His inspiration came from a church he had seen in Florence, Italy. However, the lack of exterior embellishment gives the building a strong resemblance to the Mission style churches brought to the southwest by the Spanish explorers. A garden, accessible through doors on the north wall of the building, is included in the designation. The building has recently undergone extensive repair and restoration which will insure its structural integrity for generations to come. The Historic Preservation Board considered the historic designation at a public heating on October 20, 1999, and voted unanimously to recommend approval. At first reading on November 2, 1999, the City Commission passed Ordinance No. 46-99 by unanimous vote. Recommend approval of Ordinance No. 46-99 on second and final reading. RefiAgmemo21.Ord.46-99.Historic Designation. Fellowship Hall.First Presbyterian Church Designation Report FELOWSHIP HALL THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Known as Gibson Memorial Baptist Church from 1924 to 1928) Delray Beach, Florida Report Prepared by Nancy O. Young, Elder First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Florida For The Historic Preservation Board Delray Beach, Florida Designation Report Table of Contents I. General Information I1. Location Map :~ III. Executive Summary IV. Architectural Significance, Building Description and Structural Reinforcement V. Historical and Cultural Significance, The Biography of a Building VI. Statement of Significance VII. Bibliography and Resources VIII. Photographs IX. Addendum I. General Information Original and present location: 33 Bronson Street Delray Beach, Florida 33483 Date of construction: 1924, May to November Architect and builder: Mr. F.J. Schrader, Assisted by a carpenter, plumber and an electrician Former owner: Gibson Memorial Baptist. Church 1924 - 1928 Present owner: First Presbyterian Church Delray Beach, Florida, 1929- current Present use: Fellowship Hall used for social, educational, fund-raising activities, meetings, receptions and meals. Present zoning: Community Facility (CF) Legal description: Lots 16, 17, 18 & 19, Block 3, Ocean Park Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 15, of the Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida Classification for designation: Architectural and social Significance l~. Executive Summary Built in 1924 as the house of worship for the con~egation 'known as Gibson Memorial Baptist Church, this building was the first church to be built east of the waterway. On Bronson Street, it was located just south of Atlantic Avenue and two blocks from the ocean. In 1928, due to financial difficulties, the Baptists could no longer maintain their church and turned the deed over to Mr. F.J. Schrader who had been the architect, builder and financial underwriter of the building. In January 1926, the Presbyterian church of Delray Beach was chartered with sixty-six members including ten families who transferred their membership fi-om no~hern churches. They met regularly in various places, the Delray theater, Booster Hall or the Women's Clhb. In the fall of 1928, the growing membership of this church, needing larger and permanent facilities, rented the empty church fi-om Mr. Schrader for $30 dollars per month. Hoping to draw more members and visitors they named the church the "Community Presbyterian Church." This property consisted of the sanctuary building and the adjoining educational and social wing. Through various financing, the congregation was able to purchase the property from Mr. Schrader and held their dedicatory service on October 20, 1929 just five weeks after the tragic hurricane of that year. In 1945 the name was changed to the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. To this day, members and visiting worshippers are drawn form near and far. Membership continues to grow so that in 1956, with 538 communicants, there was a need to provide for more seating over and above the pews which accommodated three-hundred persons. In that year a porch platform was built with an awning extension at the cost of $1,000. Over the years it became obvious that a new building was the only solution for the increasing number of worshippers and activities. In 1977 the larger sanctuary was built and dedicated. The former building now became Fellowship Hall. IV. Architectural Significance of Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church The building, orig/rmlty known ~ G/bson Memorial Baptist Church, was built in 1924 and was the first church east of the waterway. In 1928 the Baptist congregation was experiencing financial difficulties due to bank fa/lures and the real estate calamity in Delray Beach. The5, returned the deed to the church property back to the architect/builder who had also financed the construction. Consequently, the empty church property was the ideal facility for the growing ~oup of Presbyterians. The building was ren?~l to them for 5;30 per month starting in the fall of 1928. The following year they purchased the property and held the dedication ceremony on October 20, 1929, n~ming it the Communky Church of Delray Beach, Presbyterian. a Mr. F.J. Schrader was the archhecffbuilder and financial underanSter. He and his family had come to Dekay Beach in 1911. He bu~ a home for his family on Swinton Avenue with both a cellar and an attic, rarities in Florida architec-~.n-e. During the first World War he went to Charleston, S.C., as a builder there, but returned to Dg-zv Beach in 1922. In recounting the building of this church for the Baptist, he spoke of having a r~i~--mre and a floor-plan of an old church in Florence, Italy, but made this church less ornate than the original. However, the form of architecture bears a strong resemblance to the mission-style bro~t to the Americas by the Spaniards with the long nave and twin towers flanking the facade. Mr. Schrader's church has been called the "most Floridian church in Florida." In a small brochure primed in !929, the author elaborates on the construction of the church in these words: "The building is con~-n-ucted in impenetrable interlocking tyle [sic], finished on the outside with Spanish stucco, and on ~e inside with the weird and antique 'pecked' cypress. Inside the sanctuary, sot5 ~ey tones create a simple reverential atmosphere. Long comfortable cypress benches provide seating for a~ least z. hree-hundred worshippers. The pulpit and reading desk are combined in one and set slightly to the fight of the con~egafion..tm interesting feature of the pulpit is the fact that just underneath it is the only place on the entire property where the solid rock comes to the surface thereby providing the solid strand upon which the minister may proclaim the sure foundation of God. Behind the Chancel is a Pilcher Organ which provides the only pipe-organ music available within the radius often miles. Mr. Schrader started buildin~ the church in May of 1924 working with only the help of a carpenter, plumber and elecffician_ ~e admitted that he had his hands full when he came to the construction of the interior cypress u~.nsses. Construction was completed in November of that year. In the ea¥fiest pictures of the church, there are unique features that stand out. Above the doorway there is a shamrock imbedd~ ~n the stucco, a symbol of the trinity. On the top of the domed towers and other "sills" there are severn urn-like decorations. In later pictures these urns have been removed.., by man or by hurricane? In .August 1939, the Allendorph :xindow was installed in the west wall above the organ pipes. In April 1945, Mr. Schrader made a new fi-ont door for the east side of the building and installed the large stained-glass window over the new front door which was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Richardson of St. Paul, Minnesota and Delray Beach. In 1956 the porch platform with an awning extension was made to provide for an increase in the seating capacity at a cost ors1,000.. In 1977 after the completion orr_he new sanctuary, for the First Presbyterian Church, the old sanctuary became Fellowship Hall. A s-rage was built where the former pulpit stood and the kitchen was constructed to accommodate the rnam, functions of the social life of the church and community. Over the seventy-four years r. he Cribson Memorial Baptist Chur~ch, the Community Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyter'San Church and now Fellowship HallOas been the scene of so many varied acfivites and ceremorfies - baptisms, weddings, funerals, meetings, breakqasts, luncheons, dinners, bazaars, rummage sales, and homeowner association meetings for neighboring communities. It has been and continu~ to be a core of activity in the life of this congregation. BUILDING DESCRI?TiON PROPERTY: Firsu Presbyterian Church LOCATION: B3 G!eascn Street, De!ray Beach, F1 FILE Nq3M~ER: 23140-16148 DATE OF INSPECTION: April 14, BUILDING NA-u~: Fellowship Hall BUiLDiNG USE: Mee'-ing room, kitchen STORIES: One BUILDING A_~,--A: En--!osed area 3,367 Open covere~ areas Total 4,!~6 S_~aare Yeet FOLT~DAT!0N: Cc~ination of mason.--y b!~ck founda~ion -.'a~ 'wi~h D~ured concrete pi!as~er foo=ings FP3~E: Concrete.Pi!asters and heavy wood ~-'=_~__=- A-frame EXTERIOR WA~: C3S walls with s~acia~ ornamentation and s5~ing!ass at ma!n en~ F~OR(S): Meeting area has wood floor joist ~nd 2 by 6 decking with new kitchen secmion constructed of a 4" concrete slab on trade ROOF: Hea~ woo~ ~imber roof s~ructure with pi~ched wood decklng, an~ a new aspha!~ shin~!e roof c~var INTERIOR FiNiSH: ~._g_n=_ church new FLOOR C0%~RiN~: C~rpes, vinyl WALL FiNiSH: ?~int, .pana!!in~ CEILING FiNiSH: A=DusZic~l tile, gypsum b~rd ~nd paint CO~'EYiNG SYSTEM: None KiTCH?.NS: Kitclnen a~ition ~cnst~ac%ed in 1977, and inclu~Zes pain~ed '~ood cabines~.~ %'i%h fc.~ica countertops, and a special s~aLn!ess steel top ~'ith 4 built-in cook ~ops Dy Ba!~n Hot ~ay, as '~ell as 2 GE ranges, ! GE refrS~erator, ! A~hir!pool no frost freezer, ~ ~ Hobar~ modhl ~-6! co~ercia! dish~'asher FI~P~CES/CHi~EY: None PL~BINg: ~ fixtures total SPRIN~: Ncne h~AC: Central kaatin~ and c~o!ing a~ crigina! church section, '~ith the mechanical e~zip~an~~--~_ ~s.._ system, locate~ E~CTRI~.L: Average lightin~ ~nd outlets SPEC!ALT!ES: ?~ 'o bell AGE, CONDITION: Ori=ina!!v ronsSructad in !R2R, %~ith kitchen addition ~- ~=77. Overall condition judged to be av=~=~ f r zts and occuoancy COUNTS: Aithou~h ~he.b~i!