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TIHE REGIONAL HISTORY OF ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA
Raymond L. Manning
Fall Quarter, 1977
AE 678
Univ. of Fla.
Inst. Blair Reeves
TALE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Report Intent
3. Regional History
4. Structure Location
5. Bibliography
6. Map Of Orimond Reach
- INTRODUCTION
Present day Ormond Beach is a small town located on
the east coast of Florida. It is adjacent to the north
of the city of Daytona Beach and approximately three
miles south of the junction of the Halifax and Tomoka
Rivers. The Halifax River runs through the center of
the city with the mainland to the west and a peninsula
to the east which is formed by the river and the Atlantic
Ocean.
The development of the New Pritian Colony (Present
day Ormond), the area's industries and the history of
events were to have strong influences on the location,
and in many cases the type of architecture in the area.
The warm climate of Florida was to have a direct
influence on the development of the area and it's
early industries of orange growing and tourism. The
two major industries of Ormond were to be short lived
due to the great freezes of 1894-5 which destroyed
most of the groves and the automobile along with the
economy caused a decline in tourism.
Once called the playground of the rich with many of
the most wealthy and influencial men of America as
regular winter visitors. It is now reduced to a quiet
retirement community. The decline of tourism as the
citie's lost major industry in the late 1920's and
the lack of a new one to replace it, has allowed the
city to retain much of it's early 1900 character.
Along ;a 1rn1lb.'r of the streets included in the survey,
little or no new construction : has occurred since 1921,
(1921 Sanborn Map). This allows entire blocks to retain
almost the original character developed by the structures
and the surrounding open spaces that was evident just
after the turn of the century.
This report will indicate the relationships between
the regional history of Ormond Beach and the different
types and locations of residences in a surveyed area.
Due to the fact that commercial development is not ex-
tensive in the area, it will not be delt with in this
report.
The report consists primarily of a regional history
section and a structure survey section.
The history is organized in chronological order
with a paragraph following the specific date. The his-
tory section is divided into sub-sections which indicates
a time period of major development in the history of the
area. Each sub-section is preceded by a summary of the
major occurrences within that period that had a sign-
ificant effect on the history and its relationship to
the structures of that period.
A photographic survey of the early significant struct-
ures and those that support the character of the area
is included nfter the history section. The photographs
orn accco ipanied by the address along with a location
in(,icatr* on a 1921 Sanhorn Insurance Map.
The scope of the survey will'structures located on
or near the river front. The section on the east side
of the river will include the homes located on the east
side of J. Anderson Dr. and Riverside.Dr. in addition
to those located behind the Hotel Orrond on Orchard Ln.
The ircti.o on the w'est sid of the river will include
the structures from the river bank to Ridgewood Ave.
Poth sections will extend north and south to the city
limits.
*T. HTSTOiY 0- (rO!!D 1E".ACHI
A. Early Sottlers To The H4lifax River Area to 1789.
F. Spainish Land Grants And The First Permanent
Settlers 1790-1820.
C. Early Plantations 1821-1872.
D. New Pritian Colony 1873-1879.
F. Organization Of The City Of Ormond 1880-1899.
F. Tourism In Ormond 1900-1930.
A. FAIRLY FETTL.'TS TO THE H.,',IF.AX RIVER AREA TO 1789
Enrly Timlucha Indians settlements were discovered in the
Halifax River area by the early Old World explorers. The
Spanish Conquistadors were the first white men to explore
the area. They had little interest in the area other
than establishing military ports and conversions of the
indians to their religion. Franciscan Frairs established
missions in the Halifax River area that were later destroyed
-y the same people that they we.~ intended to convert.
French explorers frequented the area to harrass the Spaniards
in an attempt to gain their own foothold in the new world.
After the mid 1700's, Pritain received Florida from
Spain and was to become the first time agricultural interest
was shown in the Halifax River area by white men. Live Oak
harvesting as well as the growing of sugar cane, rice,
indigo and oranges were under taken by the early English
settlers.
In 1783 Spain was ceded Florida by the English which
rocultcd in the abandonment of the prosperous English
Plantation.
A. EARLY ",TT'ETS TO THE H.'',IFAX RIVER AREA TO 1789
Early Timucha Indiann settlements were discovered in the
Halifax River area by the early Old World explorers. The
Spanish Conquistadors were the first white men to explore
the area. They had little interest in the area other
than establishing military ports and conversions of the
indians to their religion. Franciscan Frairs established
missions in the Halifax River area that were later destroyed
by the same people that they we~ intended to convert.
French explorers frequented the area to harrass the Spaniards
in an attempt to gain their own foothold in the new world.
