I love this little marker buried in a residential neighborhood and standing in front of a classic…read moreold church. It points out the local history of the immediate vicinity. There was a time I lived in Delray Beach and never knew all of this, so it's nice to see all of this added. The marker has the same text on both sides, reading "Old School Square Historic District is named for its focal point, the Old School Square Complex at 51 North Swinton Avenue which is made up of the circa 1913 Vernacular style Delray School designed by J.M. Cromer, the city's first separate high school, and the original gymnasium. Both the high school and gymnasium were designed circa 1926 in the Mediterranean Revival style by architect Sam Ogren, Sr. Ogren also designed several Mediterranean Revival structures along NE 1st Avenue, otherwise known as Banker's Row. Two-story Mediterranean Revival residences of the 1920s are on the west side of Banker's Row while one-story Minimal Traditional cottages of the 1930s line the east side. Architectural styles throughout the historic district include Vernacular, Bungalow, and Mission and Mediterranean Revival styles dating between 1902 and 1945. The Old School Square Historic District contains approximately 15 blocks around the town's geographic center. District boundaries span south to SE 2nd Street and north to NE 4th Street with NE and NW 1st Avenues to the east and west. The City of Delray Beach locally designated the Old School Square Historic District in 1988." This is marker F-669 and it was erected in 2009 by The City of Delray Beach and the Florida Department of State. You can park in the church parking lot to read the marker. [Review 987 of 2024 - 1863 in Florida - 22015 overall]

I love how the city of Delray beach embraces its history. They have several historic districts with…read moremarkers through the city so you can learn more about how the city was created out of pineapple plantations and has now transformed into a premier vacation destination. Delray Beach's largest historic district is the Old School Square Historic District. It was created from the Delray Elementary built in 1913 on the corner of Swinton and Atlantic Avenues for grades one through twelve and the 1925 Delray High School which was built just north of the elementary building. The last graduation in the high school building was held in 1949 and by the mid 1980's, the Palm Beach School District had abandoned both buildings. The Delray Beach Historical Society gathered together concerned citizens and spearheaded an effort to restore the buildings in order to help a struggling downtown. Old School Square was locally designated in 1988 by the City of Delray Beach. In 1990 the elementary school opened as the Cornell Museum of Art and the Crest Theater opened in the former high school in 1993. Other historic buildings in this district include the 1902 turn of the century frame architecture Sundy House that was home to Delray Beach's first mayor, John S. Sundy, who served for seven terms. The building is now a bed and breakfast and restaurant/event space. Two of the cities oldest churches also reside in this district, the 1904 St. Paul's Episcopal Church and the 1903 Methodist Church. The restoration of the buildings did revitalize Atlantic Avenue as was envisioned. On the street there are many restaurants, shops, and galleries. Just off Atlantic is the Pineapple Arts District and a brand new food hall. On any given weekend you can see the street full with locals and tourists dining on the street at outdoor cafes. Still some signs of struggle remain. Doc's All American, a historic hamburger and hot dog stand remains closed while the city figures out a way to bring it back or develop something new. If you visit right now there is a giant Christmas tree that you can walk through set up in Old School Square while the during the weekend, Old School Square is the site of an excellent weekly farmer's market in the winter. I love the architecture and history of this section of Delray Beach. There is always something going on. It is one of my favorite places in south Florida to visit.

I discovered this 1921 Neoclassical gem while driving through downtown West Palm Beach. It was such…read morea beautiful reminder of a bygone era that I had to learn more about it. The story of how this building came to be here has its roots in the flu pandemic of 1918 which killed an estimated 675,000 people in the United States that year. When Florida established a Board of Health in 1889 there were only 390,000 non indigenous people living in Florida, mainly north of Fort Pierce. As Florida grew, the population was at risk from malaria, cholera, dengue fever, yellow fever, smallpox, and even black plague. Henry Flagler became concerned that developers would not be able to sell lots in Florida if it had a reputation of being infested by disease. Dr. Joseph Y. Porter rose to the forefront of public health safety as Florida's first director of the State Board of Health from 1889 to 1917. Under Porter small pox and yellow fever were brought under control through his study of epidemiology. He also lowered the risk of death from Spanish flu. Porter eventually resigned because of clashes with Governor Catts. Upon Porter's departure Catts cleaned house in the State Board of Health and under the threat of Spanish Flu he signed a bill to create six new state laboratories. At the time West Palm Beach had fewer than 8,500 residents but it received this laboratory thanks to Joseph Earman who was editor of The Palm Beach Post from 1913 to 1920 and who also was well connected politically. Despite Catts not liking him because he wrote an unflattering article about him, Earman was appointed to the three member Board of Health which recommended the six sites where the labs would be built. On Dec. 7, 1920, The Palm Beach Post announced that the E. H. Barto Construction Company, recently relocated from Saskatchewan, Canada, to Kelsey City, now Lake Park, Florida would be building the State Health Laboratory designed by Pensacola architect Walker D. Willis at 415 5 Street, in downtown West Palm Beach. It was located across from Flagler's FEC train station so that it could receive medical supplies and samples. The railroad station was demolished in the 1950's. The building contract amount was $34,700 and payment was contingent on finishing in four moths. They finished in 100 days by working three shifts, seven days a week. Over 100 years later the building is still standing. In 2018 it became West Palm Beach's first landmarked building. Today it is part of Seacoast Bank but to me it stands as a reminder of how far health care and West Palm Beach has come.

