05/17/2025
I always find before and after photos of buildings and landmarks interesting. Here, I would like to share with you the before and after photos of the First Baptist Church of Orange Park. To tell the story about this building, we must start with the history of the Clarke family that moved to Orange Park in 1912. Carrie Clarke is well known for her civic engagement and generosity. If you ever toured the Clarke House located on Kingsley Ave., you probably noticed the very large screen porch. It is well documented that Carrie would hold Sunday school classes on that porch with local children. I suspect that as Carrie’s porch congregation began to grow, she eventually needed more space. I also suspect that there was probably some urging from Mr. Clarke to move the sessions elsewhere.
As told to me by the First Baptist Church historian, several plots of land were put up for auction by the town of Orange Park in 1930. Mrs. Clarke realized this would be a great opportunity to help establish a permanent church facility and attended the auction. The lot she was interested in was located at the corners of Kingsley Ave. and Aster St. – a mere block from the St. Johns River. As the bidding was about to begin, Carrie leaned over to her friend accompanying her and asked, “How much should I bid”? The auctioneer read a description of the lot and called out, “Let the bidding begin!” Carrie shouted out, “$1.00!!!” At this point, we are not sure why the following happened, but the auctioneer’s gavel fell, and he cried out, “Sold!” Yes, that’s correct. The lot was purchased for $1.00. Carrie then donated it to the church.
With a lot in the heart of Orange Park, the congregation began collecting sand from the river and bringing it to the lot where they made their own cement blocks stacking them until they had enough to begin construction of the church. Eventually, the church was completed. Electricity lines had been run to Orange Park from Jacksonville only six years prior. The church paid a fee of $45 to have the lines run to their new church building. The first utility bill was a whopping .98₵.
When members of the congregation were ready for baptism, those were done a short walk down the street in the river. (see photo)
The neighborhood was a hub of activity. Right next door to the church, the Woman’s Club building went up the same year. Across the street was the burgeoning Moosehaven. Diagonally across Kingsley Ave. from the church was Wiley’s General Store and post office. Around the corner on Astor St. was the relatively new Renaissance mansion built by Palmolive Soap Company owner Caleb Johnson, Mira Rio – now Club Continental.
The first First Baptist Church building would serve the congregation until the early 1950’s when a larger facility was built on the corner of Kingsley Ave. and Azelia Lane – which is about 50 yards from the driveway to the Clarke house. What a coincidence that is! Maybe Carrie had something to do with procuring that location too. I can see her walking down the sidewalk from her home to church on Sunday morning,…long flowing dress, bonnet covered head, and a dozen kids in tow.
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