After the mid 1700's, Britain received Florida from
Spain and was to become the first time agricultural interest
was shown in the Halifax River area by white men. Live Oak
harvesting as well as the growing of sugar cane, rice,
indigo and oranges were under taken by the early English
settlers.
In 1783 Spain was ceded Florida by the English which
recultcd in the abandonment of the prosperous English
Plantation.
HIISTOPY OF O1MONID TO 1789
The earlists settlers in the area of present day
Ormond were the Timucha Indians. They constructed cir-
cular houses from tree trunks and placed conical roofs
on the palmetto thatched structure. The chief's house
which doubled as the meeting hall, was rectangular in
shape and of similar construction to that used in the
smaller houses. The village was confined within a
fortified outer stockade wall that was constructed
of tree trunks. The only physical evidence of their
existence in the area that is obvious to the laymen
in the Ormond area are the large shell mounds. The
mounds were formed from the discarded shells of one
of there main food sources, the oyster.
1500 to the mid 1600's,
Expeditions were frequently carried out in the
Halifax River area by the early French and Spanish
explores. Huguenots led by Frenchmen such as Laud-
onnier, Jean Ribault and Capt. LeBearnus were often
at odds with the Spanish led by Ponce de Leon and
Pedro Menendez in the land that was claimed by Spain
at the time.
1569,
Capt. Antonio De Prado suggested to the King of
Spain that a blockade with a garrison of 50 men should
be established between the two rivers that were located
to the south of St. Augustine. The location he was
suggesting was near the present site of Ormond Beach,
but there is no record that the fort was ever built.
1575,
Franciscan Frairs established missions in Florida
and portions of Southern Georgia. The first structures
built in the Ormond area were little more than simple
huts that were covered with palmetto leaves, but they
served the purposes of the missionaries. These early
missions were established twenty years prior to those
built in New Mexico and nearly 200 years before they
reached California.
1655,
The Spanish governor of Florida, Don Pedro de Vbarra
sent Alvaro Mexia on an expedition to map the Mosquito
(Present Halifax) River area
1690,
The early missions were now constructed of large
coquina stone blocks with the labor supplied by the
converted Timucha Indians.
1703,
English settlers from the Carolinas and their Creek
and Catawbas indian allies, invaded Florida over border
disputes. The early missions established by the Fran-
ciscian monks were destroyed at this time.
1763,
The end of the Seven Years War on Nov. 3, 1762 was
ratified March 10, 1763 at the treaty of Paris. Florida
was ceded to the British in exchange for Havana, Cuba
which was captured from Spain during the course of the
war. Mosquito River had it's name changed to the Halifax.
This was to honor the Earl of Halifax, George Montagu
Dunk, the 1748 president of the British Board of Trade.
1765,
James Grant was appointed the first British gov-
ernor of Florida. A short time later he persuaded his
close friend, John Moultrie of South Carolina, to
come to Florida. Grant was to become ill a short time
later and appointed Moultrie as his successor..John
Moultrie lived a total of 17 years in Florida and
during this time was to acquire 2000 acres in the
Halifax River area. His Rosetta Plantation relied
on slave labor to grow rice, indigo, oranges, sugar
cane and provisions for the residents of the plantation.
T'!'h 1 : -:,-tion manor ho:se was a long narrow dwell-
ing with piazzas on the front and rear. The structure
was built of wood and stone with an estimated value of
300 English pounds. A large wooden barn was located
on the plantation to house a rice beating machine.
1766,
John Moultrie, a large plantation owner and British
governor of Florida, discovered many live oak groves
in the Halifax River area. The lumber was ideal for
ship building and it's close proximity to the coast
allowed for easy shipping. To supply the labor for
his venture, he imported forty families from Bermuda.
No.further record of this early venture indicates it
probably failed a short time later.
1776,
The outbreak of the American Revolution prompted
Govenor Tonyn to offer Florida as a haven for loyal
English subjects that were living in the colonies
to the north. As the colonies declared their indepen-
dence from England, thousands of stories cnme to Florida
and k'any settled in Volusia County. They brought their
families along with their slaves and were welcomed by
the established settlers of the area.
1770's
Most reports indicate the "King's Road" was con-
structed during the British occupation of Florida and
extended from New Smyrna to the south then up to
Southern Georgia.
Tlih road v.hllich i loc.Atd on the western limits of
present day Ormond was know as a tourist attraction
in the early 1900's.
1 77.
Plantations in the Halifax River area were pros-
perous until 1783 when Pritain due to the fortunes
of war ceded Florida back to Spain. The English
inhabitants were ordered to leave within 18 months.
Later this time limit was extended to 24 months and
finally those settlers that remained until 1786
could keep their land provided they expressed
allegiance to the King of Spain.
5. SPANISH GIANTS AND THE FTTST PERMANENT SETTLERS 1790-1' :
Several foreign families took advantage of the Spanish
offer of free land grants. They built log cabins and
used the mission ruins to house their sugar mills.
