The history of
The Russ House
Jackson County, Florida
by
Merritt Dekle
July 2000
All rights reserved!

Interiors

One of the unique assets of the Russ House that was mentioned in the nomination form from the National Register of Historic Places is as follows:

"The dramatic impact of the massive semi-circular porch added to the front facade of the house (in the 1910 renovation)....tends to mask the fact that much of the original fabric and original design of the house remains intact......The remodeling performed in the 1910-1912 period and later periods have generally resulted in the attachment of appendages to the original house rather than in alterations in the original unit of the structure."

When the Russ House was deeded to the Chamber of Commerce in 1995, it had remained unaltered from the 1920 period when the Nursery was added to the upstairs porch. The original rooms from the Queen Anne period remained intact, and likewise the rooms added in the 1910 renovation. The entire interior retained it's original fabric and design and presented a valuable historic record of the architectural evolution of the home, despite the fact that there was considerable cosmetic damage to the plaster of the upstairs rooms. Unfortunately, of the 16 intact rooms, only 3 have escaped total reconfiguration during the rehabilitation.

Window seat

Newel post

Living room with pictures of Margaret and Frank Philips, the parents of Bettie Philips Russ.

Downstairs hall