In Dunedin, bungalows' grace, charm put on display
By MEGAN SCOTT
Published March 16, 2004
DUNEDIN - During the roaring 1920s, the bungalow was a staple of Florida living: comfortable, inexpensive and functional.
The hallmark was the front porch, the elephant leg columns and the small gable roof that echoed the main one. A floor plan then included six rooms, often with no interior hall, and built-in furniture such as sideboards and bookcases to help clear the Victorian clutter of furniture.
That same humble bungalow-style home has made a comeback as more people are drawn to its character and grace.
That's one of the reasons the Dunedin Historical Society chose them for this year's tour of homes. The Bungalow Stroll: A Tour of Historic Dunedin on Saturday consists of nine homes and one bungalow-style church, all built between 1917 and 1932.
"I always wanted to do bungalows," said Roberta Gunn, chairwoman of the tour. "They're unpretentious yet warm and inviting."
Bungalows are known for hardwood floors, high ceilings and gabled roofs. Most of the dining rooms have fireplaces and built-in china cabinets with glass doors. Elegant woodwork and beautiful moldings complete the look.
Susan Fraley wasn't necessarily looking for a bungalow when she bought her home on Aberdeen Street in 1993. The home was built in 1922 in a new subdivision called Fenway on the Bay. It is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom and has about 1,700 square feet of living space. There is even an apartment in the back yard where her parents live.
When Fraley bought the home for $105,000, the exterior was a neon blue. She spent years restoring some of the woodwork and furnishing the home with antiques to give it character.
"I just know what I like," said Fraley, who works for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. "I love antiques."
The living room has a large armoire that holds a television set and a trunk that serves as a coffee table. An old-style phonograph sits near the wall. There is a built-in glass cabinet in the dining room that houses a set of Currier & Ives china.
Perhaps the most comfortable room is the sunroom, which Fraley has decorated with sunflowers that outline the windows and accentuate the pastel yellow walls.
Based on comparable sales in the neighborhood between 2001 and 2002, property appraisers estimate the home would sell for about $206,000.
"I love my house," Fraley said as she sat on her blue couch. "What a neat way to help the historical society. This has also been a catalyst for me to get things done."
One of the other homes in the tour was built on two large lots in 1926 from a Sears, Roebuck & Co. kit plan. At the time it was part of Grove Terrace, a subdivision established by L.B. Skinner and Co. Inc.
Greg and Mary Hoover moved there in 1987 when their daughter was 2 years old.
The Hoovers have done almost all of the work on the home, from putting raspberry paint on the living room walls to adding a master bedroom and bathroom suite. New windows were installed, in addition to new siding and shingles.
"The high ceilings and wood floors really sold us on the house," said Greg Hoover, who owns Polyrol Inc. in Clearwater. "We've always had an old house. We love the look."
The sofa in the master bedroom dates to 1827. The room has a four poster bed and a closet that is 16-by-6, which Hoover built. The bathroom has 71/2-foot-long cabinets with double sinks, a claw foot cast iron tub and a toilet with a pull chain.
Besides viewing the bungalows, tourgoers will get a history lesson. Docents will talk about the period in which the bungalow was built.
The event is dedicated to Kathryn Kane, who was killed in a motorcycle accident this year. Kane, who had her home on the tour of homes in 2002, helped get many of the bungalow owners to participate in the tour. Proceeds benefit the historical society.
"It's a one-time opportunity to view some of the bungalows you wouldn't necessarily see on the inside," said Vinnie Luisi, director of the historical society. "This is a great way to go out and enjoy it and learn about the history of your community at the same time."
The Dunedin Historical Society will host The Bungalow Stroll: A Tour of Historic Dunedin, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The tour has nine homes and one bungalow-style church. Refreshments will be served at First Presbyterian Church, 455 Scotland St., within walking distance of seven of the bungalows. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the tour For information, call 733-5751.
