Meridian Plantation

Meridian Plantation was a historic quail-hunting plantation in central Leon County, Florida, rather than a conventional commercial brand or operating company. The property was established under the Meridian name in 1915 by Arthur Lapsley, who came from Pomfret Center, Connecticut. Before Lapsley's ownership, the estate was known as Mossview Plantation and had been held by the Whitehead family. The plantation formed part of the network of large estates associated with the quail-hunting culture of Leon County and the surrounding Red Hills region of north Florida. Its identity was tied primarily to landownership, hunting, and the social history of plantation estates, not to a manufactured product portfolio, retail activity, or corporate branding. As a result, there is no documented evidence in the supplied reference material of consumer products, a formal corporate structure, a public listing, or an active commercial website. A major ownership transition occurred in 1933, when Meridian Plantation was purchased by Dwight F. Davis. Davis was a prominent American public servant who served as Assistant Secretary of War during the administration of President Calvin Coolidge and as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1929 to 1932. He was also the founder of the international tennis competition that became known as the Davis Cup. His ownership connected Meridian with a notable figure in American government and sport, although the available material does not describe any operational changes to the property during his tenure. Davis died in 1945, after which Meridian Plantation became the property of Griscom Bettle. Bettle was the nephew of Lloyd C. Griscom, who owned nearby Luna Plantation. Bettle also acquired Rose Hill Plantation, a smaller estate bordering Lake Elizabeth to the east and including substantial acreage near Lake Jackson. Rose Hill was later sold to Ralph Nicholson, a former publisher associated with the New Orleans Item-Tribune and other newspapers. The available source does not specify whether Meridian itself subsequently changed ownership, was subdivided, remained intact, or continued operating as a quail-hunting plantation. Meridian's historical setting was defined partly by its neighboring plantations. Ayavalla Plantation lay to the west, while Live Oak Plantation lay to the south. These relationships place Meridian within the broader landscape of Leon County's historic plantation estates. Because the source material is limited and does not establish a current owner, current use, preservation status, or ongoing commercial activity, the present status of Meridian Plantation remains uncertain.

Meridian Plantation was established in 1915 in central Leon County, Florida, by Arthur Lapsley, a native of Pomfret Center, Connecticut. The estate had previously been known as Mossview Plantation and was owned by the Whitehead family. Its development and identity were associated with the historic plantation landscape of Leon County, where large rural properties supported quail hunting and formed part of an interconnected network of estates. In 1933, the property was purchased by Dwight F. Davis. Davis had a substantial public career: he served as Assistant Secretary of War under President Calvin Coolidge and later served as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1929 through 1932. He was also the founder of the international tennis competition now associated with the Davis Cup. The available historical account identifies his acquisition of Meridian but does not provide detailed information about changes he made to the property or its hunting operations. Davis died in 1945. Following his death, Meridian Plantation became the property of Griscom Bettle, the nephew of Lloyd C. Griscom, owner of the nearby Luna Plantation. Bettle's landholdings also included Rose Hill Plantation. Rose Hill was a smaller plantation that bordered Lake Elizabeth on its eastern side and included considerable acreage near Lake Jackson. Bettle later sold Rose Hill to Ralph Nicholson, a former publisher of the New Orleans Item-Tribune and other newspapers. The sources do not indicate that Nicholson owned Meridian Plantation. Meridian was situated among other historic estates, with Ayavalla Plantation to the west and Live Oak Plantation to the south. These neighboring properties help establish the geographic and historical context of Meridian within Leon County's plantation and quail-hunting country. The available record is primarily a concise ownership history. It does not document Meridian's current owner, current land use, preservation designation, public accessibility, acreage, architectural inventory, or later ownership transfers. It also does not establish that Meridian operated as a commercial brand in the modern sense. Accordingly, it is best characterized as a historic plantation property and place-name rather than a product brand or corporate enterprise.

• 1945

  Ownership passes to Griscom Bettle

  [1]Meridian Plantationen.wikipedia.org

  After Dwight F. Davis died, Meridian Plantation became the property of Griscom Bettle, nephew of nearby plantation owner Lloyd C. Griscom.

• 1933

  Dwight F. Davis acquires the plantation

  [1]Meridian Plantationen.wikipedia.org

  Dwight F. Davis purchased Meridian Plantation. Davis was a former Assistant Secretary of War, former Governor-General of the Philippines, and founder of the tennis competition associated with the Davis Cup.

• 1915

  Meridian Plantation established

  [1]Meridian Plantationen.wikipedia.org

  Arthur Lapsley established Meridian Plantation in central Leon County, Florida. The property had previously been known as Mossview Plantation and had been owned by the Whitehead family.

Historic landholding and quail-hunting plantation; not documented as a conventional consumer or corporate brand.

• 1933

  Purchase by Dwight F. DavisM&A

  Background

  Meridian Plantation was a privately held historic estate used in connection with the quail-hunting plantation culture of Leon County.

  Action taken

  Dwight F. Davis purchased the plantation from its previous ownership.

  Aftermath

  Davis retained the property until his death in 1945. The available source does not describe operational or physical changes resulting from the acquisition.

  Source

1. 1Meridian Plantationen.wikipedia.org