In 1822-23, Florida's first Territorial Governor, Andrew Jackson, ordered a string of uniquely crafted block fortresses with gun ports in their log walls to protect pioneer settlers from hostile attacks. Only three can be traced, and the only surviving one stood five miles south of the community of Baxter in Baker County. The first known resident of the block house is said to have been James M. Burnsed, (1817-1885), who constructed adjoining bedrooms and a dog-trot kitchen, converting the original block fortress into a livable home. It sheltered many families until the mid 1970s. In 1971, the historic frontier building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and was noted as the earliest and best preserved hand hewn example of this type of building known to exist in Florida. After it was eventually abandoned and deteriorated, it was moved from its original site to a nearby local farm. In 2001, the historic fortress was donated to the City of Macclenny by its original owner Dr. Jean B. Dowling for preservation. It was moved to Heritage Park Village by W.W. "Bill" Gay, CEO of W.W. Gay Construction Company of Jacksonville, and state grants and contributions made possible the restoration of this complex structure as part of a valued cultural legacy.