~ing is no~-used as a re!lot, ship hall, m~s orlgznam ~onst~cSicn and use ~'as ~hat cf a church. RENOVATION AND STRUCTU1L4. L REINFORCEMENT Several years ago it was determined that s~--uctural repairs were imperative in order to retain the architectural integrity of ibc building. In September of 1998 the contracting firm of Mouw Associates. Inc.. began the work. which is described below. First Presbyterian Church Project Review This building has been architecturally term-ned back to an earlier time in it's history, while at the same time being structurally reinforced from within. Architectural character of the Fellowship Hall has been restored by the removal oft*he kitchen and toilet room additions on the building's north side. An existing storage room in the northeast corner remains and has been converted into a toilet room opening onto the main Hall. This room is balanced on the northwest by an existing air handling room. The existing openings on the north side have been opened up and new doors ~nd transom windows have been added. In Phase II of the project, a covered loggia will encircle ~e north courr,'ard. The Hall will have direct access and views through the new doors to the courtyard beyond. The existing windows on the south side have been also replaced. All the window glass used is hurricane resistant safer5., glass, at least [,5.- r_hick. These windows wilt sit in their existing openings, however the depth of the opening has increased due to additional steel reinforcing added to the inside of the wails. Although not historically accurate, this increase in depth does add to the character of the Hall. The walls will now feel thicker giving the illusions of a solidly built masonry wall. The existing wooden stage on the west side of the Hall has been removed and replaced by a new kitchen. Although the Hall is smaller, k's c~aracter is the same. The existing stained glass window on the west wall, has been reloca.~___A to the new wall which separates the new kitchen from the Hall. The space above the new ki-~zhen is now a mezzanine level for air handling equipment The existing wood floor was been replace5 by carpet over new concrete. This will reduce sound reverberation within the Hail. The building's new structural reinforcemenI consists three elements. Firs~ a new concrete floor which is supported on ifs own foundation which has been connected to the building's existing footers. Attached to the new footer are w6x_20 steel columns which run up along the walls to the roof. New li_~ht _~a~e metal stud framing covered with ~%ypsum wallboard fill in between the 5 main steel columns. The existing wood r-d--,ers have been encased from below in a steel "U" channel which is bolted through the raft~ and. welded to the steel columns. This whole system creates a building within a building. The e_-dsting masonry outer walls carry only their own weight. The roof ~s carried by the new ~ee'., columns, and the floor is a simple 4" concrete slab on grade. The roof is made up ora ¢I" tongue and _~¢~-oove wood ceiling, attached wood joists. New joists have been added to the alternate spacing of I. he existing joists for stren__mch. Next 3" of rigid insulation, a l" air=r, ap, ~A" pl)-~vood, and a~--phalt shingles as the outer laver.. The decorative wood rafter braces were removed and used as templales for new ones. The newly reinforced rafters have b~en covered in decorative wood trim to match the existing rafters. Prepared by: Duane \V. Grove Donaldson Group ArchiTects 1450 S. Dixie Hi~hwa.x. Suite 102 Boca Rmon. FL 33432 V. Historical and Cultural Significance The Biography of a Building Gibson M~emorial BaprLcr Church 1924 - 1928 Community Presbyterian Church 1928 - 1940 First Presbyterian Church of Delray 1940 - 1977 Fellowship Hail of First Presbyterian Church of Delray 1977 - The Biography of a Building ] 924 was a very good 3'ear in Delray md Delray Beach, Florida. The towns had been "discovered" by folks from the north who were flocking to buy property in the warm climate easily accessible by the Florida East Coast Railroad. The real estate boom was in it's thh-d year. Practically everyone was rich on paper. The population had doubled in the last two years. Construction was at its peak. F.J. Schrader was the architect and builder of the Cribson Memorial Baptist Church on Bronson Street near the beach in the newly incorporated town of DeltaS, Beach. This was the first church east of the canal. Up Ocean Boulevard to the north, wealthy Palm Beachers built the exclusive Gul~~ Stream Golf Club. Next year the town of Cv22f Stream would be incorporated. Years before ocean front propeR: sold for $3.50 a mile. Now the price zoomed. It was said that a single lot sold for 5;5,000 in the morning, 5;10,000 at noon and $20,000 in the afternoon. It was a wonderful prosperous time for all at last, an unimaginable dream for those few men who came in 1894 and lived i~ tents along Atlantic Avenue. By 1894 word oft he genre climate and fertile soil at reasonable prices h~.reached a group of men in Mickigan. Con~essman Linton, the Postm&~ter of Sa~naw persuaded his friends David Swinton, who owned a book store in Saginaw and Frank Chapman, an a~--rhmatic friend to join him on "safari" to look over the prospects of a place, not yet named, sou~ of West Palm Beach_ Henry Flagl~ er was building his Florida East Coast Railroad but had not 3'et extended his interest this far south· The new arrivals came by barge on the canal, climbed the marshy banks with their gear and pitched tents near the hig_h _m-ound on ? Avenue and eight-foot wide Atlantic Avenue. Mr. Linton purchased 160 acres of land for $25 an acre. This acreage was a jungle of palmetto, scrub pine and stunted sea gapes marred together w/th saw,ass. Linton then advertised that this fertile land was available for sale in 5 acre lots through the newspapers in S-____4naw, Bay CiB, and Flint, Michigan. He also gave his name for the new town and oamed Lake Ida a;uer his wife. _X~mong the first to respond was Adolph Hoffman, a Michigan farmer originally fi-om Germany. Clearing the land was a monumental r~k. While they found that the palmetto root made excellent fuel, the plague of mosquitoes, broom deerflies and horseflies made Iir% miserable. In 1895 Henry Sterling. who was to be~me an outstanding citizen of this town, came from Philadelphia and established the first comm~-~sary atthe comer of malay's 2~d Avenue and Adantic Avenue. His wife and five-year-old daugJater came the next year. This commi.qsary xx~as a pan of his home. Frank Chapman found that the warm weather cured his asthma PEs home was the farthest ea~-L, next to the canal and became the village Post Office and his lix4ng room. When the village of Linton was establi~b-~..al in 1895, Atlantic Avenue extended from the canal to Swinton and only a cart path beyond to Military Trail which had been used by the soldiers during the Seminole Indians wars. Living conditions were most primitive and the heat and insects made life a constant baffle. The farming was not as ideal as expected. The water table was only three feet below the surface so that the drainage was very poor. Too much rain and the crops drowned, too lirde and they dried up and were ruined. And then the worst - a sudden freeze which mined eve ~ryzhing. After the second freeze in 1895, disillusioned farmers went back home or moved to West Palm Beach to work on Flagler's railro,_fl.. The village of Linton had only 100 hardy souls left in 1896. .~ff~er that second freeze Henry Flaglg er ,~.'--xributed flee s~d to the stricken area. The fertilizer was hauled free and he provided for the shipping. It was the beginning of a profitable truck farming indust~. Newcomers starred coming in 1898. Shortly a_--~er their m-rival, these early s~.~ers built a small one-room school house on the ~ounds still o~xmed as school property in Delray on the comers o£Atlanfic and Sx~4nton. In this schoolroom any minister of whatever denomination who stopped in the village was invited to preach_ In the Spring of 1896, Dr. Henu, Keg-win, the SuperinTendent q.f._Mission for the Presbyterian Church in Florida, came to visit and orgarJzed a church. Mr. Adolph-}~offman, Mr. M.B. Lyman and Mr. Joel French were the three Trustees. Dr. Thompson was the first minister. He came from Cuba and lived in Lantana during the six months that he served the congregation. He was a young man who preached every other week alternating with Lantana. In 1897 or 1898 lx@. Keg~dn came back. He was about 61 years old at the time that he organizdd the Delray Presbyterian Church He had organized a number of other churches in the state, according to the history written by Margaret Livingston Smith About the time of Mr. Kegwin's return, the Presbyterian organization bought from lXir. Lyman a lot for a church buildin~ 100' by 140' at the NW corner of Atlantic and the new 5'h Avenue. The church building was never built but there was a small manse on the property and Dr. Kegwin and his two daughters stayed there during his time here. Dr. Kegwin divided his time between Lantana and Delray Presbyterians. How long he stayed in Delray is not known but he did officiate at a marriage in 1901. The village during these years was a struggling community, and the church was small in membership and weak financially. As more people came the Lutherans of German descent organized their own church and the Adolph Hoffmans went back to thek original church. The Lutherans also organized a school to teach thek children their native tongue. The Methodists began having services and finally the Presbyterians could longer support thek organization and they disbanded. In 1904, Mr. Lyman acting for the Trustees, sold the lot and manse at public auction for $250. In 1898, the village fathers felt that the name of Linton held a negative connotation for attracting new residents and tourists. Since many of the original settlers had come from Michigan, it was voted that the name be changed to Delray after a suburb of Detroit. By 1900 there were 150 residents. Mr. Morikami boug. ht land in 1906 and planted what was to be a most successful crop on the sandy soil, the pin~pPle. In 1911 the canning factory was built by the Flagler Railroad System to can the pineapples that were not perfect in appearance yet were pen%ctly delicious. It was located at 2nd Street and the railroad. An orchestra came from Miami for the opening celebration to play for the ceremony and dance that evening. It was reported that "it was a social affair the likes of which the town had never known or may never know again." Tragically a freeze came that night and ruined the cropY The first hand-cranked-drawbridge over the canal was built in 1911. It was replaced with a wooden bridge in 1923 in time for the building boom F.J. Schrader, a builder, came to Dekay in 1911 and built the first home east of the canal Dztring the FL'-st World War he went into construction in Charleston, SC, and while rooming there with Irwin J. Sink, another builder, persuaded him to come to Dekay after the war and buy land adjoining his on Swinton. The Schraders had lived on Swinton for many years in a large frame house with a basement, most unusual in Florida, and an attic. Mr. Sink moved to Delray in 1922 and built the larger school house and the Case Del Ray Hotel for the Steriing's daughter on Atlantic .avenue on SE 2''a Avenue. That ske is now the Robert Worthing Park. Mr. Sink.