Endangered Historic Properties* in Volusia County
A List Endorsed by the Volusia County Historic Preservation Board, Nov. 2007

Strawn Groves Packing House & Saw Mill, DeLeon Springs (NR)
The citrus packinghouse complex and sawmill are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are recognized as significant historic architectural resources associated with Florida’s citrus industry. The 12 contributing buildings and 3 contributing structures that comprise the packinghouse complex retains its original architectural integrity to a high degree and represents the largest citrus-related historic district documented in Florida. The sawmill is one of few examples left in Florida of an early 20th century timber processing operation. All of the buildings and structures associated with this listing are in an advanced state of deterioration.

Colonial New Smyrnea Archeological Sites (NR)
In 1998, the cities of New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange, along with Volusia County, sponsored a comprehensive archeological survey to locate sites associated with the colonial New Smyrnea settlement—the ambitious attempt by Andrew Turnbull and partners to introduce 1,400 Mediterranean colonists to farm their plantation in the New World. Nearly 40 colonial-period archaeological sites were documented, including several that contain significant structural remains. After more than two centuries, New Smyrna's original town plan is beginning to emerge once again. Future archaeological surveys and excavations, in combination with site preservation and focused historical research, will provide a wealth of new data with which to fill in the gaps about life in 18th Century New Smyrnea—one of Florida's greatest colonial experiments. The major threat for these nationally significant resources is that new development in certain areas of the City of New Smyrna Beach is destroying significant archeological deposits when not properly mitigated.

Historic Pierson School
In 1926, the same year the Town of Pierson was incorporated, a new, Spanish Mission style school building was constructed for high school students to the west of the existing (now demolished) elementary school. The new structure had an auditorium with a balcony, dressing rooms, two large classrooms, a smaller classroom, principal’s office, small library, and remarkably, two bathrooms. The school was the first public building in the area to have an electric pump, plumbing and a water fountain. In 1962 a new high school was constructed; the historic buildings now house Pierson Elementary School, soon to be closed and no longer used as a public school. Despite the high potential for adaptive reuse, no effort to save the building has been initiated.

Oak Hill VIA Building (NR Eligible)
Built in 1906, this unique eight-sided structure was first used as a community center for the Oak Hill Village Improvement Association. In 1917 a team of horses moved the building to its present location on a donated lot in the center of town that had been deeded to the people of Oak Hill. The only historic public building in the community, the hall has served as a school, library, grocery store, city hall and host to local functions from political rallies to scout meetings and fish fry dinners. Structurally damaged by several hurricanes, this distinctive frame building it is in desperate need of repair. It is one of only a few historic octagon style structures left standing in Florida.

Rio Vista Subdivision Gateway, Calle Grande Street, Ormond Beach
This structure was built as a grand entryway for the Rio Vista subdivision platted in 1926. The subdivision was owned and developed by William Hardesty, who had made his fortune with the Hardesty Manufacturing Company, an Arts & Crafts furniture company, in Dover, Ohio, but had moved to Florida in 1922 to deal in real estate. By 1927, a hotel, thirty-eight homes and over fifteen miles of paved roads had been developed. But this all came to a halt upon the advent of the Great Depression. The major threat to this structure is neglect.

Seville Public School (NR Eligible)
Originally a four-room schoolhouse constructed in 1913, the Seville Public School replaced earlier schools in this historic community. In 1924 an addition was constructed on the south end and used as a high school for several years. Currently owned and maintained by the Volusia County School Board as an elementary school, the facility is to be closed and declared obsolete. An excellent candidate for reuse, this charming building’s future is in jeopardy and is additionally threatened by potential expansion of US Highway17.

Hasty Cottage, Davis House & Cemetery, Ponce Inlet
One of three cottages built in the late 1800s by the founding Hasty family, this is the only remaining structure from that period, and it served as the last Ponce Park post office. The Davis House (right) was built in 1922, and was home to Edward Meyer, Sr., the last civilian lighthouse keeper at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Nearby these historic buildings is a graveyard in which Nathanial & Elizabeth Hasty, and “Cocoa” Bill Williams, a local handyman are buried. These historic resources are threatened by neglect and redevelopment.

Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp (NR)
Members of the Spiritualist faith founded Cassadaga in 1895 as a religious camp meeting winter retreat. It came to be the group's second largest center after its New York headquarters and remains associated with the faith to this day. The National Register Historic District is comprised mostly of frame vernacular residences, but also includes the masonry temple building, frame-built visitors’ center, and several park/open space areas. Threats to the historic district and portions of the larger historic community of Cassadaga are associated with the pending development associated with the SR 472 Activity Center and annexations by the City of Deltona.

St. Johns River Shell Middens
These riverine shell middens, once massive in size, represent an accumulation of prehistoric subsistence several millennia in duration. Although shell pit excavations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries substantially destroyed most of these sites, recent archeological excavations at several locations have revealed intact cultural deposits with excellent preservation of organic materials. These deposits often contain human remains and burials as well. Threats include ongoing shoreline erosion during high-water events, development, and disturbance by artifact collectors.

The McCoy House, 1090 Riverside Drive, Holly Hill
The former home of boat builder and rumrunner, Bill McCoy, who resided here in the early 20th century when he and his brother, Ben, built excursion boats at their boat works on the Halifax River. Alleged to have run over 170,000 cases of liquor between New York and the Bahamas during the Prohibition era, the “King of Rum Row” gained a reputation as an honest man who never watered down his product. Although already a part of American common parlance, the phrase “The Real McCoy” gained yet another meaning when customers used it to inquire about their pending purchase of bootlegged spirits. Although currently in use as an apartment house, threats include under-valuation as waterfront real estate and additions made to the building that are not compatible with its historic integrity.

Fort Florida & Goat Island Burial Mounds, DeBary
Both these sites are sand burial mounds documented to contain human remains. These earthen structures are designed and intended by prehistoric peoples for the ritual interment of the deceased. Private parties currently own these two significant prehistoric resources and sacred Native American sites. Although protected by Chapter 872, Florida Statutes (legislation making it a felony to knowingly disturb human burials) these sites have been substantially disturbed and vandalized by artifact collectors.

Underhill House, 227 Lemmon Road, Barberville
Constructed in 1879, this house is likely the oldest surviving brick house in Volusia County. The bricks used in the construction of the building were handmade by the Underhill family at a site near Deep Creek, just south of where the house stands. The Underhill family is one of the first families to introduce ornamental fern propagation to the Pierson area, known as the “Fern-growing Capital of the World”. Its current poor condition represents a threat to the building although the Barberville Pioneer Settlement has recently acquired the property with the intent of restoring it.

Rural Cemeteries of Volusia County
In recent years increased interest in genealogical research has generated many inquiries regarding cemeteries in Volusia County. Although most urban cemeteries in the county appear to be cared for (albeit to various degrees) it has come to the attention of local genealogical organizations and enthusiasts that most rural community and family cemeteries are suffering from neglect. A concerted effort is underway to photograph and record information from headstones in these cemeteries, however, concern also exists to properly manage and preserve these sacred properties—especially those cemeteries containing headstones from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Questions of property ownership, deteriorating headstones, vandalism, and a lack of preservation and maintenance funds plague those who are interested in doing more.

Historic Beachside Neighborhoods, Daytona Beach
Once the primary residential areas for the former cities of Seabreeze and Daytona Beach (these two cities along with the city of Daytona consolidated in the early 20th century), these neighborhoods contain a substantial number of historic residences. Some of theses areas have been designated as historic districts while others remain unrecognized. With high-rise real estate development pressures increasing on the ocean and riverfronts, redevelopment plans that encourage demolition of housing stock, and choking waves of special events traffic, the historic beachside residential neighborhoods of Daytona Beach are threatened. Certain areas within these neighborhoods have already been fragmented by incompatible development; bisected by high traffic volume thoroughfares; or have many blighted properties.

Sugar Mill Ruins of the Halifax Region (NR)
The nine sugar mill ruins in the Volusia–Flagler area are a substantial portion of the extant architectural remains in Florida of the first era of plantation development. This era was initiated by the rise of cash crop production on massive land grants along Florida’s East Coast during the British Colonial Period and carried through the Second Spanish and U.S. Territorial Periods. During this time a unique barrage of political, social, and environmental events prevented any chance for a routine life on these plantations. The hope for success and fortune reached its ultimate demise at the hands of the Seminoles in 1835 marking the end of the era. Collectively, these sites are worthy of consideration for National Historic Landmark designation. A report summarizing the results of a structural stabilization study was completed by a coalition of agencies in June 2001 examining seven of the sugar mill sites. The report outlines conditions and recommended specific corrective actions for each site. In a nutshell, the masonry ruins will continue to deteriorate until damaging vegetative growth and intrusive moisture is eliminated.

* Endangered historic properties shall be defined as significant historic resources in Volusia County subject to an immediate or pending threat that will substantially alter or destroy its integrity.

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