Overview:

To support one of its core goals of preserving and enhancing DeFuniak Springs' historical and architectural heritage, the CRA is inviting proposals from qualified consulting firms specializing in historic preservation and/or related fields. The chosen firm will aid in developing Design Standards for the city's local and National Register Historic Districts, as well as for new infill construction or additions within these districts. These standards aim to protect architecturally, archaeologically, culturally, or historically significant properties and combat blight. The project will establish the City/CRA's inaugural design standard document, providing citizens, property owners, staff, and other stakeholders with guidance for improvement/maintenance within the historic districts.

Brief History of DeFuniak Springs:

DeFuniak Springs, Florida, was founded following the establishment of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad in 1881. During a survey for the railway, a perfectly round lake known as "open pond" was discovered and deemed an ideal spot for a town by W.D. Chipley, leader of the survey team. The town, originally named Lake DeFuniak after Frederick DeFuniak, president of the railroad, was officially renamed DeFuniak Springs in 1886. The Lake DeFuniak Land Company, formed by Chipley and others, sought to attract visitors to the area, leading to the establishment of the Winter Chautauqua in collaboration with the New York Chautauqua Institution. This initiative positioned DeFuniak Springs as a prominent educational and cultural hub in the South, attracting numerous institutions and schools such as the Florida Chautauqua Association, McCormick University, Palmer College, and the DeFuniak Business College.

The town's legacy as an educational and cultural center continued well into the 20th century. The Southern Forestry Congress's first planting of trees in Florida occurred on the shores of Lake DeFuniak in 1885, an event commemorated annually. The Walton DeFuniak Library, the oldest continuously operating library in its original building in Florida, and various schools and colleges, contributed to the town's reputation. Historic structures, including the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, Walton Heritage Museum located in the railroad depot, and numerous homes built by early settlers and Chautauqua attendees, remain intact, reflecting the town's rich history.

Today, DeFuniak Springs maintains its unique charm and continues to host cultural and educational events, upholding the Chautauqua tradition and striving to preserve its historic district amid modern developments. The city's historic district is located on the National Register of Historic Places and contains over 130 contributing resources including three individually listed structures (the Library, the Chautauqua Hall of 1 Brotherhood, and Sun bright Manor). In 2023, the city established the Dorsey Historic District, a historically significant area recognized for its well-preserved architecture and cultural heritage. Lastly, while part of the original historic district, the downtown core is being considered as a historic overlay with its own distinct district.