~ built the Arcade Building and is reputed to have built more structures than any other contractor. In 1912, H.J. Stet'ting and three others organized the Dekay Lumber Company. Up to then all lumber for building had to be barged down to Dekay from West Palm Beach. Electricity was installed in 1914. Weeknights people could have power from 6 to 11 o'clock and 12 o'clock on Saturdays. The lights would bhnk and alert fol~ to light their oil lamps if they were going to stay up longer. One day a week electricity was turned on so those who had electric irons could use them and kon that one day. With the sons and fathers_.~ff_.t.o the Fir.~ \Vorld War the farmers found it very difficult ~o make a living. The main source of employment was at the canning faaory. In 1915 or 1916 the pineapple factory was sold to the Snvder Ketchup Company and the aroma changed to that of tomatoes and spices. Pineapple groxving was no longer a profitable endeavor because of the growth of Cuba's pineapple industry and cheaper cost of importing. Also contributing to the demise xvas the beginning of drainage by the Everglades and Lake Worth Drainage District. In time the land boom also meant the land became more valuable than pineapples. Land went from S50 per acre paid by _growers to $1,000 an acre paid by developers. Between 1921 and 1926 four hotels were built. The new Kentucky House in 1921, Seacrest Hotel and Casa Del Ray in 1925 and the Alterep which later became the Colon>, Hotel. In 1923 Delray Beach was incorporated e2_st of the canal. The people living on the east side did not want to be committed or involved with the indebtedness of Dekay. They ran their own affairs and preferred it that way. When proposals were made of uniting the two towns, the Eastsiders agreed, finally, w/th the provision that Delray Beach would not be responsible for Delray's bonded indgbtedness. In 1927, the old town of Dekay Beach on the ocean had merged with the Town of Dekay west of the canal forming the City ofDelray Beach.~> The golden ag_e of the buying and selling of land and buildings came to a great climax in 1926. The value of Dekay property on the Tax .Assessor's books amounted to $12,000,000. In early 1927 the bubble burst, the banks closed and the economy collapsed. By 1932 that property value amounted to $1,777,000. Delray's bonded indebtedness was $1,500,000, a huge amount for only 3,500 people. TNrty-five years later it was still paying offthat debt. The hurricanes of 1926 and 1928 brougtx great hardship. The two storms of 1926, July 27t~ and September 18m, caused extensive damage particularly the September hurricane which caused properly damage amounting to $200,000 to $250,000. The hurricane of Septarnber 16, 1928 left no section untouched. This storm with winds of 125 miles per hour 'knocked down or ripped apart one-third of all the buildings in Delray. St. Paul's Episcopal Mission Church, built in 1904 on Swinton Avenu~ was wiped offthe ground leaving nothing but rubble..All evidence of a church was blown away. Part of Route A1A was washed out 5 or 6 miles south of .Atlantic .Avenue. The pavement on both sides came to an abrupt end and the jagged edges hung out over the sand. The Gibson Memorial Baptist Church on Bronson Street that Mr. Schrader built and financed so near to the ocean remained unharmed but stood empty. It was built in 1924 for 35 Baptists and their minister, the Reverend Mr. Samuel Gibson and Mrs. Gibson. The small congregation had grown to 135 members by 1928 but financial cli~culties, the bank failures and the inability to pay for the consn-ucfion forced them To reunite with the other Baptists turning the deed to the prope:%, over to Mr. Schrader. It was most fortunate that the church building was available for rent to the new revitalized Presbyterian congregation for $30 per month _Amazingly, after that dreadful September 16th storm, they held their first service in the church on October 21~, just frye weeks later. They had found a home. Over the years from 1896 and Dr. Ke__o~in's arrival, the Presbyterian faith_fi.d had tried many times to form a congregation. As an example, in 1916 a few zealous Presbyterians organized a Sunday School of 30 or more members. They met every. Sunday afternoon in the Booster Hall (the original Chamber of Commerce building). However, al-mr the Superintendent became too ill and another very active worker became ill and died, this Sunday School had to be given up. _Mso, in 1916 anoth~ Presbyterian minister made a survey of the potential of fo~wning a Presbyter/an Church in Delray and came to the conclusion that the town had as many churches as the town could support. Finally in the latter pan of April 1925. at the request of Dr..archibald Miller, acting for the Presbx~enans of Delray and vicinity, Rex'. J.F. Shepherd of Eus'~}, Florida, Executive for the Florida Board of National Missions. U.S.A., came to Florida and preached and addressed the congregation in the Delray Theater on the desirability of organizing a church here at that time. The general feeling seemed to be enthusiastic to moving toward organizing. However, no action was taken until Dr. Shepherd came again on October 4th and preached to a fair-sized con_m-egation..M:~er the morning sermon, the be~nning of the organization was made, a committee was formed to arrange for a permanent place to meet and other details preparatory to the next meeting on October 1 ~?. This time the enthusiasm and dedication Hew so that on Sunday, October 18~ the First Presbyterian Church of Delrav was organized with Dr. Joseph P. Calhoun, recendy retired pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach, officiating and the first four Elders were elected. On November 1, 1925, Dr. W.A. Littell preached To the con~egation of 50 people. This early church met in several places including Booster Hall, The Women's Club, the school and the motion picture theater. Morning s..."~'ices were held by Dr. Littelt continuously in Delray, with evening sen'ices held every week..-Mtemating Sunday evenings and each Sunday afternoon were given to the Presbyterians in Boynton. On January 3, 1926, at a Congregational Meeting, the Church Constitution was adopted and Trustees were elected. The first sacrament of the Lord's Supper was celebrated on January 3 1st. On that date 13 people were baptized, more were admitted to membership and the Charter Roll was closed with 66 members. The women of the church o~anized immediately. Mrs. Margaret L. Smith had a meeting her home on January 4th 1:O form a "Women's Association of the FL-st Presbyterian Church of Delray." At the second meeting of this association, the formation of a Christian Endeavor Society for the young people of the church was created. Their first meetings were held on Sunday evenings. The McFarland sisters, who had previous experience with the Christian Endeavor Society in their former hometown,, became ~eat assets to this small group. As the activities of the membership _~o~-ew, finding a place to meet became difficuk. The availabilitw of the em.ow Baptist Church was the answer. Starting in the fall of 1928, this Sanctuary with it's educational wing became the center of Delray Presbyterian life. Mr. Sch,'-ader had other offers to purchase the property but he was adamant that the purchaser would be a church. The Presbyterian.q of Dekay were able to raise $7,000 to $8,000 by subscription among themselves, borrowed $6, O00 from the Home Board of Missions in Philadelphia and received a gr~t of S5,000. Mr. Schrader then sold the pro?.rty to them, although he had unpaid notes amounting to 5;30,000 to 5;40,000. Mr. Schrader also made a ~ of the land on which the manse was built. Hoping to draw a Heater number of worshipers and tourists, the name of the church was changed from First Presbyterian Church to The Community Church, Presb~erian of Delray. The dedication service was held on October 20, 1929. The architecture of this Spanish/Italian s-fy, lc church is quite unique through very appropriate to ks seuing. Mr. Schrader, architect and builder, had a picrm-e and floor plan of an old cathedral in Florence, Italy. He starred construction in May of 1924, workdng single-b~-uded with only the help from a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician,. and completed the consu-uction in November. He admitted that he had his hands full when he came to the construction of the cypress trusses. The building is constructed of"impenetrable interlocking tyle and fini.qhed on the outside with Spanish stucco, and on the inside with the weird and antique 'p.~-Xed' cypress. It has been said that this church is 'the most Floridian church in Florida'." The low L-shaped ~x-tension enclosed the court yard. "These cool open rooms are used for religion education classes and social functions and are complete _ty equipped for the purpose. In the grass-covered enclosure around which the Sunday School annex ex~ends, is an o?:n-air baptistery. The source of its water supply is from a rock-built foundation, festooned with ferns, which flows down the gentle slope beneath the shade of the leaning palms. This is said to be the only open-ak baptistery in .america." "Inside the smnctum'~' soft ~ay tones create a s/male reverential atmosphere, long comfortable cypress benches prox'ide seating for at l~st 300 worshippers. The pulpit and reading desk are combined in one and set slightly ~o the rig2qt of the con~egatiorz .