Welcome to the Historical Society of Orange Park
Let's make our community a better place!
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.
Veterans memorial
Veterans Day Ceremony
Each year on Veterans Day, our community gathers at Magnolia Cemetery to honor the sacrifices of those who have served our great nation. Though our cemetery is small compared to the vast, solemn fields of Belleau, Ardennes, or Cambridge, it holds deep meaning. Here, on this sacred ground, our ceremony is simple but heartfelt. Without world leaders or fanfare, we pause together to remember those who remain in our hearts, and those whose names are etched in the pavers surrounding the memorial.
This year, we invite you to join us at 11:00 AM on November 11, for our annual Veterans Day ceremony. We hope you’ll share this time of fellowship, gratitude, and remembrance with us. This year’s ceremony will feature music by the Orange Park High School Choir and the First Coast Highlanders, a flyover by the Dreamland Squadron and remarks by Chief Randy Case, Orange Park Police, Carol Westerman, with the Sofia Fleming Chapter of the NSDAR and our featured speaker, Dr. Victor Maquera. As always, members of American Legion Post #250 will be on hand to assist with the ceremony. The ceremony will also feature the winning student essays from this year’s essay contest.
Parking is at First Baptist Church one block west of the cemetery. Chairs are provided but are limited. You may want to bring your own.
Orange Park Memories
For 2025,
The Society is highlighting Orange Park businesses each first-of-the-month throughout 2025, one from the town’s early days and one which will be recognizable to many locals. Our November choices are OB Nall’s Hardware and Townsend’s Pharmacy.
Nall's Hardware was located at the corner of Park and Kinglsey, across from Town Hall. The shopping center, originally developed by the Massees of Club Continental, was replaced by the present Live Oak Shopping Center. Established in 1962, Ollie Bryan Nall’s Hardware had a “little bit of everything” and so was a regular go-to for Orange Park residents.
Located near Nall’s was Townsend’s Orange Park Pharmacy. In 1962 Townsends almost doubled the size of its store located at the corner of US 17 and Kingsley. “Doc” Townsend was a familiar face to generations of Orange Parkers. Both Townsends and Nall Hardware were, among several others, long-time supporters of Little League in OP.
Do you have memories of these businesses? If so, please share them here! Please share your memories with us at info@ophistory.org.
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.
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
Jacksonville Memory Gardens
111 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
New Way Hearing Aids
1494 Park Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
Nix Construction Co.
441 Stowe Avenue, Suite B
Orange Park, FL 32073
