Mote-Morris House Is Historical

Mote-Morris House in 1975

The Mote-Morris house survives in excellent condition as example of architectural style of the late 19th century.(Photo By Norma Hendricks)

What Become Of Camphor? Whatever happened to the camphor. industry in Leesburg? In March,1917,headlines in the Leesburg Commercial proclaimed this as the new industry  for this area,which was predicted to far outshine the citrus business.According to the news stories,Japan previously had monopoly on the camphor business,but now it had been found that Lake County was an ideal place to grow camphor trees.The growers were advised to plant them in rows 15 feet apart,and six feet apart in the row.After three years the grower could begin to hearvest twigs and leaves,which would be ground and distilled into camphor products.Plans were to construct a factory here for the purpose of distiling this odorous product.Allegedly the trees would produce 8,000 pounds of cuttings to the acre, every year,which would boil down to 320 pounds of pure camphor an acre.by  the Florida Division of Archives,History and Records Management.Listed as the Mote-Morris hosue,with May J.(Mrs.John)Morris as owner when the survey was taken in February,1974,it is also the home of her son Robert J. Morris and his family,who remain in residence since the death of the elder Mrs.Morris.Built in 1892 by E. H. Mote,this is one of the few original homes remaining almost unchanged through the years.The only noticeable difference now from earliest photographs is the wood trim once painted in a dark color and now all white.The former window shoutters have been removed,and serveral bathrooms have been added.The original bracketed porch posts and balustrade have been replaced with short classical columns on piers.The main entrance is placed at  the base of the turret and the main staircase originates in the turrest and then turns eastward into the main part of the house. There is an auxiliary interior stair at the rear of the building.The porch,surrounding the house on two sides,is four bays wide,with stairs rising to it on east and west ends.The report of Diane Greer,Historic Sites Specialist,says  the interior of the house shows fine attention to detail,with tile fireplace surrounds,double doors set into Doric surrounds with transoms above and plaster ceiling ornament in grape and wheat motif. The house occupies a lager,well-landscaped lot in the misdst of downtown Leesburg."The property is surround by the original wrough iron fence and all is well maintained and in good condition," the report concudes.E. H. Mote came to Florida from Washington, D.C. in 1881 and in February,1889 purchased the property on which the house is located. Active in development of Leesburg,Mote started out in livery Busines,which he sold in 1885.With Col.Davis Tillson,he built the Lake View Hotel upstairs,which today is called the Stoer Building.Mote also developed Constructed at an approximate cost of $9,000, the house is an interesting combination of forms,with cross gables flanked by two gables pavilions.there than the original owner this home later was occupied by Methodist Bishop H.C. Morrison,who came to Leesburg to make his home in 1908.His sons remained in Leesburg,Dr. M.H. Morrison was a beloved physician here for more than 50 years.The late John Morris, whose widow was listed as the owner by the state report, developed an extensive business in ferns, in which his son,Roberts J." Bobby" Morris is active.

Research Info.

Daily Commercial,Leesburg,Fla,Monday,June 30,1975