Sugar cane, corn and cotton were the main crops until the
first Seminole Indian War of 1817 destroyed many of the
early plantations. Malaria was a major problem to the
ezrly settlers due to the marshes and lack of drainage
in the area.
i! rj IJ(~~ r~ I)i ,YC( ) 1 r1, Q0 -
1790,
The King of Spain's Royal Oreder of 1790 authorized
the Spainish Govenor of Florida, Queseda to offer
lands grants to encourage the settlement of the area.
The grants were also made available to citizens of
other countries. The foreign settlers would receive
a full title for land provided they resided on the
land for ten years or pledged an allegiance of oath
to the King of Spain. The head of the family received
100 arces and an additional 50 given for each member
of the family.
11 15,
Captain James Ormond along with eight other families
traveled from the Bahams Islands to Florida to take
advantage of the land grants offered by the Spanish.
He was granted a portion of land near the Tomoka and
ITalifax River on April 1I, 1816. He soon became a
prominate plantation owner and eventually acquired
1684 acres of the "Damietta Mosquito" plantation. He
grew cotton and sugar cane until his death in 1 18
which was the result of a shooting by a runaway slave.
1817,
The first major Seminole Indian uprising destroyed
many of the plantations of the Halifax River area. Many
more of the early settlers were forced to leave the
area due to the continued indian harassment.
1819,
A treaty was signed with Spain on Feb. 22, 1819
that eventually led to the purchase of Florida by
the United States.
;. EAPLTY ITANTAT ONS 18 21-1 72
America purchased Florida in 1821 and encouraged
settlement in the area. The second Indian War occurred
during this period and destroyed the indigo and sugar
plantations and ran the settlers out of the area. The
early houses were built of driftwood from wrecks, felled
trees and palmetto leaves. Cotton and corn was grown in
addition to the orange groves which were just developing
in the area.
After the mid 1800's, wreckers and smugglers established
camps and were active in the Halifax River area, as well
as the entire East coast of the South.
HTSTOPY O' 0PMNl() V 18) 21-1872
1821,
The United states purchased Florida from the Spain-
ish for a sum of 5,000,000 dollars and appointed Gen-
eral Andrew Jackson as acting governor. St. Johns
and Mosquito counties were established at this time
to include all the land in the new purchase.
1822,
The Congress of the United States declared Florida
a U. S. Territory and appointed W. P. Duval as it's
first official governor.
182/4,
Mosquito county was carved out of St. Johns county
and contained all the land south of the St. Johns
River for a distance of 190 miles and inland from the
coast for 60 miles. The Halifax River area was included
as part of the land to be administered by the newly
formed county.
1835,
The second Seminole Indian war was more savage
than the first. The start of the war at this time
was the result of the indians refusal to be relocated
from Florida to a mid-western state. Indian chief
"Osceola" led the major portion of the indian nation
in the resistance to the U. S. Government.
Ilearly all the plantations in the Halifax River area
were destroyed, the sugar and indigo mills were in
ruins. Many of the settlers left the area and very
few of them were to return.
1837,
John Williams in his book, Territory of Florida
1837 states "There is considerable settlement on
the Tomoka and Smith's Creeks on the Halifax River
and at New Smyrna." These were the sugar mills and
plantations that were to be destroyed later in the
year by the indians.
1 812,
The major portion of the Seminole nation surrend-
ered at this time iwth the capture of their chief,
"Osceola".
1t M45,
On January 30, 1845 the legislation in Tallahassee,
Florida changed the counties name from Mosquito to
Orange county.
1 854 ,
Florida Governor James F. Proome on December 29,
separated Volusia county out of the larger Orange
county. It was became the 30 county in the state.
Capt. Adolphus Swift and his brother Elijah came
from Falmouth Mass. to cut live oak for the U. S.
government. They established a lumber mill and camp
at Daytona for the purpose of cutting and shaping
lumber to be shipped to the northern ship building
ports. The Swift lumber industry was to continue
for three generations in the Daytona and New Smyrna
area.
1858,
Elijah Swift purchased the Kerr or Heriot Grant
and Capt. Adolphus Swift bought the Yonge Grant in
the Halifax River area. The Yonge Grant was later
sold to the Corbin Lock Co. and is the present site
of the city of Ormond.
1i60-65
Little major activity related to the civil war
took place in Volusia county. Federal troops raided
the western portion of the county three times, but
these were only small skirmishes that did not reach
the Halifax River :rea. Sea water was evaporated by
a number of the river area settlers to produce salt
that was shipped to the confederate forces. This
small industry was probably the closes contact the
area was to have with the civil war.
