Welcome to the Historical Society of Orange Park
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Clarke House Tours
The Clarke House, built in 1912 and located in Clarke House Park, 1039 Kingsley Avenue, is open for tours the second Sunday of each month from 2 PM to 4 PM. Sunday afternoons are the perfect time for a leisurely tour of the house, both upstairs and downstairs.
Orange Park Memories
Joseph Green House
The Historical Society is highlighting Orange Park’s historic houses each month of 2026. This month we feature the Joseph Green House, established in 1893.
Joseph N. Green was born into slavery in 1861 in Mississippi, where he learned to build. In 1886 he made his way to Orange Park. The town, incorporated in 1877, still had pre-war buil
The Historical Society is highlighting Orange Park’s historic houses each month of 2026. This month we feature the Joseph Green House, established in 1893.
Joseph N. Green was born into slavery in 1861 in Mississippi, where he learned to build. In 1886 he made his way to Orange Park. The town, incorporated in 1877, still had pre-war buildings. When the 25-year-old Green arrived, the African American community of Orange Park clustered around McIntosh and Smith Streets, anchored by the St. James AME Church and the St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church. The area is said to have been quarters, stretching back to days of the old Howard Turpentine camp. Green’s carpentry and building skill helped him develop the area into a self-sustaining community. He built a store, a school, a church, a meeting hall for Lodge 151 F&M and Duval Lodge 14 in addition to several residences, including this one, his own home in 1893.
This home was over 1200 square feet with three bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen. There were large porches on both floors to make summers tolerable. The upstairs porch was screened for that purpose. Striking elements included the ornate turned newel posts on both levels and seldom-seen bay windows on the living room and bedr
This home was over 1200 square feet with three bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen. There were large porches on both floors to make summers tolerable. The upstairs porch was screened for that purpose. Striking elements included the ornate turned newel posts on both levels and seldom-seen bay windows on the living room and bedroom.
The Greens raised six children in the house. When Joseph died in 1928, he was buried in Magnolia Cemetery. Over time his headstone sank into the sandy soil there. It was raised by members of the historical society just a year.
Annie Green took in laundry and housed female boarders to pay the bills. She added a bathroom to the house in 1935, replacing the privy used since 1893. After Annie’s death in 1952, the house was rented out but stayed in the Green family for 40 years.
The family home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 with the help of a founding member of the Historical Society of Orange Park, Mary Ann Study.
Annie’s will left the house to the St. James AME Church to be used as a rental property but it was torn down in 1999 when the church said it was too far gone to save.
The family home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 with the help of a founding member of the Historical Society of Orange Park, Mary Ann Study.
Annie’s will left the house to the St. James AME Church to be used as a rental property but it was torn down in 1999 when the church said it was too far gone to save. It may be gone, but it, and the family’s role in Orange Park history, should not be forgotten. Join the Society for Black History historical tours through Magnolia Cemetery Feb. 28th between 2 and 4 pm for more of this history.
Historical Society of Orange Park History Scholarship
In recent months, the Board has been working out the details of a $1000 scholarship to be offered to eligible seniors at Orange Park High School. The group felt it important to give back to the community and to help a deserving senior as they prepare for college. Prospective applicants must be preparing to enter either a four- or two-year college or career/technical school. Other criteria are: 3.0 GPA, must be representing the school in a respectful manner, be a member of at least one community service organization, and write an essay on the topic – How has history and community service shaped you as a person and prepared you for the future? A grateful thank you goes out to Dairy Queen and Boger’s Shoes for their contributions which helped fund the scholarship. Once the scholarship is awarded, we will publish the winner’s information in the newsletter.
Please consider assisting in funding next year’s scholarship or connecting us with a business that may be willing to be a sponsor.
Clarke House and Cemetery Tours
Private Guided Tours of Historic Clarke House and Magnolia Cemetery Available
Homeschool, civic and social groups are welcome to schedule a free guided tour of the 1913 historic Clarke House and/or Magnolia Cemetery. For more information, contact the Historical Society of Orange Park at info@ophistory.org. Groups will be scheduled based on the availability of guides.
Black History Month
Upcoming Events
TC Miller and Orange Park's African American Story
Feb. 7th is the birthday of Theresa Miller for whom the TC Miller is named! Starting at 11 AM at the TC Miller Center, Betty Demmon, long-time member of the Society will welcome various speakers to share stories of the town's notable African American families. Cynthia Cheatwood will share Theresa Miller's story, sharing the local educator's long family history in Clay County and the example of perseverance she represents. Members of the Walker, McDowers, Fillmore, Floyd and other families will give a never-before-gathered pictures of the community of African American families that dates back to the very beginning of Orange Park's town story. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion, in honor of would have been Theresa Miller's 116th birthday. The historic TC Miller Center is located at 440 McIntosh Ave, Orange Park, FL. There is no cost or preregistration required. Come join this very special conversation!
Black History Walks through Magnolia Cemetery
Please join us on February 28, 2026, between 2 :00 pm and 4:00 pm at 1040 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park's beautiful Magnolia Cemetery. Take a stroll through Orange Park’s Black history. Special tours will begin at 2 PM and take about an hour. New tours will form as folks arrive, until the last tour starts at 3:30 pm. Learn about folks from Orange Park’s past who helped create the town we have today. There is no admission fee; no registration is required. The Magnola stories will be different from those presented at the TC Miller Center, but most of them will also be shared by family members.
Got Pics?
Help Document the History of Orange Park
The Society is looking for photographs to add to our resources. If you have long-time-ago images of people and/or places in Orange Park, please share them. In this increasingly visual world, there is a lot to learn from these glimpses of our past. You can share them through email at info@ophistory.org or through mail at P. O. Box 08, Orange Park, 32067. Originals will be returned after the Society makes a scan.
Orange Park Historic Driving Tour
Looking for somewhere to explore or something to do in Clay County? Visit the Explore Clay website, Explore Clay County - Small Towns, Big Passions, for plenty of suggestions.
One of the activities is a tour of historic buildings in Orange Park. This driving tour takes you to 23 historical structures that hold positions of prominence in Orange Park’s history and continue to serve today. Please remember most locations are private residences and should be viewed from the street.
To access the tour visit, download the Explore Clay mobile app from the Explore Clay website or by clicking: Clay County - Mobile App. Once you have the app downloaded, search for the tour then dive into the rich history of Orange Park.
our corporate sponsors
McDonald's
428 Park Avenue and 372 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
New Way Hearing Aids
1494 Park Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
Jacksonville Memory Gardens
Jacksonville Memory Gardens
111 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
Nix Construction Co.
441 Stowe Avenue, Suite B
Orange Park, FL 32073
Carpet Man Flooring, Inc.
1988 Wells Road
Orange Park, FL 32073
