ABOUT LILIAN PLACE MUSEUM,
Early Daytona, and the Thompson Family History
TOURS: Lilian Place 1884 Victorian Museum open daily
1-4:00pm for guided tours.
(temporarily closed for tours)
$5.00 per person
(HPT members - FREE)
ABOUT LILIAN PLACE
Lilian Place is the oldest grand house on Daytona's beachside and on the Historic Register. This Italianate Victorian house was built in 1884 by one of the city's first settlers Laurence Thompson (1848-1920). Lilian Place sat abandoned and neglected until December of 2009, when the Trust was awarded a Volusia County ECHO Grant to acquire this significant site.
This prime example of Italianate High Victorian architecture with its high ceilings, carved woodwork, and heart-of-pine floors is one of only two in Volusia County, Florida. Lilian Place named after Lilian Thompson (1873-1934), daughter of Laurence Thompson, who lived in the house until her death. Lilian Place is now restored to its original 1880's glory. It's period furniture and artifacts bring history alive. Step back into the past with us and relive the days when Lilian Place was the only mansion on Daytona's beachside.
Join us for a Victorian Tea, History, Spirits and Legends event, or enjoy a wonderful tour of Lilian Place 1884 Museum!
Check out the Honey Bee (apiary) keeping area: Bees are essential to an abundant and thriving plant culture. We will be sharing our experience of setting up and maintaining an apiary (also known as a bee yard). Learn about the Bee Yard on Sunday's from 1-2pm from our bee keeper, John Dillard.
Halifax River Blueway access: Enjoy the Halifax river access. Kayak groups can enter the Halifax River Blueway (appointment required call 386-256-4810). The Halifax River Blueway is a 17-mile-long paddling trail on the Intracoastal Waterway. Offering an interesting view of several Volusia County beachside cities, its launch locations include Tomoka State Park (above Ormond Beach), Riverfront Park (in South Daytona), and Wilbur Boat House (in Wilbur-by-the-Sea) and now Lilian Place.
A little early Daytona and Thompson family history -
Matthias Day purchased over 2000 acres of the former William's Plantation in 1871 and in 1875 he invited families from Cincinnati to travel to Florida to colonize the area. These pioneers remained and decided to name the city Daytona in honor of Day as its founder, and incorporated the town in 1876. The Thompson's were one of the families. Laurence and Mary Eliza Coffin Thompson came to Daytona Beach in 1875 with their daughter Lilian and son Laurence (Bert). They bought property which included lots 426 and 432 South Beach Street for $300.00 in the spring of 1875. The Thompson family lived in the house on lot 432, which had been built by Calvin Day, a relative of Matthias Day, on the adjoining lot a store was built which became Thompson Brothers dry goods store. As they prospered, they decided to cross over to the beachside to establish a new home overlooking the river. Laurence Thompson purchased a plot of land which extended from river to ocean directly across the river from his store. The Thompson home completed in 1884-1885, was the first grand house on the peninsula. Another son, Harrison (Harry) was born in 1886. In 1897 Lilian Place was made famous by Stephen Crane in his story “The Open Boat”.
By the time of Laurence's passing in 1920 his sons Lawrence (Bert) and Harrison (Harry) had married and moved. Lilian never married and inherited the house. She raised her nephew Harrison Thompson Jr. (Brutie) in the house when his parents Lucy and Harry were divorced. Lilian lived the remainder of her life there, and at her death, the house was sold to a relative Alice Dalton who purchased the house for $10,000 in order to keep it in the family. Alice named it Lilian Place in Miss Lilian's memory and rented the house to the Wells family.
Years later Alice gave the house to her third cousin and God-child Patricia Bennett, who was the granddaughter of Laurence and Mary Eliza. Pat moved in with her husband in 1950 while the elderly Mrs. Wells continued to rent a room on the 2nd floor. Three girls were born to the Bennetts: Victoria, Chesley, and Mary. Pat lived in Lilian Place until the family sold it in 1984 to the new residents Greg and Susan McDole.
The McDole's did extensive restoration and repairs to the historic site, and then sold it to a buyer who used the site for rental business and redesigned the old carriage house into four rental apartments. Finally Michael and Suzanne Riccitiello took possession in 2002, turning the site into a bed and breakfast. However, Suzanne passed and Michael returned to New York in 2006.
Lilian Place sat neglected for nearly three years until the Heritage Preservation Trust was awarded an ECHO grant from Volusia County and took possession of the property on December 29, 2009. After 3 years of extensive cleanup, with wonderful community help and donations of beautiful antiques from other founding Daytona pioneers, Lilian place opened to the community.
Now you can enjoy the grand lady, Lilian Place Museum! Preserved for future generations to learn about the history!
With your help, we can continue our objective of preserving the past for the future.
Donate or visit Lilian Place today!
View the video below to learn more about Lilian Place from Pat Bennett, the granddaughter of Laurence Thompson.
(26 Minutes) Documentary produced, written and edited by Susan Cardillo
