Here are the homes we toured and a little info, that you can read if you enlarge the pics. If you live in or are visiting Ocala next year, do make sure you check out these homes for the spring 2020 tour by the Ocala Historic Society.
First up was the Bryant House, which is the home office for the Historic Ocala Preservation Society. The HOPS is renovating and still has some of the original curtains, etc. in the house. Wood floors are wonderful. Lots of interesting antiques scattered throughout the rooms.
The Wallis house was certainly interesting! The current owner (wife) loves creepy kind of photos, which she had in the bedroom, hallway(s), kitchen and dining room! Yep, a clown pic was in the kitchen and one of a child holding a cat...ok, she was strangling the cat was in the upstairs hallway. Even the owner said weird things happen in the house! Haunted...well, guess that's up to what you believe it. ME...I didn't care for the creepy photo's but the house being restored to original and using original items was really interesting.
Leavengood House was interesting...but nothing earth shattering...it did have several outside screened in areas, which was nice...but it sits right by the sidewalks on two sides of the house...not for me...but again...cool to see!
The Clardy House was renovated to be more modern and appeared to be small on the outside but quite a lot of room inside. Nice modern home, actually!
The Phillips House was another home renovated to modern! It was fabulous!!!! Three generations live here but each have their own area. There is the 'naked lady bedroom' which used to be an old apartment in the '20's and woman who died was lying on a mattress on the floor face down, naked...hence, the current owners named the room after her! The grounds for this home are fabulous!!! And it turned out, Peggy, my bud with us used to work with the current owner! Small world isn't it!
A bed swing outside in the beautiful garden/pool area.
The owner painted/stenciled the wood deck area on one of several decks.
The laundry room was beautiful and check out how they hung the ironing board! Now that's clever.
How unique for a wall decoration. Carol also took this picture. Just a beautifully decorated and updated house for being build in 1906!
And saving the best for last...this was my FAVORITE home!!! The Edward's House!! This house is huge and in the process of being renovated by a couple from Virgina, who now live in Ocala. The wood is all original Magnolia wood from the owners who built the house in 1909! The current owners have a lot of work to do but are slowly making headway. The floors and stain glass windows are beautiful, as is the grounds!!! Just a beautiful home and appears to be such a happy home now that it is being restored!!! Some homes you go into with a feeling of gloom, fear, etc. This house appeared to be a happy home and one I could live in easily.
The wood in this house is outstanding!!!! This was in one of the dining areas.
This was the fireplace in that dining room.
This fireplace was in the round music room. You can see the round area of the house (the outside) in the first picture of the Edward's House.
Stairway going up to the 2nd level. See the stained glass window? They are also in the bedroom to the left of the stairs. There were 20 stained glass windows on the 2nd floor!
Woodwork/stairs heading up to the 2nd level
This is a picture of the outside backyard area of the house. It's as beautiful outside as it is inside!!! Yes, there's a lot of renovation to be done by this couple, but it will be well worth it in the future. And to keep this home, which was built in 1909 for $6,300 I think it's wonderful to retain as much of the home as they are!!!
The fountain is original but the grounds around it (pool area) is new(er).
Hope you are enticed to visit these homes next spring. Sign up on the HOPS website so you won't miss the tour in 2020!
Enjoyed the tour- very interesting homes. The thought of renovating places as old as these and keeping their character overwhelms my brain!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour.
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