American Beach in Nassau County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Stewart House
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, February 2, 2023
1. The Stewart House Marker
Inscription.
The Stewart House. . The Stewarts' vacation cottage at 5449 Waldron St. was built in 1941 by Ralph and Marie Taylor Stewart. Waldron Street is one of the highest points on American Beach and was named after the Reverend J. Milton Waldron, one of the founders of what was then called the Afro-American Pension and Benefit Bureau in 1901. This single-family vacation cottage reflects the Frame Vernacular style that was common for the place and time. The house has a rectangular plan protected by a front-facing gable roof. The exterior walls are covered with asbestos shingles. The fenestration consists of wood and aluminum, and features double-hung sash windows with two over two lights. The entrance to the home was an enclosed porch with a small front stoop. Ralph Stewart Sr. was the first actuary for the Afro-American Life Insurance Company ("The Afro") and retained the position until his passing in 1954. During the US period of legislated racial segregation, the Pension Bureau of "The Afro" developed at American Beach as an ocean-front resort for African Americans. Ralph Stewart Sr., a graduate of Tuskegee institute, was instrumental in recruiting alumni and faculty from Tuskegee to invest in homes and property on American Beach. , A Florida Heritage Site
The Stewarts' vacation cottage at 5449 Waldron St. was built in 1941 by Ralph and Marie Taylor Stewart. Waldron Street is one of the highest points on American Beach and was named after the Reverend J. Milton Waldron, one of the founders of what was then called the Afro-American Pension and Benefit Bureau in 1901. This single-family vacation cottage reflects the Frame Vernacular style that was common for the place and time. The house has a rectangular plan protected by a front-facing gable roof. The exterior walls are covered with asbestos shingles. The fenestration consists of wood and aluminum, and features double-hung sash windows with two over two lights. The entrance to the home was an enclosed porch with a small front stoop. Ralph Stewart Sr. was the first actuary for the Afro-American Life Insurance Company ("The Afro") and retained the position until his passing in 1954. During the US period of legislated racial segregation, the Pension Bureau of "The Afro" developed at American Beach as an ocean-front resort for African Americans. Ralph Stewart Sr., a graduate of Tuskegee institute, was instrumental in recruiting alumni and faculty from Tuskegee to invest in homes and property on American Beach.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2011 by Friends of American Beach, Inc., and the Florida
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Department of State. (Marker Number F-1146.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 30° 34.5′ N, 81° 26.72′ W. Marker is in American Beach, Florida, in Nassau County. Marker is at the intersection of Waldron Street and Julia Street, on the left when traveling north on Waldron Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5449 Waldron Street, Fernandina Beach FL 32034, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on July 5, 2023, by Maureen McKinney of Jacksonville, Florida. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
