Leaving a legacy
Eloise Benson's will leaves a place for Gulf Breeze history
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

E. Louise and Mark X. Benson are credited with being founders of Gulf Breeze. Mrs. Benson's will stipulates that her property be used to provide a home for Gulf Breeze history, and promote Christian activities.

The Historical Society of Gulf Breeze received a legacy from E. Louise Benson that included both money and property. E. Louise Benson bequeathed to The Gulf Breeze Historical Society $30,000 along with selected sections of some property that contain four buildings, including her home on Live Oak Avenue, two buildings on Pfeiffer Street, one that is currently used by Dolphin Design and Printing..

She left the Society all the furnishings and personal property located in her home to establish and maintain a public museum that will be named the Mark X. and E. Louise Benson Museum.

Eloise wanted her buildings to be saved as examples of early Gulf Breeze architecture, culture and Gulf Breeze history. She wanted the buildings to be used to display historical artifacts pertaining to the history of Gulf Breeze both for educational purposes and for the benefit of the general public. She wrote that, "Reasonable charges for the admission of the public to the museum may be assessed for the continued maintenance, repair and improvements deemed necessary to the establishment and continuance of the museum." She also gave the Historical Society or its successor owner the right to engage support organizations to promote the purposes of the establishment and maintenance of the museum.

Building on Pfeiffer St. currently housing Dolphin Printing.

Gordon Sprague, President of The Historical Society, reported that the Historical Society took possession of the property in mid-February. They have ascertained quotes from insurance companies and have taken bids on cleaning up the property. The Society established work groups and began the "clean-up" necessary inside the Benson dwelling. There will be a Benson Estate sale in the future for those possessions that are not kept for the museum.

Mark and Eloise Benson were the first full-time residents of Gulf Breeze. They came in 1935 to help build and manage the Gulf Breeze Cottages located on Hwy 98 at the sit of the current Live Oak Village Shopping Center. Mark established the first Gulf Breeze post office and became the first post master in 1939 giving the area its name, Gulf Breeze. In 1940, the Bensons purchased land and built a home, post office, gas station, and grocery store. These are the buildings that Eloise left to the Historical Society.

LEFT: 15 Live Oak Avenue

The Bensons built the Mark X. Benson Complex in phases. The "Benson Building" is where much of what is Gulf Breeze today got its start. Many of the Churches, Civic and Social Clubs, the first pharmacy, the first weekly newspaper and even the Gulf Breeze Volunteer Fire Department had their first meetings at the Benson Building with no cost to these organizations.

Eloise and Mark Benson have passed on: Ella Louise (Eloise) Benson died on October 9, 2006 and Mark X. Benson died on March 27, 1994. But the heritage of Bensons will live on through the Mark X. and E. Louise Benson Museum and will affect the quality of lives in Gulf Breeze long after their death.

ABOVE: Dwelling on Live Oak. Dwelling on Pfeiffer St.