Floridiana Magazine

History. Heritage. Home.

The Gamble Place

One of the great things about Florida is there is always a new place to explore, one you never knew existed. A recent trip to Port Orange led to the discovery of yet another hidden treasure. Not only does it offer a step back in time, but also a little bit of whimsy and a window into a backwoods retreat.

Egwanulti

Egwanulti is the name given to the Gamble Place by James N. Gamble, the son of the co-founder of the Procter and Gamble Company. Egwanulti is a Native American word meaning “by the water” which is fitting because of its location along Spruce Creek. Gamble bought the land in 1898, but it wasn’t until 1907 that he built the cracker-style house that still stands on the property today. The house features a separate kitchen and dining room, connected by a breezeway or dog-trot, and an open front porch.  The back porch, with its chairs and benches, opens to the back yard with the creek just steps away.  Sitting on the porch, you can just imagine the stories shared by those who once called this place home during the winter months.

Gamble Place

An inviting back porch

Besides the house, Gamble also rebuilt a packing house on the property to process the citrus from his own grove.

Citrus Packing House

The Gamble Place sits on 175 acres and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Snow White Cottage

“Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
It’s home from work we go…”

If those song lyrics conjure up a memory, then this Florida stop is a must-see.  Nestled along the banks of Spruce Creek on the eastern portion of the Gamble property, sits a replica of the Snow White Cottage. You know the one she stayed in with the dwarfs?  The cottage started out as plans for a playhouse, but by the time it was finished, it had expanded into a full-size replica and served as a retreat for guests of all ages. Judge Alfred K. Nippert, Gamble’s son-in-law, got the idea for the cottage after the Disney movie’s release in 1937, just three months after the death of his wife.

Snow White Cottage

Along with the cottage, there are two other structures.  The Diamond Mine is built in the same style as the cottage and is two stories.  The ground floor once had a tank used to store water.  On the second floor, a child’s dream – a playhouse.

“The Diamond Mine”

What would the cottage be without the Wicked Witch lurking nearby?  An old hollow cypress tree was moved to the property, placed on a stone foundation and roofed.  If you look closely, you’ll see a familiar face peering out of the window.

Wicked Witch’s Hut

Cracker Creek

Before you can get onto the Gamble property, you have to stop at the Cracker Creek office to pay a minimal admission fee. While you’re there though, ask about canoe and kayak rentals, or the hydro-bike rentals.  For a more leisurely trip down Spruce Creek, they also offer pontoon boat tours Friday through Sunday.

Cracker Creek Office

Rent a canoe or bring your own

Take a leisurely cruise

No matter if you’re at the Gamble Place or walking around the grounds at Cracker Creek, magnificent peacocks can be seen roaming the property.  These close encounters bring to full light the iridescent blues and greens in their feathers.

Beautiful peacocks roam the property

Cracker Creek and the Gamble Place are located in Port Orange off Taylor Road.  You cannot get inside the actual buildings through the self-tour.  The building tour is available for groups of ten or more but reservations must be made in advance.

Wood and Swink General Store and Post Office Evinston, Florida

When the Evinston post office opened in 1882, the cost to mail a first class letter was just three cents!  Since then, stamp prices have increased, the landscape of the town has changed (although not drastically) and the hours of the post office have been cut back.   But one thing has never changed: the importance of this building to the residents of Evinston.

When we pulled into the parking lot of the Wood and Swink, there were no other cars in the parking lot.  A flag flew above the building, and an old mail slot could be seen on the outside with a sign that read “Letters” above it.  The old wooden door stood open – an invitation to take a step inside to a time when running into the local general store for a bottle of soda or your mail meant running into your neighbors and chatting the day away.

We were greeted by Mike Ballard, Evinston’s PSE (or postal service employee), as he calls himself.  He only works part-time, since the post office hours have been cut way back.  Ballard is used to people just stopping by and asking about Florida’s oldest working post office.  And he’s more than happy to share the history.

The Evinston Post Office takes up a small corner just inside the Wood and Swink General Store. The original 16 mail boxes are still in use but are surrounded by newer ones. There are about 90 boxes in all, with 50 to 60 rented.  There are no rural routes in Evinston.  All mail is delivered to the post office.

The original boxes are to the left of the silver ones.

The building was purchased by H.D. Wood in 1906 and has been in the Wood family ever since.  One of those family members, Freddie Wood, Jr. is still a fixture at the store.  Freddie works in his garden in the morning, brings his produce to the store and takes his usual seat inside this old wooden structure.  He offers up the history of the building and of the community to anyone who wants to listen.  Wood admits some people find it fascinating his family served as postmasters for about a hundred years.

“I am the grandson of a postmaster, the nephew of a postmaster, the son of a postmaster and the husband of a postmaster!”

His dad was postmaster for 44 years – the longest in Florida history.

The post office isn’t the only reason residents stop by the Wood and Swink.  They come to share stories, catch up on news of the locals or just to say hi.  With current Saturday hours of only 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Saturdays are typically slow.  Ballard says, “Either no one shows up or everyone shows up!”  And then there are the curious who have heard about the post office and make a special trip to this little piece of history – sometimes just to have a post card cancelled with the Evinston post mark.

The shelves are still stocked with items that were either sold or used in the store.  A collection of Elvis memorabilia is prominently displayed (Freddie’s wife is a big Elvis fan), old albums fill wooden crates and old family photos are hung from the shelves.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and efforts are in the works to raise funds through the Wood and Swink Preservation Society to restore and protect the old building.  Who knows how long this gem will survive in today’s economy, but it’s a must-see for those with an interest in old Florida.  Not only can you get a glimpse of history, but you can also hear a local story or two and buy some of the freshest produce around!

NOTE:  The Wood and Swink General Store and Post Office is located on County Road 225 in Evinston on the Alachua – Marion County border.  They are currently open Monday – Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

It’s always a good idea to check their website for hours ahead of time.