Sydonie Mansion - Rich History, Heavenly Views

Sydonie Mansion faces away from the main highway and towards the beautiful Lake Minore.  The views are majestic and among the most breathtaking I have seen in Central Florida!

As a new resident of Central Florida, it's hard for me to think of anything to do but go to Disney for fun.  A good friend of mine, tuned into this problem, and invited my boys and me to the Care Foundation a few weeks ago, and this month she invited us to go with her and her boys to tour the Sydonie Mansion.  I thought, "Okay, cool, a restored mansion. Love history, and love preservation. It will be a nice tour."

But, it wasn't just a nice tour, it was fantastic.

Sydonie Mansion was built around the turn of last century by Grosvener Atterbury for the James Laughlin family, used by them as a Florida winter home.  It is believed to be the oldest mansion in Florida.

It has changed hands a few times over the years, and I will post the link at the end of this article to get more details about the property and it's history.  

I'm not one to be impressed by large houses, or mansions, or decor.  I might walk through a property that has been restored and say ooh, and ahh, but what impressed me about this property was the connection it has to lives of individuals in the local community.  

At one time, Sydonie was part of the Hampden DuBose Academy, and served as a Christian boarding school for girls in connection with the academy.  

We were lucky to have been on the same tour as one of the former students of the academy, Margie Grinnell, who is the director of the Zellwood, Florida Historical Society,  and she was able to share wonderful memories of her time living at Sydonie.  It was listening to her talk about these memories that endeared me to the mansion.

If it had been passed down from one rich family to another, and to another, it would have just been another building to me, but the fact that it served as a place learning for young people where they were strengthened in Christian principles, it has become a special place in the community, as far as I am concerned.

I also loved the most recent history of this mansion and the stories of the new owners, Clark and Amy Frogley, who like myself spent there lives raising a large family.  After their children were grown, they found in Sydonie a place to use their talents to restore the mansion.

Syndonie was in a state of deterioration when the Frogley's bought it from an elderly couple who had become unable to maintain the property .  Now, due to their amazing work ethic, passion for history, and through much of their own toil, they have cleaned up, shored up, and restored much of the property to it's former splendor, and they are continuing to give Sydonie the tender loving care it deserves.  

The mansion, on the national registry, now serves as an educational place of local history where people can come and tour and learn about the area, and the history of the mansion.  

It is also a beautiful place that can be rented for weddings, photo shoots, and other events.  

Please enjoy the photos I was able to take yesterday.  Read the through the captions to learn more about the property, and then please follow the link at the end to learn more particulars on the property and how to contact the management of Sydonie to schedule a tour.  

If you decide to take a day off from the Orlando attractions, or if you live locally to Mt. Dora, set up a time and tour this inspiring property!  I will be worth your time as you will come away feeling inspired and relaxed. I would have to say it is one of the most beautiful places I have seen since I have moved to Florida.

 

This first view of the lake from the front porch of Sydonie, so took my breath away that I forgot my camera was on "toy setting".  It doesn't do the view justice.

Looking back up to the mansion as we head down toward the boathouse where we started our tour.

Amy leads the boys down to the boathouse.  I was not prepared on how badly my knees would take this descent. If have bad knees where a good pair of shoes.  I was not wearing the right shoes!

The boathouse, in decades past, was right up to the lake!!!!  When the government built highway 441 they blocked the spring in order to prevent flooding on the highway.  As a result, the lake shrunk away from the structure.  

The boys pause for a moment to pose for the picture.

This boathouse was built to last.  Look at all of the concrete!

Heaven on earth is being on the second story of the boathouse sitting on the swing overlooking the lake.

Nice touch!

The top floor of the boathouse is a storybook place to see beautiful Florida scenery from all sides.

Honorable young scout!

Here I'm standing on the top floor of the boathouse looking down at the tile roof over the first story.

Looking to the west bank of Lake Minore.

Beautiful!

Three years ago, these boxes were empty.  The vines are 100 plus year old.

Look at that blue sky against the tile roof.  I didn't set this or change this to vivid color.  This is the sky's true blue.

This is called the whispering wall.  You are supposed to be able sit on opposite sides, whisper to each other, and be able to hear everything that is being said.  The boys are trying it out.

Lovely!

Beautiful 100 plus year old ivy frames this carriage house.

I think Margie called this a columnae or columnais?

Look at these beautiful gardens in the courtyard behind the mansion! These were all empty when the Frogley's moved in and these beautiful gardens were all planted by Amy.

The original owner, James Laughlin, owned the Jones and Laughlin Iron Company and Sydonie has a lot of beautful iron work.

And this beautiful oak tree if far older than the mansion itself.  I love the beautiful flowering trees in the landscaping.

More oak trees, more flowering trees, and a cute kitty.

Such nifty details can be found all over the property....

...like this spiral concrete outdoor staircase.

They made it to the top. 

And the kitty came to check them out.  Notice the beautiful outdoor wood floors.  Many of the areas of the mansion have wood floors.

To learn more details and facts about Sydonie Mansion and how you can book a tour or an event, you can also visit the official web site here where you can learn more about the history and restoration efforts.  Make plans to visit this gorgeous historical location!