1 1 ) 5,
James Andrew Bostrum came from Gottland in the
Swedish Isles to settle in the Daytona area. He was
originally a sailor who became interested in growing
oranges and this area was ideal for his purpose.
Soon his brother Charles and his two sisters,Mary
and Helen joined him in purchasing land for their
orange groves. In addition the family established a
small boat building business in the Daytona area.
1866,
The Florida Land and Lumber Co. established a camp
at Fort Orange, which was a short distance south of
Now Smyrna. Eventually they built a large saw mill
and opened a store which provided lumber that was
later used in the Ormond area.
The Postrum Prothers of Daytona moved north to the
present site of Ormond and established a homestead
and orange groves. They purchased the Tiger Grove
on the east bank of the Halifax River, five miles
north of Daytona. They built a house in later years
which became known as the "Bosarve House" and were to
establish orange groves on the pennisula.
187?0,
The original James Ormond Plantation was sold to
F. W. Webster for taxes.
I). N 7l' J ,ITTIAN COLONY 1873-1 879
The real beginning of Ormond occurred during this
period in the form of the New Britian Colony that was
established by a northern lock company. Three schooners
maintained regular routes to the Halifax River area
from Jacksonville along with an ox cart trail from
St. Augustine. The early colonists built their early
homes on the west bank of the Halifax River of driftwood,
thatched palmetto and 10' x 10' tents. Orange groves
were to develop into the major industry of the area at
this time.
HITOtRY O O,'C Oi.-OND 1 873-1 87'
1873,
The real beginning of the city of Ormond occurred
when three representatives of the Corbin Lock Company
of New Britian, Conn. came to the area to establish
a colony for employees. Phil Corbin had authorized
the representatives to purchase land for a settlement
of 12 families. Daniel Wilson, George Milland and
Lucius Summers came from Conn.to St. Augustine by
ship and then on to the Bostrum Plantation, by ox
cart. John and Charles Dostrum showed them several old
plantations and with their assistance they eventually
purchased a portion of the Henry Yonge Grant from
Capt. Adolphus Swift of Daytona. The 810 acre track
was located on the west bank of the Halifax River with
the boundaries at the present day stretch of Hernandez
Ave. on the North, Live Oak Ave. to the South and West
to Yonge Street.. The land was divided with 12 parcels
of river front and field lots to accorodatc the follow-
ing familiLers.
1. Philip Corbin 7. George Brigham
2. John E. Francis 8. William G. McNary
3. E]dron Moses Penfield 9. Ruth and Eliza Nix
!. Chester N. Penfield 10. Daniel Wilson
5. Frank Penfield 11. George Milland
6. A. A. Hull 12. Lucius Summers
The representatives return, d to the Company with news
of their success and proposed the new settlement be
named "New Eritian."
1874,
Wilson, Penfield and McNary returned and began
clearing their lots during-the winter months. Daniel
Wilson immediately constructed the first house on the
mainland side, of present day Ormond with lumber shipped
from Jacksonville. The structure became known as the
"Colony House," because new arrivals to the area stay-
ed in the house until their own houses could be built.
The house was located at the corner of Tomoka Avenue.
and South Beach Street and was to see use as a hotel,
tne first post office and meeting hall. During original
construction of the foundation, human skeletons were
discovered which indicated the site was an Indian burial
ground. It was later replaced by the "White Porden
House," which was built around the chimney of the old
"Colony House" by IU. J. ',hi te.
1875,
The first of the families began arriving from Jack-
sonville on one of the three schooners that made regular
trips to the Halifax River. Daniel Wilson's family
arrived in the Spring and the Francis's, Penfield's
and Brigham's followed in October.
The "Dix House" was erected at the corner of North
Beach Street and Dix Avenue and was frequently used for
town meetings. The house today remains nearly the same
as it was originally constructed.
1876,
Joseph D. Price of Kentucky and John Anderson of
Maine settled on the east bank of the Halifax River
across from the New Eritian colony. They later entered
in a partnership to develop orange groves and were to
become active in early development of the city of Ormond.
1876,
James E. Francis established the first general store
in the New Eritian colony. He obtained lumber from
Charles Postrum nd constructed the store near his home.
His mother in New York City sent supplies by schooner to
stock his new store. Successive stores were built in
later years in the Ormond area and the James E. Francis
Company was to remain until 1931.
1 76,
The N'vumber Nine Plantation was established by Mr. and
irs. Chauncey Pacon on the land adjacent to the north
iound.ry or the New Britain colony. The groves that the
company established were to be known on the east coast
for its .fino jelly products. A number of yeors later
the plan nt.tion was sold to a stock company whose presi-
dent was F. ". Nordman Jr. The groves were to become
an attraction for the winter visitors of Ormond.
