Montverde in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Harper House
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 10, 2019
1. Harper House Marker
Inscription.
Harper House. . Built in the late 1870s, this house is the oldest building in Montverde. Pioneer merchant and citrus grower Reuben Wyatt Harper purchased it in 1891 after moving to Lake County from Alabama. At first, Harper ran a store and the town's first post office out of the building, but after his marriage to Mary Jane McQuaig in 1892, he converted it into their residence. The house is a fine example of the adaptability of Frame Vernacular architecture. It was the home of a large, three-generation family. The two-story addition on the west side became a dining room on the first floor and an upstairs bedroom for Harper's father. Part of the porch was enclosed for Harper's office, and the screened porch in the rear accommodated the eight Harper children. In addition to the house, Harper owned other real estate in Montverde and helped stimulate agriculture and business along the western shore of Lake Apopka. He donated land to bring the Tavares and Gulf Railroad to Montverde, and in 1912, aided in the founding of the Montverde Industrial School, later renamed the Montverde Academy. Harper was designated a Great Floridian 2000, and the Harper House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Built in the late 1870s, this house is the oldest building in Montverde. Pioneer merchant and citrus grower Reuben Wyatt Harper purchased it in 1891 after moving to Lake County from Alabama. At first, Harper ran a store and the town's first post office out of the building, but after his marriage to Mary Jane McQuaig in 1892, he converted it into their residence. The house is a fine example of the adaptability of Frame Vernacular architecture. It was the home of a large, three-generation family. The two-story addition on the west side became a dining room on the first floor and an upstairs bedroom for Harper's father. Part of the porch was enclosed for Harper's office, and the screened porch in the rear accommodated the eight Harper children. In addition to the house, Harper owned other real estate in Montverde and helped stimulate agriculture and business along the western shore of Lake Apopka. He donated land to bring the Tavares and Gulf Railroad to Montverde, and in 1912, aided in the founding of the Montverde Industrial School, later renamed the Montverde Academy. Harper was designated a Great Floridian 2000, and the Harper House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Erected 2018 by The Harper Family and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1013.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 28° 35.939′ N, 81° 40.043′ W. Marker is in Montverde, Florida, in Lake County. Marker is at the intersection of East Porter Avenue and 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east on East Porter Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17408 East Porter Avenue, Montverde FL 34756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 999 times since then and 130 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
