Top of Palafox
Marker #13
Florida Square
North Hill Preservation District (Historic Marker)
Temple Beth El (Historic Marker)
![Florida Square](https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ca803150e1f432ebcf12e67edb893ec7 320w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9a2d09e1794c19fd2d15ee22061a135d 540w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=af5759d175eea4367434c9e4de78d2fa 768w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=56a0060f51bf9c02849cb1a7120b6d74 1024w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e73d8c91a23c95734b57b54ba869caf9 1200w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=5ab93dfd52c3fe09c7826df5a5c072d3 1440w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e0509a89e915428b254236e34bdb474e 1920w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=cf2564c14fe890036fc196f5c55e58d0 2560w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/a1s-trail/Stop-9-Florida-Square-1910.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=3c74a5895b909abd127723c584050b00 3840w)
In December of 1885, the Pensacola Water Company was established to provide a public and private supply of water in and near the city of Pensacola. By 1906, the water system was serving around 9,580 properties with an estimated usage of 189,000,000 gallons in a single year. This photo of Florida Square from 1910, shows a large stand pipe that was part of the original water system at the corner of North Palafox and Cervantes Street. The stand pipe was 150 feet tall and provided pressure to the water system. A hurricane in 1906 damaged the stand pipe and residents pertitioned to have it removed. Between 1906 and 1914, advertisements were painted on the tower and it was eventually demolished in 1914.
![](https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=04b3c486d53dce9929379a7199adc8af 320w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ef831ab68c545b35e70a794837ac9eca 540w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=8494cedb45cdbf01244ad4e42bb4ccfc 768w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=0418da3d80518ccb7c87a2e8447162b5 1024w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=68f6413c6924ba756b25277da7245bb9 1200w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=026b1ffb3006554e1bfd389f9fcc8a26 1440w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=9cd8f26427892dbe04baf115459703de 1920w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=e2efa780038d02e24186d8a06bd4dba4 2560w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-904-N-Baylen-NH-1940s.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=ba8a899d9a88e7e3d4992f2a15e999e2 3840w)
The North Hill Preservation District occupies a 50-block area bound by Blount, Wright, Palafox, DeVilliers and Reus Streets, and represents one of the best preserved residential historic districts in Florida. After the Civil War, wealthy families left areas near the waterfront to build grand houses on Pensacola’s North Hill. From 1890 to the outbreak of World War I--between 1914 and 1918--as Northwest Florida entered the lumber boom era, local forests of yellow pine provided prosperity and building materials for many of the stately houses now treasured in the North Hill Preservation District. Another surge of growth occurred during the 1920s as a new generation of wealthy Pensacola citizens moved to the area and extended North Hill to its current northern border of Blount Street. From 1930 onward, homes typical of their periods were built on remaining available properties. As a result of its gradual development, architectural styles in North Hill are unusually varied including Queen Anne, Neoclassical, Tudor Revival, and Art Moderne. Through the dedicated efforts of community leaders, North Hill was designated as a preservation district in 1973 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
North Hill Preservation District, Marker location 401 W Gonzalez St.
Just off the trail
![temple beth el](https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=00406b1713268b0fb3acdada4d87d6d3 320w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=d62dc97c9558ce06a786b60f7af707e2 540w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=41727de0e7188561fbebabaf24f5f752 768w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=167cfa68b92b84463f2ffdd57b94f590 1024w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=8e5ce26c5bb16be4f65e863e3069f14e 1200w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=885ed09810d6fc4afb0c9ec91fe9d72e 1440w, https://pensacola.imgix.net/images/Stop-9-Temple-Beth-El.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=e3ef9c7f59a3ad8e3c948abdfb9acb9f 1920w)
Temple Beth El, ca. 1940s
Jewish families in Pensacola began organized worship following the Civil War. On this site in 1876 a Reform Jewish Synagogue was constructed. The State of Florida granted a charter in 1878 for Congregation Beth El. Temple Beth El joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1889 and engaged its first Rabbi in 1892. The original temple was destroyed by fire in 1895. It was rebuilt in 1898 at this site, but that building was also destroyed by fire in 1929. The current synagogue at 800 North Palafox Street dates from 1931. Temple Beth El is Florida's first formally recognized Jewish Congregation.
Pictured | Temple Beth El, ca. 1940s, UWF Historic Trust