-kn interesting feature of the pulpit construction is the fact that just underneath is the on]y place on the entire propert3: where the solid rock comes to the surface thereby providing the solid coral strand upon which the minister may proclaim the sure foundation of God. Behind the chancel is a Pilcher organ which provides the only pipe-organ music available within the radius often miles. The large plain glass windows not. only allow a ready vision of Nature's charms, but also provides ample ventilation in the winter and a free course for the cool summer breezes." This quotation comes from a small brochure wzirten and illustrated in 1929. It also states that "This church is supported entirely by voluntary offerings and has no endowment such as is customary in such churches elsewhere. Your earnest consideration is asked for the upkeep of this beautiful Sanctuary." At an "Evening of Remembrance" hdd on the 304 anniversary of the dedication of the building, October 21, 1959, Mr. Schrader explained that he did not make this church as elaborate as the picture of the original in Italy. The Christian Educational W'mg was originally scr~ned in, and ex-tended to the very lira, s of the property wing. The wailing-in of this wing and the addition of the ldtchen and patio were done later and are the only changes made to the original 1924 structure. On that Remembrance Evening, Mrs. Margaret Walsmith described the open-air baptistery used by the Baptists during their occupation of the building. "The font still stands in the area surrounded by the Christian Education wing. The source of the water, which was turned on whenever a baptism was observed, was this same fountain, from which the water flowed down a _m-aded slope into a pool with steps leading down into it. For the overflow of water from thi_q pool, it was necessa~w to chop holes in the solid rock upon which it stood." The kitchen ultimately became the Sunday School supply cio.s,~. It was equipped with a four-burner stove and sink but the ladies served many cafeteria dinners at prices of five cents per serving or 10 cents per meal. The ~eatest profit realized was $50. According to Trust,s M~ting Ivfinur~ in 1927 Reverend Frank A. Nelson was paid $50 per week but after the stock market crash in December 1930 Reverend Bailey, a g'uest minister, was paid $15 for two sermons on Sunday plus $3 for lod~ng at Kentucky House and $2.05 for four meals at the coffee shop. The organist, lX~s. Clover, was given a contm~ for $25 per month b~i_'nning on January 1a, 1931. This entailed playing for two services on Sunday and ~anting her the privilege of fi.ill use of the o~an to practice and instruct during daylight hours and to use the church for recitals dividing the ~oss receipts equally. In 1931 her husband was paid $15 a month to organize and lead the choir, including a male ,~et, using special talent from time to time and directing rehearsals and cooperating with the Chairman of the Music Committee. Paying offthe loan from the Board of National I~fissions meant sending them $600 each September 154 from 1930 to 1939 when the total sum of $6,000 would have been paid. This was a non-interest bearing note si~ed and dated September 15t~, 1929. While the boom and bust period had severe effects on Delray's economy, making 1926 - 1927 the worst depression years, the bo~c~m truly came in 1932. Barter, trade and credit became the coinage. The minister of the First Baptist Church in Dekay announced that the collection plate would no longer be passed during the service. The plate would be placed at the door where people could place in it whatever they could afford. This was done to avoid embarrassment for any member of the con~egafion_ It was said that some had nothing to give in those days except their devotion. The Presbyterian Treasurer's accoum book for September 1932 (church membership was 81 that year) records the offering on September 4~ as $9.50 in the envelopes and $1.47 in loose change, September 114 orS11.70 in envelopes and $1.10 in c'nange, September 18e $10.25 in the envelopes and $7.61 in change and the 254 of $7.40 in envelopes and $3.22 in loose change. The street ii_fiats were mined offduring the _~-~aTLmers of 1933 and 1934 To save money. That wimer ho?ever seemed to mark a change in the e~0nomic tide in Delray as well as the nation. Recovery from the great depression seemed to begin. Sudderfly artists, writers, professioaal men and financiers started to come to Delray and were wiiiing to invest in property, and homes. These were people who enjoyed the delightful quiet surroundings of a small city. Edna St. Vincent Millay was among that ~oup. The Arcade Building became the gathering place for the artists who rented studios on the second floor and lunched ia *,_he Tap Room. At the .Annual Con_m-egational Meeting hdd on April 3, 1940 the name of the church was changed from The Community Presbyterian Church to the First Pre. sbyterian Church of Delray Beach. At that time there were 91 members listed on the roll. Great changes came with the Second World War. In 1942, 1,200 men were moved into the Boca Raton Club where the new Army Air Force radar training school was set up. Many of these men brought their families and came to live in Delray Beach. The Coast Guard stationed about 100 men at the Guff Stream Polo Field which sen, ed as their base of operation. They, too, brought famili~ to live in the city. The military al~°~ commandeered the herd of cows pastured in the St..~mdrew-Briny Breezes area for fresh milk for the men. In October 1942, Dr. James G. Robinson wzs called to be the new pastor following the death of Dr. S. Willis McFadden who had been the much beloved minister for ten years. Dr. Robinson arrived with his fami!y and conducted his first service on October 184. In Jz~aary t943, at a Session Meeting, Dr. Robinson told of wolfing as acting chaplain among the Coast Guardsmen at Cmlf Stream and asked permission for this added duty. ,Adso in that Session's 1Wmutes is written "Dr. Robinson brought up a proposition of Mrs. Mary Lee Reid, a visiting musician and organi~ at Grand Central Station in New York to bold a 5 o'clock song service for men of the armed services in the church. Dr. Robinson and Mr. Ranson were asked to investigate." There was no mention of the results. Delray Beach opened its heart for these new arrivals. The U.S.O. was on Atlantic Avenue and First Presbyterian Church was there with hospitality, fri~p and solace. With the hotels, houses and apartments housing the Airmen and Coast Guard the hundreds of men ~-md women employed to care for them meant an economic ~5ndfall for Delray Beach. Throughout the years before ak-conditioning the problem of holding meetings for worship during the summer was met in several ways. Some years there were no services from July to September. In 1939 the church closed during the pastor's vacation_ Sometimes only a Sunday School was held in the summer. On June 21, 1943 the Session, after discussing plato for the summer sen-ices, passed the motion that "it be our policy to hold services until attendance drops below 50, then we shall meet ~ to discuss the matter." There was a membership at that time of 113 parishioners. Reporting on attendance at ~he September meeting, the pastor gave the resuks of the church being kept open during the months of Juty and _ ,~ugust, 9 weeks, as there was a total of 623 attendees. In April 1945 Mr. Schrader made a new from door and installed the art glass windows above the door. This easterly window was the ~ of Mr. and Mrs. RicN=. ~on of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Dekay Beach. Starting in April 1947 there was a discussion of the need to hold r~,o services during the winter season. The church was becoming too small for the crowd of aztend~s. At that time, =_h~e city of Delray Beach had a summer population of 10,000 and 15,000 in the winter. By 1952 there was a need for more Sunday School rooms especially since the choir took up one of their rooms. The January 19, 1955 _Ann~=l Con_m-egational Meeting's Minutes note that the membership totaled about 450 members. At that meeting a sa2wer chalice for communion was donated to the church by )dian Weber of the Delray .Art Galleries. At the July 11. 1956 Session Meeting the Trustees outlined a project to ex-tend the porch platform 15 feet ~o the north with an av,.~ ex-tension to temporarily increase the seating capacity for the church at a cost of $1,000. In November at the Session Meeting the motion was passed that the location of the present church should not be moved and that of.~e Christian Education building be erected at a cost of $80.000. From that first day in 1925 at Margaret L. Smith's house, t_he Women's Association has been very involved and ac~'~'e in the affairs of the church. Dinners. Teas, and celebrations were only part of their schedule. They did various forms of fund-raising from Bake Sales to Apron Parties. In the .Annual Report of January. i 957 their activities told of their 106 members participating in ten reg-ular meetings, 8 Board Meetings, 9 Circle Meetings, a Retreat, a Spring Tea and one Rally in September. They had a Covered-Dish Praise Ser¥ice in November, 4 luncheons and a luncheon for the Council of Women. Mrs. Lucille .-k. Miller, President in 1955 - 1956 wrote "In view of the idea we mi_~_ht have a new kitchen and Lady's Parlor some daF,," the Association voted to open a bank account a'nd $700 was allocated from the General Funds as a starter. Over the years, the Christmas Bazaars ~.md the Rummage Sales have become major fund raisers for the Women's Church Improvement Committee. When the new church was built and the old Sanctuary came to be called Fellowship Hall, it was the Women's Association that sold the cypress pews to pay for the building and equipment of the kitchen. From the start of the church the women have been a significant force in the life of the First Presbyterian Church. -~ The Dekay Chapter of Presbyterian Men was organized on June 30, 1949 and adopted their constitution on July 17, 1951. While there no longer is any a~liafion with the National Council, today the men of the church have breal,ff'ast together 6 times a year. With the volunr, m-y contributions received at these breakff'asts the men concentrate their interest toward the Adopt-A-Family program_ This involves taking the children to the zoo, ball games and Lion Country Safari outings. Recently a scholarshi~ has been established to assist these children or their parents in furthering their education Other groups have contributed to the x-k,~;~.- of the church In 1969 a school for Christian Living was formed which-met on Wednesday evenings for a simple family meal, fellowship and study. In 1993 that format was rex.ix,ed and called Wonderful Wednesday a most stimuJz_fing program for all ages. In 1975 a group called Presbyterian Pa,--mers was formed to promote fellowship among the families of the church. It was a socially oriented organization_ The need for a church newsletter was suggested to keep church members better informed about all of the activifi~ of the First Presbyterian Church. Over the summer the commit-tee was formed and the first edition of the Spire ,x~_s sent out in October. Pot-luck suppers and an Annual Ice Cream Social on the patio, trips and outings were or?~zed by this group. In that first issue they wrote about the coming Harvest Moon Dinner on November 2''d when supper would be followed by musical entertainment by members of the choir. The Spire continues to be a vital link and fund for im%rmation even though the Presbyterian Parmers no longer exist as an organi?~fion. Over the seventy-four years of the Gibson Memorial Baptist Church, The Community Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Church of Dekay Beach and since 1977 Fellowship Hall has been the scene of so many varied activities and ceremonies - baptisms, weddin_?