Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ball Christmas Card

Christmas is just around the corner!  We are preparing to decorate the Main House and several of Margaret's Christmas cards will be on display.  The inside of this card reads:

With best wishes for

A Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ball

The velum insert reads:

Florida's giant spring, the bowl of which covers four and a half acres, has a depth of one hundred eighty-five feet. The natural beauty of the Spring and the surrounding territory has  attracted attention for centuries. Explorations of noted archeologists indicate that there have been settlements on the banks of this Spring for something over two thousand years.

One of the earliest Spanish explorers in Florida, Panfilo de Narvaez, with his company of explorers and adventurers, spent the winter of 1529 at this Spring.

Ponce de Leon in his search for the Fountain of Youth journeyed with his entire company to this Spring and bathed in its waters.

Ships were built near this Spring by De Narvaez, very likely the first ships ever built on this continent.

After the United States acquired Florida and established territorial and state governments this Spring became famous for its political picnics. Before every general election aspirants for State offices attend the picnic and announce their candidacy.

In the past several years it has become even more widely known for its athletically trained fish that, the the amazement of the visitors and sightseers, pole vault whenever called upon to do so by the negro boatman.

The Wakulla Springs lodge and park was originally owned by Edward Ball, a prominent businessman who led the St. Joe Company.  The property was purchased by the State in 1986 and named the Edward Ball State Park.