Historic Beachside Home
1225 Gamble Place, Daytona Beach
6 Bedrooms / 5 Baths
Licensed Rental Unit
New HVAC
Property Photos
Fireplaces
Three brick, wood-burning fireplaces provide old world ambience and charm.
Classic Millwork
Classic crown molding, extra-wide window and door casings, extra-tall 8” baseboards, and built-in china cabinet.
Cedar Closets
All the upstairs bedroom closets and the linen closet are cedar-lined.
1920s Features
Hardwood Floors
Original oak hardwood floors throughout create 1920's charm and sophistication.
Five-Panel Doors
Interior doors are five-panel solid wood, including a swinging door between the dining room and butler's pantry.
Interior Walls
The interior walls are traditional lath and plaster construction which provides more insulation, soundproofing, and fire protection than drywall.
Gamble Place History
LOCATION
The Bostwick Park subdivision (the area that includes this property), lies on a narrow peninsula between the Halifax River on the west and the Atlantic ocean on the east. It is a few blocks south of the Daytona Beach Seabreeze Historic District.
The area was surveyed in April 1896. Boundary lines and ownership were allocated among Mary Ruger, Alice Bostwick, Laurence Thompson, James Gamble and several others.
Gamble Place and the nearby streets of Ruger, Bostwick, and Thompson are named after these original owners.
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS
Incredibly, original documents of title transfers for this property have been kept for generations. The first "Abstract of Title", produced in 1915, traces ownership starting in 1884. The Abstract was commissioned by Bert Fish & F.N. Conrad, names well known to Daytona Beach historians.
The new owner will be given custody of these documents to either keep or donate to the Daytona Beach Historical Society.
FIRST RESIDENTS
This home was built in 1923. The first residents were Carrie and Daniel Grimm, who purchased the home in 1925. The deed was in Carrie's name, not her husband's, which was not very common in the 1920s. They purchasd the home next to their daughter's home (at 1221 Gamble Place) to escape the cold Pennysylvania winters.
Daniel Grimm arrived in the U.S. in 1850 at the age of 12. He was an oil producer for most of his career, with a special interest in Franklin (PA) heavy oil. He became a director, and then president of the Exchange Bank of Franklin. He was one of the organizers of the Columbus Gas Company which eventually became the National Fuel Gas Company still in existence today.
Carolyn (Weyman) Grimm
Daniel Grimm
THE NEXT GENERATION
At her death In 1933, Carrie Grimm bequeathed the property to her four daughters.
One of the daughters, Lida, married Andrew Anderson Thompson of Massachusetts, the son of J. V. Thompson also known as the “coal baron of southern Pennsylvania”. Lida eventually owned the property in its entirety and used it as her winter home until her death in 1943.
Lida Grimm Thompson
THE CASTERTONS
Cory and Emma Casterton moved to Florida from Illinois and purchased the home in 1955, raising their four children here. They chose Daytona Beach to be near Easter Seal services for their hearing-impaired daughter, June. The Castertons owned the home until 1991, those 36 years being the longest continuous ownership of the home.
Two of the Casterton children, Susan, a retired speech pathologist in nearby Ormond Beach, and Jim, a pastor in Puerto Rico, have recently visited their childhood home. It warmed their hearts to see their treasured home so well cared for, and brought back many fond memories. Susan reminisced about the secret hiding place under the stairs, the workshop her father built in the cellar, the yard full of fruit trees (grapefruit, kumquat, avocado and tangelo), and the spot behind the garage where they buried their family dog, Snoopy.
Jim and June Casterton
Cory and Emma Thompson
Jim, Susan, Emma and Snoopy
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Many years later, additions were built onto the east and south sides of the home to include an enclosed sunroom, laundry room, and half-bath. County records confirm that in 1947 the garage was finished and an apartment above the garage (now a licensed rental ADU) was built. In 2004, the deck and pool were added.
A total landscape renovation was completed in 2006, replacing the concrete driveway with brick pavers, creating the courtyard, and planting the giant magnolia tree, gardenia bushes and other beautiful plants you see today.
The kitchen and upstairs bathrooms have been completely remodeled. The electrical system has been expanded and brought up to code.
A completely new HVAC system was installed in 2024.
The ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) has been upgraded with a mini-split air conditioning unit, an induction cooktop, and a laundry/storage room, making it an attractive, self-contained guest house or rental unit.
A CURIOUS DISCOVERY
In 2023, the current owner made an interesting discovery. Hidden in the corner of the attic was a small cardboard box next to a small, empty Listerine bottle. Inside the box were prescription bottles for Mrs. A.A. Thompson (Lida Thompson).
Three bottles are from 1940-41 (when Lida would have been aged 58-59) from The Prescription Shoppe at 242A S Beach Street. Today, that is the site of the Cinematique Theater. There is nothing on the labels to identify what the tablets were for. Written on the fourth bottle, from Zimmerman Pharmacy in New York, is "to combat stiffness".
The bottles are interesting vintage artifacts in themselves. But why were they hidden in the attic? Why did she keep the empty bottles? Why hide an empty Listerine bottle with these prescriptions? Was Lida hiding an illness? Did the Listerine cover-up the smell or taste of the medicine?
We'll never know the answers, will we?
CELEBRATIONS
Over the years, this beautiful home has been the venue for weddings, anniversaries, and family reunions. The ADU offers the perfect bride's preparation room before she walks down the stairway to meet her groom and guests. The courtyard is an excellent "hiding" spot for guests awaiting an unsuspecting honoree. The six bedrooms and five baths provide private, comfortable space for everyone. Imagine hosting YOUR next special event in this charming home.
Rental Unit or Guest House
This home has a fully furnished, 1 bedroom/1 bath, licensed long-term rental unit, or optionally a guest house. It is built above the garage, with a private entrance accessible from the back patio. A small balcony overlooks the courtyard.
As a guest house, it offers your visitors a comfortable stay with privacy. It can provide an independent, but nearby, residence for an elderly relative, or perhaps a first apartment for a young adult. It can also serve as office space for your home-based business.
As a rental property (6-month minimum lease), it has a proven history of rental income. It easily rents for $1,200/month in the current market. Applying this income to mortgage principal can greatly reduce interest payments and the length of a mortgage.
Incredible Investment Opportunity!
Applying the rental income from the guest house to pay down the mortgage will cut your interest payments in half and pay off the mortgage in full in less than half the time. Here’s an example using the mortgage payoff calculator from www.calculator.net.
Assume a purchase price of $649,000, a 20% downpayment, and an interest rate of 6.5%.
The mortgage looks like this:
If you rent the guest house for $1,200/month and apply an additional $1,000/month to pay down the mortgage (using $200/month for additional utility expense), the mortgage would then look like this:
Click here to see the savings using your own numbers:
Lot and Room Sizes
Lot size - 8,747 sq ft (.2 acre)
Living Space 3,116 sq ft
Main house 2,476 sq ft
Sunroom 200 sq ft
Rental unit 371 sq ft
Rental unit laundry 69 sq ft
Other Space
Garage 336 sq ft
Deck 947 sq ft
Cellar 80 sq ft
ADU balcony 70 sq ft
Room Sizes
Living Room 14' x 17'
Dining Room 14' x 15.5'
Office/Bedroom 12.5' x 14.5'
Kitchen 14' x 10'
Bedroom 1 14' x 13.5'
Bedroom 2 14' x 11.5'
Bedroom 3 14' x 12.5'
Bedroom 4 14.5' x 10'
Landscaping
Gamble Place may very well be the prettiest street on Daytona's beachside. The street has only seven single family homes, all of them built between 1915 - 1953. No two homes look the same. The landscaping at this home contributes to the street's "Old Florida" character.
An incredibly lush Confederate Jasmine vine forms a welcoming arch at the front door. When it blooms in the spring, its heavenly fragrance wafts through the open windows in the living room.
A stately 35 ft Southern Magnolia tree graces the front yard. Its large white flowers attract songbirds and beetle pollinators. The magnolia is a traditional symbol of the southeastern United States.
People walking past the house often stop to smell the gardenia bushes that grace the walkway to the house.
This tortoise laid her eggs here on Easter Sunday 2008, and has lived here ever since. She occasionally finds bits of lettuce left for her in the garden.
The back courtyard features Graceful Bamboo, a bubbling fountain, and a large Flowering Schefflera (aka "Umbrella Tree").
Large crotons provide bursts of year-round color. Agapanthus, azalea, lily, ferns, and a variety of annual flowers bloom in the spring and summer.
Maintenance Details
HVAC
Main House
Completely new 5-ton Tempstar HVAC system installed October 2024.
Warranty: 10 yr parts/1 yr labor, transferable to the new owner.
SEER2 Rating: 14
Garage Apartment
Gree 1.5-ton mini split, 2-zone, installed Sept 2025
Warranty: 10 yr parts + compressor transferable to the new owner.
SEER2 rating: 20.5
ROOF
CertainTeed Landmark Solaris architectural shingles installed Feb. 2010. The roof was inspected Feb. 2025 and reported to have 6-7 years remaining maintenance-free.
Warranty: Lifetime limited warranty (2 year warranty transferable to new owner).
ELECTRICAL
The electrical system has been upgraded and is 100% code compliant. There is no active knob & tube wiring. A new Siemens main distribution panel was installed in 2020.
WINDOWS
16 of the original 48 windows in the main house have been replaced with hurricane-proof windows. Many of the original windows are protected with 3M impact-resistant film.
INSULATION
Demilec Heatlock 3” closed cell spray foam insulation was installed under the floor (crawl space) of the entire main house in 2011. Closed cell spray foam is superior to fiberglass batting in R-value, moisture & insect protection, and durability.
EXTERIOR
The complete home exterior was professionally painted in May 2024
Warranty: 5 years, transferable to the new owner.
PLUMBING
A significant percentage of the plumbing was replaced as home improvements were made (remodeled kitchen and bathrooms).
PEST CONTROL
Termite bonds have been in place continuously since 2005. The drywood termite bond and the subterranean termite bond are both transferrable to a new owner.
POOL
The above-ground, concrete pool holds approx, 8,000 gallons of water. A new pump was installed in September 2022. An automatic water refill system ensures the water level remains sufficient for the pump, even when the homeowner is not present.
IRRIGATION
The 5-zone automatic irrigation system uses on-site well water (not municipal water). It includes underground drip lines for the flower beds and mini-sprinkler heads for the flower pots. A new pump motor was installed July 2025.
SECURITY
A 6-camera Ring security system is installed and will be transferred to the new owner. It includes a Ring doorbell with camera and 2-way audio.
SOLAR ATTIC FAN
The fan cools attic space in warmer months to reduce AC costs and extend the life of roof shingles. In cooler months, it prevents moisture build-up, thus inhibiting rot and mildew.
The Cellar
One of the unique features of this house is that it has both a crawl space AND a cellar. The cellar is accessed from a door on the deck. It was originally a workshop, but today houses the gas furnace and air handler. It is currently unfinished space used to store spare shingles and tile, but it offers other possibilities. Wine cellar, anyone?
FEMA Flood Information
FEMA has designated 1225 Gamble Place as in Flood Zone X, meaning "Area of Minimal Flooding".
To confirm the Flood Zone, enter the address at this link:
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has no record of claims on this property since they began keeping records in 1978.
The USGS has determined the elevation of 1225 Gamble Place is 13.43 feet.
To confirm the elevation, enter the address at this link:
Property Tax
A home buyer who currently has a homesteaded property in Florida can port their "Save our Homes" benefit to a new homesteaded Florida home. The SOH benefit limits the annual increase in assessed value of a property to 3% or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This can have a significant beneficial effect on your tax bill.
To learn about the "Save Our Homes" benefit, download the brochure.
To estimate the taxes you will pay on this property, including the potential SOH Benefit, use the Tax Estimator Tool from the Volusia County Property Appraiser's website at this link:
Nearby Points of Interest
Beach Driving Access
Arrive at the beach in a 5-minute walk, or drive on the hard-packed sand. Volusia County residents drive on the beach for free.
Daytona Int. Speedway
A 5-mile drive takes you to the home of NASCAR. Famous for the Daytona 500, Race Week, The Rod Run and more!
Riverfront Esplanade
The beautiful Esplanade offers a scenic trail for runners and walkers, a dog park, splash pad, picnic areas, and more.
This home is presented by
Taner Banks
Mobile (386) 506-1157
