Louis P. Thursby Home - Blue Spring State Park:2100 West French Avenue

The Thursby home is one of the oldest structures in Volusia County. Louis P. Thursby bought the property in 1856 and lived in the Thatcher Palm Cabin that Mr. Pearson built as a small log hunting cabin. They lived off the land and grew their own food; cattle, chickens and hogs. They also grew vegetables, oranges, grapes and herbs. 

During the Civil War, Mr. Thursby was captured by Union troops

The Steamboats traveled the St. John's River from Jacksonville to Enterprise with many stops along the way picking up supplies; lumber and oranges and disembarking passengers and supplies ordered by the few citizens in the area. 

Since St. Johns River was an important way to get to Florida's interior, controlling it was strategically important. Union troops managed to capture and use three steamboats. 

After the war, Louis built a steamboat landing which would prove to be a lucrative decision. Before railroads arrived in the 1880s, steamboats were the main means of transporting passengers and goods. Louis and his wife, who would become the area's first postmistress offered up the house to passengers. 

After Louis died in 1870, his wife lived in the house for ten years before moving to town. His son and family, however, moved into the house and remained there until around 1910.

The state acquired the property in 1972 to create the current state park. It took ten years to renovate the house. It was restored to its 1875-1887 appearance.

Homepage. Blue Hill Spring State Park. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring.

Karen Brillante & Gary Goodwin. "Thursby, Louis P. House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 11, 2000. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/5709371d-0538-4292-ae14-c4851f837543.

Photo: Ebyabe, via Wikimedia Commons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Volusia_County,_Flori...