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Local Historic Landmarks |
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Casa Muchas de
Flores
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The Casa de Muchas Flores is an architecturally distinguished estate, that survives virtually unaltered, to reflect an era and a way of life important to Florida history. To that end the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The 1926-34 Mediterranean Revival style house was the largest and most important residence designed by local architect Henry Dupont. The Casa de Muchas Flores was the first waterfront estate built in the "Jungle" area, setting the tone for future development along the bay. The Casa de Muchas Flores is an imposing masonry building of two and three stories and has an irregular floor plan. It is built of hollow tile and the exterior is covered with a stucco finish and has a barrel tile roof. The house is an asymmetrical grouping of one, two and three story elements that break up the 11,000 square foot mass of the building. The roofs are: (1), gabled barrel tile with overhanging eaves and exposed wooden rafter ends; (2), hipped barrel tile with overhanging eaves and exposed wooden rafter ends; (3), flat roofs of built-up tarpaper and gravel with cooper flashings. The barrel tile is of three different shades of unglazed terra cotta; the flashings, gutters and downspouts are copper. There are four chimnies, three exterior; all are stucco finish. The main facade faces east along Park Street and is 120 feet long, containing the formal entrance. The horizontal sweep of the facade is relieved by the irregular roof planes and the strong vertical lines of the chimney by the front door and the octagonal stair tower. The contrasting use of arched and rectangular openings gives variety to the facade. All windows, save one, are steel casement type, with eight or ten lights per case. A large window (81" x 111"), next to the chimney, lights the great hall and is a focal point of the facade. It is of leaded stained glass roundels, covered by an ornate wrought iron grille. Grilles or rejas of the same style cover the other arched fan lighted windows of the main facade. An ornate wrought iron gate covers the front door. The Casa de Muchas Flores was initially designed for Alpine Lucas in 1926 but was sold to Thomas W. Miller for $125,000 in the same year. Miller was the owner of Faultless Rubber Company and Miller Tire Company of Ashland, Ohio. In 1934 the Casa de Muchas Flores was enlarged at a cost of $38,000. Upon Thomas Miller's death in 1946, his son, Parker Miller, lived in the house with his new bride for one year. In 1950 the Casa sold for $50,000 to Clayton Lynch, the owner of Lynch Oil Company of Evanston, Indiana, which he sold upon his retirement to St. Petersburg in 1950. Lynch was a serious gardener with a famous orchid collection. For awhile the house lived up to its name, "The House of Many Flowers." |
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