Friday - 11 Dec/15


Clear sunny skies with temps 10 F above average. 80 F today going up to 84 F tomorrow.

It is just a beautiful day for a roadtrip! Top off and away we go!

Today we are off to Deland, Fl. Our destination is the Stetson Mansion for a Christmas Tour. Tours run from Nov. 15 until Jan. 15. Each year features different decorations. Today the mansion is a private residence not a museum meaning it has no support funding other than admissions.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Stetson Company. It was founded by John Batterson Stetson, a hat manufacturer, who, in the 1860s, he invented the cowboy hat. He founded the John B. Stetson Company as a manufacturer of headwear; the company's hats are now commonly referred to simply as Stetsons.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designed by the noted architect George T. Pearson in 1886, the Stetson Mansion was built in the frame vernacular style. A blend of cottage, Gothic, Tudor, Moorish, and Polynesian details were incorporated into the building of  the Stetson Mansion which presents an excellent example of the high style Victorian architecture. The house was designed by popular Philadelphia architect George T. Pearson who also designed several buildings for Mr. Stetson on the Stetson University campus in Deland, as well as the Stetson factory buildings in North Philadelphia.

The large 3 storied home is reportedly half the size Mr. Stetson wanted to build on his 300 acre orange grove. Mr. Stetson's beautiful and much younger wife Elizabeth was not a huge fan of the Florida venture so when she came to Deland during the construction phase she convinced John to scale down construction to a mere shadow of Mr Stetson's original mansion plans. The home is now just under 10,000 sq ft and sits on over 2 acres adorned with gardens, gazebos, fountains, patios, and a pool. There have always been rumors of a secret tunnel or wine vault but to date the new owners have not yet found it...the key word is yet.

Next to the main house is an 800 sq. ft. school house built in a Polynesian style featuring a beautiful ceiling that soars to over 15 feet high.  This schoolhouse was built exclusively to educate Mr. Stetson's children  during their winter stay at the mansion although Mr and Mrs Stetson would allow some of the worker's children  to occasionally join in on the lessons. When Deland University was in a dire financial situation in it's early years it was John Stetson that funded it's survival. It is for this reason it is now know as Stetson University.

The only new structure at the estate is a new three car garage/carriage house that we completed in 2009. It took several months to find a design that would blend seamlessly with the mansion’s original architecture and compliment the estates inner courtyard.  The original carriage house is across the street from the mansion and was paired up with another structure to form the home that is presently there now. This property is no longer part of the estate.

Another of the mansion's claim to fame is the fact that it is Florida first luxury home. I guess that makes them the original "Snowbirds". (grin) This is one of the few remnants of the Gilded Age that adorns the sunshine state and the opulence is apparent immediately when you walk in the front door. This includes the country's most beautiful and elaborate inlaid parquet floors and antique windows with over 10,000 panes of glass.

The Stetson Mansion is regarded as one of America's top 300 historic homes, an obvious point of pride for its new owners. As J.T. Thompson explains, "The house is in the top 300 due to its architecture and history: architecturally because it incorporates so many styles into one home creating this spectacular structure, and historically because the notable guests the Stetsons frequently entertained."

It is reported that between the years of 1887 and 1906 the Stetsons hosted such notables as the Astors (John Jacob Astor was one of the many unfortunate victims aboard the Titanic), the Mellons, the Vanderbilts,the Carnegies, Henry Flagler, Baron Frederick DeBary (of famed DeBary Hall), President Grover Cleveland, and King Edward VII (then Prince of Wales).

Another of Stetson;s noteworthy friends was none other than one of the world's most well known and prolific inventors Thomas Edison, who actually supervised the electrical install at the mansion. In fact Stetson Mansion is one of the first homes in the entire world to be designed and built with Edison electricity. Our tour guide indicated that Nikola Tesla was also involved. The house was powered by DC (direct current) electricity. Today we use AC (Alternating Current).

We arrived 10 minutes prior to the gate opening at 1 p.m. so we waited in the car until they swung open.

We purchased our tickets on the entrance porch. There was a sellout crowd that was divided into 3 groups of about 20 each. We were in the "Red" group and went 2nd.

No interior pictures are allowed; however I have included some from their website. Although Louis Comfort Tiffany was a personal friend and the numerous stained glass windows throughout the mansion appear to be in the Tiffany style they have never been authenticated officially.

The Christmas Tour covered the first two of the three mansion floors. For the 150th Anniversary of the Stetson Company (Still manufacturing today in both Texas and Germany under new ownership) and the 10th Anniversary of the start of mansion tours it was decided to decorate all of the rooms. Each is decorated in a different of theme. The decorating took 8 weeks and it is truly breathtaking.

The tour took an hour and a half. Every moment was both delightful and informative. We have been on numerous "Mansion Tours" (Hearst, Vanderbilt, Boldt, Singer, Gillette, etc.) and though they were all fantastic in their own right; this felt more like a home than a showpiece.

After the tour we went to The Quilt Shop of Deland. Charlotte has visited previously (last year) and found a few items to add to her quilting supplies.

Next it was time for "Sunch". That's the late afternoon equivalent of Brunch. (grin) It combines supper and lunch. Our destination was just around the corner at Bill and Frank's Brickhouse Grill. It was such a lovely afternoon we ate on the patio.

Charlotte enjoyed the Seasame Seared Ahi Tuna (Seasme crusted Sushi Grade Ahi, Wasabi, Srirache, Wakami, Lemon Ginger Soy). Ahi Tuna is the "Filet Mignon of the Sea"! "Sorry, Charlie". 

For those of you who ignore TV commercials this is a mixed reference involving "Chicken of the Sea" and "Star Kist Tuna" commercials.(grin)

I indulged in the BBQ Burger (Ground Sirloin, Applewood Bacon, American Cheese w/Fried Onions, Tomato, Lettuce and Pickles). I exchanged the BBQ Sauce for Tartar Sauce. The fries were the best restaurant fries (ever). My guess is they were cooked in peanut oil (attains a higher temperature than regular oil) then seasoned lightly. My meal was also excellent.

Our final stop for the day was Kermit's Key West Key Lime Pie Shoppe Factory and Outlet Store. Although the original shop is (still) in Key West, this is home to their kitchen and production facility for all “non-pie” products. This includes sauces, salsas, jellies and other yummy treats that take a lot of kitchen space that is non-existent in Key West. This keeps their retail and internet prices down. (Shipping costs in and out of Key West are much more expensive.) Also, for anyone who has ever driven to Key West, not having to endure the long, slow traffic jam from Homestead to Key West, is in itself, a blessing. (But, you have to go to Key West at least once.)

Charlotte had a hard time deciding on what she liked best. A few samples later she made her decisions.

Jan was helpful (and patient) and soon we had several items picked out, packaged, paid for and were on our way (top off) back to OMS. We arrived back at the motorhome just before dark. 

Because we had Sunch, evening snacks were made up of some of the treats we bought at Kermit's. (Duh! Like we needed an excuse ).

The usual Jeopardy, etc. TV evening as we rest from our busy day.