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Short Daily Commercial article- Mote-Morris house committee meets(Sept 8,1989)

Leesburg- A committee formed to decide where the Mote-Morris House will be moved, met Wednesday to organize. The committee made no decisions,however the committee appointed Lauren Stokes as chairman and appointed members to check on the land prices of the proposed sites. In another area, the committee members began looking into fund raising opportunities. A report is scheduled to be made at the committee' s next meeting on Wednesday. The committee is expected to meet in City Hall at 3p.m.

Daily Commercial(Tuesday,August 15, 1989) Mote-Morris backers voice postion late

Mote-Morris backers voice position late

By Lauren E. Stokes Leesburg ,Fla

I would like to respond to several points made in the editorial dated July 22, concerning the Mote-Morris house. As one of the "picketing preservationists," I would like to respond to the question about why only now protest? I feel the church's ultimate aims were not made clear or public until the article appeared in the Daily Commercial on July 1, that stated if the home were not moved it would be destroyed or razed. It has been our position as a group that we are first and foremost protest the destruction of this historic and architecturally significant home.  

Since the statements made in early July were the first references of this kind, we felt the negotiations between the city of Leesburg and Morrison church officials had reached an impasse that the time was appropriate to voice our position. I would like to clarify that the city of Leesburg, since the purchase of the home by Morrison United Methodist Church,has in fact been in tough with state restoration and preservation officials. The city has worked diligently applying for restoration grants and in negotiations with the church.The city of Leesburg offered to purchase and pave the vacant lot across Main Street from the Mote-Morris house in exchange for the house. As stated in your editorial, the church has rejected this offer.

 If we have made a mistake in our timing, it was based on erroneous assumptions, the most important being that the church would even consider the destruction of the home of such overwhelming importance for the community. I regret that I and others did not publicly support the Mote-Morris house earlier. I truly hope that if that has been a mistake that it does not have grave consequences.

Daily Commercial/A New York Times Company-Working on It(August 17,1989)

E.A. Nichols Jr.-Publisher

James M. Archer-Editor

Glenn Marston-Managing Editor

Emmett Peter Jr.-Contributing Editor

 

Mote-Morris House

TIME is Short, but there is still hope for historic home

It's amazing how far a little communication and cooperation will go. Just ask Morrison United Methodist officials and a group of preservationists trying to save an historic house on church property. It now appears the Leesburg home,the Mote-Morris House, can be moved a short distance without a loss of government preservation grants and without removal from the National Historic Register. The home was built by one of Leesburg's first mayors, E.H. Mote, in 1892 and was later used as a residence for a church bishop. State historic preservation officials have termed the house as "an important....and significant building.

" Church officials purchased the home last year, intending to use the site as a parking lot. Since then, Morrison officials have tried to find someone who would buy the home and move it off the church property. Preservationists, however, resisted the effort to relocate the house. They and Leesburg city officials feared that moving the structure would remove it from the Historic Register and thereby rule out the chance for grant money to renovate it.

Now, however, state officials report that moving the house to either a vacant lot across from its current Main Street location or to another nearby site apparently won't jeopardize state grants. The major obstacle now is a state deadline-September 15 for applying for the grants. Church and city officials and preservationists need to get moving. They should work together under these guildlines:

• While some private groups may be able to assist in the purchase of a new site, city officials who were among the harshest of the church critics- should foot much of the bill for relocation. The church shouldn't fund a dime.

• Church officials should stick by their repeated claims of a willingness to wait for a solution. True, they already have shown admirable patience, but the cause is worth a little longer wait.

• As far as the actual revonation, city officials,at least in a coordinating sense, will have to take the lead. They should explore ways of getting the entire community involved, particularly the younger citizens. Students could be used for everything from actual renovation work to researching and recording the home's past. School and community clubs should be asked to assist in the fund-raisers.

