Bungalow Is First On Sebring's Historic Register

The home of a music teacher in the 1920s is now what Charlotte Pressler affectionately calls her money pit.

"House restoration can become a bit obsessive," said Pressler, a professor of English and philosophy at South Florida Community College. "Needless to say, I'm not buying a lot of new clothes right now."
The renovation of her bungalow with historical sensitivity has earned Pressler the first listing on Sebring's Local Historic Register.

"It's been a major undertaking both for the exterior and interior," Pressler said. With three years of renovations complete, she estimates it will take another two years to finish the project.

Pete Pollard, executive director of Community Redevelopment Agency, said the Local Historic Register is an effort to motivate downtown homeowners to preserve their house's historic integrity.

Homeowners are eligible for more money through façade grants - $6,000 or 60 percent of the costs of renovation to the exterior, whichever comes first. Typically, residents are allowed $3,000 or 30 percent of renovation costs.

"It's an additional incentive for homeowners to list their buildings and keep it protected," Pollard said.
Houses must be at least 50 years old, be inside the boundaries of the CRA, have architectural significance that connects to the city's history or have had an inhabitant who was significant to the city.
All buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places will be included in the local registry.

Pressler's craftsman-style bungalow on Rose Avenue was built in 1924 and occupied in 1926 by Myra E. Burdick, a local music teacher.

Two fireplaces, a large kitchen and lack of servants' quarters are characteristic of houses of this era. One of Pressler's favorite features is the large front porch, where families of the 1920s likely slept to enjoy the fresh air.

"This style of living was much more informal with less frills than the Victoria era," Pressler said. "The people wanted to be close to nature and focus on family.

"In a Victorian house the front door opens to a pompous foyer. In a bungalow, the front door opens right into the family room."

Rob Horne, a general contractor with Good Tomato Enterprises, called the house a "crackalow" - a combination of a Cracker house and bungalow.

"With historically sensitive renovations, we want to bring in the new comforts but keep the old style," Horne said, as he installed energy-efficient windows. "The goal is to try to keep it looking as much like the original as possible."

Like a big jigsaw puzzle, Pressler is still trying to decipher exactly what the original layout of the house was. She often makes brainstorming notes on the walls when she finds a clue.

"I'm starting a house museum with everything I find," Pressler said. "Every time we tear down a piece of drywall, I discover something new."