Epping Forest (Jacksonville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Epping Forest
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Mansion
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Christopher Point, off San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Harold Saxelbye |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Spanish-Mediterranean |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000576 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 1973 |
The Epping Forest is a famous historic estate in Jacksonville, Florida. It's also known as the Alfred I. duPont Estate. A beautiful mansion was built here in the 1920s by a wealthy businessman named Alfred I. du Pont and his wife, Jessie Ball du Pont. This special place was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Today, it's been beautifully restored and is home to the Epping Forest Yacht Club. In 2012, the American Institute of Architects in Florida recognized it as one of the state's top architectural places.
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The du Pont Family's Story
Alfred I. du Pont came from Delaware. He used to run the famous DuPont Chemical Company with his cousins. Over time, they didn't get along, so Alfred left the company in 1917.
He started new businesses in Delaware and New York. But in 1925, his cousin Pierre became the Tax Commissioner in Delaware. To keep his cousin from looking into his money and properties, Alfred decided to move to Jacksonville, Florida. He had heard his mother talk about Jacksonville when he was a kid.
Alfred and Jessie officially became residents of Florida. Alfred then started a new career. He helped create good banking rules and invested in transportation and the paper industry.
Choosing a Home by the River
Alfred picked Christopher Point for their new home. This spot is the widest part of the St. Johns River. It was perfect for his favorite hobby: yachting. He loved sailing on his 125-foot yacht, the Nenemoosha, which was built in 1922.
Building the Epping Forest Mansion
Local architects Marsh & Saxelbye designed the Epping Forest Mansion. It was a huge 15,000-square-foot house with 25 rooms. Harold Saxelbye had the most influence on its design. The mansion mainly uses the Mediterranean Revival style. It also mixes ideas from Gothic, Spanish Renaissance, and Baroque styles.
Jessie chose all the furniture for the house. Alfred designed the beautiful formal English gardens and a special lion's head fountain. The estate was named after Mary Ball Washington, who was George Washington's mother and Jessie's ancestor. Mary Ball Washington had a plantation in Virginia with the same name.
The du Ponts hosted many important guests at their estate. These included U.S. presidents, powerful businessmen like Vanderbilt and Carnegie, and even kings!
After Jessie Ball du Pont passed away in 1970, her brother, Edward Ball, sold the property. He sold it to his good friend and local businessman Raymond K. Mason. Mason was the CEO of the Charter Company. He lived in the mansion with his family until 1984.
Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club Today
In 1984, the Gate Petroleum Company bought the 58-acre du Pont estate. They restored the 11⅓ acres that included the mansion, gardens, boathouse, and riverfront. This part of the estate was brought back to its original beauty and turned into the Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club.
The rest of the property was developed into a gated community. This community has ninety homes, each worth about $1 million, and 80 condominiums. The last home was built there in 1999.
