Empire Point is located along the St. Johns River and was at once time part of the 385-acre Reuben Hogans land grant of 1808. There, along the river is a wine cellar, brick and beautiful. According to author Tim Gilmore, the bricks on the old cellar at the end of the 4615 Empire Point Road culdesac in the 4615 Empire Point Road once belonged to the original Perley Place homestead. On a website the Top Ten Real estate  Deals, the story is written that Dr. Thomas F. Pearly purchased the land “overlooking the St. John’s River atop Empire Point”.  

Grandson, Ramey standing in front of the Perley cellar at Empire Point

Not long after he built his home there, the Civil War broke out and he was called to duty as a Confederate colonel serving in the medical field.   In 1868, after the war, Perley sold the property.  At some point the house burned to the ground and all that was left was the tunnel which was connected to a brick vaulted wine cellar. Beneath the ground was found a granite corner stone bringing the history alive.  If you visit the area today, to left of the refurbished wine cellar is the cornerstone dated about 1858. The property was purchased in 1993 and rebuilt the home with as much authentic care as possible.

Thomas F. Perley was appointed by Surgeon William A. Hammond to the position of Medical inspector.  ( AMEDD Center of History and Heritage,  Part V “ From the commencement of the rebellion to the present time”. Act.armey.mil)

According to Cera Web Design the wine cellar is “the only privately owned, pre-Civl War wine cellar in the United  States” still standing. 

Many contend the road is private but there is a sign at the end of the road honoring the Perley homestead.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Top Ten RealEstate Deals, Where Real Estate is Never Boring, 2024, Tim Gilmore, Empire Point: Perley Place and Wine Cellar, March 2, 2016, Cera Web Design, Perley Place, Build on History, Accessed  online 4-23-24