Rowallan
Encyclopedia
Rowallan is a historic site in Ormond Beach, Florida
, United States. It is located at 253 John Anderson Highway. On October 6, 1988, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
.
, Rochester, New York
.
You may also consult the City of Rochester website for Mt. Hope Cemetery. Lindsay and his wife and many of their children are buried in Mt. Hope. It is one of the nations' finest Victorian Park Cemeteries.
Also architecturally significant is Lindsay's home in Rochester, New York. It was designed by J. G. Cutler, who invented the mail chute. Currently doctors' offices, it is located at 973 East Avenue across the street from the home of Eastman Kodak
founder, George Eastman
(now the International Museum of Photography). Lindsay served as a board member at Kodak.
Through the apprentice system, Lindsay became expert in piece goods. In 1865, he and countryman John Curr sailed from Glasgow
to Boston
to an apprenticeship with wholesaler Hogg, Brown and Taylor. There, Lindsay met James M. Thomson who would co-found Hartford, Connecticut
's premier department store, Brown Thomson Co. Lindsay's youngest child, Adelaide, would later marry Thomson's eldest son.
Also at Hogg, Brown and Taylor, Lindsay and Curr also met Yankee farmer Rufus Sibley, a fellow clerk. Hogg, Brown and Taylor encouraged its more talented and ambitious employees to start their own businesses and so encouraged the founding of Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. at Rochester, NY in 1868. It grew to become the largest department store between New York and Cincinnati. The store initiated a policy of charging the same price for all customers.
The honesty of the partners was critical to their future success. When their newest building burned in 1904, although all store records were destroyed, loyal customers paid their bills and their local insurance agent made funds available to them immediately so that they could begin anew. The "Great Sibley Fire
" remains Rochester's largest. In 1871, he married Adelaide Hatch (1841-1927). Adelaide's father, Jesse W. Hatch automated the production of shoes, invented baby shoes and hired the first female clerk in Rochester's history to work in his store.
, Scotland, this residence was named Rowallan after a castle in his native Ayrshire.
Lindsay’s daughter, Jean, designed Rowallan. According to the correspondence between his son-in-law, attorney Daniel M. Beach, and the appraiser of Rowallan following Lindsay’s death, the appraiser wrote: “Miss Lindsay would have it that she could walk out of the house without going down steps.” This of course led to problems with the water table. During certain times of the year, water would reach the lower part of the ground floor windows. Sills had to be replaced frequently because of this.
As for the orchard that was on the grounds, the appraiser noted that it was not productive, that it would cost at least $1.00 to produce a single orange. Also on the property was a cottage known as Sun Patch named for a favorite Lindsay granddaughter, Sunny Kame. It was the winter residence of Lindsay’s eldest daughter, Harriet.
Other residences on John Anderson Highway near Rowallan were built by Scotsmen with similar histories to that of Lindsay. They referred to themselves as the "Scotch Syndicate2. When Lindsay died in 1920, his widow caused a memorial fountain to be constructed on the river side of the road. It was later destroyed by vandals.
Rowallan served as the winter home for the entire extended Lindsay family. Nannies and children were everywhere. There are pictures and movies of them in their goat carts, pony carts and swimming at Daytona Beach. Adults attended functions at the old Ormond Beach Hotel, went shooting and rode horseback. They drove in horse driven buggies and later in their beach wagon. They were among the first to drive cars on Ormond Beach.
As of 2008, the extended family of Alexander Millar Lindsay is spread throughout the United States and Europe. However, all remain interested in Rowallan and closely follow its unfolding story.
, the building of the Ormond Memorial Art Gallery and the preservation of John D. Rockefeller
's Ormond Beach home The Casements
. The plaque listing her as a great Floridian form the state's 2000 program is on the front of Rowallen.
. Postle, a former WPA
artist, is known for her paintings of Florida wildlife scenes and in particular birds. In addition, she was a published poet, author, musician and entertainer. She resided in Orlando, Florida
.
Ormond Beach, Florida
Ormond Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 36,301 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 37,929. Ormond Beach is the northern neighbor of Daytona Beach and is home to Tomoka State Park.-History:Ormond Beach was...
, United States. It is located at 253 John Anderson Highway. On October 6, 1988, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Lindsay family
The following is from memories of descendants of Alexander Millar Lindsay (1841-1920), builder and first owner of Rowallan, and from a book for which this descendant did research, "Alexander Millar Lindsay," by relative David C. Sargent. More information about Alexander Millar Lindsay and the store he co-founded, Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. is available at The Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts, Rush Rhees Library, University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
.
You may also consult the City of Rochester website for Mt. Hope Cemetery. Lindsay and his wife and many of their children are buried in Mt. Hope. It is one of the nations' finest Victorian Park Cemeteries.
