Bettes Estate RIP
I meant to post about this at the time, but I was busy. I ran past the Bettes Estate this weekend (as I do nearly everyday) and it reminded me. It’s a sorry picture. The house was recently consumed by fire after a careless worker involved in its restoration set it alight with a blow torch. Seriously. How mad would that make you, if that was your home? It is a total loss, apparently.
Anyway, the house was built in 1912, not necessarily old for 32210 (parts of Bones HQ date from 1904, but I added the hollowed-out volcano in the ’90s). Also, it is not on the river – but I am told it once was – it has just had houses built between it and the river since.
Irritated homeowner
First Coast News reported:
…the historic structure was destroyed. However, the owners tried to salvage what they could, and plucked dripping wet portraits from the first floor of the house.
“From the very onset, firefighters never really had a fighting chance,” said JFRD Spokesperson Tom Francis.
Francis said the fire spread quickly and took more than 60 firefighters to control it. “It’s heart breaking,” said Sawyer, who watched with dozens of neighbors from the blocked off street.
Sawyer showed First Coast News pictures she took inside the home in the 1970s. She said the more than 5,000 square foot estate had beautiful staircases and polished, wooden floors.
So that’s that, then. Shame. Terrible shame.
19 Responses to 'Bettes Estate RIP'
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(formerly) Big Bob
2 Sep 09 at 1:45 pm
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Joe,
Your Ortega knowledge is slightly in error. The “Bettes Estate” was built in 1912 at its current location. The original owner, Charles C. Bettes, was a partner with J. N. C. Stockton in the Ortega Company. Mr. Bettes choose this lot to avoid the windiness along the river. The original site was 2.5 acres. In 1924 Charles C. Bettes, Jr. built a Tudor style house behind the main house and in 1984 five additional lots were sold, leaving the current site of 1.25 acres. Blowtorch + 97 wodden year old house = BIG FIRE.
Benny Andersson
Benny Anderson
2 Sep 09 at 6:47 pm
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How would you know? You were in Malmo strumming a hurdy gurdy with Agnetha……
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I think your both wrong. I heard it was built in 1983 buy DR Horton Holmes, for Fred Bullard (owner of the Jacksonville Bulls), but I may be mistaken (I’m from O.P.).
Regardless, this topic is like arguing over when the first Dodo Bird was born. They’re both gone now……..lets move forward.Kenny P.
3 Sep 09 at 9:32 am
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Joe Bones – How would you know as well? Firstly, you don’t strum a hurdy gurdy which inherently makes your (lack of) argument moot! As for Agentha – I don’t even want to go there!
Wiki – “The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy (also known as a wheel fiddle) is a stringed musical instrument in which the strings are sounded by means of a rosined wheel which the strings of the instrument pass over. This wheel, turned with a crank, functions much like a violin bow, making the instrument essentially a mechanical violin”
Jumpin' Jack
8 Sep 09 at 8:32 am
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Kenny P. –
Before you post in any public forum, please check the validity of the information you post. For the record, the home was constructed in the early 1900s, as were many of the neighboring homes along Ortega Boulevard. Please don’t ever insinuate or directly state that homes in my neighborhood were constructed by DR Horton Homes, KB Home or any other “BigBox Builder”.
The home was never owned by Fred Bullard. I can cite this as truth, as my family has known all of the past and present owners.
Signed,
I don’t speak “Middle Class”Ortega Native
7 Oct 09 at 1:11 am
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Ortega Naive –
You sir are a jackass, and are responsible for the “snobbish” reputation that “our” neighborhood embraces. I know for a fact that the original house was demolished in 1982 and re-constructed as a “replica” in 1984. My dad and 3 older brothers were heavy equipment operators on the bull dozier when it happened………so HA! If you don’t believe me you can see the permit on-line through the building department. I have started my research to see how many other “replica” houses have been constructed in Ortega. I see old ones being torn down every day. Stick to what you know, which is probably rap music and wakeboarding (as if there is anything more gay).
(P.S. I bet you live in the “Forrest” HA!)
Cheers, Kenny P.
Kenny P.
7 Oct 09 at 10:10 am
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Kenny P.,
Please don’t reference Ortega as ‘our’ neighborhood again. Ever. You said in your first post that you live in Orange Park – which is certainly no Ortega.
I don’t live in the Forest. I live on the Boulevard, and am the third generation in the same home.
Don’t hate that I’m a wakeboarder… It isn’t your fault that you didn’t get your own boat at 15!