1 376,
Reverend E. Y. Pinkerton dreamed of building a Union
Church in the early colony. He began by holding meetings
in different residences in the area that eventually led
to the organizing of the church in 1880.
1879,
The first school in New Britian was established in
a dwelling at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Ridgewood
Avenue. Mrs. Chauncey Bacon was the teacher of six
children in the school that was equipped with homemade
hardwood desks and seats. The original structure
remains intact today and is used as a residence with
additions and' modifications to the original fabric.
E. ORGANIZATION OF ORMOND 1'" 8-1900
The city had grown to the extent that it became
incorporate and was renamed Ormond. Many wealthy orange
growers came to the area to build winter homes on the
west bank of the Halifax River. Orange groves were the
main industry until the severe freezes of 1895-6 destroyed
the majority of the groves.
Residents of the settlement of Tamoka to the west
who were ruined by the freeze abandoned their homes and
moved to Ormond. The population increase focused on
development of a new livelihood which eventually lead to
truck farms.
The construction of the Hotel Ormond during this era
eventually lead to the development of tourism in the
area. Flagler bought the hotel to become part of his
chain of hotels which supported his name for the east
coast "Paradise Regain." The popularity of the hotel
encouraged growth and influenced the city's future
development.
ITTSTORY OF OriMT'OND 1"80-190C
1880,
The entire tax accessment of Ormond at this time was
$102.6f4.
1880,
The city had grown to the extent that the settlers
thought it was time to incorporate. A town meeting was
held in the Dix house to decide the name of the town
and the extent of its boundaries. Many residents
objected to the name "New Britian," so the town was named
after one of its early settlers, James Ormond. The city
of Ormond was incorporated on April 22 and was to contain
l-1 square miles of land on the Halifax River. The first
mayor was Daniel Wilson who was one of the original
representatives of the Corbin Lock Company in 1873.
The Ormond Union Church was erected by Reverend
E. Y. Pinkerton and labcr was donated by the townsmen.
The lumber was shipped in by schooners and constructed
on land donated by Mr. Colby on the west bank of the
Halifax River. Two plank wharfs were built on the bank
in front of the church to willow boats to dock for church
services.
1 G "'),
II. H. Flagler began development on the east coast of
Florida which he called "Paradise Regained."
1886,
Stephen "Deacon" Van Cullen White, a New York financier
from Froo1klyn built a home on the east bank of the Halifax
River along the river road. The land was originally
settled :y !!iram P. Shaw in 1881. The house was painted
orange with white trim to match the railroads colors
of the St. Johns and the Halifax Railroads. He later
constructed a spur track to his house. -The original
house had four bedrooms, two porches, six fireplaces,
a study wving and a Florida room. The house stands
today with three additional bedrooms as the oldest
standing peninsula house in Ormond. Today it is known
as the "Strickland House" and is located on John Adams
Drive.
1 22"7,
In November the Narrow Gauge Railroad passed 1/3 mile
west of Ormlond on its route from Palatka 140 miles to the
north to Daytona five miles to the south. It was to
later become a link in Flagler's Florida east coast
nailway:, but ws orriginally financed by Stephen Van Cullen
White. IK. V/hite care from Prooklyn, New York to finance
the St. Johns cwnd Halifax Railroad.
I OU ,
The city corporate limits were 1- miles on the
river front, 1i miles west and east from the river to
the Atlantic Ocean. It was beginning to establish
significant commercial interest at the 1888 census with
the following recorded:
Two general merchandize dealers each with steamer
wharves
Real estate dealer
Five carpenters
Blacksmith
Painter
Machinist
Dairyman
Wagon maker
Taxidermists
Two resident clergymen
Two school teachers
15 truck farmers
82 orange growers
Three boarding houses
Six contractors
Two barbers
Two boat builders
Five teamsters
12 piece cornet band
Captain H. D. Shaw organized 55 residents of Ormond
to act as backers for its first loan company. They
applied for a letter of patent to establish the Ormond
Building and Loan Association.
1888,
The first bridge was built across the Halifax River
to join the peninsula to the mainland. It was built by
Joseph Price and John Anderson with a later railroad
bridge built next to it by Stephen Van Cullen White.
The Hotel Ormond was built by Joseph Price and John
Anderson with the financial backing of Stephen Van
Cullen White. It was built on the east bank of the
Halifax River at Granda Avenue on a portion of remote
forest owned by the two partners and land donated by
Charles Bostrum. The grand opening was on January 1,
with a total of 70 rooms. Dr. S. E. Churchill and his
sister managed the hotel for two years until Anderson
and Price took over the management. The furnishings
consisted of cheap varnished furniture, coarse leaf
curtains and fern leafed patterened carpets with
mosquito canopies over the beds.
The Coquina Hotel was constructed by a stock company
controlled by Mr. Constantine of New York City. The
structure was located on the ocean front at Grande
Avenue. In 1910, it was purchased by John Andrews
and the name was changed to the Erenton Inn.
1890,
H. M. Flagler purchased the interest of Anderson, Price
and Van Cullen White in the Hotel Ormond. The hotel
was to become part of Flagler's East Coast system of
hotels and to be owned and operated by the Florida
East Coast Railroad.Company. The hotel was eventually
enlarged to forty times its original capacity to be-
come the largest frame building in the United States for
several years. Anderson and Price continued to manage
it until 1910..
. .2.- ,.,
c ..1l^'. A
1 _91 ,
Mrs. Gail Porden and her daughter Miss Penelope
organized the Village Improvement Association. It
started with 13 members to promote a well kept and
clean community.
1891,
The St. Johns Episcopal Church was organized and con-
structed on the penisula at Grande Avenue.
1 C9I-5,
Four severe freezes during the winter destroyed most
of the groves in the Halifax River area and elsewhere
in Florida. Many of the towns folks livelihood was
taken away. The Tomoka settlement to the west of
Ormond was almost completely abandoned after the
freezes, with most of its residents moving to western
Orm!ond. Thlis produced a mixture of northerners from
Ormond and Southerncrs fro:- Tomoka. They became a
strongly united community with a common objective,
to find a means of livelihood to replace growing oranges
The schooner "Nathan Cobb" wrecked offshore of Ormond
in a severe storm in December 1896. It was enroute from
Rockland Maine to South America, with a cargo of rail-
road cross ties. Pilly Fagan, a Hotel Ormond employee,
dismantled a portion of the wreck and constructed a house
with salvaged materials on land north of the hotel. The
small residence was called the "Nathan Cobb House" and
remains intact today.
.4'L
.. lll
F. TOURi ISM H11 OP)1OND 1(900-1.'50
At the turn of the century the reputation of the
hotels of Ormond, the warm winter climate and the areas
natural attractions were to lead to the development of
tourism as the area's major industry. Dancing, yachting,
beach bathing, driving, golf and river excursions were
some of the features that were to turn Ormond into the
playground of the rich. By 1910 many of the influencial
and wealthy men of America such as the Astors, Vander-
bilts and Fords were to become frequent winter visitors.
The popularity of Ormond as a winter vacation area lead
to its becoming known as one of the richest resorts
in the world.
As the interest in the hotels, primarily the Ormond,
and the resort area increased so did the population of
the city. Many of the wealthy winter visitors chose to
establish their winter homes in the area. The purchase
of Casements by J. D. Rockefeller brought a following
of well to do residents to the area in addition to the
population increase to support the new industry. The
estates of the wealthy along the east bank of the
Halifax River were noted for their rare shrubs, flowers
and water front beauty.
Auto:onb-ilr. ractinf on the I'-ach was a major attraction
at the turn of the century in the Ormond and Daytona
areas. As a major attraction, the automobile was to
also to lead to the eventual decline of Ormond as a
resort. The mobility the automobile offered allowed
the middle class tourist to easily travel to the resort
that gave them the chance to mingle with the rich.
The influx of these tourist around 1920 caused the
wealthy to leave their once exclusive resort. The
yearly repeat business was gone as was the backbone
of the tourist industry.
Py 1930 Ormond did not have a great deal more to
offer then the other resorts along the East Coast to
fit the needs of the middle class tourist. The new type
of tourist with his automobile was free to travel to
different reports each year with ease. This change in
the type of tourism along with the larger auto-oriented
resort of Day tona Deach to the south cause Ormond to
convert into a small quiet retirement community.
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TIISTORY 07' mO7i!D 1900-191nl
1900,
Ormond's first newspaper "The Gazette" was started
by Alexander Mann.
1901,
The original golf course was built adjoining the Hotel
Ormond and was to become a major tourist attraction.
1902,
The sand streets were surfaced with marl and oyster
shells from the old Timucha Indian mounds. The coming
of the automobile led to the action that destroyed
part of the areas landscape as well as a portion of its
history.
1903,
The Ormond zmara~ was built by Flagler's East Coast
Hotel Conpany to promote the 1901+ auto racers on the
beach. TI was also to attract early automobile makers
for the tentin. an-d racing of their products, thus
developed int.rniitionaul na.'o racing in Florida. The
wood structure was located on Grande Avenue to the east
of the Iotel Ormond.
1 90/,
The Florida East Coast Automobile Association
sponsored by the Hotel Ormond and the Florida East
Coast railway organized auto races on the beaches
of Daytona and Ormond to promote the new sport.
