National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination form Entered August 1980Form No. 10-300 REV. (9/77)
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM
SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS
TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS
I NAME
HISTORIC
Palm Beach Winter Club
AND/OR COMMON
LOCATION
STREETS NUMBER
951 U.S. Highway #1 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION
CITY, TOWN
North Palm Beach _ VICINITY OF
STATE CODE
"Florida 12
CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS•y
—DISTRICT Z.PUBLIC —OCCUPIED
X-BUILDING(S) —PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED
—STRUCTURE —BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS
—SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE
—OBJECT _|N PROCESS —YES: RESTRICTED
—BEING CONSIDERED X^YES: UNRESTRICTED
_NO
OWNER OF PROPERTY
NAME
Village of North Palm Rpach.
STREET & NUMBER
Village Hall, 501 U.S. #1
CITY. TOWN
North Palm Beach —— VICINITY OF
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
10 or 11
COUNTY CODE
Palm Beach 099
PRESENT USE
— AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM
—COMMERCIAL —PARK
—EDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE
—ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS
^-GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC
—INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION
—MILITARY —OTHER:
STATE
Florida
| LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION
COURTHOUSE.REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC. Palm Beach County Courthouse
STREET & NUMBER
CITY. TOWN
West Palm Beach
STATE
Florida
O REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS
TiTLE
DATE
—FEDERAL —STATE —COUNTY —LOCAL
DEPOSITORY FOR
SURVEY RECORDS
CITY. TOWN STATE
DESCRIPTION
CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE
—EXCELLENT ^DETERIORATED _UNALTERED JLoRIGINALSITE
_GOOD —RUINS 2LALTERED _MOVED DATE.
_FAIR _UNEXPOSED
DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Designed in the Mediterranean Revival Architectural style, the West Palm Beach
Winter Club "building is surrounded by foliage and trees in an otherwise barren
location. It faces a major divided highway and commercial structures to the east
and is separated from a residential area to the west by the vast open expanse of
the former club's golf course. The grounds of the Winter Club consist of the club-
house, a newly constructed recreation facility and swimming pool, and the golf
course. The entire complex is owned by the Village of North Palm Beach, which
acquired the property in 1962 and later built the pool and recreational facility.
The clubhouse has served the community since 1962 in various capacities, housing
a library, crafts and arts workshops, and offices. This is the only part of the
original facility included in the nomination.
The clubhouse has a gabled one-story central block flanked with symmetrical
three-story, low-pitched hipped roof towers. Prior to major renovation in 1935,
a two-story flat roofed block projected from the southwest corner of the building,
and served as a sundeck. Access to this deck was made from the third floor of the
south tower. The block section still stands, although it is presently partially
hidden by a two-story hipped roof addition, which was attached along the west side
of the block in 1935- The building is of frame construction, has a barrel tile
roof, and is finished in stucco.
The north tower has a semi-otagonal stair-bay projecting from the north side
and a chimney located in the interior south face. The chimney is topped by a
gabled barrel-tile hood. Fenestration on both towers is irregular, consisting
of both typical square-headed double hung sash and round-headed windows.
The central block is one-story with a raised basement. The main (east)
facade has a five bay arcaded loggia with heavy wood beam roof, chamfered columns,
and balustrade. Each bay of the loggia has a corresponding paired window in the
recessed wall; the central bay has French doors. Until 1935» all bays of the
loggia had corresponding French doors with fanlights. At that time, the fanlights
were filled and stuccoed and the doors were converted to windows.
The west entrance also exhibited a five bay facade, having a central French
door and paired windows with fanlights. As with the main entrance, the arches of
the windows and doors were later filled and stuccoed. The window spandrels of the
west facade, prior to the 1935 changes, had an applied terra cotta balustrade
motif, which no longer exists. Large wood brackets support the deep projecting
eaves of the gabled roof along the west facade of the building. In 1935» a two-
story section was constructed along the southwest side of the block section. A
narrow belt course delineates the second story floor line. Window placement is
largely regular. Both north and south entrances have French doors with gabled
barrel-tile hoods. A simple exterior chimney is located on the west face of the
addition.
(See continuation sheet)
FHR-8-300A
(11/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE
The two-story flat roof "block section -was highlighted by a semi-circular door
which featured an archivolt of radiating voussoirs. Fenestration was irregular,
having square and small round-headed windows. Vigas delineated a parapet which
enclosed a sundeck. The sundeck is still accessible and usable.
