Daytona Beach - Plantation Number Nine
Plantation Number Nine
The following was compiled by the Junior League of Daytona and was published in 1986 as “Historic Daytona Beach - a self-guided tour.”
On John Anderson Drive, about six miles north of Granada Boulevard, is the once-famous Number Nine Plantation.
In 1876, Chauncey A. Bacon, a Civil War veteran from Connecticut, purchased a homestead that extended half a mile from the Halifax River eastward to the ocean. Bacon named his homestead Number Nine Plantation because it was the ninth piece of property he had considered buying.
He erected a small palmetto hut and began the back-breaking work of clearing the land while his wife, Jennie, and their young son, Earl, remained in the nearby settlement of New Britain where Jennie served as the first school teacher.
Later, Mrs. Bacon and Earl joined Mr. Bacon on the homestead. He built a small, two-story frame house with a large coquina rock fireplace for them.
After his land was cleared, Bacon planted guava, mulberry and peach trees as well as 55 varieties of citrus. Mrs. Bacon and Earl began to make jams and jellies from the abundance, and when guests sailed up from New Britain, they were given these delicious preserves as a gift.
In 1888, Hotel Ormond opened, and a rough road led to Number Nine. Hotel guests would visit there to buy preserves and wander the groves.
In 1895, Mr. Bacon, who was nicknamed “The Duke” because he insisted on wearing an elegant top hat in the wilderness, built his second house on an Indian shell mound.
The jelly business continued to flourish, and when Plantation Number Nine was later sold to Ferdinand Nordman, it became one of the most famous manufacturers of fruit preserves in the southeast United States.
Day trip: The Ormond Beach Historical Trust provides a historic trolley tour of 31 places of local interest. A stop alongside Plantation Number Nine is included in the tour. Call (386) 677-7005 to reserve your seat.
We are grateful for permission to use this article to our wonderful friend
Marian Tomblin, historical columnist and author. For more information on
Marian. Tomblin’s books or to have her speak at your next meeting, contact her at www.MarianSTomblin.com or at (386) 615-0493.
You will find Marian’s books, as well as other books of local interest, or, just a wonderful read at the beach at
The Book Store and So Much More! 410 S. Nova Road / Suite 1, Ormond Beach (386) 615-8320