The promoters called it the best speedway in the world
which allowed W. K. Vanderbuilt to set a record of 39
seconds for the mile. The winter races from January
25 to February 6, 1904, drew many of America's noted
early auto racers.
1915,
The Wor.eins Club- of Oriond built a public library
as a memorial to John Anderson and Joseph Price for their
contributions to the community.
J. D. Pockefeller, a winter visitor to Ormond since
191I purchased the Harwood- Huntington residence. The
shingle style resort home wvas located on the east bank
of the Halifax Fivrr -.nd on the opposite ride of Grande
.'vcnue front Hotel Ornond. He enlarged it ror ise as his
v .ntcr hoci. and naved it "Casements."
1 922,
A sm ,all group of residents headed by Irs. Joseph
R. Ellicott orrani-eod i-~'o Garden Club of Tu.lifax County
nt Ormond. The ni rn:-'"- '- stressed conservation of
national rnd hictori.c 'i -,ources, such as James Ormonds
rrave, the "'ilow RIuins anc eventually acquired 500 acres
for Tamo!a State Park.
1 92/ ,
The Bank of Ormond was opened January 21 with Dr.
J. P. Esch as its president.
1925-6,
Two subdivisions were opened in Ormond at this time.
Rio Vista and Arlington developed rapidly due to Ormond's
popularity as a tourist resort.
STRUCTURE LOCATIONS
To ease the locating of structures the city has
been divided in to four sectors. The Halifax River
bisects the city north and south while Grnada Ave.
bisects it east and west to form the locating bound-
aries for each sector.
Each sector is assigned a Roman Numeral with all
the significant structures in that specific sector
forming a section in the report.
Within each sector the locations are further brok-
en down into street locations. Each street is assign-
ed a capital letter and each residence on that street
is assigned a number that corresponds to it's picture.
The house numbers start with number 1 being closest
to one of the bisecting boundaries. In some cases this
causes the need to invert the order of numbers on the
locating map.
STRUCTURE LOCATION
Sectors I, II, III, IV
a
____.___ ____~--I
'------
The northern half of the original New Britian
Colony is located in this sector. The first resid-
ential structures in the area were located overlooking
the west bank of the Halifax River from the west side
of South Peach St. As development moved inland from
the river bank toward the west, New Britian and
Lincoln Ave. became the center of residential develop-
ment which later spread north and south in the sector.
The western portion of the sector was developed
by the residents of the Tomoka settlement which was
located west of Ormond. The severe freezes of 1894-5
destroyed most of their orange groves and forced them
to move to the larger city of Ormond. This may have
produced the unusual colony of shotgun type residences
located on Lincoln Ave.
Very little contemporary development has occurred
in the surveyed portion of the sector since 1920.
The major portion of the surveyed area is probably
quiet similar in character with respect to struct-
ures and open spaces as it was in the early 1900's.
SECTOR I
A. N. Each St.
B. New Britian Ave.
C. Lincoln Ave.
D. Highland Ave.
Ir^-~ :
E. N. Ridgewood Ave.
Lr~ i n~IJ *I. ,1
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5 -------11
I 4
I .4
Sector I-A
II. Each St.
11.
10.
..,,.
f
1. 26 N. Peach St.
I- -. ~p
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2. 40 N. Beach St.
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3. 90 N. Peach St.
14. 110 N.
Eeach St.
S _-,I
5. 122 H. Each St.
r. 128 N. Peach St.
5. 122 H. Each St.
r. 128 N. Peach St.
7. 132 N. Beach St.
3. 166 N. Beach St. McNary House
rB
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9. 178 N. Beach St. Dix House
10. 186 N. Peach St.
I ____________
11. 220 I.. Beach St.
1.l
,L I
Sector I-E
New Eritian Ave.
u &cRw~LA'JJLJ
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1. 31 New Pritian Avenue
Ro!
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2. 59 New Britian Avenue
3. 73 New Pritian Avenue
4. 83 New Britian Avenue
i~9~
5. 91 New Pritian Avenue
G. 50 New Pritian Avenue
~
I
7. 42 New Pritian Avenue
Sector I-C
Lincoln Ave.
__ __ ___________ ______ 1.
~~~i t11 './7 j
12.
fl a -1H
13.
ii ..
H1 144
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lit
1
1. 21 Lincoln Avenvu
2. 31 Lincoln Avenue
h-v ti
3. /13 Lincoln Avenur
( :
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4. 51 Lincoln Avenue
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5. 61 Lincoln Avenue
6. 75 Lincoln Avenue
7. 85 Lincoln Avenue
8. 93 Lincoln Avenue
~\'55~4
9. 103 Lincoln Aveniie, Early Schoolhouse
i Ne
10. Lincoln Avenue
10. 88 Lincoln Avenue
II
11 Cli Lincoln Avenue
12. 78 Lincoln Avenue
13. 56 Lincoln Avenue
14. 30 Lincoln Avenue
A..
k..