Most of the clubhouse windows now have exterior blinds, which replaced the
canvas awnings that existed on the 1935 building.
Presently, the building contains forty rooms, including fifteen bedrooms and
nine bathrooms. The current function of these rooms has been altered significantly
from their 1935 or earlier purpose. Much of the building stands vacant.
Originally, the north tower had a kitchen and service area, alone with lockers
and showers on the first floor. Servants quarters were located on the top two
floors, each with separate bathing and kitchen facilities. Servant's access was
through a carriage or garage shed at the basement level of the tower.
The central block area contained a large public space which served as both
a dining room and ballroom. This area has been partitioned, creating two smaller
rooms used for both arts and crafts classes and ballet instruction. This main
section also had a half basement which ran the length of central block. The
basement served for storage and had lockers for persons using the facility.
The south tower contained the owner's living quarters, including kitchen,
bedrooms, and bathrooms. The 1935 Oakes addition provided the owner's quarters
with a large living room, complete with a terra cotta ornamented fireplace.
The clubhouse interior walls are plaster, and accoustical tile panel ceilings
in many rooms conceal the original wood ceilings. Bedroom flooring is wood,
while terrazzo is found in the central block. Much of the original ornamentation
has either been removed, covered, or painted over.
The clubhouse once boasted a patio-garden area behind the west (rear) side
of the building. The once expansive grounds have been consumed by the construction
of a recreation complex and Olympic size pool. Presently, due to code violations,
much of the building is unused, and has suffered from exposure, deterioration,
and inadequate maintenance.
01 SIGNIFICANCE
PERIOD
—PREHISTORIC
—1400-1499
—1500-1599
—1600-1699
—1700-1799
—1800-1899
—1900-
AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW
—ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC
_ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC
_AGRICULTURE
X-ARCHITECTURE
—ART
—COMMERCE
—COMMUNICATIONS
—COMMUNITY PLANNING
—CONSERVATION
—ECONOMICS
—EDUCATION
—ENGINEERING
—EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
—INDUSTRY
—INVENTION
—LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
—LAW
—LITERATURE
—MILITARY
—MUSIC
—PHILOSOPHY
—POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
—RELIGION
—SCIENCE
—SCULPTURE
—SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN
—THEATER
—TRANSPORTATION
MOTHER (SPECIFY) Recreational
SPECIFIC DATES +1926 BUILDER/ARCHITECT Louis de
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The Palm Beach Winter Club is significant for its architectural merit and for
its association with Paris Singer and Harry Kelsey in the development of the Palm
Beach-Lake Park area. It also derives significance as the home of Sir Harry Oakes,
a multimillionaire whose fortune was amassed following the discovery of gold at
Kirkland Lake, Canada, in 1910.
The Mediterranean Revival style clubhouse, designed by the French architect
Louis de Puyseger, was completed in November, 1926. Construction of the four
story building, costing $500,000, was financed by Harry Kelsey !s East Coast Finance
Company. Harry Kelsey was a real estate developer, whose major development, Kelsey
City, has become present day Lake Park.
In 1923, Kelsey, along with Paris Singer, owner of the Everglades Club in
Palm Beach and an heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune, began plans to develop
the clubhouse and golf course two miles north of Kelsey City. A five story building
and eighteen-hole golf course were originally planned with projected future develop-
ment for a basin for power boats and seaplanes directly in front of the clubhouse.
(Singer had hoped to have the guests of his proposed nearby Blue Heron Hotel use the
Winter Club facilities and golf course.:?. The Blue Heron Hotel, designed by Addison
Mizner, was located across the intracoastal waterway on Singer Is.laLnd. The Blue
Heron was never completed, having suffered severe damage from the 1928 hurricane
while under construction.)3 Kelsey intended to use the clubhouse as the focal
point in his plans to attract prospective real estate investors, to the Kelsey
City development.^
The Winter Club building was located on a site Kelsey had created by pumping
sand from Lake Worth. In the last two months before the clubhouse was opened
to the public, much work was undertaken to complete it and the grounds. Twenty
carloads of Ojus Marl and topsoil were placed on the golf course; a Chicago golf
pro was hired, and the kitchen was staffed. U.S. Highway #1 from Jupiter south
to the clubhouse was also completed at the same time.5
The clubhouse opened on January 9, 1927, and the grand opening celebration
lasted for three days, during which time many Palm Beach socialities drove to
the club or sailed up Lake Worth (intracoastal waterway) in their yachts. Kelsey
gave many of his guests a tour of the clubhouse which included everything from
the upper floor bedrooms to the basement locker rooms. He is said to have explained
to visiting French and Italian ladies how wood worms were trained to chew holes
in the wood of the ceilings and doors to make "pecky cypress."° The golf course
was visited by golf pros, guests and West Palm Beach residents. No golf fees were
(See continuation sheet)
3JMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
(See continuation sheet)
DGEOGRAPHICAL DATA
LT. 1ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY.
