HERITAGE MATTERS

Tag: Historic Downtown

  • Christiansted National Historic Site, Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

    One of the earliest recorded National Register of Historic Places sites in the US Virgin Islands is that of Christiansted National Historic Site, located in none other than Christiansted, St. Croix. The site encompasses 6 historic structures on 7 acres along the waterfront. These structures being Fort Christiansvaern (b. 1738), Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse (b. 1750), the Steeple Building (b. 1753), Danish Customs House (b. 1734), the Scale House (b. 1856), and the Government House (1747). The buildings, together with the site, are an ever-present storyteller of the past transcending through time.

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    Christiansted National Historic Site Aerial View, 1976. (Photo credit: National Park Service)

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  • What Makes the Ramsey-Donnelly Building Worth Saving?

    The Ramsey-Donnelly Building was an early addition to the downtown commercial district of Mount Dora (see below) and has played an important role in town as it has been host to many of the area’s integral businesses. The building’s position on the corner of the main thoroughfares through town, both Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street, has highlighted the building throughout the years and has made it an inviting building that successfully creates a dialogue between the building and the town.

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    (Photo credit: Mt. Dora, Fla – Nov. 2, 1926. 1926. What To Do In Mount Dora. Web. Apr.-May 2014. )

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  • Interior Assessment: the Shamrock Building and the Renaissance Building, Mount Dora, Florida

    Interior Assessment: the Shamrock Building and the Renaissance Building, Mount Dora, Florida

    The two buildings documented are the Shamrock Building and the Renaissance Building. Both of these buildings are important in the downtown historic district of Mount Dora, as they were usefully implemented additions to the area. Since their original construction, they have been modified to provide better functionality for their new uses throughout the years. They both retain many fragments of their initial design and character, but mostly on the exterior, with regard to their interiors they have greatly altered.

    The Shamrock Building, currently a realtor’s office, was once the former Mount Dora Bank and Trust built in 1925; it was the first and only bank in Mount Dora. The main entrance was formerly on the east facade of the building; but after its change to the Shamrock Building, the entrance was moved to the north facade of the building while the east entrance was filled-in and made to match the surrounding wall. As a bank, the ground floor was filled with a series of teller windows, metal cages, a large vault, and marbled countertops, floors, and wainscoting throughout. The second floor had a secondary vault and a mezzanine floor and office spaces on the third floor, all of which feature wood paneled walls.

    After its transition to a realtor’s office, just about every bank related element on the ground floor was removed except portions of the marble flooring and wainscoting. All of the original light fixtures were removed and partitions and cubicles were introduced. The mezzanine and third floor offices were minimally changed. However, in 2008, a tropical storm wreaked havoc on the building, causing serious damage to the interiors. The water damage was so pervasive it damaged the wood paneling on the third floor and second floor mezzanine, and leaked completely through the building to the ground floor. Water damage is still visible on the interior walls of the ground floor. The wood paneled walls of the third floor offices are still in disrepair and a musty smell still permeates the mezzanine and third floor. Despite the damage and the alterations over the years, sections that remain of the original marbled floors and wainscoting are in very good condition.

    A similar example is that of the Renaissance Building, which is currently a mixed-use commercial building filled with retail shops, restaurants, bars and office space. It was originally a hotel built in the 1920s, referred to as the Dora Hotel. The hotel functioned until the mid- to late-1970s and once the 1980s hit the building became vacant. It transferred several owners before it was retrofitted to serve as a mixed-use commercial building.

    The interior aspects of the building have completely changed as the layout was altered to fit separate retail stores and offices, merge space for restaurants and completely open up the building to the public as a walk-through mall of sorts. The only historicity this building can claim is its slightly altered exterior; as for the interior, compromises have been made, but unfortunately not in favor of the protection and preservation of historic features. In this case, the Shamrock Building, and many buildings found in the historic downtown, the exteriors retain much of their historic integrity, but the interiors have changed too much and lack much of any connection to their former use.