Shops are opened & a plethora of restaurants are hopping. I'm back again to explore this 40-acre…read moremixed-use district in the heart of West Palm Beach. The Nora Hotel, a 201-key boutique property anchoring the vibrant heart of the NORA District is scheduled to open this autumn. This hotel is in the heart of NORA's walkable, art-filled neighborhood. The Nora House just breaking ground 117 multi million dollar luxury condominiums here. There is free on street parking, free lots and five dollar all day valet. The hotel Loco Taco & Oyster Bar, Juliana's Pizza, Del Mar, H&H Bagels, all-day-cafe and coffee shop, Sunday Motor Co., ice cream shop, Van Leeuwen, Celis Juice Bar, ZenHippo, IGK Salons, Sana Skin Studio, mint women's boutique, Pompanos and Le Labo Fragrances are officially now open in the North Railroad Avenue District.

NORA is short for North Railroad Avenue. It is a mixed use development that was built at the…read morehistoric Flagler Railroad Station site. In the late 1880's industrialist Henry Flagler built the Florida East Coast Railway. A gritty forty acre warehouse area developed facing the railway in the 1920's. These warehouses served as a central hub for railway trade near the Good Samaritan Medical Center. Beginning in 2018, investors began buying up the old warehouses, boarded-up properties and vacant sites in this area located just north of downtown West Palm Beach. They designed the district around North Railroad Avenue, the area's western boundary and the district's designated Main Street. A billion dollar complex of sleek, modern buildings for retail, restaurants, residences, and offices was then constructed. Lining the district's sidewalks are railroad ties, a nod to the nearby railway that brought business and tourists to South Florida. Not everything is open but there was enough to peak my interest. Parking was free which I love. I browsed the art at Carousel Fine Art, ate at Juliana's Pizza, and had ice cream at Van Leeuwen. NORA has a few beauty and wellness services and I want to come back for breakfast at the Sunday Motor Co. Cafe. In the fall of this year the 201-room Nora Hotel is set to open with a rooftop pool and bar. An 11-story, 350-unit apartment complex along 10th Street at North Railroad Avenue is also being constructed. This is a cool area that as it develops is worth keeping an eye on.

I came across this very nice park while traveling through the area for a tag sale. The park serves…read moreWest Gate, an unincorporated area of West Palm Beach named for its geographical location as the westernmost gateway to West Palm Beach. Platted in 1921, it is one of the oldest subdivisions in Palm Beach County. I stopped at the park to explore and walk around for exercise. West Gate Park and Recreation Center is managed by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. In the late 2000's, the Recreation Center opened with a gymnasium, meeting rooms, and a game room. The center offers neighborhood sports, camps, and community events. In the spring of 2016, a splash pad was added to the park. Also scattered throughout the ten-and-a-half-acre park are a playground, soccer field, picnic pavilion, basketball courts, multipurpose field, and 10-piece outdoor fitness equipment. Adjacent to the parking lot is a fenced in wetlands area. I appreciated the layout of the park and the large trees that provide shade. The spacious grounds allow for sports, gatherings, and recreation. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Photos of Splash pad, turf, pavilion, tables etc…read more Updated park, rental through wpb parks

This vernacular frame structure is the oldest home in Boynton Beach. The house was built in 1907 by…read moreBert L. Kapp, a Dutchman who moved to Boynton from Michigan. He sold the house to A.E. Parker, Major Nathan S. Boynton's son-in-law. The house then passed into the possession of Charles Lee Andrews, a Confederate Civil War veteran and his 42 year younger wife Katie. When Katie passed away in 1971 she was still collecting her husbands Civil War veteran benefits. She was the last person to collect them in Palm Beach. Katie's son and daughter inherited the house and after her son passed away and his widow moved out it deteriorated. In 1998 Boynton resident Bob Katz bought the house and restored it. He had the house moved to the lot next door. He passed away at the age of 50 leaving the ownership of the house without a resolution. I saw the house during the Pirate and Mermaid Festival. It was decorated for Halloween and singers were performing from the porch. It's such a cute house and an important part of Boynton Beach's history. It would be wonderful if the city could gain ownership of it and open it up for tours.

