HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-10-24 Train Stop Brought Hum Of Business To Park Avenue (Sun Progress Edition)TRAIN STOP BROUGHT HUM OF BUSINESS TO PARK AVENUE
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SUN Progress Edition -
October 24, 1963 -
Left, this elaborate new bank was the first such commercial building to arrive in Kel-
sey City (Lake Park) back in 1923. Here, some officials including Charles Branch and
Max Winer are seen in front of the structure which was demolished a short time later
by a hurricane.
Old Park Avenue in Kelsey City days, circa 1925, appeared this way to a person
standing on the railroad tracks facing eastward. On the left of the photo some busi-
ness establishments have been identified as Western Union office, Kelsey City Mer-
cantile Co., owned by A. A. Poston; the Blue Goose Cafe, the Buick agency, Miss
Falconer's Coffee Shop, a barber shop, a real estate offic and a bank. On the right
or south side of the street, there is a drug store with overhead apartments at the site
now occupied by Tommy James' Park Avenue Bar, the old post office building which
still stands, and about three blocks east, the old arcade building which was the first
theater in Palm Beach County. This old photo is from the collection of A. A. Poston.
- SUN Progress Edition - October 24, 1963
OArEf T' pr It iDS BIRD F kR.,1 ND
Beginning way back in
1922 Lake Park was then
Kelsey City and was adver-
tised as the first "Zoned
City" in the United States.
Those double pillars up on
Old Dixie just past Kelsey
City Nurseries were erect-
ed by Harry S. Kelsey, city
founder.
A sign connecting the
posts reads, "W e lcome
Kelsey City, Gateway to
the World's Winter Play-
ground."
Talking to Mel Blakely,
we found that she and her
husband S. J. Blakely were
friends of Harry Kelsey
back in Egypt, Mass. In
1922 when Kelsey ran into
difficulties getting a nur-
sery started, he pleaded
with the Blakely's to come
down and assist him 'for
a while'. It is now 40 years
later, and the Blakely's
still own and operate Kel-
sey City Nursery.
Kelsey Park, which runs
over 600 feet along U.S.#1
and through to the Lake,
was landscaped free of
charge by the Blakely's in
the early 1920's. Many of
the trees were brought
from Munyon's Island by
flat boat. As there were no
cranes, it was all hand
labor.
In 1924 when all the brid-
ges belowJacksonville
were washed out, call cars
came to Lake Park by flat
boat. They docked at the
foot of Kelsey Park where
there was a large pier.
Originally a large foun-
tain, arbors planted with
allamanda, a stone pagoda,
and terraced stone steps
graced the park. Masses of
roses near the lake pro-
duced birthday bouquets.
At the Southwest corner
of Park and Dixie was the
town Club House, and where
Town Hall now stands, pine-
apples grew. At about 5th
St. and Flagler was a large
playground, which was lat-
er improved by the WPA
with sanitary facilities.
Behind Food Fair was a
golf course, as the plan
called for two 18-hole golf
courses.
On 8th and Cypress and
on 8th and Flagler, two
blocks were set aside for
`school or other purposes'.
Also 3rd and Cypress,
Flagler and 4th, and•Flag-
ler and 5th had a block
set aside for school and
other purposes. (4th and
Flagler was to be a High
School.) There was to be
a ball park on 6th St. and
Kelsey Park on the Lake.
Thus the town had ded-
icated seven parks or
school areas, with an ex-
tra whole block for Town
Hall, and the golf course.
Summer in Kelsey City
often consisted of `sewing
bees' for the girls and
cake cooling contests for
the boys. Many parades
were held in the winter
with everyone decorating
their own car.
These parades were well
attended by the people
brought to town to view lots
and staying up on the hill,
where there was a dining
room on present site of
the Nursery.
Early industrial plants
included Kelsey City Brick
and Tile Co., The Royal
Palm Rubber Co.(now Gol-
latscheck's Service Sta-
tion), and Drake Lumber
Company.
We are indebted to Mrs.
S. J. Blakely for her photos
taken in 1923 to 1927.
The 1928 hurricane made short work of the old Earman
Rivier bridge on the Old Dixie Highway.
Docks at Kelsey Park, 1924. Bridges washed out along
U. S. #1, cars had to come from Jacksonville by flat car.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Blakely, early settlers of Kel-
sey City, now Lake Park, are seen in 1925 with one of
the first shipments of cacti to arrive in this section
from Texas. The Blakelys later became owners of well-
known Kelsey City Nurseries.
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