Ephraim M. Baynard, born in South Carolina in 1861, arrived in Auburndale soon after its founding. By 1893, he owned one of the community's general stores and acreage planted in citrus and tomatoes. A highly successful grower, he owned and operated the Chase Packing Plant until it was destroyed by fire. He sold his general store in 1902 and became intensely involved in real estate development in the 1920s, building several commercial buildings and at least two residences in Auburndale. His home on West Lake Avenue was built in 1894 by Alfred Chipman Thorpe and is an example of the Folk Victorian architectural style. Another home was built in 1914 by Thorpe's son, Harry, and later became the Kersey Funeral Home. Ephraim M. Baynard received recognition from the State of Florida as a Great Floridian in the year 2000, and the Baynard House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.