Li- U
I
Sector I-D
Highland Ave.
L _.__ -_-L------ J/) 1.
a,
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1. 70 Highland Avenue
2. 67 Highland Avenue
3. 27 Highland Avenur
I
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Sector I-E
N. Ridgewood Ave.
I- ~ 4;, I
i~i I F'i T
_ -B -. I I j i ?
4:- *ABAMt -
F I --
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IIL
-iiI I. n ___
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A l t
1. 18 II. Ridgewood Avenue
2. 36 N. Ridgewood Avenue
j YCI
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3. GO I. Ridgewood Avenue
r____ I
4. 74 N. Ridgewood Avenue
q 4'
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5. 108 N. Ridgewood Avenue
/ x
6. 168 N. Ridgewood Avenue
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7. 270 H. Ridgewood Avenue
tIh 111H
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29~n : ..~I
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SECTOR II
A. S. Bench St.
B. S. Ridgewood Ave.
C. Vista & Seville Ave.
S .. L : i I. [. i- ; r-i -i c:
SECTOR II
The remaining portion of the New Eritian Colony
was located in this sector and is where the first
mainland house was constructed by the colony settlers.
As in sector I, development first occurred along the
river front on the west side of South Beach St. Furth-
er river front development occurred south of the orig-
inal colony due to wealthy northern orange growers
that moved to Ormond.
A small colony of Colonial Spainish Revival resid-
ences is located at the extreme south end of the sector.
Other than these their is only a few good examples
scattered through out the city.
SECTOR II-A
S. Peach St.
..-... i. .- 1- -"r ..... ..
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_ . . .-; . I
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1. B5 S. Peach St.
PV.4 71
~ww---
2. 74 S. Beach St.
4
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3. 100 S. Leach St.
& s .".& .
4. 102 S. Peach St.
5. 10 S. Peach St.
6. 158 S. Beach St.
7. 176 S. Peach St. Porches-Ames House
'~~' -;5~39
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crrn
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8. 236 S. Beach St.
^Y
,
9. L45 S. Peach St.
10. 502 S. Peach St.
11. 514 S. Each St.
12. 528 S. Beach St.
7'E-
=4 =4 I= ,== 0<
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11
Sector II-J1
S. Ridcowood Ave.
_J L--
--- -- -- -
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1 .
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i. ''.-- _--__
1. 144 S. Ridgewood Avenue
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2. 200 S. Ridgewood Avenue
WfLrfE i
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7. 316 S. Ridgewood Avenue
4 v.
'
Sector II-C
Vista Ave. & Seville St.
- _'ViIle St,
2. 708 Vista Avenue
3. 71' Vista Aver-ae
)i. 7Q11 Victa Avenue
IL.
-~i 1 1
Fop-llll~~~~8~
'- 77' Vist Avonr,:e
c~h~hcw ---
~iS;I~LL~C~ :-
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ib .L7*~.:.- ')*(~
nP~~ ~Y r .~-o
C-
C. 7,0 Vistn Avenue
P'_ hl- LT~ie~L-__Lr--- -I-~
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Bs$: ,: ~P~aZS~Ft~ECPIJ~~S~Y-i ~. ,P;.
7. 7I Virta Avr ~'
,. Vista Avenue
~c'CV 4'
SECTOR III
A. J. Anderson Drive
B. Orchard Lane
*i-n- _.... .
l '^ /i [t._____i_
r r
... . I/ i r -
A ', . .,,
N.
p_ v, i' P L
r;: :6)/
SECTORR IITT
The first residences built on the peninsula were
located in this sector in the late 1800's. The usual
manner in locating the river flont house was to posi-
tion it on the east side of the river front drive.
This left the river bank free of development and open
to view. Unfortunately, contemporary development has
occurred to the west of the river front drive directly
on the once open river bank. These newer residences
have obstructed the river view of most of the early
estates that were constructed during the tourist boom
of the early 1900's.
Sector III-A
J. Anderson Drive
1 -- |-- 7
50
3.
S-- 1.
i" ._ .
I'," i i
..r- .... =
Il .
1. 1 5 J. Anderson PD'ive
2. 211 J. Anderson Drive
I
I
,:-~
~
3. 25 J. Anderson Drive
4. 307 J. Anderson Drive
5. 311 J. Anderson D1-ive
JII
I- 2
..
6. 347 J. Anderson Drive
7. 357 J. Anderson Drive
.7.
8. 391 J. Anderson Drive, Irons Estate
14 -F
t
~-
s
~C' I"'.
0. lr59 J. Anderson Drive
I 4''""S v-.
10. Ip"'7 J. Anderson Drive
|
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