Dunedin Lodge, Edgewater Court, Dunedin, Florida c.1900
Yarn tied wraps, lettered in gilt ; 5.75 by 9 inches; 8 pages with a double page photo panorama of the lodge from offshore; sketch of the lodge; floor plans of the three levels; map. wrappers lettered in gold, string tie. Light handling wear, first page is foxed and remaining are lightly and evenly age-toned.
Charming little brochure, of which no copies are listed in OCLC. Dunedin is on the Gulf Coast of Florida near Tampa Bay.
The Dunedin Lodge was run by two sisters, Lydia and Matilda, who were part of the Bull family and related to A.J. Grant. Every year, they opened the lodge for guests from September through May, offering a warm retreat during the cooler months. When summer rolled around, they headed back to Cape May, New Jersey, where they owned a private home and another lodge for beachgoers.
The lodge sat just south of Edgewater Park, with its entrance facing the street. Interestingly, when the building was renovated, all the spacious, luxurious rooms ended up on the street-facing side. Meanwhile, the best bay views—along with stunning sunsets—were on the same side as the kitchen and housekeeping areas, meaning the staff actually got the best scenery every evening!
Because hospitals were few and far between back then, midwives sometimes used the lodge as a birthing center for local families when home deliveries weren’t an option.
During the 1940s, the lodge took on a new role, becoming the Marine Corps headquarters for officers and non-commissioned officers stationed in Dunedin. These troops were training with Amphibious Alligator Tanks near the marine base by Cedar Creek.
By the late 1960s, though, the lodge had seen better days. With newer motels and hotels popping up in the area, it fell into disrepair and was eventually sold in the early 1970s. The land became part of the first phase of the Edgewater Arms condominiums. Today, most of the former lodge’s property is now part of Edgewater Park’s playground, a parking lot for the marina’s boat ramp, and garages for residential parking. [Adapted from History Notes, Tampa Bay Weekly]
Item #19821
Price: $600.00
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