  • Overview of Mount Dora, Florida

    Overview of Mount Dora, Florida

    The city of Mount Dora, Florida, is an older town that was settled in the late 1800s, and as the majority of the original buildings are still in existence they greatly add to the town’s historical significance. Some of the earliest buildings were erected anywhere from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and although they have changed, many significantly throughout the years, they retain much of their exterior historic integrity and architecturally significant details. The town has experienced a decent share of growth and change as many of the original businesses are long gone and the buildings within the historic downtown commercial zone have been flipped in several attempts to stir about new business opportunities.

    There is an active and vocal historic board that ensures any project located downtown, within the historic district or considered historic in any matter, follow strict guidelines and request special permission before changes or alterations can occur. This has been the case in the past to an extent, as most of the historic buildings within the downtown commercial core have all been altered or radically changed on their interiors. Before historic guidelines were into effect, most of the local building owners freely manipulated the interiors of their historic structures without much thought or consideration. Although most of these buildings have been ‘rehabilitated,’ they were not rehabilitated with the idea that the interiors should retain some form of their originality. For example, the interiors of the former Mount Dora Bank & Trust building, which was the first bank in town, was completed transformed to fit a local realtor’s office space. The exterior was slightly altered, but retains much of its original character; unfortunately, this cannot be said for the interior space.

    The positive aspect of this occurrence is that the exteriors have been carefully conserved and they are regularly maintained. Therefore, to the average visitor Mount Dora keeps its appearance as a historically, quaint, New England modeled town as the building exteriors retain much of their unique character and charm (Fig. 5, 6). If you consider that the building exteriors have stood the test of time, for the most past, while businesses have come and gone and they have only slightly changed, then it is fair to say that rehabilitation has greatly impacted the area. While several buildings are being utilized, there are many vacancies in town due to overpriced rental rates and therefore a lack of motivation to realize new and different business opportunities. I believe rental rates need to be reconsidered to allow for more potential opportunities to take place and businesses need to be given more thought. Even though the median age is 48, there is a slow growing trend that younger families, originally from the area, are coming back to Mount Dora to raise their new families. As this shift becomes more noticeable, the community’s necessities will inevitably change to meet the demands of newer and younger residents and the downtown area will again face further transitions to stay relevant; hopefully this will happen with careful attention to retain the existing historic charm of the town.

    Many of the incentives in Mount Dora, for the rehabilitation efforts, were to maintain a functioning downtown that would be attractive to tourists and remain memorable, adding significantly to the stimulation of the local economy. This economic stimulation has only increased as Mount Dora has set itself on the map for being an arts and crafts community, hosting various art, craft and antique shows and events. These efforts have surely had a positive impact on the local community as many of the buildings downtown have been transformed into restaurants or small retail shops, adding to the commerciality of the town. Through it all, the town retains its charm and likeability, almost in a Mayberry-esque manner.

  • What Makes the Ramsey-Donnelly Building Worth Saving?

    What Makes the Ramsey-Donnelly Building Worth Saving?

    The Ramsey-Donnelly Building was an early addition to the downtown commercial district of Mount Dora and has played an important role in town as it has been host to many of the area’s integral businesses. The building’s position on the corner of the main thoroughfares through town, both Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street, has highlighted the building throughout the years and has made it an inviting building that successfully creates a dialogue between the building and the town.

    The size of the building makes it one of the larger buildings in town and puts it in the position of having to pull its own weight, in a sense, as the town is comparatively small. The building’s connection with the commercial downtown is aided greatly by the glass façade on Donnelly Street and the wrap-around cast-iron balcony; it successfully opens up the building fabric and detracts from the scale of the building. As well, having multiple spaces with openings and entrances alongside Donnelly Street maintains the ‘main street’ appeal and charm of downtown.

    The Ramsey-Donnelly Building fits in well with the surrounding built environment, despite its size, as it is a two-story structure and the buildings in the area range anywhere from one-, two- to three-story structures. The cast-iron balcony that covers the adjacent sidewalk ties in perfectly with many of the covered sidewalks in town that further promote the appeal, character and walkability of the town.

    The original building’s landscape was not tied directly to the building, but rather to the city, as they incorporated the older trees within designated green areas between the sidewalks and the streets. Most of those trees were removed and brick planters were added alongside the building and the street on the sidewalk surrounding the building. The planters now hold small plants, shrubs and young trees. The Donnelly Park directly across the street remains intact, for the most part, with regard to the original landscape and trees, which gives an idea of what the past historic landscape might have resembled.

