This is the 1870s built home of the Hooker family, early settlers of the Concord community (now Casselberry). The modern home actually was two houses on the Hooker estate that were combined into one home. The primary living quarters was the main house, which at one time was a smaller building but was added on to over the years. Another section was previously the guest house.
The Hooker family originally settled in the area, along the shores of Trout Lake in the 1850s. They farmed the land of a 40 acre homestead that included the land that Milwee Middle School is now located on.
The property stayed pretty much untouched all the way until 1997, when the heirs of the Janis James Colle family, who bought the property from the Hookers 50 years earlier, offered the land for sale. Developers purchased the estate and built a gated community called Lake Griffin Estates. The neighborhood spans the area between Lake Griffin, Lake Lotus and Trout Lake. All of that land used to be owned by the Hooker Family.
Back then the Hooker homestead was hidden, buried deep within this rare wooded swath of land, with a narrow and winding dirt path heading to it from Cypress Way. The 1870s family home, along with servant quarters and out buildings were mainly forgotten about. When Lake Griffin Estates was built there was a lot of debate about what would come of these buildings. The former owners begged the new owners to save the old home. It was discussed if they could be moved to downtown Longwood, perhaps floated across the lake. Worse case, they were to be demolished.
Fortunately, the community builders decided to heed public interest and keep it in tact. They moved the two main buildings in 2000, but kept them within the original footprint of family’s estate. It was fused together into one home and sold as a private home. It is interesting to find this large relic situated in a prime location at the end of a cul de sac among homes over 100 years newer than itself! It’s almost as if it is still keeping watch over its historic estate.
References:
- Hooker Homestead For Sale (1997 Orlando Sentinel)
- Zillow Home Listing (with photos of inside and outside from 2013)
- Hooker Homestead being moved, plans for restoration (2000 Orlando Sentinel)
- Granddaughter of JL Hooker, born on homestead, still living in Longwood (1977 Orlando Sentinel)
- Ideas of moving the home (1998 Orlando Sentinel)