~-, funerals, meetings, breakff'asts, luncheons, dinners, bazaars and rummage sales. It has been and continues to be a core of activity in the life of this congregation. During these seventy-four years, few c¢,~nges have been made in the orig/nal building. The first on August 31~ ! 939 was the installation of the Allendo,--oh stained glass window on the west wall. Mrs..Zdlendorph was President of the Women's .Association in 1935. Her husband, as Trustee, signed the $6,000 loan to purchase the buildings. The new front door and the stained 5t~=.:, window, ~ of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Dekay were dedicated on April 1945. In 1955 the porch platform with an awning extension was made to provide an increase in the seating capacity, at a cost orS1,000. ?a'Ser becoming Fellowship Hall the stage area was built as was the modem kitchen VI. Statement of Significance Thanks to the dere,wnination of Mr. F.J. Schrader in 1928 to maintain the church he built as a church, this building has remained a place cf worship and fellowship consistently over the years. As she first church east of the waterway, it was -~," sanctum->.' for the Presbyterians of Delray Beach from ._ ,-;;-,- · ' ' multi-functional facility for the church. l a*8 to 1977 when it became knox~m as F~,... ,~ stop Hall..ks a it provides a place for worship, study and fellowship to this day. The historic chm-acter of the ori~nal building has been retained. The outer design and construction has not been altered except for the elimination of the seven terra-cotta urns decoratin¢_ the exterior "sills," the addition of the Rob;son stained-glass window, the n~ front door in 1945-.. and the northern porch which was added 'm] 956 to provide more space for worshippers. VChen the new s~_nctuary was built in 1977, the old _-qa.nctuary becm-ne Fellowship Hall. Concerning the inter/or, the Women's Association sold the cypress pews which provided funds for inst~llin~_ she new kitchen. A sm~ s~:a~e was built on 'the west side on the former location of the minister's pulpit and the choir. The peck-y' cypress arches remain a distinctive feature of the ori=Nnal design. Fellowship Hall ~ands today as an ~-r,;~rnple of the n..,pe of construction D,pical in Florida and Dekay Beach in the early ] 920's. The Sp~n:,+.-Itatian sqqe of architecture and the materials used signatures of that era. In the historic records of the church, there is a quote that "it is the most Flor/dian church in Florida." Its distincriYe rearm-es remain. The ~_h~_.mrock over the front door still proclaims ;his building as dedicated to the ChS=xian faith and~_~--~ :.mreg-ral pm--r of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. BFBLIOGRAPH~' "Record" book: History of the First Presbyterian Church,. Delray Beach, Florida, written by Margaret Livingston Smith, January 10, 1926. A. Iso includes the Ardcle of Incorporation. History of the First Presbyterian t~hurch of Detrav Beach. Florida: 1895 to January 10, 1926, fi.om information v,-ritten by Margaret Lix4ngston Smith, by Paul L. Cox, contains other information and histo~ from church records. History of Founding of Christian Endeavor Group of Young People: Starting February 1926 with nineteen m~abers. An Evening of Remembrance: ~ October 21, 1959, by Jeanne Baldwin Historical Sketch of First Presbyterian Church. Delrav Beach. Florida: By Betty Ann Reed, t-lister/an, 1987 Brochure and Transcript of Brochure Published in 1929: Brochure entitled "Community Church of Dekay Beach, Florida" "A Chat About Our Church': By Rev. Morey, MSnister, 1956-1967 Lists Presidents of V~romen's Association Growth of the Church Shown in Session Minutes: October 18, 1925 to November 23, 1958 Constitution of the Delrav Beach Chapter of Presbyterian Men: Organized June 30, 1949 - Adopted July 17, 1951 The Dedication Service of the Christian Education Building: Of First Presbyterian Church of Dekay Be:ach, on April 8, 1962 (Contains historic dates from October 1985 to current) Annual Reports: Of First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Florida t927 - 1941 Treasurer's Account Boolcq. 1925 - 1935: Letter fi-om Y.C. BoYd, Attorney to E.~*__ ~r~lson, Ma3, 21, 1942, concerning changing the name from Community Presb3-rerian Church to Fir~ Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Florida. Letter concerning the mortgage of $6,000 ~om the Board of National Missions, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Sanborn Map: 1926 Florida blaster Site File: May 1, 1986 Building Description: April 14, 1988 Session Minutes and Annual Reports Treasurer's Account Book: April 1, 1935 -March 1944; April 1944 -January 1952; and, January 1952 -January 1954 X¥omen's Association Minutes: December 27, 1931 - February 26, 1934 and 1934 - 1936 The Spire Newsletter: ~ October 1979 to October 1986 Delrav Historical Society: M/ami Daily News, September 17, 1928, concerns the Hurricane Lora S}nks Britt, Mv Gold Coast in Earlier Brittany House Publishers, Palatka, Flori~% 1984 Cecil W. and Margoann Fan-ar, Incomparable D~z-ay Beach. Its Early Life and Lore. ] 894-1930 Printed by Star Publishing Co., Inc., Box-aron Beach, Florida First printing, March 1974 _Eighty_ Years of I-{istorv of Women's Club of DeL-a_y Beach, 1902 - 1982 From Sapling to Sturdy Oak, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Report prepared by: Nancy O. Young, Elder First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 1998 I i Dr. Frank Nelson? who was the senior p~or from 1927 to 1930. wrote the following poem as true '~odav as then. " THE CHURCH BY THE SIDE OF THE SEA By the side of the rhythmic breakers On the shore of the crystal sea · There stands a house that is calling To the best ~at there is in me. It is not a house of pleasure Nor a palace of earthly delight But a place where God reaches down And illumines my life with light. Ministers of First Presbyterian Church Senior Pastors James H. McCormick, D.D. 1926 - 1927 Frank H. Nelson,, Ph.D. 1927 - 1930 S. WilLis McFadden, D.D. 1931 - 1941 James G. Robinson, Ph.D. 1942 - 1957 Robert G. Morey, B.D. 1957 - 1967 Seth C. Morrow, D.D. 1968 - 1983 Theodore A. Bush, Ph.D. 1984 - Assistant Pastors & Pastoral Assistants Byron S. Fmitt, B.D. 1964 - 1968 Paul D. Wierman, M.Div. 1978 - 1979 Blanchard D. Romaine, M.Div. 1979 - 1984 Arthur S. Joice, D.D. 1984 - 1987 Donald C. Ds~mmond, M.A. 1987 - 1989 J. Michael Castronis, D.M. 1989 - 1992 Joan LeRoy Abel/, M.R.E. 1992 - AN E'CENIiYG OF REMEMBRANCE A Church Family Night dinner was held on Wednesday, October 21, 1959 in observance of the 30'h anniversary of the dedication oftlis building for the Presbyterians. This "Evening of Remembrance" started with the buffet dinner attended by approximately sLx'fy people. The piece-de-resistance was an anniversary cake decorated with an arr)~zin~y accurate reproduction of the front of the church building, coconuts in the palm trees included! ~,~le Mr. Morey took their pictures, those who were members at the time of the dedication joined Mrs. William G. James, wSx~e of the Clerk of Session, in curdng the cake. The group included Mr. F.S. Schrader, who designed and built the church, .kits. Lawrence F. llanson, Mr. James H. Ranson, Mrs. Margaret Walsmith and Miss Addie Mae Bell and Mrs. Archie Creighton. After a delicious dinner, Mr. Kenneth Jacobson, Chairman of the Ann~.versary Committee, welcomed the members and reminded them that another special meat was in store for them in January j961, when we celebrate the 35~h anniversary of the _m-muting of the charter to our church. Mr. Morey later add~'d~that is planned to send out im4tations to members in all pans of the country, for this occasion. Mr. Jacobson said that the plans for this evening consisted of "just sitting around and talking about old times" which proved to be a delightful experience for all concerned. Mr. Jacobson conlributed many 8rm,~q/'ng stories as he presided over the informal meeting and introduced the guests of honor. _Mr. x,~?dllam James first read _kir. Paul Cox's thorough and interesting history of our church and Delray Beach, dating from October 1895 (a cop3' of this document is attached). Mr. Jacobson then introduced Mr. F.J. Schrader as a gentleman who dated further back than the history of the church Mr. Schrader came to Delray in 19I 1 and built the first house on the beach side of the waterway, the old Kentucky House. Mr. Schrader said that, in thos~ days, there was no bridge. He hauled building materials with two mules and a cart, and had his choice of driving to the nearest bridge, which was at Boynton, or poling across the canal to the opposite shore. He then proceed~d to tell of various remembrances he had of the people and places of those days. Mr. Schrader built our church for r. he Gibson Memorial Baptist Church in 1924, starting in May and ending in November, and built it sin~e-handecl,. -aS-& help only fi-om a carpenter, plumber and electrician. He admitted that he had his hands full w;nen he came to the mm-auction of the trusses! Mr. Schrader financed as well as built the church. Because of losses suffered from the ~e, nsive damage of the 1928 hurricane, the Baptists were unable to continue payment of their notes, so they un-ne, d the deed to the property over to Mr. Schrader as satisfacrio.n_ Although he had offers, he stood firm to his de~'-fion that he would sell his property only if the buyers continued to use it as a church, and refused to sell otherwi_~. The Presbyterians raised $7 or 8,000 by subscription among themselves, borrowed $8,000 from the Home Board in Philadelphia and received a =infant of $5,000. Mr. Schrader then sold the property to them, although the unpaid notes he held amounted to some $30 or S4.0,000. Not only are we ~ateful to Mr. Schrader for our building but for the land on which the manse is built, whi:-h, was his ~ to us. Although he had not previously been a member, Mr. Schrader came into our church when he r~,.~u-ned here in 1937 after more than ten years in the North. He was also Clerk of Session and attended General _--~>embly in Milwaukee. In ahems, er to questions by Mr. Morey and various members, Mr. Schrm:ter sa.id that the srs-i_ 'e of our church building is patterned after an old cathedral in Italy, and is a mixture of Spanish and kal/an archit~,,--mre. There is one very much like it in Coconut Grove. A cop3' of a picture of the cathedral in Italy and a floor plan w~-e used by Mr. Schrader as guides, although he explained that our church is not as elaborate as the ofigSnal. The C¥--q-,,-rian Education wing was originally screened in, and ex-tended ~o the very limits of the prope~ .