Eugenia McSwain Martin
Corwin "Corky" Coker
Eva Hines Westberry
The
Brownville School
The Brownville School was built in
1927-28. J.C. Harris was
the architect
who built it and supervised the
construction. It was one of
five DeSoto
County schools to be closed in 1947
when the school system was consolidated and students
were bused into town. Since that time the building
has been used as a VFW Hall, community center,
federal food commodities distribution office, storm
shelter, polling place and a training program for adult mentally
handicapped persons. In July 2004 the property was leased to the
DeSoto County Historical Society by the DeSoto County
School District.
Early picture of the Brownville School.
Picture of the Brownville
School before Hurricane Charley.
Rear view of the school at
the Historical Society Open House, July 2004.
View of the schoolyard at the
Historical Society Open House, July 2004.
View of an interior classroom
after Hurricane Charley.
View of the schoolyard after
Hurricane Charley.
The J.
Morgan Ingraham House
The Ingraham House is named
for Mr. John Morgan Ingraham who lived there from 1919, until
his death at age 96, on February 29, 1980. Mr. Ingraham
represented DeSoto County in the State Legislature
from 1945-1949 and was highly respected by his legislative
peers. He succeeded in passing the "fence law" in
Florida, funding the creation of G. Pierce Wood Memorial
Hospital, and participating in the establishment of Everglades
National Park. On December 6, 1947, he attended the Park's
dedication by President Harry Truman. Upon Mr. Ingraham's death,
Tom and Marguerite Hankins purchased the home from his heirs and
donated the property to the DeSoto County Historical Society on
April 20, 2001. The plans are to restore this turn of the
century "cracker house" to its original condition and open it to
the public as a "historical museum", displaying period
furniture, lifestyle and the simplistic life of the early
pioneer families of the city of Arcadia and DeSoto
County.
UPDATE - We have received a
certificate of completion for the Phase Two Restoration, and the
building permit is officially closed. That means we're ready to
start Phase Three! The Board of Directors voted to accept the
bid of Image Construction Co. for the Phase Three
restoration.
The Ingraham family
is shown here in front of the house, mid
1920's.
Mr.Ingraham, in his side
yard, early 1970's.
J. Morgan Ingraham's
burial place in OakRidge Cemetery, Arcadia,
Florida.
Westside view of house as
restoration was started.
Northside view of house
as restoration was started.
Southside view of
house depicted in a painting by noted artist John
Fales.
Southside view of house
after Hurricane Charley.
Eastside view of house
after Hurricane Charley.
Project sign for restoration grants financed by
the State of Florida, Bureau of Historic
Preservation.
Grant #1, Phase #1 - Stabilization of the damaged
Kitchen Wing.
Grant #1, Phase #1 - North wall bracing of the
Damaged Kitchen Wing.
Grant #2, Phase #2 - New pine shingle roof on the
Living Room Wing.
Grant #2, Phase #2 - Damaged Kitchen Wing was
photographed, catalogued, dismantled
and stored for future rebuilding. Wooden stakes
mark foundation location.
Grant #3, Phase #3 - Rebuilding Kitchen Wing.
John Parks, architect, and
Scott Boder, contractor, discuss construction
plans.
Grant #3, Phase #3 - Rebuilding Kitchen Wing.
John Parks, architect, inspecting building
materials.
The Roe house was severely
damaged by Hurricane Charley and has been sold to the city
of Arcadia to be used for the site of our new Police and
Fire Stations.
The city has given DCHS the opportunity to
recover any period material they can from the old home
to be used in the restoration of the J. Morgan Ingraham
House.
Arthur Roe standing outside of the house he
grew up in.
Arthur sharing some of the history of the house
with James Westberry inside the house in which he grew
up.
