Rowallan

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name = Rowallan

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location = Ormond Beach, Florida
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added = October 6, 1988
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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.

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 Rochester, Rochester, NY.

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, NY. 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.

Rowallan in Ormond Beach was built in 1913 to serve as the winter residence for Alexander Millar Lindsay. Born in Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland, this residence was named "Rowallan" after a castle in his native Ayrshire.

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 cofound Hartford, CT'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.

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 Syndicate.” 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.

References and external links

* [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Volusia/state2.html Volusia County listings] at [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com National Register of Historic Places]
* [http://www.flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=volusia Volusia County listings] at [http://www.flheritage.com Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs]