Alexander Stoddart

What late 19th century East Hill resident had ties to 12th Avenue & Bayview Park?

The Eastern Underwriter, Volume 15, January 15, 1914 The answer to this week’s East Hill Pensacola.Com trivia question is hidden in the history and name of an extraordinary Scottish-American gentleman named Alexander Stoddart. Born in Leith, Scotland in 1836, Alexander “Alex” Stoddart came to America with his family at the age of six. The Stoddart family settled in Kentucky where Alexander grew up and attended college. After college, Stoddart began to build what would become a monumental career in the fire insurance industry. His career took him from Kentucky to Cincinnati, and finally to New York, where he founded the New York Underwriters’ agency in 1864. At the end of the 19th Century, it wasn’t uncommon for wealthy & distinguished Northern businessmen, like Stoddart, to travel to warmer, more hospitable locales where they could enjoy otherwise brutal winter months with their families. Stoddart was no exception to this trend, and in approximately 1876, he and his wife began to spend their winter months in Pensacola’s kinder climate. From that time until his death in 1906, Stoddart increasingly became a beloved citizen and legendary figure of Pensacola as he generously contributed his intellect, money and property to our city. Here is an abbreviated list of Alexander Stoddart’s most notable contributions to Pensacola: • Improved streets (known as the “Stoddart system”) • Under his advisement, streets were properly graded, ballasted and topped with clay to produce sturdier roads.

The Pensacola News, Wednesday, March 20, 1889

            Bayview Park 

Mr. Alex Stoddart, who has done so much to beautify and make Pensacola attractive is deeply interested in having Bayview park, the lovely spot on Bayou Texar, which he donated to the city a few years since, enclosed and properly laid off. Monday afternoon, Mr.Stoddart in company with Mayor Hilliard and members of the board of city commissioners went out to the park. While there Mr.Stoddart explained a plan that he has in view for beautifying the park,the details of which will probably be submitted at their meeting this afternoon.Twelfth street, which leads to the park is 200 feet wide, is one of the most beautiful drives to be found in any country. The Pensacola Terminal Company have been granted a right of way for their cars along the south side of the street, and their track will no doubt be extended to the park whenever the latter is enclosed and put in order for the enjoyment of the public.

Quote from the Pensacola News,Wednesday April 6th 1892