House of Seven Gables

House of Seven Gables. Built: 1907 - Moved: 1976. , A Queen Anne with a Royal View , This impressive home rested on the bluff in downtown Clearwater near the Pinellas County Courthouse. From its wrap around porch, occupants enjoyed magnificent views of Clearwater Bay and the developing city. The elegant residence contains 13 rooms, with a spacious living area suited for Edwardian tastes. For 6 decades many families and people made this place home. , Rising Starrs , David and Mary Starr visited the settlement of Clear Water Harbor in early 1886 and purchased land. David, a savvy entrepreneur, commuted for 20 years between his hometown of Rockford, Illinois where he ran a manufacturing business, and Pinellas with his real estate and business enterprises. In 1896 the couple bought the land for a home, waiting a decade to build their grand seasonal residence where they lived until 1917. , A Rector's Residence , In the early 1920s, Arthur Cornwell, an Episcopal minister, rented this home for his family. As rector of the Church of the Ascension in Clearwater, he spent time planning the opening of a new sanctuary. At home he graded student papers for his other full time job--teaching at the city's high school. Cornwell's socially active three daughters fished, swam, went boating, held card parties and enjoyed picnics. , Glancing at the Gables , This home has classic late Queen Anne style features including an asymmetrical shape, wings and gables facing in multiple directions, an impressive porch and gingerbread details. Interior paneling throughout the home features heart pine that hardens as it ages and very termite resistant. , A Rooming Home , Chester and Lucy Masslich owned this home from 1925 through 1943. They converted it into Seven Gables Inn, a boarding house, and hired families to manage the property. Single adults, binder boys and winter residents rented furnished rooms. For the following 30 years, it was again a private home for the Dietrich and Hemerick families, among others. , Binder Boys , During the 1920s land boom, 'binder boys' assisted realtors by locating prospective buyers. They accepted a binder, or deposit, often about $1,000 for down payment on property. Some 'binder boys' rented rooms in Seven Gables Inn. , Tidbits from Time , Entangling Alliances , David Starr's niece Mabel married John Cheyney, an early Tarpon Springs settler active in the sponging industry. The Starrs and Cheyneys engaged in more than social activities - they partnered in business and real estate ventures in northern Pinellas. , Boys Will Be Boys , The Reilly family managed the Seven Gables Inn during the mid 1930s. When their parents were out, Neil and his brother grabbed seat cushions and slid down the stairs. For extra cash in 1935, ten-year old Neil roasted peanuts and sold small bags of goobers at the nearby courthouse.