From the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the William Helffrich House, Orange Park, Florida. Prepared by Sidney Johnston/Robert O. Jones, June 1998.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
William Helffrich was born in 1827 in Weisenburg, Pennsylvania, and was the third of five sons of an itinerant German Reformed Church preacher. William passed the examination of a local “collegium” in 1848, and began his ministry with his father who preached to and administered seven rural churches. He married Amanda H. Fogel on August 1, 1852.
Helffrich maintained an extensive diary of his activities and travels between the 1840s and 1890s. Those notes were later published posthumously as Lebensbild aus dem Pennsylvanisch-Deutschen Predigerstand: Oder Wahreit in Licht und Schatten in 1906 by his sons, Nevin and William. The 600-page memoir printed in German reveals much about his early training, ministry, and the culture of the times. It includes detailed descriptions of his journeys throughout Pennsylvania, and his excursions to Florida.
Nearing retirement, Helffrich visited Florida in 1878. His graphic account of leaving Philadelphia by steamer for Savannah includes references to inclement weather and an unhappy wife. The Helffrichs arrived in Orange Park in 1878, where they were greeted at the dock by Washington G. Benedict, the founder and developer of Orange Park. Helffrich became intrigued by the landscape along the St. Johns River. In April 1878, prior to their return north, Helffrich purchased a fifteen-acre tract from Benedict over the objections of his wife Amanda, who did not care for the isolation and jungle-like conditions.
In December 1881, the Helffrichs returned to Florida, bringing several of their sons. Benedict greeted them at the dock, as he had in 1878, and pointed out cottages for rent, one of which they secured along Kingsley Avenue. Benedict recommended they inquire about expenses to build their own cottage. Helffrich was encouraged by the low cost of building materials in Jacksonville, when compared to costs in Pennsylvania. Readymade doors sold for $1.00, and windows with frames were $2.00. Wholesalers in Jacksonville quoted him prices of $12.00 per 1,000 feet for siding and framing lumber. Back home, where he regularly helped members of his congregation build homes, barns, and churches, lumber merchants charged $50.00 per 1,000 yard for siding and framing materials. Initially, he had planned to build a small one-story cottage, but on finding inexpensive building materials, he expanded the project into a 30′ x 24′ two story residence, similar to those he had helped parishioners build in Pennsylvania. His diary records that he assisted in the construction of barns and homes. He sketched plans, and in January 1882 traveled to Jacksonville, where he placed an order for the materials necessary to assemble the house. The materials arrived at the wharf at the foot of Kingsley Avenue about one week later. With the help of his sons and several black laborers, they cleared the lot and erected the house, which was completed in March 1882. They also planted citrus trees around the dwelling.
According to Helffrich, the house stood on the highest ground beside Plainfield Avenue. The landscape east of Plainfield Avenue was sprinkled with pine trees but relatively clear of undergrowth, so that from the front porch Helffrich could watch the passing steam and sail boats, which often numbered between thirty and fifty daily. He wrote in his diary many experiences of the family during the period. In late 1882, typhus broke out in Orange Park, and John Helffrich, a physician and one of William’s sons, assisted the sick. The Helffrich’s permitted the ill to convalesce on the front porch and parlor. The family traveled by boat to Green Cove Springs and Palatka on sight-seeing excursions. In March 1883, after nearly two years of residing in Orange Park, the Helffrichs returned to Pennsylvania. William’s health began to fail and in 1894 he died in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania. He referred to Orange Park as “a beautiful, precious place,” but neither Amanda, who disliked Florida, nor any family members ever returned.