January 22nd, 2010
Nassau Park…Historic District…Delray Beach…Florida…
Back in November, when I was visiting Delray I noticed that Historic Markers were around different areas of this Village by the Sea. I was so glad to see them. Delray Beach has wonderful neighborhoods and within those, are very unique homes and buildings erected when life was maybe more laid back; the buildings with more bones and character.
One of the streets that caught my eye was Nassau Street. Great little street with easy walking access to the beach. Here is its story.
Nassau Park is Delray’s first locally designated Historic District. It spans 2 blocks along Nassau St., from South Ocean Blvd. to Venetian. It is approx. 3 blocks south of Atlantic Ave. 
In 1935, a newspaper ad for Ray-Del Realty Co. described Nassau Park as “West Indian Charm along Delray Shores.” It was originally named Jo-Jo Avenue, then renamed Nassau Street by developer R.C. McNeil, who commissioned architect Sam Ogren, Sr. to design the first house in 1935 and 1941. Sam Ogren, Sr. was Delray’s first registered architect. He designed residential and commercial buildings; among them the Delray High School built in 1925. It is now part of the Old School Square. He was also a classical pianist.
The cottages built are in the Colonial Cape Cod Revival Style. This style incorporated architectural detailing from early wooden folk houses of Eastern Massachusetts. The original 18 houses, built then, have dominant architectural elements like accentuated front doors with overhead fanlights, and carved wood details.
Nassau Street evokes a time during the 1930s when the “winter colony” relaxed in discreet, small scale cottages surrounded by natural beauty. “The district recalls the prosperity, pleasure, and style; the essense of the 1930 resort life in Delray.” A vital element in the aesthetics of the historic streetscape is the natural topography.
In 1988, the City of Delray Beach gave this street its Historic District designation. “The scale, dimension, and proportion of these modest homes are irreplaceable.”
It is a Florida Heritage site sponsored by the City of Delray Beach, the Delray Historical Society and the Florida Dept. of State.
For more information please visit www.mydelray.com.
There are 5 Historic Districts listed in the Local Register of Historic Places:
Old School Square, Nassau Park, Del-Ida, Marina District and West Settlers
There are also 26 individual listed properties that date from the late 19th century to the present.
Please note that the Delray Beach Preservation Trust-Historic Marker Project has placed these plaques at sites that are of historical and visual interest to visitors. Please visit www.mydelraybeach.com and on the home page select Planning and Zoning under Departments and check Historic Preservation for more information.
To me, having property in Delray Beach, means that I want to learn more about this great beach town that some years ago was once almost forgotten and thanks to the City and its people, this Village by the Sea is a South Florida destination for its restaurants, fairs, shops and friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It gave me joy to see those Historic Markers and the recognition they represent.
Note: Information was taken from the Historic Marker, and the Delray Beach Preservation Trust.
Please visit the Delray Beach Historical Society located at 3 NE 1st St., Delray Beach, FL 33444. For archives’ tours please call 561-274-9578 and for group tours of the Society please call 561-243-2577. Website is www.db-hs.org.
I arrived in Delaware but not before celebrating at the PBI airport where Southwest was hosting its 9th birthday with cake and balloons. See you soon….Cooking class tomorrow.
Tags: Delray Beach, Florida, Palm Beach County, South Florida
