- April 18, 2024
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For those interested in local history, there should be a lot to watch in Ormond Beach in 2016. Last year, developing a Historic Preservation Plan was added to the city’s strategic plan as a result of Community Conversations, where residents listed aspects of the city they valued.
The MacDonald House on East Granada Boulevard, now housing the Historical Society and the offices for the tennis center, will likely come up in discussions. Some want to restore the city-owned building, currently in disrepair, and others would like to see it demolished to make way for development.
The city-owned building has deteriorated over the years, after the city renovated it in the 1990s.
Those that would like to see the old building replaced by a new structure often say the building is full of termites. However, Susan Heddy, president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, said she has a letter from a pest control company saying there are no termites.
The historical society has made up a proposal for all three floors of the building to be converted to a museum for the city. They have said it would not only add to the culture for the city, but also be economically beneficial, citing tourism attracted by historic sites.
Meanwhile, a local businessman has made an offer to buy and demolish the building to provide space for development, saying it would bring jobs and economic growth.
At a recent City Commission brainstorming session, Mayor Ed Kelley suggested other possibilities for a museum.
“We should have a discussion on what would be the best location for a museum,” he said.
He suggested that the Anderson-Price Memorial Building be considered, and also questioned if the cupola at Fortunato Park was large enough.
“I don’t think the MacDonald House is conducive to a museum,” he said.
Another historic, city-owned building that could come up in discussions is the Ames House, on South Beach Street, which now is the location for the city legal staff.
Also, the historic firehouse on East Granada Boulevard, now privately owned, is also designated historic. At workshops in 2015, city commissioners talked about purchasing it, but the asking price has been too high.
At the recent workshop, Kelley also offered the possibility of the city buying The Dix House, a North Beach House which is on the National Register of Historic Places, as the site for a museum.
The history of Ormond Beach should be something to watch in the future, as the city comes to grip with its remaining historic properties and the desire for modernization and economic growth.
Meanwhile, private properties are being considered for the list of historic landmarks. There are currently about 50 on the city’s list.
The City Commission will be hearing requests to bestow the title of historic landmark on two properties on the beachside with the first hearing tentatively set for Jan. 19 and the second on Feb. 2. The requests were made by the owners of the properties, and recommended by the Planning Board on Dec. 10.
They are the Nathan Cobb Cottage on Orchard Lane and two houses on John Anderson Drive, built in 1910, that are owned by the same family.
At the Planning Board meeting, board member Lewis Heaster wanted to make sure the owners knew all of the ramifications. Once designated historic, there are limitations to what a property owner can do with the property because it must be kept in the same architectural style.
“Once it gets on the list it can be difficult to modify it,” Heaster said. “It can affect the value,”
Board member Doug Thomas agreed, saying, “It can be an ordeal when it comes to repair.”
“So many of the old homes get torn down just to be replaced with new modern day structures.”
Laura Leffler, on applying for a historic designation
The board was assured by Laureen Kornel, of the Planning Dept., that the owners knew all of the details, and the Planning Board then gave a unanimous vote of approval.
There can be tax advantages to restoring a historic property, but Kornel said she believes most owners go through the process because of their interest in the history of the property.
Statements by the owners of these properties support her statement.
Thomas Massfeller, who bought the Nathan Cobb Cottage, 137 Orchard Lane, in 2014 and did restoration work, said, “I’m proud of the cottage and I want to help preserve it the best I can.”
The Nathan Cobb Cottage is a well-known historic house, even if it has not been designated as such. It was constructed from materials from a ship, the Nathan F. Cobb, that wrecked offshore in 1896. It is believed the cottage was constructed the following year by William “Billy” Hope Fagen, a member of one of the early pioneering families of Ormond Beach, according to information provided by the city of Ormond Beach. The 391-square-foot house has seen minor alterations through the years, but maintains its original architectural style.
The Nathan F. Cobb was a three-masted schooner that capsized in heavy seas traveling from Brunswick, Georgia to New York with a load of timber. The crew removed the masts to right it, and it drifted for four days before grounding on a sandbar at Ormond Beach.
It is located between two historically designated properties, the Bracken Cabin, 71 Orchard Lane, and Delaney Cottage House, 175 Orchard Lane.
Two houses, at 639 and 659 John Anderson Drive, were also approved as historic landmarks by the Planning Board and will be considered by the City Commission.
The request was made by Laura Leffler, daughter of the owners. Leffler said her family is seeking the designation to preserve the house because it is part of the history of Ormond Beach. Her parents bought it in 1955.
“So many of the old homes get torn down just to be replaced with new modern day structures,” she wrote in an email. “This home was built in 1910 and has only had two owners, my parents and the couple that built it, the Garths. He was a doctor. My mother has worked on keeping the house and grounds up for over 60 years. The house is in remarkable condition for a house that is 105 years old, so I feel it is important to keep this little bit of Ormond's history around and protect it.”
The architectural style of the house at 639 John Anderson Drive is colonial revival, according to city records, and there is only one other house in the city in that style. The main house is in its original state, including sash windows, the owners say. Citrus was grown on the property at one time, and the smaller house at 659 John Anderson was used to house the hired help.
