NRHP Reference # 97001121 | Added to NRHP 11 September 1997 | |
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Field Manor, located at 750 Field Manor Drive in Indianola on Merritt Island, Florida was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1997 as the J.R. Field Homestead. It is one of the oldest standing structures on Merritt Island, dating to the 1880s.
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History
The Field family originally hailed from Macon, GA. The patriarch, John Moss Field, decided to move to Florida after having served in the Seminole Wars in the 1830s. John Moss brought most of his family down to what is now Merritt Island to homestead the land. The Homestead Act of 1862 stated that if a settler could build a structure measuring at least 12x14ft and grow something to sustain themselves within five years, they could claim up to 160 acres of land for $1.25/acre. The Field family complied with these guidelines and applied for certifications twice, compiling 320 total acres.
After his eight year old son passed away, John Moss Field decided to go back to Macon, leaving only his eldest sons John Robert Field and Samuel Joseph Field behind on the property, along with J.R.'s wife, Eliza. The two decided to split the property between them, each managing 160 acres. Field Manor as it is known today is located on J.R. Field's property. Sam Field took his acreage to establish the town of Indianola and even served as its first postmaster.
Three generations of Fields lived in the Field Manor structure- JR and Eliza Field, their son Joseph Edward Field, Sr. and his wife Louise Cannata Field, and finally their son Joseph Edward Field, Jr. and his wife Alma "Clyde" Eastmoore Field. Over time, the Fields sold off and donated parts of their property, so the homestead now sits on 45 acres of maintained citrus groves. The house served as a private residence until 2013.
Field Manor Foundation
Today, Field Manor is owned by Field Manor Foundation, a private 501(c)3 foundation created by Alma Clyde Field, the last Field family member to reside in the house. The homestead is open to the public as a historic house museum, having underwent two years of preservation and restoration. Everything in the house is original, from the furniture collection to the beadboard walls. The site also serves as an event venue.[1] Field Manor offers their own special events for the community; information can be found on their Facebook Page.