The Rollin N. Clapp Octagon House 62 Lighthouse Avenue, St. Augustine, FL History & Property Research Report

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Georgina Farmer
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1 Prepared by Misty Estes, REALTOR & Listing Agent

2 Brief History of Carvers Anastasia Subdivision The historical Carvers Anastasia subdivision sits on the north end of Anastasia Island at the foot of Historic Lighthouse Park and is one of the neighborhoods collectively referred to as the Lighthouse Park Neighborhood locally. Moses Bean platted the land for the projected development of a new city he named Anastasia. Dr. Charles Carver, a local dentist, was a business partner of Moses and sometime later, Bean s city of Anastasia became known as the Carvers Anastasia Subdivision. The first two lots of Carvers Anastasia were sold to Henry Flagler and Rollin N. Clapp of St. Louis, Missouri. Although Flagler never built on his lot, Mr. Clapp, a business man that spent his winters in St. Augustine, built the Octagon House in 1886, making it the first home constructed in the new city of Anastasia and the oldest private home in Lighthouse Park.

4 The History of Lighthouse Park, an article from The St. Augustine Record, February 21st, 1981.

5 The History of Lighthouse Park, an article from The St. Augustine Record, February 21st, 1981.

7 Lighthouse Park Today

Architectural & Historic Significance Orson Squire Fowler, a phrenologist, an idealist, and an amateur architect, subscribed to the principle that form follows function before it was popularized by

8 Architectural & Historic Significance Orson Squire Fowler, a phrenologist, an idealist, and an amateur architect, subscribed to the principle that form follows function before it was popularized by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Fowler determined that an octagonal shaped house provided for maximum use of space and resources. In his book, The Octagon House, A Home for All, he included plans and instructions for building an octagon house which inspired the octagonal trend in architecture after its publication in the 1850s.

9 Architectural & Historic Significance The Rollin Clapp Octagon is St. Augustine s only remaining classic Octagon House. David Nolan, a historic site specialist, writes in the Florida Master Site File that the Octagon House is one of the city s most distinctive buildings, and lends a great deal of character to the Lighthouse Park area. The Architectural Survey of Anastasia Island Structures of St. Johns County, Florida refers to the Octagon House as one of the more notable structures of the Lighthouse Park area. The website Inventory of Older, Octagon, Hexagon, and Round Houses has inventoried over 1000 octagon, hexagon, and round homes in the USA. As of 2017, the sources states that there are only 516 older inventoried homes still standing. Their entry on the Rollin Clapp Octagon House includes several early photos of the home.

10 Architectural & Historic Significance The Rollin N. Clapp Octagon House meets the criteria for the National Historic Registry and is one of the few historic octagon styled homes from this time period not listed on the Registry. Wikipedia includes the Octagon House in their List of Octagon Houses of historic and notable significance and notes which houses are listed on the NHR. Current tax incentives for preservation, established by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (PL ; Internal Revenue Code Section 47 [formerly Section 48(g)]) include a 20% tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of certified historic structures. Famous residents of the Octagon House include Mary Antin, author of The Promised Land, Norman MacLeish, artist and brother of Pulitzer Prize winning poet and Librarian of Congress, Archibald MacLeish, and Lea Wells, the first female architect in St. Augustine.

The Octagon House is listed in historian Ellen Puerzer s book The Octagon House

11 Books, Publications, & Website References The Octagon House is included in local historian and author David Nolan s book, The Houses of St. Augustine. The Octagon House is listed in historian Ellen Puerzer s book The Octagon House Inventory. Photos of The Octagon House throughout the ages can be view on her website at

12 Books, Publications, & Website References The Clapp House in included in A Guide to Florida s Historic Architecture, by the Florida Association America Institute of Architects. The Octagon House was feature in the famous architectural and design firm, design M s design Speaks November 2016 newsletter.

13 Books, Publications, & Website References

14 Books, Publications, & Website References The Octagon House has a Facebook fan page auto generated by Facebook due to public interest in the home as well as a Wikipedia page.

Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, and Instagram.

15 Books, Publications, & Website References Photos, posts, and blog pertaining to the Clapp Octagon House can seen on all the major social media platforms such as Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, and Instagram. In addition to having a notable web presence, The Rollin Clapp Octagon House also has an international appeal and following.

16 Books, Publications, & Website References

17 Books, Publications, & Website References Marked on Goggle Maps as a site of Historical Significance by the Sentinels of The Coast.

18 Old Photos of The Octagon House An old photo of the Rollin Clapp Octagon House provided by the current owner.

19 Old Photo of The Octagon House A photo from the cover of the current owner s home inspection report and a copy of the warranty deed signed by St. Augustine s first female architect, Cora Lea Wells.

