The Withers-Maguire House is a small event venue and

historic house museum A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that has been transformed into a museum. Historic furnishings may be displayed in a way that reflects their original placement and usage in a home. Historic house museums are held to a ...

in Ocoee,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. It is located at 16 East Oakland Avenue and is owned by the City of Ocoee. It was added to the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on April 2, 1987. The builder was retire
General William Temple Withers
a native Kentuckian, who began wintering in Florida in 1884. He spent much of his time acquiring land in western Orange County and growing citrus. In 1888, he built this house and lived here until his death the following year. Withers’ widow, Martha, sold the house and its furnishings in 1910 t

and his family, whose house had recently burned. Like Withers, Maguire was very involved in citrus growing, and the family became prominent citizens in Ocoee. Maguire's son, Fred, was Ocoee's first mayor,The Town of Ocoee was created by an act of the State Legislature in 1923. The town was subsequently dissolved and the City of Ocoee was created by an act of the State legislature in 1925. and another son, Raymer, was the first city attorney. David Maguire died in 1913, but members of his family continued to reside in the house until 1979. After a commercial venture to convert the home to offices was abandoned, the City of Ocoee acquired the house in 1984. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Made from pine cut and milled on this site, it is an example of Stick Victorian style architecture. One of the finest houses in west Orange County, it was one of the first to have concealed electrical wiring and closets. The city restored the house following its acquisition using a combination of city funds and a State of Florida grant. The downstairs rooms is available for rental and is suitable for smaller gatherings or to support an outside event. A modern catering kitchen is available. The upstairs rooms serve as a museum depicting early 1900s life in Ocoee. Current information regarding the City of Ocoee can be foun
here

References

External links

Orange County listings
a
Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida Museums in Orange County, Florida National Register of Historic Places in Orange County, Florida Historic house museums in Florida Houses in Orange County, Florida Vernacular architecture in Florida Houses completed in 1888 Ocoee, Florida 1888 establishments in Florida {{Florida-museum-stub