• City officials should also hold public hearings to discuss the eventual use of the renovated home. Such uses could include a museum or public meeting place.Where once there was acrimony, finger-pointing and picketing, there is now communication and some fledgling trust. Just pray that it isn't too late.

The Lake Sentinel-Flap over old house could end(SundayAugust 13, 1989)

Morris Home to keep historic status if moved

By Steve Berry of The Sentinel Staff

Leesburg - City commissioners probably will hear news Monday that could help end a long and sometimes bitter dispute between Methodists and preservationists over an old home in the downtown area. William Thurston, a state supervisor of historic preservation, said he will tell the Leesburg City Commission Monday that moving the Mote-Morris home from church property might not jeopardize its place on the National Register of Historic Places. The home could keep its status if moved to a similar site, such as a vacant lot across the Main Street, he said. Thurston's comment would practically eliminate one of the major reasons that city officials and preservationists have opposed Morrison United Methodist Church's wish to move the home of its property.

The church wants to give the 97-year old structure, which was the home of a former church bishop and a prominent Leesburg family, to the city or to anyone who will move it off church property.But preservationists and city officials have said such a move would take the house off the National Register of Historic Places and jeopardize its chances for getting state restoration funds. The dispute has raged for three months. Preservationists have demonstrated in front of the church during Sunday services. City Commissioner Robert Lovell has threatened the church with eminent domain, the right government agencies have to acquire property for the public good.

And Morrison pastor Leslie Rabb has fired off a "Pastoral Message" declaring "I'm Upset." Thurston, who toured the lot Monday with Rabb and Commissioner Joe Knowles, said it looks as if it would meet federal provisions that would let the structure stay on the national Registry pending a review of the home after the move. "I did not look at the site in detail, but it appears to be appropriate," Thurston said. "The lot keeps the building in its immediate neighborhood. The move would only require turning the house around so that it would face the street."

He said moving it across the street probably would not lessen the city's chances to get a state grant to renovate the home. Moreover, a national registry official said in a letter to Rabb, the house would not lose its place on the registry if state officials approve the move. "If the relocation is approved in advance,the building will retain its National Register listing," said Carol D. Shull, chief of registration. The Commission Monday will hear Thurston's analysis of the site and other information about state money available for renovation projects. If the move doesn't jeopardize the home's eligibility, the city could consider buying the new site,while preservationists could raise money to finance the move.

Tom Grizzard Realtor Inc. lists the lot for $90,000, but agent Craig Hollingsworth said owner Charles Miller is willing to negotiate. Miller owns an antique store next to the half-acre lot. Knowles, who toured the site with Thurston and the church pastor, said he will offer a proposal to the commissiona Monday. "I am first going to establish the fact that the house is not going to stay where it is," he said. Rabb said Knowles is right. The church's administrative board recently unanimously affirmed its wish to move the house off the property, he said. Rabb, in his pastoral message, accused preservationists of waging a "deceitful campaign" against the church and of trying to split the congregation over the issue.

The preservationists have erroneously said the church eagerly wants to destroy the old home, he said. Jim Hill, spokesman for a group that has been pressuring the church to let the house stay on the property,denied the charges. He declined further comment,saying he wants the debate to become more positive. He said he would accept moving the home only as a last resort."Optimally, we want the house to stay on the property," he said. "But if [there is] no other solution, we would rather see it moved thatn bulldozed.

We just want to save the house." City officials are not averse to buying property in connection with the home, because they already have offered to swap land to the church for the Mote-Morris site. And Hill has said his group will donate money left over from its publicity campaign to anyone wanting to restore the home. So far it has raised $650 and spent $440,, but treasurer Jane Halloway said several people have said they would make big contributions toward preserving the home. She questioned whether the city should provide the land: "I don't know if that's a burden the taxpayers should bear."

