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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | American Beach in Nassau County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic) |
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Martha's Hideaway
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By Mike Stroud, August 12, 2012 | |
| | | 1. Martha's Hideaway Marker | | |
Inscription. American Beach, founded in 1935, was a renowned beach for Blacks during the segregation era when African Americans could not go to public beaches. In the early development of American Beach, a few private homes were built, including one hidden deep in the woods at the end of Ervin Street. The Colonial Revival house, built for local African-American business owner and community activist Martha Hippard, is an unusual example of high style architecture in the beach resort community. Detached from the main house is a separate party house that some say was a gambling house. Others say it was used to host dances, club parties, and other civic and social activities. Both houses are constructed of hand-made concrete blocks from truckloads of crushed coquina shells hauled from American Beach and hand-molded bricks manufactured on the premises. The 1938 structures were built on nearly an acre of land, larger than any other parcel in the area. In January 1961, Elmo and Annette Myers of Fernandina purchased the house from its second owner, educator Lottie O. Harris of St. Marys, Georgia. Martha’s Hideaway, also called Hippard’s Hideaway, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 2001.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2008 by Nassau County and The Florida Department of State| | | | 
By Mike Stroud, August 12, 2012 | |
| | | 2. Martha's Hideaway and Marker | | |
. (Marker Number F-626.)
Location. 30° 34.563′ N, 81° 26.808′ W. Marker is in American Beach, Florida, in Nassau County. Marker is on Ervin Street, on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Located 300 feet north of Julia Street. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5406 Ervin Street, Fernandina Beach FL 32034, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Historic American Beach (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Dune System Called "NaNa" (approx. ¼ mile away); American Beach at the Crossroads (approx. ¼ mile away); Franklintown Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fairbanks Home (approx. 6.4 miles away); New Zion Baptist Church (approx. 6.6 miles away); St. Peter's Church (approx. 6.6 miles away); Memorial United Methodist Church (approx. 6.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in American Beach.
Regarding Martha's Hideaway. National Register of Historic Places:
Martha’s Hideaway Hippard House (added 2001 - - #01001087)
5406 Ervin St. , American Beach
♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Johnson, Frank Wayne Sr.
♦ Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
♦ Area of Significance: Black, Architecture
♦ Period of Significance: 1950-1974, 1925-1949
♦ Owner: Private
♦ Historic Function: Domestic
♦ Current Function: Domestic |
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By Mike Stroud, August 12, 2012 | |
| | | 3. Martha's Hideaway Marker, along Ervin Street, looking south | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on October 21, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 86 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
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