The
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art announced plans to build a 10,000 square-foot addition! The new space would house most of its holdings of objects and architectural elements from Laurelton Hall, Louis Comfort Tiffany's Long Island, N.Y., country estate. It would also include additional office space and triple the size of the outside courtyard garden to 4,450 square feet. Work should begin late this year and be completed by the spring of 2010.
The Daffodil Terrace from Laurelton Hall, measuring 32 feet by 18 feet, will be the architectural focal point of the addition. The recently restored terrace, supported by eight marble columns topped with bouquets of glass daffodils, has never been on view in Winter Park.
Laurelton Hall, built between 1902 and 1905 on Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, is thought to be Tiffany's greatest work of art. The 84-room mansion was destroyed by fire in 1957. Surviving architectural elements and windows were salvaged by Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean are now part of the collections of the museum Jeannette McKean founded in Winter Park in 1942. This museum has always been and will continue to be a Winter Park treasure! The museum is just moments away by car from
Thurston House, a Winter Park area bed & breakfast.
I was just finishing up today's yard duties and did a walk-around. Hiding in our natural area to the left of the incoming driveway are these beautiful ginger plants. We have had them for years, but they have traveled around the yard some to see which area they like it best. Looks like this is it! Come to Thurston House in Maitland and take a look...just a short drive north of downtown Orlando and right next to Winter Park! 
We have enjoyed guests from all over the world - 50 states, 21 countries and 3 territories! Of course they always want to know where we are from and how we got here. This is where I grew up - Holden, Massachusetts. It was a small town just north of Worcester, in the center of the state. It is now a bustling community of approx 20,000 residents! Quite a change from its' incorporation in 1741. When I lived there it was a quiet and wonderful place to grow up. In doing Thurston Family research I learned that a Thurston cousin is buried in the antique cemetery that is located right in the town square area that is depicted in these prints.....small world!
In my "other" life I worked at a Fortune 500 Company in Massachusetts - Norton Company. I was actually the 4th generation to work at this abrasives company. Their original products were ceramic jugs, crocks and that type of thing. This is one from my great-Grandfather, who also was employed by them. Ironically, this company started in 1885, the same year this house was completed! Come visit this Orlando area bed & breakfast - Thurston House - and check it our for yourselves!
Originally this city was called Fumecheliga (Musk Mellon Place) by the Seminole Indians. Established in 1838, Fort Maitland was a military fort built by the United States Army. It was built as a supply depot during the Second Seminole War. The fort was named after Captain William Seton Maitland, who was injured during the Battle of Wahoo Swamp (pictured here) and later died of his injuries. Ironically, he was never in this area!
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art announced plans to build a 10,000 square-foot addition! The new space would house most of its holdings of objects and architectural elements from Laurelton Hall, Louis Comfort Tiffany's Long Island, N.Y., country estate. It would also include additional office space and triple the size of the outside courtyard garden to 4,450 square feet. Work should begin late this year and be completed by the spring of 2010.
