Address: 315 Alachua Street Date built: 1908 Built by: Nathanial B. Borden Builder: John R. Mann
G R E AT H O M E S O F F E R N A N D I N A
Villa las Palmas BY DICKIE ANDERSON • PHOTO BY JAN JOHANNES
O
ne of the grander homes in Fernandina Beach’s Historic District, Villa Las Palmas is a 12,000 square foot house that is architecturally eclectic. Included in its design are elements of Art Noveau, Colonial, and Mediterranean Revival. It has massive proportions and a dramatic verandah on three sides. The interior offers spacious rooms, pocket doors, a ballroom, and a basement. A winding stairway goes all the way up to the “widow’s walk.” The front entrance offers many windows, and it has a dramatic palladium window above the door. The house was built on what were once the gardens of the David Yulee home. The Yulee home no longer exists, but an historic marker identifies the location. Villa Las Palmas is one of the island’s many bride houses. Nathanial Borden, a successful lumberman, fell in love with 17 year old Florence “Flossie” Reynard from Brooklyn, New York at the much more senior age of 52. Her family did not approve, so the couple eloped to Cuba. Borden maintained strong ties to Cuba, and it is probable that he stored arms for José Marti, the Cuban poet, political philosopher, and revolutionary hero. Borden’s lumber business exported lumber to ports as distant as Europe and the West Indies.
Borden was the self-proclaimed consul to Cuba and Norway and he built a house worthy of his role. His on-going support and work with Cuba brought him the honorary title of Colonel. He was quite the natty dresser and he wore his official badges with pride. The couple loved to entertain and their new home included a ballroom with a Waterford chandelier. They were quite the dashing couple. He called her Flossie, and she called him “Honey.” Borden was a councilman, mayor of Fernandina, and an active member of the Board of Trade. There are many stories about Miss Flossie. One details her outing in her automobile in which she managed to hit the only other car on the island, which was driven by Dr. Waas. She outlived her husband by many years. At her death, she wanted to be buried in a favorite grandfather clock. Unfortunately, at the time of her death, her expanded size did not allow her wish to be granted. The clock remains in the Hirth House on North Sixth Street. The house was purchased in 1944 for $12,000 by Harry Sahlman, a wealthy shrimp boat owner, and he is credited with developing the lovely grounds.
Reprinted with permission from Dickie Anderson’s book, Great Homes of Fernandina. The revised and expanded edition is available at The Book Loft, Books Plus, the Amelia Island Museum of History, and by visiting www.ameliaislander.com. 47 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE • MAY 2016
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