Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that six additional Florida properties have recently been listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
“I am pleased to announce the addition of six Florida properties on the National Register of Historic Places,†said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “These newly listed sites stretch from Pensacola to Miami, and represent homes, entertainment venues, and commerce and tourist sites that reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of our state.â€
The Marzoni House, at 714 La Rua Street in Pensacola, is an exceptional example of Queen Anne Style architecture. The three-story home with an octagonal tower was built in 1890, and by 1900 had doubled in size to include a new two-story porch. The interior finishes and ornamental wood work feature fluted door and window trim with rosette blocks at the corners, decorative wood wall and door panels, wide chair rails and picture rails, and a beaded screen between the foyer and parlor. The home is currently a bed and breakfast.
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, in St. Augustine, St. John’s County, is a historic tourist destination developed by Walter B. Fraser in the 1930s. The park was founded on the history of the 1513 landing of Don Juan Ponce de Leon and his legendary search for eternal youth. A well whose water is said to reflect this story has been enclosed by the Spring House and attracts numerous visitors. The development of the site is closely associated with the history of the tourism industry in St. Augustine, and it is still open as a tourist attraction today.
The Sydonie Mansion in Zellwood, Orange County, is an outstanding example of Mediterranean Revival style architecture. This three story mansion was constructed in 1904 as a winter home for James H. Laughlin, Jr., and his wife Sydney Ford (Page) Laughlin for whom the house was named. Laughlin’s father, James H. Laughlin, Sr., was a wealthy banker, manufacturer, philanthropist, and steel executive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sydonie Mansion was designed by Grosvenor Atterbury (1869-1956), a well-known American architect and urban planner, and architect Edgar Vigners Seeler (1867-1929). The design of the house was said to have been inspired by the Alhambra Castle in Spain. The property included sculpted gardens with rare plants from around the world, as well as citrus groves, a dairy farm, a power plant and a bowling alley. The home has been lovingly restored and is now open for weddings and events.
The Scott Commercial Building in Sarasota, Sarasota County, is a modern style building constructed in 1960 by William Rupp. The Scott Building is representative of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a regional movement of mid-century modern architecture that developed on South Florida’s gulf through the work of a group of skilled designers. A one-story rectangular building with stucco exterior, large picture windows, flat roof, and large extending concrete rafter beams, the building footprint covers 10,066 square feet. The Scott Building has been fully restored by a partnership including Sarasota County, University of Florida School of Architecture, and the Center for Architecture Sarasota.
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, is historically significant for its association with tourism development and promoting fishing. The Palm Beach Fishing Club was founded in 1934, and the clubhouse, built in 1940, is still used for this purpose today. The club continues to play a role in conserving aquatic populations through cooperative game fish tagging, catch & release of all billfish, deploying an artificial reef off the coast of Florida and sponsoring educational programs for adults, children and students on resource conservation and angling techniques.
The Ace Theatre in Miami, Miami-Dade County, was built c.1930 and is historically significant for its association with the social, cultural and economic development of the African-American section of Coconut Grove and Miami. Built during America’s Jim Crow era, the theater provided entertainment for black communities throughout Miami-Dade County. The Ace is one of the last remaining theaters built, owned and/or operated by Wometco Enterprises (formerly the Wolfson-Meyer Theatre Company) that has not been repurposed. Future plans include restoration of the theatre as a multi-use entertainment facility.
For more information about the National Register of Historic Places program administered by the National Park Service, visit nps.gov/nr.