A preservation group spurred to action by the impending demolition of the beachside's oldest home now owns the painted lady called Lilian Place.
With a $425,595 ECHO grant the Volusia County Council approved earlier this month, the Historic Preservation Trust Tuesday formally purchased the riverside home of some of the city's first settlers.
Once listed at a price in reach only to deep-pocketed condominium developers, soaring tax values made potential buyers wary of taking it on. In other words, the reputed home of Daytona Beach's most famous ghost, Lucile, was caught up in the fortunes of the real estate market that had history buffs spooked.
Listed at $2.3 million in 2006, it seemed destined to be annexed to nearby property and then developed into condominiums as had other storied estates, such as the Black Pearl and Portledge. Now-defunct development partnership Bray & Gillespie Management once made a $1.5 million bid on the property -- that the seller rejected, according to trust officials. But then the heavily mortgaged property was foreclosed on. And the home's mortgage holders rejected subsequent offers of $900,000 for a short sale, trust officials said.
Tuesday, though, it all worked out.
"It's been like giving birth," said Nancy Long, president of the trust, who now has possession of the keys to the Silver Beach Avenue Italianate manse that was once accessible only by boat and gave shelter to "Red Badge of Courage" author Stephen Crane after he was shipwrecked in the area.
Long said the trust will be raising money in the coming months to restore Lilian Place to its luster of four years ago when it was a working bed and breakfast. Long stopped by Tuesday and saw animal droppings and evidence of insect damage at the 125-year-old home that's been empty for the past year -- the longest stretch in its history.
"It amazing what happens when a place sits empty," she said.
Pat Bennett, granddaughter of one of the city's founders, Laurence Thompson, who built the seven-bedroom house, was pleased to hear her childhood home was officially saved from the wrecking ball. And that Lucile -- the ghost she's written about -- has a permanent home and some living occupants to pull her signature tricks on.
Turning on and off lights and water are her specialties, Bennett said.
"There's no point in being a ghost if there's no one to haunt," Bennett said.
