Historic Homes of St. Nicholas

Historic Homes

The Van Valkenburgh home -1231 Glengarry Rd Jacksonville, FL

Home of Robert Bruce Van VALKENBURGH  1821-1888

• Lawyer, Jurist, Soldier, Legislator, and Minister to Japan
• Attended Franklin Academy. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Bath, NY. He was a member of the NY State Assembly in 1852, 1857 and 1858.
• Commanded recruiting depot in Elmira, NY and organized 17 regiments early in the Civil War.
• As Colonel of the 107th Regiment, NY Volunteer Infantry, he commanded at the Battle of Antietam.
• Following the war, he was Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
• Elected as a Republican to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses and held office from March 4, 1861 to March 3, 1865. While in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Militia.
• He was appointed Minister Resident to Japan on January 18, 1866 and served until November 11, 1869.
• After his return from Japan, he settled in Florida and was appointed Associate Justice of the Florida Supreme Court on May 20, 1874. He held that position until his death in Suwannee Springs, near Live Oak in 1888.

The Judge bought the 18-acre site from Albert Palmer in 1871. He and his wife, Anna Simpson Van Valkenburgh built their home in 1872 and furnished it with furniture and memorabilia they had collected in Japan during his stint as Minister to Japan.

This is believed to be the last remaining original home on Empire Point.  The home is on the St Johns River between the entrance to Empire Point and the entrance to Episcopal HS. 

The view in the picture is only possible from the river. A partial view of the side of the house is possible from the street.