Capen House now open to the public

  • 2015-10-26
The Capen House, which is believed to be the third-oldest home in Winter Park, is now open to the public.

The structure was almost lost in 2013, when the property fell into foreclosure. At that time, new owners asked permission to demolish it so they could build a new house on the lot.

Those who wanted the structure to survive lobbied the owners, asking for permission to move it to the Polasek Museum grounds, contingent upon them raising the necessary funds for the venture. The owners of the house agreed, and the preservationists' fundraising was successful. In December of 2013, the house was split in two, and the parts were shipped, via barge, across Lake Osceola to the museum.

Since that time, museum staffers have worked to restore the house, and bring it up to code so it could be used as a venue for public events.

The Capen House houses some of the Polasek's sculptures and paintings, but the house itself is the attraction. Visitors can examine its 1885 floors, Old-Florida Pine posts, and the home's original exterior siding. The house has been situated so that its rear doors open to a patio that leads to gardens, walkways, and a new dock on Lake Osceola.

Museum management might consider working with brochure printers to create a booklet about the house, and in particular, the move across the lake.