QUADRANGLE NAME RJverla Beach Revised 19^6 (PR 1
UTM REFERENCES
A|1|T| N9i3l2i2iOl I2.9t6t7l3.1ti0l B| , I I I . |
ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE EASTING
C| i I I I , I . , I I , I . I , . I
HJB8)}7.5 min.
__.._ NORTHING
D| . I I I . I . . I I . I . I . 1 I
El . I I I . 1 » . I I . I i 1 . t I
G |___I I I » I . I I I • I . I i I I
F|___| I 1 . I , . I I . I . I-. . I
Hi I I I I . I i . I I . | . I , . I
VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION
(See continuation sheet)
LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
FORM PREPARED BY
NAME/TITLE
Queen, Rolla L., Historic Sites Specialist
Division of Archives, History and
Records Management__________________
DATE
STREETS. NUMBER
_______The Capitol
TELEPHONE
(90U) U8T-2333
CITY OR TOWN STATE
Tallahassee id a.
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION
THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS:
NATIONAL __ STATE___ LOCAL £__
As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665).
hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the
criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Servicj
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE
TITLE State Historic Preservation Officer
GPO 921-803
FHR-8-300A
(11/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 1
charged during the three day event.
Stylistically the clubhouse is in keeping with the Mediterranean character
established in Palm Beach and other parts of South,Florida, by architects such as
Addison Mizner, in the 1920's. The clubhouse has such characteristic features as
a red barrel tile roof and stuccoed exterior. Irregular in plan, the building
consists of a large central block with flanking towers and a two-story addition
(1935)5 which projects from, and partially obscures, a two-story flat roofed
block. The north tower functioned as kitchen, servants quarters, and shower and
locker facility for the club's guests. The large open central block served as
a combined dining and ballroom area. A half basement ran the length of the central
block. The south tower provided sleeping quarters for the owner, with separate
kitchen facilities and bathrooms. The 1935 addition acted as a large living room
accessible from the south tower of the clubhouse.
The success of the grand opening was short lived. The economic hardship
created by the land bust in the mid 1920's, combined with a disastrous hurricane
in 1928, left the club partially destroyed, economically and physically. The
final blow came with the onset of the depression in 1929. The depression ruined
Harry Kelsey and the East Coast Finance Company, owners of the Winter Club, and
he declared bankruptcy. During the depression, the Winter Club was operated
at a loss by a variety of owners. Rather than maintain it at great expense, the
building sat vacant and the grounds became overgrown.
During this time, Palm Beach acquired new residents, Harry Oakes and family
At the advice of his attorney Walter Foskett, Oakes, through his Tesden Corporation,
purchased tax-certificates from the State of Florida on approximately eighty
percent of the Kelsey City property, including the Winter Club and most of the
land now known as North Palm Beach.8 Harry Oakes, born in Sangerville, Maine,
around l875 9 was an introspective man who often dreamed and spoke of the great
fortune he would one-day make. Aroused by news of gold discoveries in the Yukon
Territory, he left the Syracuse Medical College in search of gold in Canada. In
1910, he made his first important strike at Kirkland Lake, and soon had become
one of the richest men in the world.9
In the 1920's, he renounced his American citizenship and became a resident
of Canada. Frustrated in his attempt to become a Senator in the Canadian parliament
as a result of election losses by his Conservative Party, and unhappy with a
Canadian income tax rate of eighty-five percent, Oakes returned to the United
States, making his home in Palm Beach.10
(See continuation sheet)
FHR-8-300A
(11/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE
Oakes acquired the Winter Club "building in 1935 to serve as his home. The
Oakes family thought that maintaining their residence in the building would afford
the club prestige. Oakes added to the two-story south wing and made several
alterations tos the building and grounds to accommodate his family. He added a
bridle path and stable for polo ponies to the grounds by relocating some of the
golf course fairways.H
While at Palm Beach, Oakes met Harold Christie, a real estate promoter from
Nassau, The Bahamas. Christie, after learning of Oakes 1 distress with the
Canadian government, convinced Oakes to become a Bahamian resident. The Bahamas
did not impose income taxes, death duties or inheritance taxes. Had Oakes died a
resident of Canada, his estate would have been assessed at a rate exceeding
90$.12
Oakes moved to the Bahamas, and while there, received the title "baronet."