-5~; lines. The walling ~ of this wing and the addition of the kitchen and patio are the only changed that have been made in the building ~mce its construction in 1924. Mr. Jacobson thanked Mr. Schrader for being with us, introduced Mrs. Schrader and then asked _hits. Margaret Walsmith to share some of her memories with us. She described the open ak Baptistery used by the Baptists during their occupation of the builtS:,ng. The font still stands in the area surrounded by the Christian Education wing. The source of the water, which w-as turned on whenever a baptism was observed, was this sa.me fountain, from which the water flowed dox~m a g.r. aded slope into a pool with steps leading down from it. Fo: overflow fi.om this pool, it was' ne:~essary to cho~ holes in the solid rock upon which it. stood..Mrs. \Valsmi~h fondly recalled the chicken noodle, or "noodle and chicken," as she humorously termed them, dinners served by Mrs. Ellis and her committee from the church 'kitchen, which is now the Sunday School supp]y closet. The kitchen was equipped with but a four-burner oil stove and a sink, but the ladies served many cafeteria dinners at prices of five cents per serving, or ten cents for a meal! The ~eatest profit ever realized was $50, but a delightful time was had by ail. M. iss Addle Mae Betl told of her appointment as Sunday School Superintendent during those very early times in our church history. She continues in this po_,--r until she began teaching in Palm Beach. Mrs. Lawrence Ranson then showed pictures of the first congregation and quoted an amusing anecdote concerning one of the first pastors. A lady in r_he congregation told Mrs. Kanson that this pastor's sermons were unusually lengthy, but that while he was preachin~ no one could call on her to do anyt ,t~._g at all. In those busy days of starting the church, she was ~ateful to him for affording her the opportunity to sit still for such a considerable period of time. Mrs. Ranson told of the various m~ting places used by the Presbyterians during the years before they came into this church. They met on the porch of~e old U.S.O., which was then knows as "Booster's Hall." Then the5, moved to the Women's Club, which was near the present Arcade. The 1928 storm ruined that building, so they held services in the school and the motion picrm-e theater. Mrs. Ranson and the other charter members then told of the difficulties arising fi.om the naming of the church as the First Presbyter/an Church or Community Presbyterian Church and the decision to choose the latter. Mr. Jacobson remarked that he understood the church had been immensely popular with all denominations for weddings, as everyone wanted to walk up the aisle. He added that they should have tried to make Presb~efians out of all of them! Mr. Jacobson then introducc<i _kfi-. James Kanson and asked for his impressions of the early days fi.om the viewpoint of the youn~er ~eneration. Mrs. Walsmith smilingly interjected, "go easy, I was his first Sunday School teacher!" Mr. Ranson said that if there were any boys causing a commotion outside the building at any time, he was usually one oftherm One of his most importan~ chores was climbing up to the bell tower to repair the rope, which fi.equenfly parted company from the bell. At rh;~ point, Mr. Schrader asked tithe bells were still used, and it was obligingly rung for him loud and clear, to the ~mazement of our neighbors, no doubt! To keep the youngsters occupied, Mrs. James then said, anyone with a ~sp-~.~al talent was asked if they would teach something in his particular field. Mr. Archibald Cfichton had a class in carpermy and wood working which turned out many useful and am-active articles, and kept idle hands very busy. Mr. Schrader related an interesting feav;-e of our pulpit construction, just underneath it is the only place on the entire property where the solid rock com~ ~o the surface, thereby providing a solid coral strand on which, he said, the minister might proclaim "on Christ the solid rock I stand~ and the con~egafion might sing, "How Firm a Foundation." Mrs. Walsmith then mentioned Yn~_x the organ at that time was the same one we have now, and that Mrs. Ranson played "for everything." Mrs. _Morey joined in with a story told to her by a lady who had been the organist for the Baptists. On the day that the first worship service was held, the attention of the con~egafion was considerably diverted by a snake which droppers_5 fi.om the rafters and landed on the Communion Table. Mr. Morey closed the pleasant ,~ev.mm_,~ ' g w~n' ' a prayer of thanks~ving for the many blessines_ bestowed upon our church and con~egafion. Respectfully submitted Jeanne Baldwin, Secretary (This account has been copied by Nancy Youn~ February 23, 1998 from the typed report by the above secretary.) Hi~tory of the First Presbyterian Church Delrav Beach, Florida by Ma _rgm-et Livingston Smith 'q;Vrite none other things... tha~ what ye read or aclcntm,ledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge e's,en to the end." (2 Corinthians 1:13) January 10, 1926 F.B.K. -1- The organizason of the Prssbyterian~'Ch'-u-ch in Delray followed closeh' the beginning of the town itself, that the history of the church can hardJy be written xvir_hout including some of the early history of the town and its settlers. In October 1895, Mr. Adolph Hoffman and five or six other men, who had come together in Palm Beach while waiting there for the East Coast canal to be finished this far, arrived in what was then known as the town of Linton. He found here exactly m,o men, 5{r. Linton from Detroit, and an engineer for the land company. They were IMng in a tent standing at about the present corner of NE 7th Avenue, and ),,rE 1 '~ Street, the first high and dr)., spot back from the west bank of the canal. After d/sembar 'lcing from the boat on which they had traveled, these new arrivals carried, as best they could, their tents, provisions, clothing, etc., wading across the low, submerged land between the artificial bank of the canal and the higher spot further west. Of those first seven or eight men here, Mr. Hoffman alone remains, now March 1926. Others came at short intervals, continuously. Therea~er the Model Land Co. and the F.E.C.tLR_ Co. being busily engaged in interesting people from the other states in forming colonies along the southern east coast of Florida. Mrs. HofT,,',~nn and a few friends from German,.3t came over and joined Hoffman here later in 1895. Vegetable growing, ar first, was almost the on/y means oflivelihood. Their first season the winter of 1895-96 was an ex-a-emely wet one: the crops were drowned, money was scarce; the people became discouraged by their failures and the great discomforts and privations they were enduring; and, one by one, a large part of the few who came first, gave up their tit*de homes, and went elsewhere, during the years that followed. Within a few months after their arrival here, these pioneers had started a school in a small, one-room house on the ~ounds, now much enlarged, still owned as school property by Delray district on the corners of Atlantic and Swinton Avenues. In this schoolroom, any min-.'~er, of whatever denomination, who stopped in the village, was invited to preach. In the spring of 1896, Dr. Henry Keg'~,iu, the Superintendent of Missions for the Presbyterian Church in Florida, came to Delray (Linton), and o~anized a ~duurch in the little settlement here. Mr. Adolph Hoffman, Mr. M.B. Lyman, and Mr. Joel French (the town's first po~-anaster) were the three Trustees. A Dr. Thompson was the first rnini~ter. Beyond the fact that he came here from Cuba; that he I/red in Lantana during the six months or thereabouts that he served the con~egadon here; that he pre2che, d once in two weeks; that he was a young man; and that he reid se,'xdces in Lantana, also, nothing more can be r~,~.alled concerning him In 1897 or 1898, Dr. Kegwin him~etf came. _&_bout this time the Presbyterian organization bought from Mr. Lyman, a lot for a church buildin~ k being 100' x 140' at the northwest corner of Atlantic Avenue and the now 5~' Avenue or Di,,de Highway. The church building 'v-as never accomplished. But there was a small manse on the lot, and Dr. Kegwin and his two daughters lived in ir during his stay here. Because of the lapse of time and the many events following during the years, Mr. Hoff-man is not positively sure, but he thinks this frame building was moved to the lot, being the abandoned home of some form--~ resident. It may be an item of interest that this manse later was moved again, and was for some years the home of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Dawson on Dare Street (NE 6m Avenue). Dr. Kegwin held se,-wfce here every other week, preaching the alternate Sundays in Lantana or some other village on the line. The deSrfite time he preached 'm Delray cannot be ascertained; but he was still living here in 1901, when he read the marriage service for Mr. J.J. Sinabinger and Nfiss Mae Ewing. The village during the years was a stmggr~2~_~ community, and the church was small in membership and weak financially..As more people came, the Lutherans organized their own church, and Mr. & Mrs. Hoffman went back to that, their original church. Then the Methodists he_gan having services and finally the Presbyterians could no longer support their orgarfization, and they disbanded. -2- In 1904, .Mr. Lyman, ac~in: for the Tr,-'s~ees, sold the lot and manse at public auction .Mr. J.S. \Vuepper, having bid $10 more than did ]Xg. French. got the property for about $250. Among the small number of members o£-&fis, the first church organization in this town, the only nam:s that can be recalled are those of Mr. & Mrs. Adolph Hoffman, Mr. & .k~s. Lyman and daughter, .Mr. & Mrs. Sh=rrnan CvV.D.) and ix(iss Ina BlackTner..