  • Driving Survey: Piglet's Pantry and The Drawer, Mount Dora, Florida

    Driving Survey: Piglet's Pantry and The Drawer, Mount Dora, Florida

    The area surveyed was that of the commercial downtown area of Mount Dora, Florida, which stretches from McDonald Street to Baker Street (a four-block stretch from west to east) and Fifth Avenue to Third Avenue (a three-block stretch from north to south). Within this area there are several historic buildings, although not all have been completely rehabilitated, and there are still many vacancies in the area.

    The two structures chosen for this assignment were that of Piglet’s Pantry et al. and The Drawer. These two buildings are located directly across from one another, along one of the main streets, Donnelly Street, and the cross street, Fourth Avenue. They were chosen because of their historic significance to the area, as both were early additions to the town.

    Piglet’s Pantry et al, formerly Rehbaum’s Hardware, was built in a masonry vernacular style in 1914 and functioned as a town hardware supply store with apartments on the second floor. Rehabilitations were made in 1924 and again in 1950, as the second story porch was removed from the front facade along with additions to the rear of the building. The additions housed a small drugstore and furniture store. Since 1997 it has functioned as a dog bakery called Piglet’s Pantry and other retail spaces including a wine bar and a shoe store, with apartments/office space for rent on the second floor. These businesses have remained in place for a while, with great success for the dog bakery and wine bar, although not as fortunate for the case of the shoe store. The apartments/office space rentals on the second floor have been vacant for the most part.

    The Drawer, a masonry vernacular building built in 1880, was originally a general store. Additions were made in the mid-1920s as it later became Crane’s Furniture, which was an operation originally commenced at Rehbaum’s Hardware, but since space was lacking it was moved across the street. Since 1984, with the introduction of another rear addition, it has functioned as a women’s clothing and accessories retail store. The Drawer been a successful operation and receives a lot of business locally and from the surrounding area. 

  • Mount Dora Trust & Bank Co., Mount Dora, Florida

    Mount Dora Trust & Bank Co., Mount Dora, Florida

    Summary Paragraph
    The Mount Dora Bank & Trust Co. is an early 20th century bank building situated on the southeast corner to the entrance of the historic downtown and commercial district of Mount Dora, Florida. The building is located on the main corner of Donnelly Street (east façade) and Fifth Avenue (which is the main entrance on the north façade). It is a 3 story, Masonry Vernacular style building with an irregular rectangular plan. The exterior walls are constructed of running brick which has been painted a creamy yellow color and the foundation is built of concrete and concrete block, which has been finished with beaded mortared joints. There are white decorative, paneled pilasters with an entablature and cornice flanking both the east and north of the building. The building is in good condition and other than the change of color and relocation of the main entrance, has retained the majority of its exterior integrity.

    Narrative Description
    The former Mount Dora Bank & Trust Co. is located on the main thoroughfare corner of Donnelly Street and Fifth Avenue. The building was constructed in a Masonry Vernacular style with a continuous, concrete block foundation. The exterior walls were constructed of hollow clay tile and running brick in their original reddish fired color. The plan was that of an irregular rectangle with the main entrance facing east to Donnelly Street. On the eastern exterior entrance were three bays filled with wooden Palladian double height windows, the center bay hosted the main entrance glass, double doors, while the north façade, facing Fifth Avenue, had five bays filled with the same wooden Palladian double height windows. Between the bays were white decorative, concrete paneled pilasters with an entablature and cornice flanking both the east and north facades of the building. On the third story there were two wooden double-hung windows atop each of the double height Palladian windows, accounting to six on the east façade and ten on the north façade. A secondary cornice was located just above the third story windows on both the east and north façades. The roof was flat with a simple incline to extract water from the rainfall and it had a built up pediment.

