Temps in the high 80'sF all week so we're cruising around looking for indoor or shady spots. At the end of one of Florida's many graceful concrete bridges is Casements, the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller (talk about shady --- John D. made his billions owning Standard Oil but was prosecuted for anti-trust in the days of monopoly).
The house named after its many windows was built in 1905 but bought by JDR in 1918. He had retired in 1911 and played winter golf in Georgia but a par buddy persuaded him to golf in Florida, ideal climate for his wish for longevity. Even enlarged, The Casements was "not ostentatious" and that wasn't very popular with his sophisticated New York family. (They should see my place --- The Basements!)
Rockefeller lived here winters til he died in 1937 at age 97 (longevity, right?). After that Casements has been a college for young women, a retirement home, and an apartment hotel. Left vacant in the 1970's, it was vandalized and almost given up for firewood but was saved as a National Historic Place. It now serves as a cultural and civic centre for Ormond Beach. There are classes and lectures, etc. When we dropped in this morning the Ormond Photography Club had a lunch and exhibit. Curiously, the only permanent exhibit is Hungarian folk art. Go figure.
Back to Rockefeller. He hung out with friends like humorist Will Rogers, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and race driver Sir Malcolm Campbell. He was a big fan of the famous car races on the beach. So much so that Henry Ford gave him the first Ford V8 to come off the assembly line in Detroit in 1931. John D promptly burned rubber up Woodward Avenue, annoying the neighbours. Some things never change.
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