Daily Commercial-Protestors:Save old home (Monday-July 17,1989)

By Penny Carter/Daily Commercial Staff Writter

Monday-July 17,1989



The Mote-Morris house Leesburg's Main Street got plenty of attention Sunday morning when as many as 75 protesters walked around it and the Morrison United Methodist Church to protest church officials plans to have the home moved to allow for expansion.But at least one of the church member agrees with the church officials decision to move the home, saying that the house has architectural value that would not be destroyed by the move.  

The home, built in 1892, is listed on the National Historic Register.The home is named for two families who lived there. One family, the Morris family, lived there for some 70 years, according to the protesters.Church officials began seeking private people to move the house after city officials turned down an offer earlier this year, to move it. The City Commission contended that moving the house would remove it from the National Register and make it harder,if not impossible,to get grants for refurbishing it.

 In the lastest series of events,Morrison officials said several people interested in the house. They would not say who the people are, only that some are local and one is from "out of the area."
On Sunday the protestors,who gathered in time for the morning church service,marched peacefully until about 12:15p.m.,when churchgoers left their church. Protestors carried signs that read "Is this house worth more that a parking lot?"

"History Yes,Asphalt No" and "Save,dont Pave." Drivers passing by 1005 W. Main St. slowed to watch the protestors.The group calls itself concerned citizens,formed during the past week or so, said spokemans Jim Hill." It didn't take very much to bring the people out," Hill sais,once word got out around that the church had purchased the house in order to use the land for expansion.The church bought the house last year,raising the hopes of some who said they felt the house would be restored and used in some church-related capacity.One of those is City Commissioner Bob Lovell. Lovell said he supports the protestors and believes the house is an important part of the city's heritage.