    Plaques bearing the bank’s name were predominantly displayed on both sides of the building on the corner of the thoroughfare of Donnelly Street and Fifth Avenue. The main entrance, glass double door was lined with two exterior sconce lights, one on either side. Within the interior of the building was a marble tiled flooring and marble wainscoting. The ground floor was a double height space of about 22 feet. Teller windows on the ground floor, spanned from the east to west ends of the building. They had marble countertops with brass and bronze cages which separated the tellers from the public. To the rear of the main floor lobby, which was the west end of the main floor, there was a state of the art safe with a circular door. The safe was from the New York Safe and Lock Co. and housed about 300 safety deposit boxes and featured hexagonal tiled flooring.

    The double height space of the open plan of the ground floor was further enhanced by the decorative ceiling which spanned the entire building. The ceiling featured a coffered design with elaborate crown molding. A staircase in the rear led to a partial second floor mezzanine which extended from the south wall out about 20 feet. It contained an equipment room and a smaller safe. A third floor was also added; this was where the bank’s officers had their offices and a meeting space within a boardroom. The walls of these rooms were wood-paneled in mahogany. The light fixtures were of an elaborate nature and were incorporated for every light. There were three bathrooms in the entire building, with one located on each floor. The two on the ground and second floors were half-bathrooms, while the one on the third floor was a full executive bathroom featuring a shower.[1]

    The bank witnessed the further development of the town of Mount Dora, without much change or affect to the institution or the building. First National Bank of Mount Dora ultimately moved locations, moving further north on Donnelly to 714 North Donnelly Street around 1965.[2] Around the same time E. E. Husky, a local realtor, purchased the building from Simpson. It was transformed it into a realty office and Husky simultaneously made a few alterations. The exterior brick walls were painted green and awnings were added to the third story windows on both the east and north façades. The main entrance was moved from the east façade to the north façade, facing Fifth Avenue. The doorway of the east façade was replaced with a wooden Palladian double height windows, made to match the existing, surrounding windows and the new glass double doorway was situated on the north façade, in the third, middle bay. The safe on the ground floor was removed from the building. The main open plan of the ground floor changed as the tellers and marble countertops were removed, retaining the original marble flooring and wainscoting. The second floor mezzanine and third floor executive offices were used and maintained, including the secondary safe on the second. All of the decorative light fixtures were removed.

    In 1991 the building would again change ownership. Keith Shamrock, another local realtor, bought the building from Husky to house his realty office. Once more the building would see minor alterations. All of the exterior awnings were removed, with the exception of the one hovering over the main entrance. The brick walls were painted a creamy yellow color. The name of the building changed to that of the Shamrock Building and the new name was added to both the east and north façades of the building on the brick banding, just below the dentil. Partitions and cubicles were added to the ground floor, in an effort to create segmented office spaces within the open plan. The building has since been rented to the Real Living Good Neighbor Realty, although the building remains owned by Shamrock.

    Hurricanes and tropical storms through the years have caused significant damage to the building, especially the 2008 Tropical Storm Fay, which completely destroyed the third floor and second floor mezzanine. Water damage was substantial, damaging the wood paneling and carpeting of the offices located on the third floor. The influx of excess water leaked to the second floor mezzanine and the ground floor causing further damage. To date, the damage is still visible. From the ground floor, patches and water damage on the walls are noticeable. The third floor’s wood paneled walls are still in disrepair and a musty smell continues to permeate the second and third floors.[3]

    Despite this damage, the building is in good condition and other than the change of color and relocation of the main entrance, it has retained the majority of its exterior integrity with regards to its location, design, setting, materiality, feeling and association. Although the interior has been altered with the removal of the key bank elements of the tellers, marble countertops and the safe, the marble tiled flooring and wainscoting remain and are in very good condition, regardless of the extensive water damage. Granting it has been the Shamrock building since 1991, this building’s grand design continues to be a reminder of the past and the early days of Mount Dora.

    Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph
    The Mount Dora Bank & Trust Co., built in 1925, was one of many buildings in town built, owned and operated by James W. Simpson. Simpson was a very influential community member who founded the majority of what makes up the infrastructure of present day Mount Dora. His father, David Simpson, and grandfather, M.V. Simpson, were the first settlers of Mount Dora in 1874.[4] David Simpson was the first to set root in Mount Dora, homesteading 160 acres facing Lake Dora, which is the current historic downtown of Mount Dora. His grandfather, M.V. Simpson, homesteaded another 160 acres in a tract adjoining his son.[5] When James came of age he followed in these footsteps, continuing to make positive, impactful changes to benefit Mount Dora. Through the Mount Dora Bank & Trust Co., he founded the first financial institute of Mount Dora and the surrounding area, which would be housed in this building once construction was completed in 1926. The building meets National Register Criterion A, in the significance of an Event as it was the first bank in the area, and Criterion B, as the builder and owner of the building was a significant, leading founder of the community’s infrastructure.

    Narrative Statement of Significance
    The property, which was located on the main thoroughfare corner of Donnelly Street and Fifth Avenue, was bought by James M. Simpson from the Whitney family in 1925. The previous structure owned by the Whitney family had been destroyed due to a devastating fire in 1922, which also destroyed quite a majority of the downtown area of Mount Dora. The original bank, Bank of Mount Dora, of which Simpson was the founder and president, was located at 404 Donnelly Avenue (Mount Dora), just 4 buildings south on the opposite side of the street.

    Simpson had been responsible for much of the infrastructural development within Mount Dora. He was a descendent of the first settlers of Mount Dora, through his father, David Simpson, and grandfather, M.V. Simpson, who homesteaded in the current historic district of Mount Dora in 1874.[6] Between his father and grandfather they owned 320 acres of land, most of which was orange groves. James Simpson followed in their footsteps and was a very successful citrus farmer. He was also a very influential community member and took great strides to develop Mount Dora.

    He organized the Mount Dora Citrus Growers Co-Op and managed the group until 1933. He owned a local grove maintenance business, servicing the local farmers and groves. He built a Citrus Packing Plant, which would later become a successful Ice House and later a World War II Youth Center. He founded Mount Dora’s first dairy in 1918. He was responsible for the fundraising efforts and realization of the first school in Mount Dora, Educational Hall. Simpson was also behind the petitioning for the founding of Christian Home and Bible School. Also most importantly, he was responsible for the paving of Mount Dora’s first roads.[7]

    His family was responsible for significant development within Mount Dora around the same time that Simpson was buying the property at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street. His father had just built the Princess Theatre in 1923, also on Fifth Avenue, just 2 buildings west of the property. While at the same time, his brother, Howard Simpson, was constructing the Simpson Building (eventually the Simpson Hotel), on Fifth Avenue, adjacent to the property.[8]

    Simpson’s motivation for purchasing the property was to construct a larger bank, as the current bank’s space was not large enough to accommodate the growing financial needs of the town; for this endeavor he commissioned the architect Gamble Rodgers of Winter Park, Florida; the same architect his brother Howard Simpson had commissioned to build the Simpson Building. At this time and in this area, the commissioning of an architect was an expensive feat and very few were consulted or sought out. Construction began in July 1925 and was not completed until March 1926.[9] While waiting for the construction to finalize and still at the previous location, the bank established its charter and on September 12, 1925, re-opened its doors to the public as the state bank of Mount Dora Bank & Trust Co.[10]

    On July 6, 1927, the bank received the charter to become a national bank, again changing its name to the First National Bank of Mount Dora. George White, Sr., from the Federal Reserve Bank in Jacksonville, Florida, relocated to Mount Dora to serve as vice-president, eventually becoming president and CEO after Simpson’s inevitable resignation. The bank survived the Great Depression, maintaining financial stability within Mount Dora and the surrounding area.

    The bank witnessed the further development of the town of Mount Dora, without much change or affect to the institution or the building. First National Bank of Mount Dora ultimately moved locations, moving further north on Donnelly to 714 North Donnelly Street around 1965.[11] Around the same time E. E. Husky, a local realtor, purchased the building from Simpson. It was transformed it into a realty office and Husky simultaneously made a few alterations.

    In 1991 the building would again change ownership. Keith Shamrock, another local realtor, bought the building from Husky to house his realty office. Once more the building would see minor alterations. The building has since been rented to the Real Living Good Neighbor Realty, although the building remains owned by Shamrock.