Sunday, July 7, 2013

Small clip from Leesburg Commerical Personals- E.H.Mote Recovering Friday November 21, 1930

E.H.Mote Recovering Friday November 21, 1930
Friends of E.H.Mote are glad to know that he is gaining strength daily from his recent fall and is now able to sit out in the sunshine on the porch.

E.H. Mote Injured When He Makes Misstep on Own Back Porch-Daily Commercial Friday October 17, 1930

 Daily Commercial Friday October 17, 1930

E.H. Mote is getting along nicely after his accident Monday, when, coming into the kitchen at his home on Palmetto street he stepped back off of the steps when opening the screened door, He was fortunate that no bones were broken but his right shoulder was badly bruised and he was confined to bed for several days. He walked a little Thursday and will soon be about again. Mr. and Mrs. Mote had just returned Thursday from a motor trip of over 6000 miles, going as far west as Cleveland and returning by Washington, D.C. and on home by the coastal route with no mis haves and both were in excellent health from their three month vacation.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Mrs. Mote Compare Florida With West Daily Commerical New Paper article

Wednesday's issue of the Ocala Star published the following interview given by Mrs. E. H. Mote of this city: A message of real Florida enthusiasm and bubbling over with helpful suggestions, emanated from Mrs. E. H. Mote, of  Leesburg, as she passed through Ocala on her way home from the Pacific coast. "I went to Santa Catalina Island, near Los Angeles, and took the glass bottom boat trip there, but it is nothing to compare with what you people have. The small spot, covered by Catalina trip, could be put in one small corner of Silver  Springs. " "Where are your schools of fish and under-ground gardens?" I asked, in talking to the Californians. It is unthinkable to mention Silver Springs and the Catalina Island in the same sentence, said Mrs. Mote. "Florida does not advertise enough. Everywhere you go in California, you are reminded of the fact that they advertise. We had just as well face facts as they are This was brought quite vividly before me at San Diego. An Englishman brought over a certain kind of pine known as the Torrey pine.

Saving the Mote-Morris House for the Future written in May 27, 1994

The house was moved by T.A. Youngblood and Sons Inc. moving engineers of Sanford Fla.. During the four hour move, the electricity in the immediate area was turned off and telephone lines were lowered to make more room. After 98 years in it's orginal location, the Mote-Morris house now sat on a new foundation. Now that the Mote-Morris home has been relocated, preservationists are still debating it's uses. The state is trying to get away from using historical sites purely as museums. Preservationists agree, and want the site to be a living part of the community, both publicly and socially. It will be rented to individuals or organizations for weddings,meetings or parties. The house will also serve as an educational facility for Lake-Sumter Community College and other schools as well as museum for Leesburg Heritage Society memorbilia. Plans have also been considered for a park or botanical garden.

The Mote-Morris house is  truly a living example of Leesburg's heritage. The house is also a representation of the community's unity and power to fight for what they believe in. It is a shame that the Morrison United Methodist Church would treat history with such disrepect. The hard work of the preservationists will be applauded for generations to come. The Mote-Morris home, a historical haven, educational facility and social gathering place will link Leesburg's history to the present.

Research Info: Donated to Leesburg Heritage Society Museum
 by Skellie Morris, Written by April Edlin

The process to saving the Mote-Morris House written in May 27, 1994

The Morrison Church gave the house to the city at no cost. A Preservation Steering Committee was formed at the suggestion of the Leesburg City Commission. Headed by Lauren Stokes, their job was to find a relocation site, provide revenue to purchase the land, and suggest used for the home. Three possible relocation sites were considered, all of which met the Historic Preservation's environmental provisions. The Jim Clark property on Magnolia Street, between 11th and 12th Streets was purchased because it was the largest site. It wasn't as expensive as the next favorite Dunstan land on Main street. The Miller property, across the street from the original location, would have been an ideal site, although nearly impossible because the house would have to be turned completely around. The chosen 1.6 acre site was two blocks from the original spot and sold at a price of $95,000.

While the city easily raised their money by selling the Lassiter Ware building on Sixth Street, the Preservation Steering Committee had to earn $95,000 by community fundraisers. The most successful fundraiser was a gala auction at the Howey Mansion which raised about $20,000. Renderings of the Mote-Morris house by twelve local artists were sold.Other fundraisers included a Mote-Morris house tour, 5k run, barbecues, Leesburg Jaycees Bowl-A-Thon, and lastly a production of Oklahoma! by the Melon Patch Theatre. Private donation from individuals and local businesses accounted for over half of the funds. Other donations include European and Victorian handcrafted furniture from the 1920's. The furniture was owned by the original Lee famil, who founded Leesburg. The moving of the Mote-Morris house took place September 1, 1990, after a one-week delay. More than 400 spectators watched the 150 tonhouse be moved one block south and two blocks west.



Research Info: Donated to Leesburg Heritage Society Museum
 by Skellie Morris, Written by April Edlin

Friday, May 10, 2013

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

E.H. Mote a owner of The Mote-Morris house long ago...

E. H. Mote, one of the outstanding citizens of Leesburg,was born at Newark, Delaware, on the 24th day of January,1860, son of Jacob  H. and Mary Mote. His parents were both natives of Delaware and were of Scotch descent. Mr.Mote received a limited education in the schools of Delaware and on account of his mother's death and father's re-marriage, he went alone to Philadelphia at the early age of eleven where he obtained a job at $3.00 per week,shoveling snow off roofs of houses. Ever since this time, Mr.Mote has been entirely on his own resources.After working at various jobs in Philadelphia he went to Washington, D.C.,in 1876, where he worked in a paper store.

On account of lung trouble, which was probably brought about by his early struggles when a boy,he came to Florida in 1881, settling at Leesburg.He only stayed a year but returned almost immediately and has resided in Leesburg ever since 1882.In January, 1883 Mr. Mote entered the livery business at Leesburg,which he followed with success for a number of years. Leesburg town hall was located over his stable in the ealry days. In connection with his livery business,he operated a stage line from Leesburg to Wildwood.

 In 1885 he sold his livery business and purchased the predecessor of the present Lakeview Hotel,which he greatly enlarged and operated for number of years. At the same time he was engaged in the mercantile business in Leesburg,which he continued until freeze of 1895. Mr. Mote has been one of the real builders of Leesburg , at the time when it took courage to build,having erected among other buildings, the Mote Block,which when it was built,was the largest business building in town.For many years Mr,Mote has dealt extensively in the citrus business and has shipped as many as three hundred and fifty carloads in one season.

Commencing about 1900,he devoted much of his time and energy to developing grove properties east of Leesburg.He was the owner and develpoer of "Treasure Island," near Leesburg. Mr.Mote has given much attention  to civic affairs.He establish the first waterworks in Leesburg,and in the early days he served as fire chief.He was also mayor for seven or eight terms,holding this office longer than it has ever been held by one person. He also served in the Lower House of the State Legislature for one term. His fraternal affilations are with the Masons and Knights of Pythias.He was married to Lucretia Hansbrough on October 5,1885.