Rickshaven, comprising some 2,000 acres lying on the northwest slope of Tryon Mountain, has been purchased by Marian A. McDow of Punta Gorda, Florida; Harry Poe Johnson of Fort Myer, Florida; and Paul S. Ragan of Indianapolis, Ind., through Charles J. Lynch, well-known Tryon real estate operator.
Mrs. McDow, formerly of Helena, Montana, has an extensive estate at Punta Gorda and is prominent in Florida artistic and social circles. Former Governor Hardey of that state tendered her as his “first appointment”, a position on the State School Board, which Mrs. McDow refused to accept.
In addition to the magnificent mansion at Punta Gorda, Mrs. McDow owns an estate on Treasure Island where she is now building a splendid winter residence.
Ranking amongst the first five authorities in America on botanical subjects, Mrs. McDow is credited with having introduced more new varieties of fruit into Florida than any other single person.
Mrs. McDow states that she will spend six months of each year at Rickshaven and will personally supervise the landscape gardening and beautifying of the property. As she is rated along with David Fairchild of the Bureau of Plant Industries of Washington, D.C., Prof. John K. Small, and Professors Simpson and Nearling as one of the leading botanists in America, it is an assured fact that Rickshaven will become one of the show places of Western North Carolina.
Entertaining extensively, Mrs. McDow is a clever musician, a painter of exceptional ability, and an author of note. Her library at Punta Gordia is one of the finest in the South, it is said.
Harry Poe Johnson, an influential business man and capitalist of Fort Meyer, Florida, and Paul S. Ragan of Indianapolis, Ind., both associated with Mrs. McDow in the development of the 2,000 acres comprising the Ricks estate, have had wide experience in the exploitation of Florida realty and the fact that they have decided to centralize their efforts in Western North Carolina means a lot to Polk County.
The Floridians are coming—coming in droves—this summer, and with them they are bringing people from every other state in the United States. It is up to those interested in the development of this ?? to see that all visitors are treated courteously and given every opportunity to become permanent features in “The Land of the Sky.”
From the front page of The Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., May 28, 1925 newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn94058241/1925-05-28/ed-1/seq-1/#words=May+26%2C+1925
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