Fairnie Hill Place in Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fairnie Hill

Pensacola - City of Five Flags

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

1. Fairnie Hill Marker

Inscription.
Site of Alexander Stoddard home, founder of New York Underwriters Agency. A southern benefactor, the first to invest in the south after the War between the States. A friend of Pensacola, much of its development due to his efforts. The first azaleas in NW Florida grown here.

Erected 1959 by Pensacola Woman's Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil.

Location. 30° 26.068′ N, 87° 12.309′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. It is in Fairnie Hill Place. It is at the intersection of North 12th Avenue and East Lakeview Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North 12th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1182 East Lakeview Avenue, Pensacola FL 32503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico

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state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Votes for Women (approx. 0.4 miles away); Spencer Bibbs Academy (approx. 0.4 miles away); E.S. Cobb Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Historic Crystal Icehouse (approx. half a mile away); General Daniel James, Jr. (approx. 0.6 miles away); Growing Up (approx. 0.6 miles away); Reach for the Stars (approx. 0.6 miles away); Early Military Career (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola.

More about this marker. While this marker spells the surname "Stoddard" (with a "d" at the end), the correct spelling (from several other references) appears to be "Stoddart" (with a "t" at the end).

Also see . . .
1. Fairnie Hill Place (pensapedia.com).

Excerpt: Fairnie Hill Place was an early East Hill estate owned by Alexander Stoddart, the founder and manager
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

2. Fairnie Hill Marker
Looking southeast from North 12th Avenue; East Lakeview Avenue crosses in the background.
of the New York Underwriters Agency and owner/developer of the Lakeview Tract.
The estate occupied a four-block area bounded by 12th Avenue to the east, Lakeview Avenue to the south, 10th Avenue to the west and Jordan Street to the north. It was purchased by William C. Cooke from the Pensacola City Company on December 17, 1870. Cooke sold it to Peter Knowles on February 23, 1871, and Knowles sold it to Stoddart on May 8, 1872. During the 1870s it was known as Greenwood Cottage.
Stoddart built a large vacation home on the property, along with servants' quarters, laundry facilities, milk house, carriage house, summer house and barn. The house interior was adorned with murals by Theodore Weber. Leading to the main house was a large drive with two fountains.
It is believed the first azaleas to flourish in the Pensacola area were planted at Fairnie Hill Place by Mr. and Mrs. Stoddart, who planned their springtime visits to Pensacola to coincide with the plants' blooming time.

(Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Alexander Stoddart (easthillpensacola.com).

Excerpt: At the end of
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

3. Fairnie Hill Marker
Looking northeast from North 12th Avenue; both sides of the marker have the same inscription.
the 19th Century, it wasn’t uncommon for wealthy & distinguished Northern businessmen, like Stoddart, to travel to warmer, more hospitable locales where they could enjoy otherwise brutal winter months with their families. Stoddart was no exception to this trend, and in approximately 1876, he and his wife began to spend their winter months in Pensacola’s kinder climate. From that time until his death in 1906, Stoddart increasingly became a beloved citizen and legendary figure of Pensacola as he generously contributed his intellect, money and property to our city.

(Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 577 times since then and 365 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.