Open House
Fall 2014
WHAT The Capen-Showalter House, built in 1885, is one of only a handful of homes from Winter Park’s founding decade.
WHY To avoid demolition, three local nonprofits helped raise $550,000 in six months to rescue the house and relocate it.
WHERE Across Lake Osceola to Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida
“The house would be lost if we didn’t pilot an all-out effort to save it. Now, it can start a new life serving the community. Moving day brought out the best in all of us.” — Debbie Komanski, ’79, executive director, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
“Three men cut the 4,200-square-foot house in half with hand tools. The two pieces were moved using a heavy cable winch truck, nine barges pinned together, and a 50-ton crane topping out at 65 feet tall. Each side weighed 100 tons. The joy and enthusiasm shown by the community inspired our whole team, which included more than 100 workers representing 20 trades in the construction, design and engineering fields.” — Frank Roark,’74, general contractor
