Haunted Mote-Morris house to spook visitors Oct. 27-29
The Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department is inviting the public to a Halloween attraction in a beloved historic landmark, the historic Mote Morris House at 1195 W. Magnolia St. — an estate so old that some might think that it is really haunted.
The Queen Anne house sits on 2 acres of botanical gardens with 40-foot oak trees. It's survived so much change and destruction that one can't help but wonder if the house has a spunky spirit of its own that makes it so resilient.
Constructed in 1892 by the city's eight-term mayor, Edward H. Mote, the home is on the National Register of Historic Places. It initially cost $9,000 (around $303,000 adjusted for inflation) and has two stories, with a single four-story turret. Mote, a self-made magnate who went by the initials E.H., lived there with his wife, Lucretia, who liked to host garden tea gatherings.
The Mote family sold the house in 1908 to Bishop Henry Clay Morrison, and in 1918, it came into the possession of the Morris family, who lived there for the next 70 years.
The Morrison United Methodist Church bought the house in 1988 and sold it to whomever would move it. Residents of Leesburg raised $95,000 for a new site, and on Sept. 1, 1990, the Mote-Morris House was moved to its current location from its original Main Street address. More than 400 people turned out to watch as the 150-ton house was transported one block south and two blocks west.
After suffering from fire and water damage in 2018, the historic Mote-Morris house was restored and reopened in 2021.
"The Mote-Morris House is a treasure trove of history and architecture, serving as a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the residents of Leesburg," says renovator RoMac Building Supply on its website. "The house's many moves and changes of ownership have only added to its intrigue and character."
RoMac Building Supply, a local building supply company, re-created the mouldings, wainscoting, wainscot cap, interior and exterior doors, the transoms, the trim around the doors, part of the handrail and spindles for the stairs, fish scale siding, icicle trim, corbels and other custom millwork projects destroyed in the fire. Chuck Shoop, the company's Millwork Department Manager, oversaw this project.
"The Mote-Morris house is a really important one for the city of Leesburg," City Manager Al Minner told the Daily Commercial before the grand re-opening ribbon-cutting, adding that the home "represents our historic fabric."
More: Photos from the archives: Mote-Morris 2018 fire
When it's not decorated as a haunted house, the facility accommodates weddings and other event rentals.
The Mote-Morris Haunted House takes place Oct. 27-29 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door, and organizers say it's appropriate for all ages. For more information, call the Leesburg Recreation Complex at 352-728-9885 or email them at recreation.dept@leesburgflorida.gov. Check the dailycommercial.com for more Halloween events in the coming weeks.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Looking for a scare? Tour the Haunted Mote-Morris House if you dare