You’re sadly mistaken… the home is the original structure. Your family may have ‘operated the heavy machinery’ for the demolition of another house, but it certainly was not the prestigious Bettes Estate.
Signed,
Proud of Ortega’s Snobbish Reputation
Ortega Native
7 Oct 09 at 3:56 pm
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Dear Ortega Naive,
To quote you “It isn’t your fault that you didn’t get your own boat at 15!” You’re right, I don’t know anyone (including myself) who grew up here that didn’t have their own boat at age 10. You must be a late bloomer.
I grew up on OP, on the river, on Holly Point. However, unlike you I bought my house in Ortega, and it wasn’t given to me by “Daddy”. For what that’s worth “Daddy” didn’t send me to Bolles and I am a proud “Raider”, and not so proud “Seminole”. The product of public education.
I don’t hate you because your a wakeboarder. I just don’t associate with spoiled brats.
Be careful sucking your Dad’s “teet” while driving. He may hit a bump and you’ll end up sucking his dick!
Cheers- Kenny P. (the man with the ball)
Kenny P.
7 Oct 09 at 4:30 pm
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I hope you guys both lose it all to Obama tax hikes. You need to be knocked down a few pegs from your yatch club buffet eating, skeet shooting, wake boarding lifestyles. You know what I do for fun? I plink PBR cans from my front porch with my b.b. gun. You know why? Because I can’t afford to eat at the yatch club.
Let me know when that trust fund runs out, yuppies. I’ll show you some real fun.
Middle Class Riverside Resident
7 Oct 09 at 4:48 pm
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Here it goes agian. Ortega vs Holly Point…started in the 60’s and still going in 2009. To quote Rodney King “can’t we just all get along”.
Middle Class Riverside Resident, I need some practice, were is the skeet range in Ortega? By the way, a well managed trust never runs out.
Benny
Benny Anderson
7 Oct 09 at 8:44 pm
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this is officially the most awesome entry yet. all it’s missing is a midget with a salami chasing around a transvestite hooker, and it could be on springer.
(formerly) Big Bob
7 Oct 09 at 11:26 pm
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I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I have lived in Ortega six years. We bought a really old house in Old Ortega that was about 100 years old. It didn’t even have a sun shade patio or tile floors or new kitchen or anything, so we tore it down. Horton Homes built us a really nice, two story, all stucco, with tinted glass to keep the sun out. And we love it! All the neighbor Ortegans are jealous.
I am Not Lindsay Lohan
8 Oct 09 at 9:02 am
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“Heating up in the comments” says Joe. Heat? This ain’t heat! I think you kids have had one too many mimosas or mint julips! Y’all better just lay off the sauce for a day. I realize it’s hard to find something else to do besides rolling around in piles of other people’s money. But you’re gonna have to just maintain.
Middle Class Riverside Resident
8 Oct 09 at 10:22 am
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seriously? you guys are actually gonna sit here and bicker about this shite? hey man money or no money being a douche don’t wash off, guess whay you two stink of it. Get over your selves maybe have a cocktail and for Christ sake relax already.
If you honestly judge your self and others by where you live and what you have your priorities are seriously fucked up.
now you two go find a corner and hug it out.
Moving on…Joe Bags
8 Oct 09 at 10:31 am
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i USED to judge myself and others based on where I lived but then a bunch of middle class people moved into the neighborhood and it went downhill from there.
I am Not Lindsay Lohan
8 Oct 09 at 11:28 am
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no sooner asked than answered, my midget and tranny…
(formerly) Big Bob
8 Oct 09 at 11:49 pm
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Ortega Naive
I just noticed in one of your post “and am the third generation in the same home”.
What are you guys the fuck’n “Waltons”. That is not only disturbing, it is kind of gross. You must be John, Jr. from what I can tell from your writing skills, and you dad must have made his fortune from the northside paper mill.
I wish we could end this class war and just have a beer together. Can you ask your brother (Jason) when is the next time he is playing at the “Do drop Inn”? I would love to have a dance with your big titted sister Mary-Ellen, and punch your stupid “ginger” little sister Elizabeth, (she stinks of piss and cookies).
Now tell Zebadiah to get off Esther, they’re to old, it’s late, and they are keeping the rest of the family up.
Kenny P.
Kenny P.
20 Oct 09 at 10:12 am
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17 Nov 09 at 4:10 am
seriously, that guy should never be allowed to touch a blowtorch again. or anything remotely dangerous. his tool box should have safety scissors, crayons and construction paper. he’s been demoted.