East Hill, Pensacola

Alexander Stoddart brought more than just azaleas to Pensacola when he settled in East Hill in the 1870s. Stoddart was a wealthy architect and insurance executive from New York. In 1872, Stoddart bought Greenwood Cottage as his winter home, and renamed the property Fairnie Hill Place. Along with the four-block Fairnie Hill Place estate, Stoddart owned a large sum of land in East Hill that he sold to developers.

Fairnie Hill Place was a grand estate with servant’s quarters, laundry, milk house, paint shop, carriage house, summerhouse, and barn. It was located from Jordan St. to Lakeview Ave. between 12th and 10th streets. Fountains lined the main drive to the mansion, while gardens surrounded by box hedges covered the grounds. Horse pastures were located on the southern block of the property. The inside of the mansion at Fairnie Hill Place was painted by muralist, Theodore Weber. Within Fairnie Hill Place’s extravagant gardens were twenty-two varieties of fruit including oranges, figs, and peaches. The Stoddarts often entertained guests and displayed their gardens.

While Alexander Stoddart conducted his business in New York, his wife Mary handled the gardens at Fairnie Hill. The Stoddarts remained active in Pensacola, generously delivering flowers to the sick and lending money for the improvement and development of roads in East Hill.

When Fairnie Hill Place was demolished, the azaleas were moved to other locations. The largest of the azaleas went to the residence of Thomas A. Johnson on W. Gadsden Street. Today, Pensacola enjoys azaleas thanks to the Stoddarts and their elaborate gardens at Fairnie Hill.