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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-04-14 Analysis (Evening Times)NORTH PALM BEACH PUBUC LIBRARY By CHAUNCEY MABE Times Staff `Writer "R NORTH PALM BEACH — City of- ficials and concerned local residents are swinging into action this week to save the Oakes Building, the oldest structure in North Palm Beach, and the village's connection to many of the colorful men who made its histo- ry. The Oakes Building is the big Spanish -style building at the North Palm Beach Country Club on U.S. 1 just south of the Intracoastal bridge. Although it is almost -obscured by the large trees growing in front of:', it, the building is a site used, daily and a local landmark for thousands. of north county residents. In addition to being a landmark and a historical touchstone, the building is also an irreplatable ex- ample of the old Spanish type of ar- chetecture which enjoyed a velgue in South Florida earlier this century. What places the building in danger of demolition is that although it looks massive and solid as a moun tain, in reality beneath its facade cance of the building and if we don't restore it we'll lose a valuable con- nection with our past," said Ray Howland, assistant village manager. "The village council has made a de- cision toattempt. preservation. "On the other hand, restoration costs are very high — a half million dollars is the rock bottom and it'll take more like $1 million to accom- plish a pristine restoration," How- land said. "We have to ask our- selves, is it worth $1 million to preserve this part of our history?" According to Howland, who is an 1 The Evening Times, Monday, April 14, 1980-C7 it'S just a frame wooden structure and after 50 years of use and disuse the. building is slowly deteriorating. In 1978 the building was con- demned for occupational purposes and it,, has received very little use since then. Because it occupies a strategic spot at the country club, it authority on the history of the build- ing, the Oakes Building was built in 1926 by Harry Kelsey, the mil- ' lianaire developer responsible for creating Kelsey City, better known as Lake Park. Howland has been working closely with Martha Nadelman, official vil- lage historian, on a project that may help the village preserve the build- ing. The two have put together an application to have the building de- signated a historical landmark ands placed on the National Historic Reg- istry, which would make it eligible: for federal funds for restoration. When Kelsey built the structure it was the first building in the area to become known as North Palm Beach; Kelsey intended it to be a "promotional show place" for his Kelsey City development, according to Howland. "At that time people brought boats up to. U.S. 1," Howland said. "At the official opening of the build- ing many of the people from Palm Beach came. Al Jolson sang. It was quite an affair." The structure was partially de- stroyed by the hurricane of 1928 that took more than 2,000 lives in Palm Beach County. That was the same year the bottom fell out of. the Florida land boom and Kelsey's plans for a city named after himself lost momentum. In 1955, the building was bought by Sir Harry Oakes, from whom it de- rives its modern name. Oakes, a colorful adventurer from Maine who found gold in Canada and was knighted by the king of England af- ter donating $500,000 to English'hos- pitals in World War I, used the building primarily as a vacation home. Oakes, incidentally, was colorful: to his death; he was murdered in the Bahamas in 1953, and the murder is still unsolved. 0 has been a center of attention in the village for several years. Many people recognize the historical sig- nificance of the building and would like to see it saved, but the cost of restoring it is too high for the vil- lage to attempt on its own. I recognize the historic signifi- The building was accompameu oy a golf course all along; Kelsey in- stalled a nine hole course when the building was erected. Later, how- ever, the Ross Brothers, of golf course archecture fame, bought the building and the course and com- pletely redesigned the course and expanded it to 18 holes. Bankers Life and Casualty Co. owned the golf course and building last, giving it a connection to anoth- er colorful figure, billionaire :John D. MacArthur. The village of North Palm Beach bought the property in 1961 and con- verted it into a municipal facility, paying $1,025,000 for it and spending another $400,000 for a new clubhouse and swimming pool. Howland and Mrs. Nadelman will be going to Gainsville Thursday to plead the case of the Oakes Building before a special committee that will later make recommendations to Congress whether the building should be included on the National Registry: Howland thinks the build- ing stands a good chance. "By . comparison there are some newer buildings in the area that have been included, such as the Par- amount Theater in Palm Beach. Plus we've carefully prepared all the paper work and come up with a good application. I think we have a good chance." Unfortunately, with' President Carter calling for an austere 1981 federal budget, .the building may not get any funds for restoration even if it becomes eligible. "If the building doesn't get a 'fa- ' vorable recommendation it will probably be the end of the building because I doubt if the taxpayers would be willing to rehabilitate the building to the tune of $500,000," Howland said. "If it does get a fa- gorable recommendation and federal 'funds aren't readily available, I .'would recommend we budget some money for the most necessary re- pairs to protect the building and seek other sources of financial aide, such as private foundation grants."