Nicholson Farmhouse (Havana, FL) (Updated January 23, 2002) |
Malcolm Nicholson, a Scottish emigrant, acquired
a 4000-acre plantation in Gadsden County and build the Farmhouse in 1828,
less than 10 years after Florida was acquired from Spain. It was home
to several generations of Nicholsons until it was sold in 1971. The
new owners restored the house, lived there, and sometimes operated a gift
shop out of it. Paul Nicholson, Malcolm’s great-great grandson, bought
the house in 1987. Paul, a successful businessman, had longed to operate
a restaurant, and he and partners opened the restaurant in 1988. Paul
loved people and he loved old things. His restaurant, up a cowpath
on fifty acres of the original plantation, miles from any place, quickly
became a success. It is now a complex of buildings and seats more than
600 diners. Sadly, Paul was killed in a vehicle crash in South America in the mid-1990s. The restaurant has again passed from the family, but bears the unmistakable stamp of Paul’s hand although it is not quite the same to those of us who enjoyed it earlier. As an incidental point, Doug Croley (who has a Chattanooga #14) was in the accident with Paul and escaped with his life. Syrup has not been made since Paul died, but the machinery is intact and displayed. click on images for larger view
|
Above are different shots of a Golden 4x.
This is a very powerful machine that inspires awe. All of us have certain
prejudices that are not easily explained. One person may choose one
or another sports team. The next person favors a particular brand of
automobile. For me, it is Golden’s mills, probably only because that
is what my grandfather
had. |
Paul was set up to make syrup in a kettle (above left) as well as with an evaporator (above right). |
![]() Here is an interesting collection of various kettles, including syrup kettles. |
Back to: