Student Derek Trumpp, right, accepts the first James Gamble Rogers II scholarship from Jack Rogers III.
Renowned Winter Park architect James Gamble Rogers II, who died in 1990, is back in the news in 2019: The inaugural scholarship in his name was awarded May 2. The scholarship recipient, University of Florida graduate student Derek Trumpp, accepted the honor in a ceremony at Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue, 656 N. Park Ave.
More details are available at OrangeObserver.com
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It is obvious to anyone walking, cycling, or driving on Palmer Avenue that something is missing. One of the most beautiful views on Lake Osceola is unobstructed now for all to see. Missing is an historic family home that was demolished late last year. Its name was “Carlova.”
Long before the house was built, the property was associated with the development of Winter Park and Rollins College. The first owner of the property was pioneer Thomas J. Mathers who purchased it from the General Land Office of the United States in 1876. He owned the only vegetable and meat market in town. Mr. Mathers sold the property to the Palmer family from Columbia, South Carolina. General John B. Palmer, his wife, and son were very prominent people in Winter Park. They built a home on the property.
In 1894, General Palmer died and the property was sold to the Temple family. William O. Temple’s contributions to Winter Park, the state of Florida, and the country were numerous. He served as mayor of Winter Park for three terms, president of the Board of Trade, Trustee of Rollins College, general manager of the Florida Citrus Exchange, first president of the South Florida Chamber of Commerce, part owner of the Pittsburgh National League baseball club, and introduced the idea of a World Series. The Temple orange was named after him. His wife, Carrie Wood Temple, was vice-president of the Woman’s Club and contributed $10,000 to build its clubhouse. She was a board member of Orange General Hospital. The Temples platted the subdivision and began selling lots.
In 1914, lots 14-32 were sold to Halsted W. Caldwell and his wife Margaret Caldwell. He immediately began construction of a home in an English Tudor style. Mr. Caldwell was from Ohio. He named his home, Carolova, for the three states he had lived in: Ohio, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
Like previous owners of the property, the Caldwells were prominent citizens and philanthropists. A mining engineer, Mr. Caldwell became a civic, religious, and educational leader in Winter Park. He served on the Rollins Board of Trustees for twenty- eight years and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Mrs. Caldwell was elected to the Orange County School Board.
The Caldwells sold Carlova in 1936 to Woodbury T. Morris and his wife Florence Malott Morris. At that time extensive remolding was done to transform the home from an English home into a French style. James Gamble Rogers worked on the plans. Subsequently, additional remodeling was done to the home by another owner, the prominent Winter Park dentist, Dr. James W. Hickman.
In 1974, the home was acquired by Winter Park natives, Captain Hope Strong and his wife, Margaret Caldwell Strong. “Peggy” finally returned to her childhood home. Captain Strong graduated from Winter Park High School, the United States Naval Academy, and served as commander of the USS Shangri-La at Mayport, Florida. Captain Strong and Peggy were also prominent citizens and philanthropists. He served as Winter Park mayor from 1981-1987 and came up with the legendary signs, “Please Drive With Extraordinary Care.” Peggy was a docent at the Historical Association and the Morse Museum. She was a founding member of the Friends of Casa Feliz and was passionate about saving “old” Winter Park. Their son, David C. Strong, also served as Winter Park mayor from 2006 – 2009.
Peggy Strong was born and died in Carlova, her beloved family home. For years, residents would often see her walking her dog on Palmer Avenue. The view of the lake on Palmer Avenue is open for all to see until a new home is built, but missing is a kind and gracious lady and a large piece of Winter Park history.
Special thanks to the Winter Park History & Archives Collection for content; the Strong family for photos, and Phil Eschbach for digital enhancement of photographs.
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On May 10, the City of Winter Park recognized individuals and community cornerstones that have greatly contributed to the state of Historic Preservation in the city. Genean McKinnon, Winter Park Historic Preservation board member, was the master of ceremonies. Her opening remarks included a statement that reminded attendees that, “Historic homes and buildings are more than vintage architecture and building materials. They are reminders of the people who have lived and labored in them, and their contributions to the community.” Her aim, a belief strongly held by the staff and board of Casa Feliz, was to remind attendees of the human connections throughout the places and institutions discussed. Five awards were handed out during the course of the afternoon, highlighting homes, civic buildings, private clubs, and individuals.
