Central Florida Captain's House Has Future As Museum
By Kathryn Jorgensen
October 2004

TAVARES, Fla -- A rundown house that was slated for demolition for a golf course now has a future as a museum thanks to a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans who reenacts with the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.

Bob Grenier took note of the old Lake County house, once known as Woodlea, not far from where he lives three years ago. It intrigued him and he was inspired to learn more. He learned that the house was built in 1871 by the area's most prominent citizen - Capt. Melton Haynes of Co. H of the 5th Battalion, 2nd Florida Cavalry. It is one of central Florida's oldest houses.

The Woodlea land was sold for development in the late 1980s, mid-90s. The modest unpainted house now stands among million-dollar homes, in the way of the future golf course.

Grenier's research led to a book and a one-man roadshow to spread the word about Captain Haynes's house. For two years he has given talks and generated support to save the house. It worked, and by the end of the year Woodlea could be relocated to Lake Idamare Park.

County and city officials agreed to a plan and have the funds to move the house to the park, which the city plans to annex. The house is also nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Grenier describes the house as "dilapidated, yet distinguished." It's what he calls the "Florida cracker" style popular in Florida and Georgia from the mid-1800s to the 1920s, with a sand brick foundation, batten boards and cedar shake roof. During Capt. Melton's remodeling the exterior was changed to clapboards.

The house has a front entry room, first-floor bedroom, sitting room with fireplace and a second floor that was proba-bly the children's sleeping area. An open breezeway connected a kitchen building. First- and second-floor enclosed porches were added later. The house still has its three original doors.

Haynes had gone to Florida from North Carolina as an 18-year-old in 1845. He planted the first "sweet" oranges in this part of the state. Haynes formed a militia of settlers to fight Indians and commanded Co. H of the 5th Battalion, 2nd Florida Cavalry. In October 1863 the company was attached to Capt. J.J. Dickison, the Swamp Fox of the Confed-eracy.

Haynes was a state senator in 1866 and the first worshipful master of Masonic Master Lodge 58 in Leesburg, Fla. The funeral procession following his accidental drowning in 1883 was the largest ever seen in those parts, then known as South Florida. Today it's central Florida, but in those days it was south and everything south of it was wilderness, Grenier explains.

Woodlea was Haynes's last home. As its significance came to light Grenier made public presentations while counting on his "team," for research, ideas and other support. They included his father, Robert A. Grenier; Jeff H. Grzelak, commander of the 17th Connecticut; Lake County Historical Museums Director Dr. Diane D. Kamp; and researcher Rebecca Fritz. Another supporter was Tavares City Administrator Dottie Keedy, who learned that the subdivision developer would donate the house if someone would move it.

Their efforts received media attention and a supportive editorial in the Orlando Sentinel that said, "Preserving history today almost always is a worthy investment for tomorrow."

In April the Lake County Historical Museums in Tavares opened a Captain Haynes exhibit and the SCV held a memorial service at Woodlea for Confederate Memorial Day. More recently the museum unveiled a 6-by-6-by-2-foot model made by the senior Grenier that show how Woodlea will look restored.

Grenier decided to tell Capt. Haynes's story. He published an illustrated softcover book of almost 200 pages titled Florida's Forgotten Pioneer: The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes. It was a family affair. His father did the illustrations and his mother Mary transcribed old documents and typed and edited.

The book is based on extensive research and use of documents, but is written in a non-academic style with dialogue and description. "I believe people, especially those who don't read much, would prefer and enjoy reading a book if it is told in story form," Grenier explains.

In addition to telling Melton's story, the book covers the descendants, region and the property up to the current efforts to save the house. Most of the 1,000 copies have sold and Grenier is considering a second printing.

He is working on a sequel about the central Florida pioneers and settlers who made up Melton's company. He doesn't claim to be a "professional author" - "I'm just an air conditioner repairman" he says - but he's a good researcher and he has a story to tell.