The Casements
Encyclopedia
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 built prior to the advent of air conditioning. The mansion was constructed on the barrier island
portion of The City of Ormond Beach ,overlooking the Halifax River
, part of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway
. The Casements, famous for being the winter residence of American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller
, is currently owned by The City of Ormond Beach and is used as a cultural center and park.
, the tire magnate made such a good shot that Rockefeller decided he deserved a dime and handed one to his somewhat embarrassed guest.
Over the years, Rockefeller was visited at The Casements by such luminaries as The Prince of Wales, Henry Ford
, and Will Rogers
, who once quipped, "I’m glad you won (at golf) today, Mr. Rockefeller. The last time you lost the price of gasoline went up!"
Guests at The Casements received a poem along with their new dime. This poem is believed to have been written by Rockefeller:
It was in this home that Rockefeller eventually died in his sleep on the morning of May 23, 1937. The Rockefeller family sold The Casements in 1939.
. The next year, it was purchased by the City of Ormond Beach, which eventually restored it to serve as a cultural and community center.
In 2009 The Casements underwent a $1.1 million renovation project.
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in Ormond Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, originally constructed as a private residence in 1910 by the Reverend Harwood Huntington of New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The name of the mansion was derived from the many casement windows incorporated into the design of the building, as it was built prior to the advent of air conditioning. The mansion was constructed on the barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
portion of The City of Ormond Beach ,overlooking the Halifax River
Halifax River
The Halifax River is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, located in northeast Volusia County, Florida. The waterway was originally known as the North Mosquito River, but was renamed after George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, during the British occupation of Florida .-Geography:The...
, part of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
. The Casements, famous for being the winter residence of American oil magnate 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...
, is currently owned by The City of Ormond Beach and is used as a cultural center and park.
The Rockefeller Era
Its most famous resident, John D. Rockefeller, purchased the home as his winter residence in 1918. Rockefeller was seventy-eight years old when he moved into the Casements. He became known in the area for his elaborate Christmas parties, his love of golf, and for handing out dimes to his neighbors or visitors. During a golf game with Harvey FirestoneHarvey Firestone
Harvey Samuel Firestone was an American businessman, and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the first global makers of automobile tires.-Family background:...
, the tire magnate made such a good shot that Rockefeller decided he deserved a dime and handed one to his somewhat embarrassed guest.
Over the years, Rockefeller was visited at The Casements by such luminaries as The Prince of Wales, Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
, and Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
, who once quipped, "I’m glad you won (at golf) today, Mr. Rockefeller. The last time you lost the price of gasoline went up!"
Guests at The Casements received a poem along with their new dime. This poem is believed to have been written by Rockefeller:
I was early taught to work as well as play; My life has been one long, happy holiday--Full of work and full of play--I dropped the worry on the way, And God was good to me every day.
It was in this home that Rockefeller eventually died in his sleep on the morning of May 23, 1937. The Rockefeller family sold The Casements in 1939.
Later History
Over the next 20 years, it would serve as a girls preparatory school and a home for the elderly. In 1959 the property was purchased by the Ormond Hotel Corporation with plans for development, but those plans never materialized. In 1972, The Casements was placed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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 next year, it was purchased by the City of Ormond Beach, which eventually restored it to serve as a cultural and community center.
In 2009 The Casements underwent a $1.1 million renovation project.