20 Old Photos of The Octagon House A copy of an old print used in the University of Florida Smathers Library s Digital Collection, Unearthing St. Augustine s Colonial Past, University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, used with permission.

21 A Description of The Rollin N. Clapp House by the Current Owner The Rollin N. Clapp Octagon House in Lighthouse Park was constructed in 1886 in the Nautical Architecture Style. It was owned by the architect Lea Wells from , and she updated it with modern plumbing, central A/C, and electrical. This house actually has a coquina basement which is plumbed, and a capped cistern under the house, as well as peck cypress ceilings in the kitchen, living and dining rooms. The floors in the living room are beautiful heart pine, with southern yellow pine in the master bedroom from a remodel circa 1940 when the house was owned by artist Normal MacLeish, brother of the famous author and Pulitzer prize winning poet and Librarian of Congress, Archibald MacLeish. The upstairs bedroom and half bath are surrounded by a copper widow s walk, and the heart pine floor in the octagon bedroom is hand pieced concentric octagons. The bedroom upstairs is accessed via a spiral staircase of heart pine which is more than 360 degrees, so the top cannot be visualized from the bottom. The house is constructed of Portland Cement, which asbestos shingle siding, has a metal and built-up rock and tar roofs, and sits on coquina and brick piers. This has helped it to be weather friendly and bug resistant.

22 A Description of The Rollin N. Clapp House by the Current Owner Continued... There is a walled garden with a small pond. The house was built to catch every breeze and to take advantage of ambient light, and is even naturally compatible with feng shui theory in its orientation. It has been called one of the most significant private homes in St Augustine, and has been featured in multiple publications. The original designer of octagon houses was Orson Squire Fowler, and President Thomas Jefferson included octagon design in Monticello. Fowler determined that an Octagon house provides for maximum utilization of space and efficient use of resources. Fowler subscribed to the principle that Form follows function years before it was popularized by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Fowler was an advocate of many concepts that were ahead of his time, such as being energy efficient and environmentally conscious as well as vegetarianism and the abolition of corsets for women. The Octagon house is currently a private residence, and the property also includes a half lot with a detached two car garage.

23 A Description of The Rollin N. Clapp House by the Current Owner Continued... The Octagon House is in the most charming neighborhood on the whole island. It is four houses down from the lighthouse and its park, with public access tennis courts and the Salt Run St John s County boat launch and yacht club. It is just around the corner from R.B. Hunt, the highest rated elementary school in St John s county. You don t even have to go out to A1A to get to Anastasia State Park with it s wonderful beaches and surfing. We are walking distance to the amphitheater and alligator farm and several excellent restaurants including Gypsy Cab Co., consistently rated one of the top 10 restaurants in Florida. This is a great family and pet friendly neighborhood, with a wonderful sense of community, but no official HOA or associated fees. The district has recently been designated historic, but there are no special restrictions on design and repairs. We are less than 2 miles from the Bridge of Lions and downtown St Augustine, accessible by bicycle. The house is often included in Ghost Tours but has a benevolent spirit. And as if all that were not enough, there is very little grass to mow, with lots of perennials and xeriscaping with butterfly friendly and native plants. The house is cozy and comfy and the utility bills are tiny. There is plenty of parking and storage. You could not ask for better neighbors.

24 Sources & References Information collected and provided in this presentation is available via the public domain or used with the expressed verbal and/or written permission of the current owner of The Rollin N. Clapp Octagon House, Dr. Ashley Paper, David Nolan, local historian, author of The Houses of St. Augustine, and the historic site specialist preparer of the Florida Master Site File of 62 Lighthouse Avenue, historian and author of The Octagon House Inventory Ellen Puerzer, and Robert Kline, webmaster of the Inventory of Older Octagon, Hexagon, and Round Houses, and the University of Florida Smathers Library. Additional Reading and Resources The Florida Division of Historical Resources, National Register of Historic Places dos.myflorida.com/historical/preservation/national-register The Florida Division of Historical Resources, National Register of Historic Places, Rehabilitation Tax Credit

25 Additional Reading and Resources More photos of the Rollin N. Clapp House over the ages, The Inventory of Older Octagon, Hexagon, or Round Houses The Clapp Octagon House Facebook Pagehttps:// Octagon-House/ The Clapp Octagon House Wikipedia articlehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Clapp_Octagon_House The design M group s newsletter design Speaks And of course, a Google search of The Clapp Octagon House for hundreds of entries across the globe.

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MARKET ACTIVITY REPORT Crescent Heights in St. Petersburg, FL Presented by Bennett Jansons Florida Real Estate License: 3376518 Mobile: (727) 344-9574 Work: (727) 822-8100 Fax: (727) 822-8177 bennett.jansons@century21.com