Eugenia McSwain Martin

Corwin "Corky" Coker

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 for many years. Mr Morgan represented DeSoto County in Tallahassee from 1945-1949.  He succeeded in a push to get a fence law in place in Florida and to secure a $500,000 grant to convert Carlstrom Field into the G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital.  He died at age 96 on February 29, 1980, a man highly respected by his legislative peers. Tom and Marguerite Hankins inherited the home upon Mr. Ingraham's death and they donated the property to the DeSoto County Historical Society April 20, 2001. The plans are to restore the house  to its original condition as an excellent example of a turn of the century "cracker house". 

 

  

 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.

 

We have been very busy building a new fence around the Ingraham House. View our results below.

 

  

Harold McLeod standing by his car after finishing up gate he built.

 

  

Harold McLeod holding the connection for the grinder that James Westberry is using to put the finishing touches on the gate that Harold had just built.

 

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.