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Sen. McCain home considered historic for more than one reason

Wesley LeBlanc
Posted 9/5/18

ORANGE PARK – An Orange Park home previously owned by recently-deceased U.S. Sen. John McCain might soon become a part of a new historical section of town.

Following McCain’s return home from …

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Sen. McCain home considered historic for more than one reason


Posted

ORANGE PARK – An Orange Park home previously owned by recently-deceased U.S. Sen. John McCain might soon become a part of a new historical section of town.

Following McCain’s return home from the Vietnam War as a prisoner of war, he, his wife at the time, Carol, and his children moved into a home at 553 Fatio Lane, just off of Milwaukee Avenue. Dubbed a mid-century modern home, the home was one of only 14 built in Orange Park by now-famed architect Robert Broward.

“He bought a big area of land that he decided he and a contractor were going to build a housing development on,” said Dane Lacey, a founding member of the Town of Orange Park Mid-Century Modern Enthusiasts. “The type of architecture, mid-century modern, was extremely popular at the time. It was cheap, simplistic to build and came across as futuristic.”

Broward’s development began around 1957 and, after a short period of time, the contractor behind the housing development buckled under financial pressure. As a result, Broward only saw his architectural vision end for Orange Park. Today, those homes are located on Fatio Lane, Laurel Grove Lane and Lake View Lane, and can be best be defined as flat, very private in the front with little to no windows, and a large glass-pane back section. While the mid-century modern style might not sound familiar here, it is popular in other states, such as California where they are highly-sought after as their popularity has grown to extraordinary heights. Sadly, as time goes on, some of these homes have lost that mid-century modern look.

“One of the houses has been so heavily renovated that it doesn’t even match the description of what it used to be,” Lacey said. “There are some, too, that we’re [TOPMOD] worried are being sold for just the piece of land, meaning the home might soon be flattened.”

It’s because of this, and the historical significance, that TOPMOD, with the help of Town Council member Connie Thomas, are attempting to bring wider attention to these homes and her fellow council members.

“I wanted to begin by starting the discussion with this council about this historical treasure we have and I’m hoping we can get a board or committee formed out of it, so we can look deeper,” Thomas said. “I want to see these homes’ historical significance protected not only to preserve them, but to up the property value and the entire town as a whole.”

Thomas is aware of the potential pushback she and TOPMOD might receive. She said many residents move to Orange Park to avoid regulation and restriction, but she’s hoping residents and the council don’t see this move as an attempt to restrict these homeowners from making the house a home. Instead, she views this move as an attempt to enhance the value of the homes by signaling community leaders to the treasure that she and TOPMOD view these homes to be.

One of these homes, and possibly the one with the most historical significance, is the McCain home, and according to Eric Block, a former resident of the home, it contains more significance than most might think. Block lived in Orange Park from the age of 8 to 18 while his dad worked as a Naval Captain and pilot at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

When Block was about 12, his mother became best friends with McCain’s wife Carol at the time (they would get a divorce in 1980). During those years, the McCains and the Blocks would grow to be very close, so close that one year, Carol McCain would leave her kids under the care of Block’s parents so that she could travel north for Christmas. Unfortunately, on that trip, Carol would endure a terrible car accident that left her legs permanently injured. While Carol was in the hospital, and recovering afterwards, the Blocks moved into the McCain home to help Carol with the family – at the same time, McCain was being held in Vietnam as a POW.

“I spent a substantial period of my time in Orange Park growing up in that house with the McCains and from my point of view, I don’t see how it’s not an important part of history since not only is John an important part of history, but his wife is too,” Block said.

Most know of McCain’s accomplishment politically but fewer know of the political life Carol McCain led. She served as the Clay County director for Ronald Reagan’s 1976 presidential campaign. A few years later, Carol would work with Reagan’s wife, Nancy Reagan, as a press assistant on Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. After Reagan won, Carol would become the director of the White House Visitors Office where she was responsible for virtually anyone looking to visit the White House, whether it be a tour or other matters.

“Carol was a big deal in Washington herself,” Block said. “From a historical perspective, between the two of them, both went to Washington and both filled very important roles there. That house isn’t just the previous home of John McCain – it’s the previous home of Carol McCain as well and for that, it needs to be preserved. It is history.”