-Mr. 8: Mrs. H.J. Sterling were active workers in the church, tho' not members. Dr. J.F. Shepherd,. present Superintendent of Missions, gives the following .information: "Dr. Henri., Kelvin was born in Indiana in 18.36 (making him 60 yea.rs of age when he, as Superintendent of Missions, organizsd the Delray Presbyterian Church). He organized a number of other churches in the state, some fifteen of which were, bv his advice, turned over to the Southern Church to save expense. He, himself, supplied the Southern Presbyter/a.n Church in Orlando for some time. He is no longer living." Dr. Shepherd saw reference to the De~=v Church in the Minutes ofthe'Florid~_presbytery, which are now in the Historical Society in Philadelphia, and he thinks the organization was not perfected. "In 1916 a few zealous Presbyterians organized a Sunday School of thirty or more members, meeting every Sunday afternoon in the Booster Hall (present Chamber of Commerce). Mr. Walter Knox (now deceased) was Superintendent, all offices were filled, and there were three or more classes with teachers. Mr. Knox became too ill, after six or more months, to do the work; anothm- very active worker became ill and died. Others moved away; and this Sunday school had to be ~ven up." The above information was _given by Mrs. Frank Nichols, one of the teachers. About this same year, 1916, a Presbyterian miniver came at Mrs. Walter Knox's request, preached in the Methodist Church one Sunday morning met the Presbyterian% and, after canvassing the field, decided that Delray had then as many churches as could be supported. Finally in the latter part of April 1925, at the request of Dr..Archibald Miller, acting for the Presbyterians of Delray and vicinity, Rev. J.F. Shepherd of Eusti&. Florida, Executive for Florida of the Board of National Missions, U.S.A., came to Delray and preached to and a~erward addressed the con=m-egation, in the Delray Theatre, on the desirability of organizing a church here at this rime. The general feeling seemed to be an enthusiastic wish to act at once toward that end. A committee was appointed by Dr. Shepherd to canvas the whole field and obtain a full expression of the desire of the people. Apparendy nothing was done for some months. Then, on October 4, Dr. Shepherd came agairk and preached at the Ch*mb-=,,I' of Commerce Hall to a fair-sized con=m-egation in the morning, his subject being "The Victory of Faith," in the m, ening he lectured on Egypt. After the morning sermon, the beginning of an organization was made; a committee, headed by Mrs. Lucy Rice Dean, was elected to arrange for a permaneax place of meeting and other details, preparatory to the next service on October 18. The expression of most of those present on October 4 was a feeling of joyful satisfaction at the prospect of once again having a Presbyterian Cimrch in Delray. On October 18 at 11 a.m, Dr. Joseph P. Calhoun, formerly ofPittsburg2a, Penn.qylvania, but just now resig-ned from a pastorate of several years in the First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach, preached a most insrfiring sermon of advice and admonition to the new con=m-egation, his text being Oaiafians 5:22. During this service a Congregational Meeting was opened by a praym- for God's guidance in the selection of Elders and His blessing on the new church; after whic'n the sele~on of Elder-s was proceeded with, Dr. Calhoun acting as Moderator and Ruth L. McFarland as Secretary. Dr. Calhoun read the -~r_~mes of four men, recommended by Dr. Shepherd, as follows: Dr. Roy Webb, Mr. L.F. Ronson, Dr..Archibald lXrutier and Mr. Frank Dean -3- The four were cie.ar, ed by :he congregation. Dr. Webb not being present, it was decided to proceed wkhom him. Dr. Calhoun then asked the :hree present ~.o present themselves for Ordination and Installation, and be read to them and to the con~ega~ion at this sera,ce. Dr..Miller being a previously ordained Elder, Mr. Ranson and Mr. Dean were now Ordained, and Lhe three were installed as Elders in this church. The Benediction was then pronounced. The Session met immediately, and a dozen or more Ietters received, of those persons wishing to become members of this church, and Niiss Jane Dean and Gertrude N921er were received on Confession of Faith. On November 1, Dr. W.A. Littell preached for the first time, here, coming for the winter from Dom,er, Colorado, at Dr. Shephard's request. His tea was St. John 3:30 "He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease," a most eloquent and scholarly sermon, the thought being that the individual must be subordinated to God and His work. Fifa' persons were in attendance. This was also an evening service. On November 8, 1925, Dr. Littell made an urgent appeal to all Presbyterian residents and to others wishing a church home to add thek names to the Charr~- Roll, saying this Roll would be kept o_.,p, en for some weeks, and that in the future it would be felt an honor to have one's name on it. About this time it was decided to continue holding the services in the Chamber of Commerce H]a!L since no more deskable room seemed available. Morning service was held by Dr. Lit-tell continuously in Dekay, with evening service, also, once in two weeks, the alternate Sunday evening and each Sunday afternoon being ~vea m the Presbyterian.q in Boynton. This heavy work proved too tr}~ing for Dr. Littell's strength, and in January, Dr. ~Calhoun took over the work in Boynton, thereafter evening service was held in Delray each Sunday. Week by week the con~egafion _m-ow in numbers and in enthusiasm. A second Congregational Meeting was called for January 3, 1926, the first Sunday of tiao new year, and was held immediately following the morning church service. Dr. Lit-tell, presiding, read the fo,un of a Church Constitution suggested by Dr. Shepherd, which was unanimously adopted; but, upon motion, v,~.s set aside for that meeting. The following men were nominated and elected as Trustees, according to the Rotary System: Mr. J.M. Spencer -Term of five years Mr. W.N. John.qon -Term of four years Mr. Kenneth Wood -Term of three years Mr. George Gray -Term of two years Edward T. Page, Ph.D. -Term of one year Next a financial plan was submitted and adopted by vote, providing for current expenses and the Benevolent Fund with use of a duplex envelope system and a treasurer for each. Mrs. Margaret Livingston Smith was elected Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund. At the ~aggesfion of Mrs. F.B. Kingsbury, it was decided to have a church historian, and Mrs. Smith was, also, elected ro do this work. Dr. Webb, who had previously offered a lot for a church building ske explained at this meeting that the title to be the lot was in process of Iitigafion, but fn~'~ he thought he would be able, within three months, to We a clear title for same to the Trustees, but if finally ,,_uable to deliver to the church this lot, 100 feet on North Swinton Avenue, he assured the con_m-egation he would ~ve very generously in other ways. Mr. Kenneth Warci, a builder, express,~ him.~elf as thinking it unwise to try to build while mater/als and labor were so unusually high in cost. The urgent n=~d ora Sunday School was felt and had been much discussed by Dr. Littell and many members of the con_m-egation, and the American Lemon most generously offered thek hall, flee of all expense, for this purpose. This offer was made public at this meeting, and declined with a vote of thanks. By advice of Dr. Webb, plans for a Sunday School were dropped until after the summer months. At the service on January 3, 1926, the ~-st special offering was asked for, for Church Benevolence, and the sum of $36 was given, and sent to the Nation~-] Board of Missions in New York. -4- .in invitation was ex-tended to all women of the congrega:ion and others interested in this church's wo.-;:, bx' Mrs. Margaret L. Smith. ~o mee: at her home on the Ocean Boulevard~, on .Monday, Januar'c 4 at 3 p.m. f5: purpose of getting acquainted with each other and to plan for a permanent organization. A~her an enthusiastic discussion, an organization was formed, and later named "The Women's Association of The First Presb,x~erian Church ofDelray." Mrs. Frank Dean was elezted President IX{rs. J.W. Wood was elected Vice-President 5~s. J.M. Spencer was eiected Secretary .~{rs. W.N. Johnson was elected Treasurer The members present were divided into two ckcles, for work, by the drawing of names with Mrs. E.T. Page, from Chicago, as leader of No. 1 and Mrs. W.A. Campbell, from Grenada, Mississippi leader of No. 2. At a later meeting, No. 3 was formed from the additions to the membership, with M_rs. Spencer as leader, she having resi_~ued as Secretary of the Association, 5~s. Walsmith was elected secretary. The ckcles at once became active in the church work. The first notable thing done was a Father's and S3n's dinner given by Circle No. 1 with the idea of fostering a friendly and fraternal spirit among the men and boys of the congregation. A good dinner was served and piano music, a real treat, was given by Mrs. Harry Breese, while the meal was in pro~ess. About sixty men and boys enjoyed this entertainment. At the second mon'daly mee'2ug of the Association, the first Monday in February, Mrs. E.T. Page broug_ht up the question of starting a Christian Endeavor Society for the young people of the church..all approved, and Page was asked to take charge of the movement. On the following Sunday evening, February 7, the first Ck-Sstian Education meeting was held with light refreshments at 6 p.m., followed by the reh~ous service. The attendance was very encour ~a_~ug from the start. The church was most fortunate in having the efficient and faithful help of two young women experienced in Christian Education work, Miss Sarah and hftss Ruth McFarland from Pittsburgh. The women of the Association took charge of the light refreshments, ~,o serving each evening. The young people soon organized and elected officers, and have occasional social evenings, as well as a week-night study class. The fi-st Christian Endeavor officers were: (omitted) From the first church service on October 4, Mrs. L.F. Ranson has faithfully served as piarfist for every meeting. A volunteer choir of church people has added much to the sweetness of the worship of God. On December 17, 1925,/vfiss Sarah and Miss Ruth McFarland presented to the church fi~y Presbx.x~fian Hymnals, a much appreciated gift. Until that time, the church had been accepting the kindly loan, from the Men's Community Bible Class, of their song books. About December 1, Mrs. Kate H. Glass presented two silver offexory plates. A Charter Roll was closed on Sunday, January 31, recording a membership of persons. Th~ first celebration of the Lord's Supper was held during the morning service on that day, with about ninet-v (90) communicants. Preceding the communion service, two infants were baptized, William Nooton Johnson, son of_Mr. Cedric N. and M_rs. Faye Johnson,. and Robert Lester LaDuke, son of Mr. Lester and Mrs. Mapy Sabine L '~. uke. There were also baptized 1372Iiam Nooton John.~on, Mary J. Johnaon, .~Iine Johnson Hollarn (from the membership of the Friend's Church), Cedric N. Johnaon, Faye Johnson, Mary Patricia Hollarn, Jean Hollarn, Sara W. Kee~ Lea VanMcMullen, Lester LaDuke and Mary Sabine LaDuke. -5- There were received into membership bv Letter from other churches: Dr. W.A. M/ller and lk~-s. W.A. Miller, First Presbyterian, Pensacola, Florida. Mrs. F. Gertrude Prathsr, Miss Sarah McFarland and Miss Ruth McFarland, Homewood Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Permsvtvania. Mrs. Margaret C. Livingston Smith, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Ohio, through the Methodist Church, Delray Florida. NOs. Kate H. Glass, Methodist Church, Dekay, Florida, through the Presbyterian Church, Detroit, Michigan. Mr. L.F. Ranson, Mrs. (L.F.) Marion Ranson, Dr. Roy Webb, and Mrs. Roy Webb, First Methodist Church, Delray, Florida. Mr. George H. Gray, Mu's. George H. Gray, and Miss Edith Christine Gray, First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. J.W. Orr, Fkst Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Mrs. Elizabeth Ely Orr, Fkst Presbyterian Church, Perinsville, New Jersey. 