Seagull Cottage is the oldest home in West Palm Beach. It was built in 1886 by Denver railroad developer R.R. McCormick. First called McCormick's cottage he built the staircase with mahogany from a ship wreck and stained glass.
Henry Flagler was quite taken with pictures of it remarking when he first saw it "Why, I didn't know there was anything that beautiful south of Rockledge." Flagler purchased it to live in during the winter with his wife until Whitehall was completed in 1902. When Henry owned it it was called Croton Cottage for all of the crotons that were growing around it.
When Henry Flagler moved out it was owned by a railroad executive. In 1913 it was named Seagull Cottage and moved to the ocean where it became a guest cottage for the Breakers and sat in anonymity until the 1980's.
In 1982 former mayor Earl E.T. Smith heard the cottage was going to be demolished so he purchased it for $1 and paid $80,000 to move it to within 300 yards of it's original location. Overseen by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach from 1984 to 1986, $600,000 was spent restoring it to it's 1886 aesthetic.
Today the cottage is part of the Royal Poinciana Chapel on Cocoanut Row. I have passed the church many times before turning into Whitehall and never knew the cottage was here. The historical mark is facing the lake trail. It is within steps of Whitehall. It's a shame that is not a part of the Flagler museum. The house was used as a Parrish house and today is only used for Sunday school or community events. There are no private tours. The downstairs has a salon, dining room and sitting room and the house is filled with period pieces including Victorian wall paper and a 120 year old mirror. A larger hall was built to meet the needs of the church so the future fate of the house is still to be decided. read more