Exceptional Individual: Frank Roark
Although last to be recognized in the ceremony, Frank Roark is first and foremost in the hearts of the Friends of Casa Feliz. He continues to put forth an invaluable amount of time and work towards preserving and maintaining Casa Feliz. Frank specializes in historic restoration and complex preservation projects. His understanding and technical ability have benefitted the community beyond the restoration of Casa Feliz. He helped orchestrate the move of the Showalter-Capen house across lake Osceola to the Albin Polasek Museum property, completed the recent renovation of the Winter Park Woman’s Club, oversaw the restoration of the Barbour Apartments, and directed the placement of the cupola at the First Congregational Church of Winter Park, just to name a few.
Excellence in Residential Renovation: The Geer-Van den Berg House, 138 Detmar Drive
Former Casa Feliz board member Stacey and her husband Rob Panepinto received this award for the renovations to their residence. The home, the Geer-Van den Berg house, is considered the second oldest home in Winter Park. It was built in built in the early 1880s by Dr. Geer, one of the area’s first physicians. The site was purchased in 1876 from Wilson Phelps, and thus, the charming Victorian cottage overlooking Lake Mizell was created. Today, the house’s Victorian charm has not been lost and the house remains one of the finest examples of this style in Winter Park.
The unique historic home has undergone several additions and modifications by the Van den Berg family in the 1970s and the Capper family in the early 2000s. It was the Capper family who added the major additions now seen from Detmar Drive. In 2011 the Panepintos purchased the property and have been active in its preservation ever since. They opened up the house to the public in 2016 for the James Gamble Rogers Colloquium historic home tour.
Excellence in Residential Renovation: The Maher House, 616 Seminole Drive
Two awards for Excellence in Residential Renovation were awarded, and the second recipients were Michael and Diane Maher. The original brick home was built in 1925 on a large double lot on Seminole Drive in a Tudor Revival style that was a copy of the owner’s Michigan home. In 1980 James Gamble Rogers II constructed an additional Great Room. In order to preserve the character of the home, each subsequent addition and renovations have been made in proportion and scale to the original. During the ceremony, Ms. McKinnon relayed an anecdote in which former homeowner Fred Rogers had been spotted from the driveway and invited into the home for a tour by Ms. Maher.
Excellence in Commercial Renovation: Woman’s Club of Winter Park
The next award was granted to the Woman’s Club of Winter Park and accepted by club President, Ms. Cynthia Gerken. The club was founded in 1915 and two years later they received a land donation from Charles Hosmer Morse. In 1921 the club built a Neoclassical Revival Style building designed by L. Percival Hutton. It was the first clubhouse built by any local organization; and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Recently, the Woman’s Club refurbished interior spaces including the main meeting room, stage, office, restrooms, bride’s room, and support spaces. Frank Roark was the general contractor. The craftsmanship and care put into the renovations are the reasons this building and the organization that supports it received the award.
Excellence in Adaptive Reuse: OCPS Winter Park Ninth Grade Center
The award for Adaptive Reuse was given to Orange County Public School’s Winter Park Ninth Grade Center and accepted by Ms. Joie Cadle. Originally built as Winter Park High School’s administrative offices in 1923, the space now houses classrooms. The adjacent gymnasium was designed by Casa Feliz’s architect, James Gamble Rogers II. The Mediterranean Revival style buildings underwent restorations in 2014. This structure was chosen because the manner in which it was renovated helped to maintain the history of Huntington Avenue and the far edge of College Quarter Historic District. The decision to maintain the small decorative details and historic elements on the exterior will provide the next generations with an invaluable sense of history.
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Thanks to the generosity of a Winter Park resident that supports historic preservation, the Friends of Casa Feliz held a Celebration on May 11th to honor the owners of historic homes that are listed on the City’s Historic Home Registry. About seventy-five people attended the event. They were welcomed by Board Chair Drew Krecicki, who recognized three people for their contributions to historic preservation: well known and respected contractors Frank Roark and Lyn Gilbert who have worked on many historic homes in Winter Park, and Terry Lelonde, owner of Decorative Home Interiors and a new sponsor for Casa Feliz. Drew acknowledged the outstanding job done by Arthur’s Catering and also introduced City Architect Brooks Weiss, who explained the process of registering homes on the Historic Home Registry.
Friends of Casa Feliz Board Chair Drew Krecicki
Winter Park City Architect Brooks Weiss
In addition to honoring residents who made the commitment to preserve Winter Park’s architectural treasures one house at a time, the celebration raised awareness of the positive aspects of the Registry. One of the most pervasive myths The Friends of Casa Feliz hoped to dispel through the Celebration is that houses on the registry cannot undergo any changes without approval from the City’s Historic Preservation Board (HPB). While significant changes to a historic home’s exterior need to be reviewed by the HPB to ensure that the historic integrity of the home is preserved, there are flexible parameters guiding HPB’s decisions regarding acceptable changes to a home’s exterior. The board does not review changes that are made to a home’s interior space.
The event highlighted a number of homes on the Registry that underwent extensive renovation by showcasing the types of transformation that still adhere to the guidelines. Posters featuring photographs of homes on the Registry were created including several with before and after images that showed the range of acceptable modifications to historic homes. These posters will be on display in the 2nd floor gallery at Casa Feliz throughout the month of May, Historic Preservation Month.
Attendees of the Celebration included longtime resident Ann Saurman who lives in her childhood home that is now also on the National Register of Historic Places, Wade and Hannah Miller, a third generation Winter Parker, who recently renovated an historic home, Michael Spencer whose restored home won a 2013 award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and new residents, Michael and Peta Murphy, who relocated from London and recently purchased a home that was already listed on the Registry. To create more awareness of homes on the Winter Park Registry, yard signs were distributed for homeowners to proudly display in their front yards.
Thank you to all of the residents who made made the commitment to register their homes. Preserving rich architectural gems like the Comstock-Harris House, which is on the Local and National Registers, ensures that the legacy of our city founders is not forgotten. Nothing makes history come alive like seeing a historic home up close or visiting neighborhood that has changed little from its inception.
Comstock-Harris House
If you think your home is eligible to be on the Registry, and you would like to learn more about adding your house to the list, please contact Brook Weiss, Winter Park City Architect. You can reach him at:
bweiss@cityofwinterpark.org or 407.599.3323.
The city’s Historic Preservation website is:
https://cityofwinterpark.org/departments/planning-community-development/historic-preservation/.
Homeowner party photos by Phil Eschbach
Historic home photos by Rick Kilby
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On February 15, the Annual Casa Feliz Field Trip ventured to the western edge of Orange County to explore downtown Winter Garden and neighboring communities. Led by our guide, Jim Crescitelli of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, our group learned about the community’s past through its historic architecture and enjoyed insider looks into historic commercial and residential properties.
As with many Orange County communities, the citrus industry played a large role in the development of Winter Garden, which at one time shipped more fruit than any other spot in the nation. The two railroad lines that passed through the city furthered its growth and led to the creation of a commercial district. For many years, Winter Garden also enjoyed a thriving tourist industry that was based on its proximity to Lake Apopka, once an international capital of bass fishing.
The Winter Garden Heritage Museum, located in the 1918 Atlantic Coast Line railroad depot, features a large collection of local citrus crate labels.
Today, the city boasts a bustling commercial district, well-preserved homes, and a sense of pride connected to a fascinating history.
We started our tour at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, located in the historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot in the heart of downtown. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s adjacent visitor center was built in 2014 to complement the depot’s architecture.
Led by Jim, we headed west to explore Winter Garden’s commercial district, which has undergone an incredible renaissance since the 1994 opening of the West Orange Trail, built on the former Atlantic Coast Line rail bed. The trail runs right through the center of Plant Street, Winter Garden’s main thoroughfare.
The tour outside Tony’s Liquors, which was constructed in 1913 as the Shelby Hotel, Winter Garden’s first downtown brick hotel.
Our first stop was the Edgewater Hotel, developed in the 1920s as a state-of-the art accommodation for the anglers who visited Winter Garden to fish for largemouth bass in Lake Apopka. Opening in 1927, the hotel remained in operation until 1969. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation saved it from demolition, and it reopened in 1999 as a bed-and-breakfast inn. Our tour group was invited upstairs to see some of the historic rooms, lovingly restored with period furnishings.
While offering modern conveniences, the hotels strives to recreate an experience for guests of an authentic Florida hotel in the late 1920s.
Other stops on our downtown walking tour included Garden Theatre, which opened in 1935 as a charming motion-picture palace and was restored in 2008 to become a performing-arts venue, and the Central Florida Railroad Museum, housed in Winter Garden’s second historic train depot. Built by the Tavares and Gulf Railway in 1913, the depot today is packed with memorabilia and artifacts that document the region’s rich railroad history, from the Dinky Line to the Orange Blossom Special.
Originally built in 1935 as a single-screen cinema, the Garden Theatre was said to have been the first in Central Florida built for “talkies.”
Details of just a portion of the extension collection of railroad memorabilia at the Central Florida Railroad Museum.
After a delicious catered lunch and an informative presentation on the history of Lake Apopka, we visited the Britt Mansion at Winter Garden’s eastern edge. Built in 1929 by prominent vegetable grower Morgan Britt, the home is a magnificent example of Colonial Revival architecture. The Britt family lived there until 1967. Today, the building houses the Ort Law Firm, whose members were kind enough to welcome us into the interior.
During the 1930’s vegetable fields, managed by the Britt family, lined Plant Street, giving the home the aura of a sophisticated farmhouse.
We then traveled west and explored Tildenville and Oakland from the comfort of our motor coach as we learned more about west Orange County’s rich history. Tildenville, located in unincorporated Orange County, was settled by pioneering citrus growers and grove workers. Luther Tilden owned a 561-acre parcel of land that gave the settlement its name.
In 1910, Tilden’s son Charles built the grand home that was our last tour stop: Oakland Arms, nestled in a shady stretch of road draped by majestic live oaks. The current owners welcomed graciously welcomed us inside and showed us unique details that included dining-room paneling made from the same pine used for citrus crates and several elaborate terra cotta fireplaces.
Charles Tilden, who built Oakland Arms, was one of the largest landowners and citrus growers in the area.
Winter Garden is a wonderful destination for a day trip, just a short 30-minute drive from Park Avenue. The city’s cozy commercial core has retained its small-town character throughout its recent development boom, in part through smart architecture that strives to maintain the look of the early-20th-century buildings that line Plant Street.
Craft brewery at Plant Street Market.
A great example is the Plant Street Market, a new facility that looks and feels a lot like Winter Park’s venerable Farmer’s Market. On the outside, the 12,000-square-foot brick building looks like a survivor from the earlier century, but inside it’s all 21st-century modern, with a craft brewery and market-to-table cuisine.
Thanks to following for helping to make our excursion so memorable:
• Cynthia Cardona and Jim Crescitelli and others at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
• Historic Edgewater Hotel Bed & Breakfast
• Tabletop Catering and Events
Text by Casa Feliz Board Member Rick Kilby
Photos by Casa Feliz Board Member Stephen Pategas
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An ironic turn of events took place in Winter Park late last month.
On Saturday, May 21, renowned economist Donovan Rypkema spoke to an audience of more than 200 at Rollins College, keynoting the 10th Annual James Gamble Rogers Colloquium on Historic Preservation. Rypkema put forth with sound logic and indisputable data the case for historic districts. He highlighted numerous academic studies from cities around the country that prove historic districts bring about increased property values, reduced foreclosures, higher tax revenues, more heritage tourism, and positive demographic shifts toward the “creative class” that cities want to attract.
Two days later, a quarter mile away at City Hall, the majority of Winter Park’s City Commission voted to overturn a key provision of the city’s historic preservation ordinance, making it harder to form a historic district in Winter Park than in any other city in Florida, and greatly reducing the likelihood that any additional districts might be formed in the city.
Regrettably, none of the city commissioners who voted to turn back the clock on districts were able to attend Mr. Rypkema’s presentation. We’re certain they would have been troubled to hear the leading expert on the economics of historic preservation warn “I don’t know of another city in the United States the size of Winter Park that has the high quality of architectural and urban character, balanced with as little protection of that character for the future. That I do know.”
The highly informative and entertaining speech can be viewed in its entirety here:
Yet there are reasons to remain optimistic. Looking ahead, there are ways to protect our “high quality architectural and urban character” without the formation of local historic districts, and we hope the city will set its sights on these:
The Historic Preservation Board, under the leadership of Chairman Bill Segal, is increasing its profile in the community and studying ways to reward preservation, and deserves our support. Under Segal’s leadership the board is functioning methodically and professionally, and for the first time in years, several board members attended the Colloquium. We are grateful for their cooperation and leadership.
Individually, all five commissioners have publicly voiced their commitment to celebrating and protecting the historic resources that grace our city. We trust that while the majority finds historic districts unpalatable, all five commissioners will work together to explore and adopt other innovative approaches to preserve Winter Park’s historic assets for future generations.
Excellence in Residential Renovation – The Grover House, 567 Osceola Avenue
Recipients: Owners William and Joanne Stange
567 Osceola Avenue is significant as an example of the Free Classic type of Queen Anne style house and for its association with the early period of development in Winter Park. Built around 1912 by L. W. Spangler, it was sold to F. L. Hall in 1925 who subdivided the surrounding property and also was the developer of nearby Osceola Court in the late 1920s. At different times, the house became the home of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Grover and his sisters Eulalie and Anne, and the retirement home of Sidney and Louise Homer. Dr. Grover was the Professor of Books at Rollins College beginning in 1926. In his early career, he was an editor and publisher. He also wrote several books and mentored many students who were published. Dr. Grover was among the active group of residents who helped create Mead Garden. Eulalie Grover wrote the Sunbonnet Babies series of children’s’ book. Sidney Homer was a noted composer and Louise Homer was a classically trained opera singer. Listed on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places in 2005, The Grover House at 567 Osceola Avenue had been a student rental for many years and while little altered, it was also not in good condition. Richard Booth of Boowell Properties purchased the house and set about rehabilitating it and preparing it for modern living. The original windows, wood siding and porch columns were painstakingly restored. The tangle of electrical and plumbing lines replaced with code compliant systems and plan approved for a rear addition to permit an updated kitchen and bathrooms. Owners William and Joanne Stange completed the beautiful rehabilitation of the house. The accurate restoration makes the Grover House an elegant nod to Winter Park’s early days.
Excellence in Adaptive Reuse– Osceola Lodge and Knowles Cottage
Recipient: Facilities Manager Bob Jones on behalf of the Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation
Osceola Lodge is home of the Winter Park Institute and the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park
Knowles Cottage is home to the Winter Park History Museum offices
Osceola Lodge, named after the Seminole Indian chief, was built on speculation in 1886 by Winter Park pioneer Francis B. Knowles who also built the “winter cottage” at 232 North Knowles Avenue. Charles Hosmer Morse (1833-1921) bought Osceola Lodge and the Knowles Cottage in 1904 and he expanded and remodeled it in the Arts and Crafts style. Granddaughter Jeannette Genius moved into the house in 1937, and she and her husband Hugh McKean lived in the house for a few years beginning in 1947. A private residence for most of its life, Osceola Lodge is now home to the Rollins College Winter Park Institute; a visiting scholars program launched in 2008. Supervised by John Parks of the preservation firm Renker Eich Parks Architects of St. Petersburg, the Morse Foundation completed roof to foundation rehabilitations of Osceola Lodge and the adjacent Knowles Cottage. Historical photographs and Jeannette Genius McKean’s records provided the basis for an accurate restoration. The original pale yellow exterior color was restored and the asbestos roof shingle replaced with cedar of the type used in the early 19th century. Osceola Lodge and Knowles Cottage stand as representatives of Charles Hosmer Morse’s legacy and as excellent examples of Winter Park’s early history.
Excellence in Commercial Renovation –The Capen-Showalter House
Recipient: Executive Director Debbie Komanski on behalf of The Albin Polasek Foundation
The Capen-Showalter House is associated with the pioneer development of Winter Park and families significant in city history. It was built in 1885 for James S. Capen, one of the City’s early settlers. The house was originally a Folk Victorian style wood frame building located at 520 North Interlachen on Lake Osceola. It was remodeled in 1923 in the Tudor Revival style fashionable during the Florida Land Boom period. It is significant for its association with James Capen and early development of Winter Park, and its altered original architecture has achieved its own significance over time due to its association with the Showalter family. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park History Museum, the Friends of Casa Feliz and hundreds of community supporters rescued the home by raising funds to relocate the 200-ton building across Lake Osceola to a new lakefront site on the Polasek Museum grounds. Split into two halves nicknamed Fred and Ginger for the move, the house was floated across the lake in an event that attracted national media attention. The Capen-Showalter House is now beautifully restored and tailored for its new life as museum offices, history and art exhibits, and gracious space for workshops, meetings and special events.
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by Betsy Owens
On Sunday, Mayor Steve Leary declared May 1 “Thaddeus Seymour Day” in honor of everyone’s favorite Rollins president emeritus (Hear, hear!) May 2, you may not realize, is “National Truffle Day” (in my house, every day is Truffle Day). But May 3? This sad little date has the ignoble distinction of being “National Lumpy Rug Day” (really and truly) and “National Two Different Colored Shoes Day” (look it up). To correct this injustice, and based on the actions of Winter Park’s Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night, I hereby declare May 3 to be “National Hug a P&Z Board Member Day.” Because Tuesday night in Winter Park, democracy functioned as it should, and our P&Z Board listened to what the West Side residents want, and don’t want, built in their neighborhood.
Under consideration was a proposal by Owens Realty Services (irony noted) to construct 6 3-story duplexes (for a total of 12 units) on 5 lots that the company owns at the corner of West Lyman Avenue and Hannibal Square. The project would require rezoning of two of the lots from the current R-1A (Single Family) to R-3 (or, according to the developer’s attorney, “R-3 light,” as the project would be slightly smaller than R-3 zoning would allow).
Proposed Duplexes at Lyman and Hannibal
In some neighborhoods, the project would have been acceptable—maybe even desirable. The developer’s lawyer argued that the property would certainly look better with the townhouses than it does in its current barren state. In addition, she argued that 3-story townhouses would present a more gradual transition between the 5-story garage to the west and the small, single-family homes to the east of the property.
This rezoning request wasn’t nearly as ambitious as many of the requests over the years that have preceded it. But Tuesday evening something remarkable happened. People from both sides of the tracks (I stopped counting at 25) rose up with one voice and said, “Enough.”
Enough turning a blind eye to the unchecked gentrification of the historic West Side.
Enough buying into the impoverished mythology that the “highest and best use” for land brings about social and economic well-being.
Enough siding with developers over residents.
Indeed, the Owens project was voted down not because it was more lacking in merit than any other West Side development. It was voted down because Winter Park has finally reached the tipping point where we can no longer ignore the systematic erasure of a community that has contributed to Winter Park’s history in equal measure to the folks on the white side of the tracks.
Winter Park citizens, Tuesday evening, your Planning and Zoning Commission listened. They listened to city planner Jeff Briggs, who warned that the proposal was in direct opposition to the city’s comprehensive plan, which states that any upzoning from R-1A on the West Side is to be “strongly discouraged.”
They listened to Gerald Girand, who, as the owner of one of the new David Weekley villas just west of the railroad tracks, acknowledged that folks might have expected him to be for the project. Instead, he and his neighbors urged the commission to follow the comp plan and to not “subject Lyman Avenue to the slippery slope” of density.
This is what a slippery slope looks like: from the City’s Comprehensive Plan
They heard Glenn Franklin, whose home of 40 years would directly abut the proposed townhouses, question “why can’t they build lovely single family homes on Lyman Avenue like they do in the rest of Winter Park?” Resident Barry Greenstein, who once worked for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington and Maryland, agreed. Referring to townhouse clusters and apartment buildings, he said, the developers “don’t offer the same ‘products’ on the Isle of Sicily or in the Vias,” and warned that Winter Park’s zoning practices of the last 30 years could be considered discriminatory.
Longtime West Side residents Mary Daniels, Martha Bryant-Hall and Linda Walker-Chapell decried the gradual chipping away of the historic fabric of their neighborhood with incompatible structures and displaced residents. Of the 5-story parking garage that was to be ‘softened’ by the 3-story townhouses, Lurlene Fletcher complained “we didn’t want that thing to begin with!”
The city changed the Comp Plan in 2004 to allow this behemoth on the West Side.
The developer’s logic in that case was particularly rich. “Since your neighborhood has already been marred with a 5-story parking garage, we’re going to lessen the blow with some 3-story townhouses.”
Laurel Habgood, a white woman who lives at 411 West Comstock, said that she and her husband relocated from out of town to the West Side in 2014 because of its diversity and history. “We don’t want to see that change,” she said.
One modest home finds itself caught in the undertow of David Weekley’s “Park West.”
You would have been proud of your P&Z board. After public comment, Pete Gottfried immediately moved to reject the proposal. Ross Johnston seconded, saying “calling this R-3 light is a smokescreen.” P&Z Chairman James Johnston spoke in favor of the project, but the other members weren’t having it. Tom Sacha said “when you buy property you should plan to build to the zoning you bought into.” Bob Hahn said that although the architectural renderings were good, the decision was a “social justice issue.” In the end, the vote was unanimous against the proposal.
What does the future hold for West Winter Park? With the profits to be made through developing what is analogous to the fertile banks of the Nile, we have certainly not heard the last of zoning change requests for that neighborhood. Like a giant Whack-A-Mole game, citizens will need to be vigilant in bird-dogging where the next ill-advised rezoning request pops up. But if Tuesday night was any indication, perhaps we’ve reached a new level of awareness in the City of Culture and Heritage. Let’s hope so, anyway.
Filed under West Side
In this season of renewal and rebirth, we’re delighted to share with you our own story of a second life.
As a home museum open to the public, Casa Feliz celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. To commemorate the occasion, we commissioned a short documentary to tell the story of the beloved Andalusian farmhouse, and its architect James Gamble Rogers II. Soon, we’ll be installing a new A/V system in our garden room, and the film will play on a continuous loop during our Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday open houses.
Filmmaker Bob Perry did a masterful job capturing the splendor of Casa Feliz, and of the special people who contributed to its rebirth as Winter Park’s Parlor. Most of all, the film shows how important it is to cherish, not demolish, our historic treasures.
Longtime Winter Parkers and fans of folk music will recognize the film’s soundtrack as celebrated folk musician Gamble Rogers, the architect’s son. The junior Rogers’ career was tragically cut short in 1991, when he died attempting to rescue a drowning swimmer off Flagler Beach. Fortunately for us, his music, like the architecture of his father, lives on.
We hope this finds you celebrating the promise of Springtime. Enjoy.
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The Lacambra Home
At the corner of Oxford Road and Lakeview Drive in Virginia Heights stands a gracious home of eclectic design, a combination of Colonial Revival and Spanish Mediterranean with a dash of Beaux Arts thrown in for good measure. It comes together in the most delightful fashion, and in a way represents the unique cultural merging of its longtime owners, Ann and Jose Lacambra.
Ann and Jose Lacambra
The couple moved to Central Florida in 1966 with their three young children. Jose, a native of the Basque region of Spain, but raised in the Philippines and Spain, and Ann, from a deeply-rooted family in Chattanooga, Tennessee, discovered Winter Park and knew they wanted a permanent home there. In 1968, after two years of house hunting, they found their dream house. Their oldest child, age 6, had some misgivings on first inspection of the house. After considering the living room fireplace he blurted, “The chimney is too small for the Easter Bunny.” It took some time, Ann said, to convince him that an oversized bunny was resourceful enough to find other entryways. As a result they reached unanimity that this house was perfect for them and their large extended families on both sides of the Atlantic. “We had come home,” says Ann.
Rollins College
Frank Heigel, a prominent Winter Park contractor, built the house in 1938 for himself and his family to live in, and the house benefits from his obvious attention to detail. It sits on a large lot with an unobstructed view of Rollins College across Lake Virginia. From there, the Lacambras have had front-row seats to much of Winter Park’s natural charm and history. Ann reminisces that for a couple years after they moved to the house, the Dinky Train ran through their side yard, crossed Lakeview and circled Lake Virginia. “Every afternoon the children would rush out to wave to the engineer.” And at night, with the windows open “the sounds of owls and other Florida wildlife and the lonesome sound of the train that ran through the center of Winter Park lulled us to sleep.”
In fact, the house provides a view of the lake from every bedroom, and abundant natural light streams through every window, still the original casements. It’s the light that initially attracted Ann to the house, and that she still savors 48 years later. She has an artist’s eye, and has assembled gracious vignettes of objets d’art in the deep windowsills. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—her daughter, Laura Lacambra Shubert, is a prominent artist who renders still lifes and portraits praised by critics for their ‘dappled and shimmering light.’
The house is rich in architectural detail. Extra touches include the masonry frieze around the front door frame, original white hand plastered walls, built in bookshelves in almost every room, old waxed wood or Spanish tile floors, an upstairs porch, and cedar lined closets. It’s interesting to note how a house so beautifully designed and furnished is humble and even a bit primitive. The bathrooms are small and original. The kitchen, perish the thought, is deprived of gourmet appliances and granite countertops. If there’s a TV in the house (I didn’t see one), it’s probably obscured by a stack of books. This suits the Lacambras fine. Like their home, Jose, a retired nuclear physicist, and Ann, who headed the foreign languages department at Trinity, are lovely and gracious, but completely lack pretense.
Alternate entrance for Easter Bunny
Living room
Abundant natural light
An artist’s touch
Perhaps why they call it a window frame
Each bedroom has a lake view
…even the grandchildren’s room
The Lacambras never used a decorator and the interior furnishings “just grew” from generations of family hand me downs from both Spanish and American sides. The Spanish Mediterranean and traditional antique furnishings reflect the merging of two cultures. And every object tells a story from a life well-lived, full of travel, adventure, and family.
Grandmother’s room
Witness a silver goblet I admired in “Grandmother’s room.” It had belonged to a distant cousin, Emilie Watts McVea, who was the second president of Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Ann’s sister Betsy had the matching one—their mother had bequeathed one to each daughter. A few years back, Ann decided to research the life of McVea as a surprise for Betsy. She called Sweet Briar, who e-mailed her relative’s biography. Ann was astounded to learn that McVea was a friend of Hamilton Holt, and when she retired in 1925, she moved to Winter Park and lectured in English at Rollins.
History is important to Ann and Jose, and so it should be no surprise that they recently listed their home on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places. It’s not just the house, Ann says, but the open land and sky around the structure that benefits the whole neighborhood. She laments when referring to the current trend of structures built on too-small lots, obscuring all but a sliver of earth and sky. Ann quotes her grandfather, a conservationist in his own right: “God didn’t make more land, and God didn’t make more sky.”
Listen carefully and you might hear the Dinky Line
The Lacambras’ across-the-street neighbors and dear friends, Jack and Janne Lane, have also listed their home, a modest, traditional house nestled into the banks of Lake Virginia. They raised their families across the street from one another, and for decades Jose and Jack played tennis each Saturday at Azalea Lane.
Standing in the Lacambras’ front yard on a glorious sunny winter morning, tracing the steps where the Dinky line once ran, and gazing across Lake Virginia at the college, the feeling of history on this prominent corner is palpable. “At least,” Ann smiles, “when we’re all gone, our little corner of Winter Park will remain the same.”
Jack Lane and Lindsey Hayes contributed to this story.
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The purpose of this blog post is not to decry the demolition – already in progress – of the College Arms Apartments. Rather, it’s to offer a brief requiem, only fitting for a lovely building of quality design and construction that has graced our community since 1935. 
The four-unit apartment building at the corner of Holt and New York Avenues was designed by well-known architect Harold Hair, “to harmonize with the nearby college buildings,” according to the January 25, 1936 edition of “Winter Park Topics.” A contemporary of James Gamble Rogers, Hair also designed a number of prominent residences including the 1934 Spanish Eclectic house at 500 Interlachen Avenue (on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places) and the 1927 Gary-Morgan House (named last year to the National Register of Historic Places), as well as the Beal-Maltbie Shell Museum on the Rollins campus.
500 N. Interlachen
The Gary-Morgan House
A gracious entry hall and stairwell lead to four apartments: two have two bedrooms; two have one. All feature brick fireplaces with wood mantles, original wood floors and plaster walls, and exposed knotty pine beams in the living rooms. Two of the apartments have glassed-in sunrooms on the Southern exposure.
The exterior of the building boasts an attention to detail and scale absent in most many modern day buildings. For example, a four unit apartment building constructed today would rarely have the variety of window shapes and sizes, decorative balconies, decorative plasterwork or even the varied articulation that adorn the College Arms. The structure is an homage to a time when details mattered, even on a small rental building. Early photos show a beautiful barrel-tile roof which was replaced in recent decades.
The building was privately owned until 1969, when Rollins purchased it to expand housing options for students. Until that time the building even had a small backyard pool and nursery. Rollins Vice President John Tiedtke had an office on the first floor of the building from 1973 until his death in 2004; Campus Safety was also briefly located there. For a time, the upstairs units housed a program called “Holt House,” a group of male and female students who created their own curriculum.
As we go to press, the building is being demolished to make way for a new campus Child Development Center. The College has taken care to preserve the decorative medallions like the one at left, which have been removed from the building.
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Preservation Winter Park 