4~ Mr. Edward T. Page and .Mrs. Edward Page, First Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Mary Rebecca Taylor, Presb3rterian Church of Jeffersontowrk Kentucky. Mr. I.F. Vernon, First Presbyterian Church, Irwin, Tennessee. Mr. Frank Burnside Kingsbury, Surry Congegational Church, Surry, New Hampshire. Mrs. Insie Viola Nichols, Presbyterian Church, Glassport, Pennsylvania. Mr. J.M. Spencer, M. rs. Ruby Snow Spencer and Miss Frances Marion Spencer, First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Mrs. Weston Chivers of First Con~egafional Church, Lake Worth, Flor/da. Mr. Neil M. Chrichton and Mrs. Joan Chrichton of Presbyterian Church, Monticello, New York. · Mrs. Mag~e Wood of First Presbyterian Church, Grenada, Mississippi. Mr. W*flliam N. Johnaon, Mrs. Mary J. Johnson and Mrs. Aline Johnson Hollarn of West Richmond Friend's Church, Richmond Indiana_ (This account of the histou; has been typed from the handwritten records written by Margaret Livingston Smith in a "Record" book.) -6- Articles of Incorpor~lion Article I The name of this incorporation shall be The First Presb.xxerian Church of Delray, Florida. Article II The principles on which this church is founded and associated are those truths of the Holy Scripture and that Ecclesiastical order and discipline which are set forth in the Constitution and Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United Stares of.america. Article ITl The officers of the church shall be a Pastor and a Session of ruling Elders of not fewer than four (five?) or not more than nine, one of whom shall be elected at the Amuual Congregational Meeting, and all vacancies then filled. The duties of the Pastor and his Session are the pastoral care and the public instruction of the people, which are set forth in the Bible and in the Book of Discipline of the Presbyterian Church. The church may also provide for a Board of Deacons of not fewer than three, one of whom shall be elected at the Annual Con~egational Ivl~--.ting and all vacancies then filled, and whose duties are also defined in the word of God and the Book of Discipline of the chin-ch_ Article IV Section I - The officers of the Corporation shall be a Board of Trustees of five in number, one of whom shall be elected at each cong'regational m~-dng, which meeting shall be held on the second Sabbath in February, and of which meeting due notice shall be g-iven fi.om the pulpit. Section II - All voting at the Con_m-e__~_.fional Meeting, at which the Pastor shall preside, shall be by ballot, whether it be for officers of the church or corporation, unless ordered by two-thirds of the members present at such meeting. Section III - The Trustees shal/hold office each five years, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed. In case of Yacancy by resi_m2~ork the remaining members shall have power to fill the vacancy so caused. Section IV - The dudes of the Trust~ shall be the care of the property of the corporation and the raisiug and overseeing of finances of same, as well as those duties prescribed by the laws of the state of Florida governing Trustees of incorporate bodi~. They are also empowered to contract debts in the interest of the corporation not to exceed the sum of $1,000 and which shall not already be provided for by subscriptions, and to _~ve their note or a mortgage upon the property of the con~egation, for which note or mortgage the property shall be duty holden in law. Section V - Since the church is a pe~'-"_m.l organization,, the Trustees elected, or their successors shall each hold office perpetually. (These Aazicles of Incorporation have been ~.-pe.d from the handwriting of Margaret Livingston Smith as written in her "Record" book.) -7- TO: DAVID T. HARDEN, CITY MANAGER THRU: DIANE DOMINGUEZ, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR ~/~¢ ~~ F R O M: P ATRICIA CAY CE, HIST O RIC PRESERVATI O NPL ANNE SUBJECT: MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, '1999 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE THE FELLOWSHIP HALL OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH TO THE LOCAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. Constructed in 1924 in the Mediterranean Revival architectural style, this was the first church to be built east of the Intracoastal Waterway. Located at 36 Bronson Street one block south of East Atlantic Avenue, the structure was originally the sanctuary for the congregation known as the Gibson Memorial Baptist church. It was purchased by the Presbyterian congregation in 1928 and was renamed the Community Presbyterian Church. It remained the Presbyterian sanctuary until their new church was constructed in 1977 at 33 Gleason Street, just to the west of the subject property. After the construction of the new sanctuary, the building became the congregation's Fellowship Hall. The building is noted for its symmetrical front facade, which consists of an arched entranceway with large double doors flanked by fluted pilasters crowned with an impressive cornice. Square bell towers with domed roofs anchor the two front corners. A decorative curved parapet, with a molding trimmed cap, connects the bell towers. The building was designed and built by Fred J. Shrader who established a contracting business in the City in 1911. His inspiration came from a church he had seen in Florence, Italy, however the lack of exterior embellishment gives the building a strong resemblance to the Mission style churches brought to the southwest by the Spanish explorers. A garden, accessible through doors on the north wall of the building, is included in the designation. The building has recently undergone extensive repair and restoration, which will insure its structural integrity for generations to come. The Historic Preservation Board considered this item at a Public Hearing on October 20, 1999. After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to recommend historic designation to the City Commission. By motion, approve the ordinance designating the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Lots 16,17,18 & 19, Block 3, Ocean Park Subdivision to the Local Register of Historic Places. Attachment: Designation Report ?~ l~''r' ~ File/s/pz/hpb/fellowhip-cc ~ ~- ~ HI STO RI C PR ES E R:V~A,,,T:~.I O~N~ B~O~:~iR:ii' :" ~'' ~' : ''~ '~' ~ Project Name: Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. ~'~ ,~'~,~-'~ ~';'-~ Project Location: Lo~ 16, 17, 18, & ~9 of Block 3, Ocean Park Subdivision. ITE:M BEFORE~:~H . The action requested of the Board was that of conducting a Public Hearing to allow the public to comment on a proposal to have the Fellowship Hall of the First Presb~erian Church designated as a local historic site. Based on an analysis of ~he designation repoA and testimony presented at the meeting, the Board considered a recommendation to the City Commission as to the Fellowship Hall designation in the Local Register of Historic Places. ~ A g T I O N TA KEN Y THE: BO A R D: ~:~? ~;g~ To quali~ as an historic site the prope~y must fulfill one or more of the criteria set foAh in Section 4.5.1(B)(2) or (3) of the LDRs. After conducting the public hearing, the Board found that the nomination fulfilled four of the designation criteria for the Fellowship Hall as follows: Section 4.5.1 (B)(2) (d) Exemplifies the historical, political, cultural, economic, or social trends of the community in histo~; (e) Is associated in a significant way with a past or continuing institution, which has contributed substantially to the life of the City. Section 4.5.1 (B)(3) (a) Po~rays the environment in an era of histo~ characterized by one or more distinctive architectural styles; (b) Embodies those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, period, or method of construction. A le~er is on file from Margaret W. Bowen, Clerk of Session of the First Presb~erian Church of Delray Beach, requesting the designation. No one from the public spoke against the recommendation to nominate Fellowship Hall to the Local Register of Historic Places. Meeting Date: October 20, ~999 Agenda Item: III-A HPB Findings Fellowship Hall Historic Designation- Page 2 Based upon positive findings to LDR Section 4.5.1(B)(2)(d)&(e) and 4.5.1(B)(3)(a) &(b), Criteria for Designation, the Board voted to recommend to the City Commission that Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, Lots 16,17,18 and 19, Block 3, Ocean Park Subdivision, be listed, by ordinance, in the Local Register of Historic Places. The recommendation is to be transmitted to the City Commission at the next available meeting. File/s/hpb/fellowship hall-ff First Pr sbTt rian Chureh 33 Gleason Street '~, Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (561) 276-6338 October 15, 1998 THEODORE~BUSH, Ph.D. SENIOR PASTOR JOAH LEROYABELL, M.R.E. ASSOCIATE PASTOR Mrs. Pat Cayce Historical Preservation Planner City of Delray Beach, Florida Dear Mrs. Cayce, Mrs. Nancy Young, an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, has asked me to write to you concerning our Fellowship Hall being recognized as an historical site by the City of Delray Beach. Last winter a feasibility study was made concerning the status of Fellowship Hall which was in dire need of repairs. This building was built in 1924 for the Gibson Memorial Baptist Church by Frank J. Schrader. In 1928 the Baptists could no longer support their church and returned it to Mr. Schrader. Starting in the fall of 1928 the Presbyterians rented it from Mr. Schrader and then purchased it in 1929. Mrs. Young was asked to do the research and write the history of this uniquely designed building. In doing so the Session also decided that the building warranted restoration. It was felt that this 1924 building is worthy of being designated an historical site. The history of the growth of the Presbyterian Church and the city itself become a closely knit story. Fellowship Hall stands today as an example of the type of construction typical of Flo- rida and Delray Beach in the early 1920s. It was the first church east of the waterway, and it has been involved in the growth and development of the city. We would be honored to have you consider our request of having this "most Floridian Church in Florida" recognized as an hist- orical site. Most sincerely, Margaret W. Bowen, Clerk of Session (Mrs. James L. Bowen)