A devastating fire occurred just after midnight yesterday, claiming three historic shotgun houses on the 600 block of Douglas Avenue in West Palm Beach. These homes, identifiable as structures from the early 20th century, were part of an older black neighborhood, with a history dating back to between 1915 and 1925, CBS12 reports, in partnership with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Even though the homes were abandoned, they were embraced by the community, serving as canvases for local artists and as a testimony to the area's African American heritage.
A firefighter was injured during the effort to put out the fire, and subsequently transported to the hospital in stable condition, revealed Chief Diana Matty of West Palm Beach Fire and Rescue to WPBF. Thirty-six firefighters arrived on the scene to combat the flames, which managed to inflict significant damage to the row houses on Douglas Avenue.
The inferno's cause remains under investigation, as these one-bedroom homes grappled with the blaze's onslaught. Together, the homes represented a significant aspect of local architecture, with their design linked to West African influences and termed shotgun houses—according to the Neighborhood Renaissance Organization, a term that could reference either the uninterrupted airflow from front to back or derive from the West African word togun, meaning "house" or "gathering place."
By pricing the homes at $165,000 each, the Neighborhood Renaissance Organization aimed to revitalize a long-neglected area of the city and give first-time buyers and local residents a chance to own a piece of the community’s history. The homes are modest in size, with most measuring about 550 square feet and one at 705 square feet.
