The History of The Alling House in Orange City, FL
The main home was built in 1908 and is a contributing property to the Orange City Historic District. Orange City was established in 1882 as a stop along the St. John’s River. The original owner was Samuel C. Hood, a biologist that focused primarily on fungus-related plants. Edward B. Alling bought the house in 1918. He lived in the house for over 40 years. He was one of Orange City’s most well-known mayors, serving four terms, donating the property where City Hall is located and leading the city in erecting the building. He and his wife were also very active in the American Red Cross and donated the property where the Orange City chapter building is located.
1908 - 2002
E.B Alling - Mayor of orange city
He served as the former president of the Orange City Library Association, and over 30 years as a trustee. In 1926, Mr. Alling and four other men, incorporated the Orange City Bank where he served several terms as the president. He was proud that the bank did not fail in the crash of 1929.
Edward served as mayor of Orange City for four terms (1923,1927,1928 and 1929). During his service, he was instrumental in forming the projected to build a new unified town hall. He donated the land for the building and also helped in selecting the Sanford architect, Elton J. Moughton, to design the building
Edward Alling helped establish the Orange City Chapter of the Red Cross through correspondence and travel to Washington D.C. to describe the need for the organization in the city.
He was the local chairman for Orange City's Chapter of the Red Cross for two years and then was elected to the Board of Directors. Edward would later donate a building for the city's chapter of the Red Cross in 1941. During the Great Depression, he made several trips to Washing D.C. to procure flour for those in need when others had failed. He also helped to distribute the flour.
2003 - 2019
In April of 2003 by Gerald & Nan Hill, a local couple from DeLand, purchased the house. They saw the beauty and potential of the property and design work commenced immediately. Only the Main House, what is now the Homestead Cottage, and the shed were built at the time. The renovations of the main house included converting closets, part of the hallway, and a portion of the large bathroom on the second floor to add two more bathrooms, ensuring that each of the three bedrooms would have a private bath. Additionally, plans were made to renovate the one cottage for rental or for use as an in-law suite, as well as to repurpose the spacious attic as family space for children and other relatives when they visited.
Gerald and Nan Hill worked closely with local officials and state agencies to obtain the necessary permissions to operate as an accommodations location without enclosing the beautiful staircase or requiring a separate external exit from the attic. A compromise was reached that involved installing a fire sprinkler system throughout the house and a fire alarm system. They also added an exit from the common area on the second floor, leading onto the roof of the sunroom, with a stairway descending to the ground.
Finding skilled labor to work on the historic home proved challenging. Due to the house’s age, the renovation was complex, with uncertainty about what might be discovered behind walls or under floorboards. Financial constraints added another layer of difficulty. However, Gerald and Nan were fortunate to find part-time workers who were committed to helping them succeed in bringing their dream to life. They had not anticipated how much of the work they would end up doing themselves.
Construction officially began in early October 2003, with final inspections taking place in mid-June 2004. By September 1, 2004, the bed and breakfast was open for guests. While the project was exhausting and daunting, it was an experience they would never want to miss.
In June 2007, they completed an expansion project that added two new cottages to the property. The existing cottage had been incredibly popular, and they found it difficult to turn guests away when it was fully booked. After a 13-month process to obtain the necessary building permits, construction began with a contractor managing the work this time. Although the contractor handled much of the labor, Gerald and Nan still had plenty to do and were relieved when the project was finished, allowing them to catch their breath. They had hopes of adding two more cottages if business allowed and financing became available.
Interest in the cottages remained strong, and financing was secured for another expansion project. The Nature and Railroad cottages were completed in October 2008.
The Hills loved the house; it suited them perfectly, and they were eager to share it with others. They always welcomed visitors to stop by for a stay.