PALM BEACH ATLAS - SHEET 31
Sheets 28 to 35, Southern Blvd to Sloan's Curve, is the area of Palm Beach now known as Billionaires row
Notable Estates on Sheet 31
Il Palmetto (The Palmetto) - Widener Estate - still intact
Il Sogno (The Dream) - F. P. Smith Estate - Mediterranean revival house next to Widener property - still intact
Lagomar (Lake to Ocean) - Edith Oliver Rea Estate - house was divided into three separate houses and property subdivided to accommodate approximately a dozen homes
Edith was known as "the first lady of the Red Cross"
Horace H. Work Jr. - Estate
My mother sold this house twice. The first time she sold it in the late 60's - early 70's. While performing discovery on the title they found that it had never been hooked up to the city sewer system. At the time, long 36" or 48" pipes snaked away from virtually all the estates along the Palm Beach coastline. All thought to be abandoned and most collapsing from erosion - this one was still releasing the overflow from the septic tank
The second time she sold it in the late 70's to Ralph Levitz of the Levitz Furniture chain
Il Palmetto - Joseph Widener Property - In 1930, Joseph Widener built a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) mansion in Palm Beach, FL. where he would spend a good part of most winters. That same year, he purchased a controlling interest in the Miami Jockey Club and in 1931 renovated Hialeah Park.
Jim Clark, the billionaire from Netscape, put this house on the market for 137 million dollars in 2016
Note the channel cut in Lake Worth to the Edith Oliver boathouse (still in use today) and property just south of Lagomar
Sheet 31
Widener's curve to Lagomar Rd.
Il Palmetto to Lagomar
George S. Brockway Civil Engineer circa 1936
Il Palmetto
Designed by Maurice Fatio and built in 1930, the ~40,000 sq. foot mansion on 5.5 acres remains intact. 1500 S. Ocean Blvd
1933 Image - Robert Yarnall Richie Collection DeGolyer Library SMU
Widener's Curve
Also of notice is the Mediterranean revival house, Il Sogno, designed by Marion Sims Wyeth and built in 1926 next door to Il Palmetto (F. P. Smith property). The ocean to lake house and estate is still intact and standing today.
It's the house on the left visible in the next slide
Widener's Curve
As traffic increased on S. Ocean Blvd. the entrance to Il Palmetto was moved to a north, south orientation right where the curve cuts towards the ocean.
Image - DeGolyer Library SMU - 1933
Original Entrance
Vintage E. C. Kropp postcard - The iconic ORIGINAL entrance to Il Palmetto.
Here's a link to a 2016 Sotheby's listing of Il Palmetto
2016 Sotheby's listing of Il Palmetto with some nice pictures
Lagomar & Boathouse
When this aerial photo was taken in 1933 Edith Oliver owned only owned the 200' of ocean/lake-front footage property from behind the boathouse to the Atlantic
Lagomar
325' south of Il Palmetto stands , Lagomar. Designed by Addison Mizner and built in 1928 . At the time Edith and her husband only owned the 200' Lake to Ocean parcel just south
Lagomar Aerial
Designed by Addison Mizner and built in 1928
Purchased by Edith Oliver Rea in 1926
House was divided up in the early 1950's after her death in 1951
1933 Image - Robert Yarnall Richie Collection DeGolyer Library SMU
Edith Oliver's Boathouse
Here's a link to an article from the Palm Beach Post or Daily News about 12 Lagomar Rd., part of the original house, being sold
(May require a Subscription)
House sliced from Mizner mansion brings $15.25M on Lagomar Road in Palm Beach
Channel to Oliver Boathouse
Dredged Channel indicated by Brockway leading up to the boathouse
George S. Brockway Engineer circa 1936
Sheet 31 Overview
South of Southern Blvd
Includes Widener's Curve
George S. Brockway Engineer circa 1936