Townsend, James W., House

Main and Spring Sts., Orange Springs, Florida. County/parish: Marion.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places October 17, 1988. NRIS 88001849.

1 contributing building.

Also known as:

  • 8MR 1509
  • Orange Springs Inn

From Wikipedia:

James W. Townsend House (Orange Springs, Florida)

The James W. Townsend House (also known as the Orange Springs Inn) is a historic home in Orange Springs, Florida. It is located at Main and Spring Streets on the previously owned property of John William Pearson. On October 17, 1988, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The John W. Townsend House (Orange Springs Inn) in the town of Orange Springs, Florida is significant under criterion B for its association with James Walter Townsend (1864-1944), who was instrumental in developing the turpentine industry in Central Florida during the latter part of the nineteenth century and further contributed to the commercial and economic life of the region through his activities in banking, ranching, and farming. Also, the wood-frame vernacular house is locally significant under criterion C for its size and distinctive adaptation of vernacular plan types, it is also associated with a natural mineral spring that was an important tourist attraction in pre-Civil War Florida. Furthermore, the house is constructed entirely of locally milled lumber.

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National Park Service documentation: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77843074

LC