Also architecturally significant is Lindsay's home in Rochester, New York. It was designed by J. G. Cutler, who invented the mail chute. Currently doctors' offices, it is located at 973 East Avenue across the street from the home of Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
founder, George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
(now the International Museum of Photography). Lindsay served as a board member at Kodak.
Through the apprentice system, Lindsay became expert in piece goods. In 1865, he and countryman John Curr sailed from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to an apprenticeship with wholesaler Hogg, Brown and Taylor. There, Lindsay met James M. Thomson who would co-found Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
's premier department store, Brown Thomson Co. Lindsay's youngest child, Adelaide, would later marry Thomson's eldest son.
Also at Hogg, Brown and Taylor, Lindsay and Curr also met Yankee farmer Rufus Sibley, a fellow clerk. Hogg, Brown and Taylor encouraged its more talented and ambitious employees to start their own businesses and so encouraged the founding of Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. at Rochester, NY in 1868. It grew to become the largest department store between New York and Cincinnati. The store initiated a policy of charging the same price for all customers.
The honesty of the partners was critical to their future success. When their newest building burned in 1904, although all store records were destroyed, loyal customers paid their bills and their local insurance agent made funds available to them immediately so that they could begin anew. The "Great Sibley Fire
Sibley fire
The Sibley fire was a 1904 fire in Rochester, New York.The worst conflagration in the city's history at the time, the fire broke out shortly before 5 o'clock on February 26 1904 in the basement of the Rochester Dry Goods company's store at 1516 Main street.The fire caused significant damage to...
" remains Rochester's largest. In 1871, he married Adelaide Hatch (1841-1927). Adelaide's father, Jesse W. Hatch automated the production of shoes, invented baby shoes and hired the first female clerk in Rochester's history to work in his store.
Rowallan's origins
Rowallan in Ormond Beach was built in 1913 to serve as the winter residence for Alexander Millar Lindsay. Born in Stewarton, AyrshireAyrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland, this residence was named Rowallan after a castle in his native Ayrshire.
Lindsay’s daughter, Jean, designed Rowallan. According to the correspondence between his son-in-law, attorney Daniel M. Beach, and the appraiser of Rowallan following Lindsay’s death, the appraiser wrote: “Miss Lindsay would have it that she could walk out of the house without going down steps.” This of course led to problems with the water table. During certain times of the year, water would reach the lower part of the ground floor windows. Sills had to be replaced frequently because of this.
As for the orchard that was on the grounds, the appraiser noted that it was not productive, that it would cost at least $1.00 to produce a single orange. Also on the property was a cottage known as Sun Patch named for a favorite Lindsay granddaughter, Sunny Kame. It was the winter residence of Lindsay’s eldest daughter, Harriet.
Other residences on John Anderson Highway near Rowallan were built by Scotsmen with similar histories to that of Lindsay. They referred to themselves as the "Scotch Syndicate2. When Lindsay died in 1920, his widow caused a memorial fountain to be constructed on the river side of the road. It was later destroyed by vandals.
Rowallan served as the winter home for the entire extended Lindsay family. Nannies and children were everywhere. There are pictures and movies of them in their goat carts, pony carts and swimming at Daytona Beach. Adults attended functions at the old Ormond Beach Hotel, went shooting and rode horseback. They drove in horse driven buggies and later in their beach wagon. They were among the first to drive cars on Ormond Beach.
As of 2008, the extended family of Alexander Millar Lindsay is spread throughout the United States and Europe. However, all remain interested in Rowallan and closely follow its unfolding story.
Rowallan's later history
According to content about the Ormond Beach Historical Trail written by Orlando historian Steve Rajtar, Rowallen was later owned by Englishman Leonard Martin, and then Harold and Eileen Butts. The Butts renamed the house Linsaroe, which means "by the water" in Celtic. Eileen Butts was added to the state list of prominent Floridians for her work in the area including the creation of Tomoka State ParkTomoka State Park
Tomoka State Park is an Florida State Park located along the Tomoka River, three miles north of Ormond Beach on North Beach Street.-Fauna:...
, the building of the Ormond Memorial Art Gallery and the preservation of John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
's Ormond Beach home The Casements
The Casements
The Casements is a mansion in Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S., originally constructed as a private residence in 1910 by the Reverend Harwood Huntington of New Haven, Connecticut. The name of the mansion was derived from the many casement windows incorporated into the design of the building, as it was...
. The plaque listing her as a great Floridian form the state's 2000 program is on the front of Rowallen.
Rowallan's Joy Postle murals
Rowallan also features murals by the noted Florida artist, Joy PostleJoy Postle
Joy Postle was a pioneering American environmental artist and creator of celebrated murals depicting Florida wildlife.-Early years and education:...
. Postle, a former WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
artist, is known for her paintings of Florida wildlife scenes and in particular birds. In addition, she was a published poet, author, musician and entertainer. She resided in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.