Apr 05, 2023
Villa Alexandria
Built circa 1870 for Alexander Mitchell (1817-1887) and his wife, Martha Reed (1818-1902), sister of Florida's Governor Harrison Reed. The villa stood on 140-acres and the Mitchells wintered here when not in Europe or living at their sumptuous mansion in Milwaukee, the Mitchell Mansion. Another winter resident, Harriet Beecher Stowe, compared their home to an, "Italian-Swiss Villa" and it was described as, “the show place of the environs of Jacksonville.” Its pleasure grounds featured carriageways, a boathouse, orange groves, a swimming pool, fountains, pools and artificial streams... After her husband died in 1887, Mrs Mitchell - "a cultured Massachusetts beauty" in her youth - lived here almost year-round. She co-founded both All Saints Episcopal Church and St. Luke's Hospital Association of which she was President for 25-years. It was demolished in 1926 to make way for the San Marco subdivision and shortly afterwards the Swisher House was built in its place, and still stands today.
Villa Alexandria
Built circa 1870 for Alexander Mitchell (1817-1887) and his wife, Martha Reed (1818-1902), sister of Florida's Governor Harrison Reed. The villa stood on 140-acres and the Mitchells wintered here when not in Europe or living at their sumptuous mansion in Milwaukee, the Mitchell Mansion. Another winter resident, Harriet Beecher Stowe, compared their home to an, "Italian-Swiss Villa" and it was described as, “the show place of the environs of Jacksonville.” Its pleasure grounds featured carriageways, a boathouse, orange groves, a swimming pool, fountains, pools and artificial streams... After her husband died in 1887, Mrs Mitchell - "a cultured Massachusetts beauty" in her youth - lived here almost year-round. She co-founded both All Saints Episcopal Church and St. Luke's Hospital Association of which she was President for 25-years. It was demolished in 1926 to make way for the San Marco subdivision and shortly afterwards the Swisher House was built in its place, and still stands today.
Apr 05, 2023
Posted Date
Apr 05, 2023
Historical Record Date
Apr 05, 2023
Source Name
House Histree