At Via Mizner you will find twenty well-known shops and businesses as well as a small number of…read moreresidential apartments while walking through an alley way that has been beautifully maintained. We found this neighborhood on our way to eat brunch at Ramato's restaurant. I was fascinated by the European-type, pedestrian village with complex, charming and irregular buildings that house shops, offices and residences. Via Mizner is an interesting combination of Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture mixed with a touch of old Venice. The roofs are terracotta barrel tiles while the white stucco walls are punctuated with numerous, irregular shaped windows, wooden balconies, pecky-cypress accents and balustrades, many with decorative ironwork details. The staircases leading up to the residential units have risers made of colorful ceramic tiles. The palm trees reminds us of the tropical setting. This was a perfect photo opportunity for some great pictures for us besides a delicious brunch in an Italian style courtyard. I'm so glad that we got to experience this beautiful area!

Whoever manages this property does a very good job of maintaining it. Also, they always have fresh…read moreflowers I notice really awesome!

Community Centers are the heart of their community. They offer classes, exercise, can be rented out…read morefor events, and they can even give a helping hand through their many programs staffed by city employees. A good community center offers varied opportunities for its residents of all ages. A shining example of a great community center is the Wellington Community Center which is located in Wellington's Town Center, between Village Hall and the Aquatics Complex. The Wellington Community Center offers a variety of classes and programs for youth, adults, and seniors that include art, fitness, health and wellness, community education, and more. The community center also has both indoor and outdoor facilities which can be rented for private evens. One of my favorite things about this community center is the scenic views of Lake Wellington and the Town Center Promenade. I came to the Wellington Community Center for an art show by the African American artists known as The Highwaymen. They were a group of artists around the Fort Pierce area who quickly created Florida folk art featuring landscapes from oil paints on Uppson board used as roof sheeting. From 1950-1980 they would anonymously sell the art out of the trunks of their cars on A1A and US 1 from Daytona to Miami. At the time the art could be purchased inexpensively but the paintings have grown significantly in value. I love the nature scenes which are the subject of the paintings. Many feature blazing red Royal Poinciana trees, sunsets, and native birds. I love seeing Florida through their eyes. I was so pleased to attend this excellent and free art event at the Wellington Community Center.

I got to tell you about " Wellington's Community Center " free concerts on the lawn. Every Thursday…read morenight they have a Food Truck Extravaganza. They have bands come in and play live music. And these bands play like professionals. Well they are professional. Because, they get paid to play. And they travel to different events and play their music. I must say they are pretty good. Plus, Wellington Community Center have an amphitheater, and a professional team. That do the lighting, the sound and it's very professional. Also, it's a very friendly place and crowd. Just sitting on the lawn, listening to old school music. The bands play tribute to artists from the past. The food trucks are amazing, well the whole event is a great time and relaxing. Thank you to the Wellington Community Center for a great and relaxing evening! I give it a five (5) stars rating

The Palm Beach Gardens branch Library is a very large, spacious County library--and nicely laid…read moreout. After passing through the bathroom/book check-in entryway area and through the security panels, an inviting middle walkway lined with dvds invites one to browse. Modern comfortable seating - living-room style - provides an inviting space to chill and peruse one's findings. There is a 'local authors' section next to the security panels when you walk in, a nice touch. There is a room just for teenagers and young adult fiction; I would have loved this room if it had existed when I was a teenager! It includes tables and computers. Awesome for teens to have a 'safe' space away from adults and small children. The children's area is quite spacious, with a large entryway and open corridors between sections. The area is placed far from the regular library-goers so that children might squeal without disturbing too many patrons. It also features: lots of lights entering from windows, whimsical wooden bookcases and chairs, and a family bathroom (complete with child-size toilet and sink). The leather seating is pretty worn out, but otherwise the space is well-kept. The parking lot features a ton of parking spaces and a drive-through book drop-off.

This is a very large library, I love their large study rooms. I've been to other libraries that…read morehave a few study rooms, this one has. I think nine of them plus conference rooms that you can request or reserve. They have a very large children section, a separate teen area, and I love that they always have out recommendations of books or movies, and it usually follows a theme. The parking lot is well maintained too, but I wish there were more lights at night.