Historical Homes of Lake County

  The EDGE House of Groveland, Eighth in a Series   Elliott Erastus Edge of Groveland (1870-1934)   The historic EDGE residence of 1902 Taylorville , now located on the western edge of the town of Groveland , looks today as if it is on the edge of extinction. The impressive residence, much like many other central Florida historic homes, was moved in years past to pave the way for progress. But in my view, removing notable structures from their rightful domain diminishes the history which surrounds the venerable structures, so that in the end, any inherent value in the building itself is forever lost. Such is certainly the case for the Edge House. Elliott Erastus & Cornelia Evelyn (Patterson) Edge, both natives of North Carolina, relocated to Florida from Georgia’s Liberty County, where Elliott was a “ Manufacturer of Naval Stores ”, an important clue to understanding why the family settled in downtown Taylorville of 1902. One year prior, brothers Charlie and ...

Possibly the oldest Lake County residence! Reverend Sellers Residence on Emeralda Island (1863) The historic residence above could also be called the house that inspired this series. Featured in an early Facebook post, a follower commented that I should do a series about historic Lake County residences - and so, here we are - already on our 7th such historic home. Most fascinating about this home is that it is also the oldest known residence still standing today. In fact, neither Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, or Lake County itself existed at the time this home was built in 1863 .  Emeralda Island, where this home now stands, was actually part of Orange County. The distant county seat - Orlando - was but a tiny four-acre village then only six years young. Fewer than 1,500 citizens lived in ALL of Orange County then, and 1863 travel was limited to “real” horsepower. For those who lived in this house when it was first built, it was more convenient to travel to Ocala rather than to...

  The HARPER Residence of MONTVERDE Harper House, 17498 Porter Ave., Montverde, FL   Reuben Wyatt Harper was a bachelor when, in 1891, he acquired the historic residence shown above. The house, located on Porter Street in Montverde, according to Lake County records, was built in 1881. Reuben bought the home a decade after it was built, says a history monument out front of the residence today, first for a store and Montverde Post Office, and later as a personal residence. A Florida Heritage Site, the Harper House is believed to be the oldest building in Montverde. Reuben Harper , born 1863 in Alabama’s Sumter County, came here to Florida’s Sumter County in the 1880s, married Mary Jane McQuaig in 1892, and converted his store into a family residence. Mary Jane was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson & Nancy (Tootle) McQuaig . The McQuaig’s had relocated as well to Sumter County in the 1890s.   Montverde Railroad Station Homesteaders began arriving in an area that...

  The Mote Residence of Leesburg Photo above is courtesy Leesburg Chamber of Commerce (aka Mote – Morris House)     A 19 th century architectural masterpiece, the 1892 residence of Edwin & Lucretia Mote was moved from its original Leesburg location in 1988 as part of a church expansion. The unique home, with a four-story lookout-tower - likely allowing for a sweeping view of Lakes Griffin and Lake Harris when first built, rightfully became, in 1974 , a member of an exclusive National Registry of Historical Places. Leesburg’s Chamber of Commerce ( photo above as the house is currently being renovated ) says simply that the home was built for an “eight-term Leesburg Mayor.” A brief biography of Edwin H. Mote however falls short of explaining the extent of this man’s achievements – accomplishments made in less than a decade after first arriving in 1880s central Florida. Photo by this author (2020) when home being renovated At times referred to as Edward, Le...

  The Summerlin Residence at Tavares   Southeast corner of Rockingham Avenue & Alfred Street A law practice today occupies a Tavares residence built 140 years ago by two Orlando Attorneys. The year was 1881 , and the two lawyers – founders of the city of Tavares that year, each built a personal home as well, two historic Lake County residences that are still standing today. “On the 1 st day of January, not five months ago, a woodman’s axe sounded in the primeval forest, and the foundations of the first houses were laid among the wild-place.” The Weekly Floridian, May 30, 1882 Among the first structures built in what was then a new Orange County town, the Summerlin Residence at Tavares , occupying the southeast corner of Alfred Street at Rockingham Avenue, has long remained submerged in mystery, and for good reason. The “ other ’ 1881 residence, the home of Alexander St. Clair-Abrams at Alfred Street and New Hampshire, is not only well-known today, but adorned w...

  The Gibbons Residence of Umatilla   Mebane Street, Umatilla, Florida   Track laid down in 1879 by St. Johns & Lake Eustis Railroad, by 1910 , began skirting the front lawn of the residence of George & Anna Gibbons. But visit the Gibbons homeplace site today, as I did while searching for Umatilla resident and Mount Dora developer, “ Mrs. George A. Gibbons (widow) ”, and instead of railroad track, you will find two State Road 19 southbound traffic lanes. And where once stood the historic Gibbons home, you will see instead bungalows gracing the east shore of Umatilla’s charming Lake ENOLA .   “ Enola Hill , (Oregon) since time immemorial, has been a place utilized by American Indians from all around the northwest for vision quests, ceremonies, and medicine gathering.” From the book, Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes (2019) by this author A driveway exists today where the Gibbons Home was located from 1910 until 2003   Intendin...