The Blake Cottage
At first glance, The Blake looks like another charming Victorian cottage that has stood in Ocean Park for generations. This building has had one of the most unusual journeys of any structure in the community.
The story begins in 1893, when the Educational Bureau of Ocean Park purchased what was then known as the Blake Industrial Building. At the time, Ocean Park was growing rapidly as families arrived each summer to attend worship services, lectures, concerts, and educational programs. The community needed more than cottages and meeting halls. It needed everyday services. The Blake was acquired to provide a store and restaurant where residents and visitors could purchase groceries and enjoy prepared meals, making life in Ocean Park more convenient during the summer season.
As Ocean Park continued to grow, the building’s role changed. In 1915, the original structure was divided in two. The upper portion was carefully moved to its present location on West Grand Avenue, where it became the Blake Cottage. The lower portion remained on the original site and continued to serve the community as the Ocean Park Restaurant and Bakery, also operated by the Educational Bureau. The restaurant remained an important part of Ocean Park life until 1977, when the property was transferred to the Ocean Park Association.
The Blake Cottage continued to serve a different purpose. Rather than operating as a commercial building, it became a seasonal family cottage owned by the Educational Bureau. Today it remains part of the Bureau’s commitment to preserving Ocean Park’s architectural heritage while generating support for the educational programs that have been central to the community since the Bureau was founded in 1885. Income from the cottage helps sustain youth camps, arts programs, and other activities that continue Ocean Park’s Chautauqua tradition
Few buildings tell the story of adaptation as well as The Blake. It began as a practical center for shopping and dining, was literally moved and transformed into a summer cottage, and today continues to support the Educational Bureau’s mission more than a century after it first became part of Ocean Park.
Read More From Nancy
The Curtis
Standing prominently on Temple Avenue in the heart of Ocean Park, The Curtis has been welcoming visitors since 1882. While many people assume it is simply another historic guest house, its story is much richer. For nearly a century and a half, The Curtis has served as the home of the Educational Bureau of Ocean […]
Hon. Lindley M. Webb
Every historic community is shaped by people whose names are remembered and many others whose quiet work goes unnoticed. Ocean Park is no exception. While visitors are often drawn to its beautiful cottages, Temple, and peaceful village green, the community’s success was made possible by generations of dedicated volunteers who gave freely of their time, […]
The Way of Truth Temple
Standing beside the Temple, it is easy to understand why this remarkable building has been the heart of Ocean Park since the community was founded in 1881. Long before rows of cottages lined the streets or generations of families made Ocean Park their summer home, the founders believed that the community needed a central gathering […]