Pastor Leslie E. Rabb-A Pastoral Message to My People



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The Lake Sentinel-Church, Preservationists come to terms over house(Tuesday,August 15, 1989)

By Steve Berry

of The Sentinel Staff

Leesburg- No one gave an inch Monday in the tug-of-war between Methodists and preservationists over the fate of the Mote-Morris home. But more was accomplished in two hours at the Leesburg City Commission meeting than in three months of angry charges and counter charges between 

and preservationists:

•  The debate over whether the home would stay on church property or be moved to make way for the church's expansion plans apparently was settled. It's going to have to be moved.
• Church officials apparently satisfied preservationists and the city commission by reiterating that they will not start swinging a wreckin ball if the city and preservationists get moving in finding a new home for the structure.
• The Methodists and preservationists said they are willing to start talking.

• The city commission decided to appoint a committee of church members and preservationists at its next meeting to determine where to put the home and how to raise money for the land,relocation and restoration. Commissioner Sanna Henderson and City Manager Rex Taylor agreed to represent the commission on it. All was not peace and tranquility. Church supporters muttered cynically at some comments of preservationists.But little of that came out at the speakers podium or at the commissioner's table. "There is a spirit of enthusiasm,"

• Commissioner Joe Knowles said. "Three weeks before there was just hostility." Jim Hill, leader of an informal preservation group called the Concerned Citizens for the Preservation of the Mote-Morris Home, met with church leader Claron "Woody" Wagner during a break in the discussion to talk about a meeting between the two groups. Earlier Hill had called for an end to the dispute. "If we can turn this around into a postive direction, we could turn this into a great gathering of support from the community." The 97-year-old home was built by E. H. Mote, one of Leesburg's early mayors.  

• A former Methodist bishop H. C. Morrison- and three generations of the Morris family lived there. The U.S. Park Service has listed it in the National Register of Historic Places.While the church has never set a deadline for removing the home, it has said repeatedly it will raze the structure if someone does not move it. Preservationists have waged a vigorous publicity campaign, including a picket during Sunday services serveral weeks ago, to pressure the church into letting the home remain on its church site next door to the church. Until Monday, preservationists have argued that the house would lose it's place on National Register, jeopardizing eligibility for state funding.

But William Thurston, state supervisor for historic preservation, told the city commission the house probably could keep its listing if it were moved to the lot across the street or to a site two blocks west. And, he assured the commission, moving the house to a similar spot would not jeopardize state funding for renovation. Although that was not quite the guarantee preservationists sought, they appeared to accept that the home would have to be moved. "The leadership of the church wants it moved," Knowles said. "That fact is final." With those issues settled, both sides and the commission are turning to the money question. Thurston, the state official, said his agency would consider paying for relocation and renovation, but the community would have to pay for the site, which could cost from $90,000 to $150,000. To get the money next year, the state Division of Historic Resources must receive the city application by Sept. 15, a deadline probably beyond reach, commissioners concluded.

City Commissioners said taxpayers will not foot the entire bill. The city cannot help with the project unless the church and preservationists support the fundraising, Knowles said. "If they can't get a commitment and show they are willing to back this, the city can't do much with it." Mayor David Connelly said in an interview that he would oppose any subtantial contribution on part of the city. "I'd love to take that kind of money down to east Leesburg and really do some renovating," he said, referring blighted areas of town. Commisssioner Charles Stickland advocated a November referendum. Hill said preservationists are prepared to cahnnel all thier funds to restoration if someone assures them the house will not be destroyed.

"We have not sought major corparate cintributions," Hill said. "But three or four have said they will make major contributions. I don't think money is the problem." In other business, the commission voted unanimously to forbid bars from located downtown unless they are an incidently part of a restaurant. The law will not affect the few bars already doing business downtown. Commissioner Bob Lovell proposed the ordiance several weeks ago to make sure furture bars keep their distance from youth who attend a new downtown teen club and Beacon College. Leesburg has had a law that prohibits bars from locating within 200 feet of a school or church. It also prohibits bars in neighborhood commerical zones. The new law extends that last prohibition to the more intensely commerical areas like central business district and parts of 14th Street.