- July 26, 2024
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The John Anderson Lodge was a nationally recognized historic landmark located at 71 Orchard Lane in Ormond Beach. It was built in 1886 for Ormond Beach promoter John Anderson (1853–1911), who originally settled in New Britain (now Ormond Beach) in 1876.
In the 1980 book Ormond-On-The-Halifax, local author and historian Alice Strickland described John Anderson as, “…a man of such charm and strength of character, that even today, over a hundred years later, his influence has left an indelible mark on present-day Ormond Beach.” Anderson, along with business partner Joseph Price, were the first proprietors of the illustrious Ormond Hotel, which opened on Jan. 1, 1888.
The lodge was a rare and historically significant structure, as it used palmetto log construction, and was built in the Adirondack Rustic architectural style. Palmetto logs are typically unsuitable for building construction because of the soft, fibrous consistency of the wood. The designers of the lodge wanted to use native Florida materials in the context of the natural environment, and that is why palmetto logs were used. It was one of the last surviving structures from Anderson’s original Santa Lucia plantation.
The lodge originally provided quarters for construction workers engaged in the building of local infrastructure and the Ormond Hotel. After these construction projects were completed, it was used by Anderson’s friends, and rented to hunters and fishermen who preferred more rustic accommodations instead of the upscale and modern Ormond Hotel facility. During much of the 20th century it was used as a private home. Over the past couple of decades, the lodge fell into disrepair and became a decrepit and unsafe structure. Its roof had several holes and was leaking, the interior was rotting away and was infested with mold, the floor joists were weak and teeming with termites.
On Aug. 6, 2019, a demolition permit was issued by the city of Ormond Beach because the lodge’s overall condition was determined to be “beyond economical repair.” By the end of September 2019, the lodge was completely demolished and all of its debris were hauled away.
On October 4, 2019, the Volusia County Property Appraiser recorded the parcel at 71 Orchard Lane as vacant.
The lodge was originally listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 6, 1989 due to its architectural and exploration/settlement historical significance. It was also part of the multiple property listing of the “Historic Winter Residences of Ormond Beach, 1878-1925.” Flagler Beach resident and historian Randy Jaye submitted a petition to delist the lodge from the NRHP in November 2022. After making its way through the approval process at Florida’s Division of Historic Resources, the petition was forwarded to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. for a final decision.
On Aug. 22, 2023, the Keeper of the NRHP officially removed (delisted) the John Anderson Lodge from the NRHP.
After standing for 133 years, the John Anderson Lodge became yet another example of a once impressive, nationally recognized, rare historic landmark that has been demolished and thereafter has vanished into the mists of time. Volusia County now has one less structure on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
