-
1525 Palm Avenue
Home of Frank H. Tichenor & Laura B. Tichenor – ‘Shangri La’
The frame vernacular home now situated on this property is known locally as “Shangri La” and is very much in the “Old Florida” style, with two porches surrounding the home and extended roofs to provide plenty of shade. The entertaining spaces inside are considerable, and original heart pine floors exist throughout the house. At one time, a substantial two-story garage apartment housed the car collection of its original owner, Frank H. Tichenor, and provided a servants’ quarters, but this old garage is no longer standing. Recently, a new garage was constructed on the southern side of the parcel.
Frank H. Tichenor was a prominent real estate investor who was also an avid golfer, touring car collector and wild turkey and quail hunter. His wife, Laura Tichenor, was a socialite of note, and this home on Billy’s Creek was said to be the setting of many parties during the period when the Tichenors owned the home. Mr. Tichenor purchased this lot on Billy’s Creek from John Dean’s Dean Development Company on July 18, 1921, subject to a restriction that any house built on the parcel cost at least $3,500. Four years later, at the peak of the Florida real estate boom, the Tichenors sold the residence for $27,500 to James C. Elms and Grace W. Elms of New Jersey.
Earlier address: 2183 Palm Avenue; Dean’s Subdivision, Block C, Lots 6, 7 & 8