North Key House was originally built in 1912 by the Burkhart family. They understood the value of this central Florida location and started Mount Dora's first alligator trading post in this house. Local folk would gather here in the early mornings to see what the trappers had caught the night before. The gators back then would grow to a length of up to 18 feet. After a bit of ceremonial gator wrestling the meat was harvested and the hides were hung from both levels of the porches to dry. The dried gator leather was then shipped to manufactures up north to fulfill the high demand for alligator bags in those days.
In the mid 1920s the home became a brothel. Many beautiful ladies adorned the porches waiting to entertain a gentleman caller. The madam of the house, known as Cookie, actually coined a very famous phrase in memory of the houses alligator trading post history. Whenever a gentleman was leaving, all the ladies would gather on the porches and in their sweetest southern drawl say "see ya later alligator". In the fifties the building next door, North Key Suites, was added to the property. The gentleman that owned the house in that era was a known conspiracy theorist. He believed the Russians were ready to replace their vodka in the snow for some rum and fun in the sun. Now that Russia and Cuba were friendlier than one of Cookies girls on payday, he knew those Russians would be relocating in mass to the sunny beachs from 90 miles just off our southernmost coast. To prepare for the coming invasion, and in the name of good old patriotic capitalism, he added the duplex to the property. Below the apartments is 3500 square foot bunker. It is now used as a wine cellar and for cat food storage. In the late 1960's the original home was also split into two apartments and the side porches were infilled to make additional bedrooms. The home slowly deteriorated till it was recently purchased in 2012 The current renovation began, 100 years from its original construction.
Toby Turner Construction has been Rethinking, Renewing, and Rebuilding homes in the historic district of Mount Dora since the last millennium. We feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to give this great old home another chapter in its life. Thank you for taking a moment to read this history of North Key. Though all, some, or none of it may be true, I hope that you find Mount Dora to be the someplace special that those of us who live here know it is.
NORTH KEY'S NEXT CHAPTER
Then I saw her.
She was big, old, and very broken.
The porches had been enclosed and she been split into two apartments
No sooner than 20 years ago, she been sprayed in a shade of putrid salmon.
She had been rode hard, put away wet, and I was in love.
There had been some pretty offensive changes done to the interior and exterior.
That, combined with the unquantifiable number of people to pass through her doors over the past 100 years, she was more than qualified for a complete DNA removal.
We emptied her out, lifted her up and gave her all new everything.
Giving this great old house a new chapter in it's life has coincided with a personal evolution as well. I have learned that it really doesn't matter where you live, as much as how you are living.
Having a feeling of accomplishment, the support of your community, and pride in what you are producing can absolutely provide that happy, simple life so many desire.
-Toby
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The professor had it pretty good. A beautiful tropical island. Sandy beaches and palm trees. A couple of drinking buddies to hang out with. Even two girls, always making coconut cream pies for everyone.
At about 8 years old I thought that looked like a goal worth setting my sights on. Unfortunately, I had to do a little time.
The family imposed requirements of school, then university, had to be completed. While it was never really said, it was definitely implied, that if I didn't conform I would not get invited to family gatherings in the future. The Requirements met, it was time to head as far south as that grey 77' Pontiac Lemans would roll. I had heard that at the end of the road was an amazing little is
It was there that I really started to learn. I sailed, I dove, I made cocktails and dreams. I read Hemingway and listened to Buffett. I took it all in, till it became a permanently imbedded ideology. I spent hours riding my scooter around the island, studying the architecture. Grand homes and small conch cottages all sharing that same vibe emanating from them. By the age of 30, I'd had my fill of boats and bars. I had also done well on my first house deal and it was time to start a new chapter.
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Now when you live down there, the thought of living anywhere above Saint Augustine brings on horrific visions of getting frost bite. This makes leaving very difficult. Being originally from New England, I figured I could handle living on the latitudinal edge. I failed forward in Orlando, stayed briefly in the "almost perfect" Appalchacola, and spent three excruciatingly long months confused in California. The universe eventually guided me to Mount Dora. To say the least, it was a little different than my previous surroundings. However, similar to my old island, this place also had that feeling of someplace special. For the next dozen years I renovated historic cottages in town. Picket fences and porches adding a little island style into my projects. Then I saw her. She was big, old, and very broken. The porches had been enclosed and she been split into two apartments. No sooner than 20 years ago, she been sprayed in a shade of putrid salmon. She had been rode hard, put away wet, and I was in love.
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There had been some pretty offensive changes done to the interior and exterior. That, combined with the unquantifiable number of people to pass through her doors over the past 100 years, she was more than qualified for a complete DNA removal. We emptied her out, lifted her up and gave her all new everything.
Giving this great old house a new chapter in it's life has coincided with a personal evolution as well. I have learned that it really doesn't matter where you live, as much as how you are living. Having a feeling of accomplishment, the support of your community, and pride in what you are producing can absolutely provide that happy, simple life so many desire. So for now, North Key is my own inner peace of paradise.
My island home patiently waiting for the ocean to catch up.
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