Introduction
The Howey Mansion was built in 1925 for the developer of Howey-in-the-Hills Resort, William J. Howey, and his wife, Harriet (Moody). The home was designed by famed architect George Fink – an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright! Construction took only ten months and cost $50,000; it is roughly 8,000 square feet with 9 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.
It was built entirely from Florida cement and aggregates! Palmer cement was used for all exterior surfaces, including the driveway (the first residential property to use a concrete driveway). Cora Pave Cement was used in the interior and around the swimming pool.
The Howey Mansion Leesburg, Florida
The Howey Mansion is a historic home located in Leesburg, Florida. It was designed by architect Edward F. Hibbert and built by Howey Company founder James Howell for his family in 1926 as a vacation retreat from their main home in Winter Park, Florida. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 2008, under its original name, “Villa Ronga.”
The Howey Mansion was constructed at the height of the Florida land boom for $100,000 by builders who worked on many other estates throughout Central Florida during this period, such as Hialeah Park Race Track and Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables.
Constructed with reinforced concrete walls and roof trusses, it was designed with an open floor plan to accommodate entertaining large groups comfortably without being too crowded inside or outside next to its Olympic size swimming pool which was fed by artesian wells located under nearby Lake Minnehaha, where guests could swim or fish depending upon season preference.”
The Howey Mansion Leesburg, Florida. A Gold Coast Treasure
The Howey Mansion, a Florida treasure, is a sprawling estate that was built in 1925 for the developer of Howey-in-the-Hills Resort, William J. Howey, and his wife Harriet (Moody).
The mansion sits on 15 acres with ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It features an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis court, and three floors of living space, including a fully equipped kitchen with an opulent dining room perfect for entertaining guests or hosting events.
Howey-in-the-Hills Resort
The Howey Mansion was built in 1925 for the developer of Howey-in-the-Hills Resort, William J. Howey, and his wife, Harriet. The mansion is a historic site that features beautiful architecture and landscaping.
William J. Howey was a successful developer and real estate agent who purchased land in Central Florida for $5 an acre during the 1920s boom years of tourism in Florida. He then sold part of his land to Barron Collier, who later developed it into what is now known as Lake Buena Vista Resort Area—the Walt Disney World area!
Harriet was a very active member of her community; she served on the Board of Directors at Leesburg Country Club, where they were members until they moved back to New York City, where they lived until their deaths in 1946 (Harrett) and 1947 (William).
Cora Pave Cement was used in the interior and around the swimming pool.
Cora Pave Cement was used in the interior and around the swimming pool. It was a new product at the time and made by the Cora Company of Leesburg, FL.
Cora Pave Cement is a cement-like product that has been ground to a fine powder, mixed with water, and then added to Portland cement to achieve its desired color. This process produces an aggregate that can be troweled on or applied with an airless sprayer.
Conclusion
The Howey Mansion Leesburg, Florida, is a Gold Coast treasure. This home was built in 1925 for the developer of Howey-in-the-Hills Resort and his wife, Harriet Moody. The home was designed by famed architect George Fink – an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright!
Construction took only ten months and cost $50,000; it is roughly 8,000 square feet. It was built entirely from Florida cement and aggregates! Palmer cement was used for all exterior surfaces, including the driveway (the first residential property to use a concrete driveway).
Cora Pave Cement was used in the interior and around the swimming pool. In 1925, few homes were built using concrete, and it took 10 months to build this Gold Coast treasure!
Bourlay Historic Nature Park Leesburg, FL
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