Robert N. Ellis was one of Springfield's most remarkable early residents.  He was the first engineer employed by the city, one of Duval County's first architects, and the guiding force behind the development of Jacksonville's municipal utilities.  He came to this city in 1872, after being educated as an engineer in New York.  Within a year he joined Alfred E. McClure in the architectural firm of Ellis & McClure. With an office on Bay Street, these two men designed many of Jacksonville's prominent buildings during their sixteen-year association.

In 1879 the firm was selected to design the new waterworks building.  Due to Ellis' talents as an engineer and architect, he was chosen by the Board of Bond Trustees to supervise the construction of the entire water and sewerage pumping system for the city.  The success of this system prompted the trustees to hire him as superintendent of the waterworks facility.  Over the next twelve years Ellis  corrected many inadequacies of the water-sewer system and guided its expansion as development of the city progressed.

In 1880 Ellis purchased this lot from the Springfield Co., and five years later he moved from East Church Street to this house, only two blocks from the waterworks.  Presumably, the home was designed by Ellis & McClure.  This two-story Queen Anne structure has numerous fine details, including pierced brackets, fish-scale shingles, bay windows, and an arch over the entrance porch.  It remains in good condition as one of the earliest surviving Springfield residences.

In 1884 Ellis served on the Board of Trade's Public Works committee, which helped to initiate paving of the city's streets. Two years later he was hired as Jacksonville's first salaried City Engineer.  By 1887 Ellis had overseen the laying of eight miles of cast-iron water mains and nine miles of terra-cotta sewer pipes throughout the city.  He served as Superintendent of Buildings and as consulting engineer for the Subtropical Exposition, after helping his partner design the main pavilion building.  Ellis retired from public service in 1891 and became active in the phosphate industry near Bartow, where he designed, built, and operated the National Peace River Phosphate plant. Ellis was rehired by the City of Jacksonville in 1895, and he immediately set about building  new improvements to the waterworks system (see SP-78 and SP-79) and managing its operation.  He also helped set up and supervise the first municipal electric plant, adjacent to the water pumping station.  Following retirement in 1912, Ellis continued to serve as purchasing agent for the bond trustees for several years.

Back to Springfield Listings   Next Springfield Site