Odd Fellows Hall
Dublin Core
Title
Odd Fellows Hall
92 Washington Street, St. Augustine, Fla. 32084
Subject
St. Sebastian Lodge #3117
Odd Fellows Hall
Description
The eastern section of Dumas Tract Subdivision, the genesis of Lincolnville, is bounded on the north by Bridge Street, and 18th century thoroughfare which led to one of three late colonial San Sebastian River ferry crossing. The subdivision also is in the vicinity of the early 18th century Indian village of Palica. The tract evolved out of two early 19th century Spanish land grants to Bartolo Juarez and Gaspar Papy, a prosperous Greek merchant who came to St. Augustine from New Smyrna in 1777. Both soon developed some of the first commercial orange groves in Florida. [1] By the late 1830's, the grants were consolidated by Peter Sken Smith, a prominent Territorial period land speculator, who subdivided much of the tract and commenced selling lots. The economic depression of the 1840's ended attempts to develop the areas on the fringes of the old city, and by 1840 Phillip Weedman and Peter Dumas, county clerk and post-Civil War leader of the Florida Radical Republicans, acquired most of the property formerly belonging to Smith. [2] After the war, the community of Africa soon developed on the marshes of Maria Sanchez Creek as newly freed Blacks began renting the property from the city. Africa, later called Lincolnville, extended along the banks of the Creek and by the early 1870's, Blacks began buying lots and building homes along Central Avenue and Benedict Street. Construction along Oneida and Bridge Streets commenced later in the decade. By 1885, Lincolnville, was a rapidly growing Black community, although some Whites lived along Bridge Street next to Craddock Hotel. The eastern edge of Lincolnville, Washington Street, became a prosperous Black commercial district in the first several decades of the 20th century. By that time, Lincolnville had extended beyond its original boundaries into adjacent areas, particularly Genovar and Atwood Tract Subdivisions. Today Lincolnville generally refers to the all Black neighborhoods in the southwest peninsula. [3]
Over the years the building at 92 Washington Street has been used for several purposes. The first floor was occupied by a furniture store and the Odd Fellows hall was on the second and third floors. Originally the Odd Fellows met in a building across the street on Washington. [4] The first floor was also used as the Lincolnville Theatre, owned by Fred A. Sutton between 1914 and 1918, and in the 1930's by Dr. Thomas G. Freeland, a Black physician who had his offices here at one time. [5] Hyman Tarlinksy, whose family was the proprieter of Cosy Inn, originally the Lorillard Villa, and his wife Gittel operated a grocery store at this address. [6] Today the building is owned by the St. Sebastian Lodge, No 3117. [7]
Over the years the building at 92 Washington Street has been used for several purposes. The first floor was occupied by a furniture store and the Odd Fellows hall was on the second and third floors. Originally the Odd Fellows met in a building across the street on Washington. [4] The first floor was also used as the Lincolnville Theatre, owned by Fred A. Sutton between 1914 and 1918, and in the 1930's by Dr. Thomas G. Freeland, a Black physician who had his offices here at one time. [5] Hyman Tarlinksy, whose family was the proprieter of Cosy Inn, originally the Lorillard Villa, and his wife Gittel operated a grocery store at this address. [6] Today the building is owned by the St. Sebastian Lodge, No 3117. [7]
the three-story Masonry Vernacular building at 92 Washington Street was constructed in 1908. It originally had a two-story balcony overhanging Washington Street. The first floor was a furniture store and the second and third served as the Odd Fellows Hall. The 1917 Sanborn shows a motion picture theatre on the first floor, but the 1924 and 1930 maps only indicated the Odd Fellows Hall. The exterior of the building is covered with stucco and bricks, and there are brick arches over the windows. The building is similar to the old cigar factory buildings, particularly the Solla-Carcaba Factory on Riberia Street.
The Lincolnville area first developed along Washington Street after the Civil War. But the development that preceeded its heyday took place in the Flagler era. the 1885 Birdseye view of St. Augustine shows churches and small residences scattered along the banks of Maria Sanchez Creek. The 1894 Birdseye shows the Creek filled in, where the Ponce De Leon and Alcazar Hotels and Ponce De Leon Barracks were built. By this time several commercial buildings had been constructed along Washington Street. By the early 20th century it played the role of "Main Street" in Lincolnville. It has long been an area of combined usages-- residential buildings shared the street with churches, commercial, and fraternal buildings. Many buildings along the street have combined usages as well with commercial first floors and residential second floors. Washington Street has some of the city's few surviving wooden Victorian commercial structures. Earlier buildings along the street are wood frame. Later ones are masonry. There are problems of deterioration, abandonment, vandalism, and demolition of buildings along Washington Street. in recent years the Lincolnville Restoration and Development Commission has worked to reverse these trends. They encouraged the city to put in a new street and sidewalks to deal with a serious drainage problem. The street, though it has lost many distinctive features over the years, still retains a suggestion of the overhang, whether porch, balcony or awning, that once contributed to the distinctive look of the street, and might be easily restored. Washington Street is adjacent to the downtown area of St. Augustine, and the towers of the Ponce De Leon and Alcazar Hotels loom over the street from the north.
The Lincolnville area first developed along Washington Street after the Civil War. But the development that preceeded its heyday took place in the Flagler era. the 1885 Birdseye view of St. Augustine shows churches and small residences scattered along the banks of Maria Sanchez Creek. The 1894 Birdseye shows the Creek filled in, where the Ponce De Leon and Alcazar Hotels and Ponce De Leon Barracks were built. By this time several commercial buildings had been constructed along Washington Street. By the early 20th century it played the role of "Main Street" in Lincolnville. It has long been an area of combined usages-- residential buildings shared the street with churches, commercial, and fraternal buildings. Many buildings along the street have combined usages as well with commercial first floors and residential second floors. Washington Street has some of the city's few surviving wooden Victorian commercial structures. Earlier buildings along the street are wood frame. Later ones are masonry. There are problems of deterioration, abandonment, vandalism, and demolition of buildings along Washington Street. in recent years the Lincolnville Restoration and Development Commission has worked to reverse these trends. They encouraged the city to put in a new street and sidewalks to deal with a serious drainage problem. The street, though it has lost many distinctive features over the years, still retains a suggestion of the overhang, whether porch, balcony or awning, that once contributed to the distinctive look of the street, and might be easily restored. Washington Street is adjacent to the downtown area of St. Augustine, and the towers of the Ponce De Leon and Alcazar Hotels loom over the street from the north.
Creator
Nolan, David
Cozad, Ashley
Source
Florida Master Site File
Publisher
Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board
Date
11/1978
Identifier
8SJ2325
Citation
Nolan, David and Cozad, Ashley , “Odd Fellows Hall,” Resilience: Black Heritage in St. Augustine, accessed April 18, 2024, https://blackheritagestaugustine.omeka.net/items/show/185.