He was knighted by King George VI for his philanthropy in regard to St. George's
Hospital in London. In 19^3, Sir Harry Oakes was mysteriously murdered while
asleep in his Bahamian residence. The murder is still unsolved and has been the
subject of continous controversy and historical research.13
The Winter Club subsequently passed from the Tesden Corporation into the
possession of industrialist Ralph Stolkin in 195^-5 and later to insurance
millionaire, John D. McArthur. The Ross Brothers, golf course and club
developers, purchased the property for $9,000,000 in 1957.1**- The Village of
North Palm Beach acquired the building in 19&2 and added an adjacent recreation
facility and Olympic size pool near the west side of the clubhouse.
The Winter Club has served the community since 1962 as a library, recreation
center, and offices. As one of the first structures built in what is now known
as the Lake Park-North Palm Beach area, the Palm Beach Winter Club is advertised
locally as the oldest mansion on or around the Village of North Palm Beach.
(See continuation sheet)
FHR-8-300A
(11/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 RAGE 3
Stuart B. Mdver, Yesterday's Palm Beach. (Miami: E.A. Seemann Publishing,
19T6), p. 92. (Photo Caption).
2 Interview with Charles Branch by Martha Nadelman, May 1979- (Copy on file
in the Village of North Palm Beach Library).
, p. 9^-; Branch Inverviev.
^Branch Interview.
5,Branch Interview.
6Branch Interview.
•7
Palm Beach County Records. Warranty Deed, Book No. 512, p. 276; Branch
Interview.
o
Marshall Houts, Kings X: Common Law and the Death of Sir Henry Oakes.
(New York: William Morrow and Company, 1972), p. 3.
Hout s, p. 11.
Palm Beach County Records. Warranty Deed, Book No. 512, p. 276.
Houts, p. 11.
Houts, p. 13.
13
See Houts' Kings X.
lU
Palm Beach County Records. Warranty Deed, Book No. 1039, p. 205; No. 1052,
p. 5Ul; No. 1076, p. 63^; No. lllU, p. 72; No. Ill**, p. 281; Official Record
Book, 31, p. 682; No. 72, p. 3^0; No. 720, p. 199.
FHR-8-300A
Cll/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM
CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER PAGE
Branch, Charles. Interview "by Martha Nadelman. May 1979. (Copy on file in the
Village of North Palm Beach Library).
Houts, Marshall. Kings X; Common Law and the Death of Sir Harry Oakes. New York:
William Morrow and Company, 1972.
Mclver, Stuart B. Yesterday's Palm Beach. Miami: E.A. Seemann Publishing, 1976.
Palm Beach County Records. Book Nos. 512, 1039, 1052, 1076, lllU; Official Record
Book Nos. 31, 72, 720.
FHR-8-300A
(11/78)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 10 PAGE
Commencing at the intersection of the centerline of Yacht Club Drive -with the
centerline of U.S. Highway No. 1, as shown on plat of marina addition to Village
of North Palm Beach, according to the plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 27,
Page 98, Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida; run thence south 82° - 50' -
05" west along the westerly extension of the centerline of said Yacht Club Drive,
a distance of 60.00 feet to a point in the westerly right of way line of U.S.
Highway No. 1 (all bearings mentioned herein refer to said Plat Book 27, Page 98);
thence northerly along the west right of way of U.S. No. 1, being in the arc of
a curve concave easterly, having a radius of 292*1.93 feet, subtending a central
angle of 1° - 17' - 31*", a distance of 66.00 feet; thence south 8U° - 07' - 39"
west, a distance of 62.00 feet to the point of beginning of the herein described
parcel; thence south 28°- 52' - 00" west, a distance of 220.00 feet; thence south
86°- 52' - 00" west, a distance of 2^.00 feet; thence westerly along the arc of
said curve, subtending a central angle of 27° - kh* - 10", a distance of 91.01
feet; thence north 28° - 52' - 00" east, a distance of 370.73 feet to a point in
the arc of a curve concave southerly, having a radius of 50.00 feet; local tangent
passing through said point bears south 75° - 50' - U6" west; thence southeasterly
along the arc of said curve, subtending a central angle of 7U° - ^2' - k6", a
distance of 65.00 feet to the end of said curve; thence south 1° - 08' -00" east,
a distance of 100.00 feet to the point of beginning.
SOUTH