Page 182 - John Anderson
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Kirkside Mansion was designed by Carrere and Hastings and built by
McGuire and MacDonald in the English Renaissance Colonial home
style. Construction was started in July 1892 and completed in March
1893 as a home for Flagler and his second wife Ida Alice. This home
took up an impressive five acres, bordering Valencia, Riberia, and
Carrera Streets. The mansion was a fifteen-bedroom home. Rooms
were well furnished and the salon was modeled after Versailles. The
house was two stories painted white with green blinds. The east wing
of the house served as offices and the house was equipped with
electric lighting.
The Ponce de Leon Hotel
The formal Ponce de Leon hotel opened in January of 1888. Because
it was a winter hotel, it was open only from January through April. The
closing time would vary depending on the amount of business at the
hotel. The hotel attracted famous people from all over the world in its
early years, but as the Flagler system moved further south it became
only a stop instead of a destination. The Ponce de Leon Hotel, one of
the most unique hotels in the world, was designed by Carrere and
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