The Plumb House was built circa 1896 on the northwest corner of Lakeview and South Fort
Harrison Avenues. Originally, the Plumb House served as a paint store on the first floor
and apartments upstairs. The construction of the Plumb House coincided with the beginning
of the settlement of Belleair, a tiny community which sprang up in concert with the
construction of the grandiose Hotel Belleview (circa 1896). The Belleview was built by
railroad magnete Henry Bradley Plant as a resort to lure wealthy tourists, industrial
barons, and other tycoons to this idylic section of Florida's West Coast.
In the early 1900's, the paint store was moved east out into an old abandoned and overgrown
orange grove. Acquired by Ralph and Florence Plumb, the structure was converted into a
single-family home at this time. An upper story porch was removed and a wrap-around
veranda was added on the ground floor along with a kitchen and dining room. Mary and
Kathleen Plumb were born in the Plumb House and spent most of their lives there. Their
grandmother, Jennie Reynolds Plumb, was Clearwater's first paid public school teacher in
1873. Kathleen was an early principal of South Ward School. Mary was secretary/treasurer
and cofounder of First Federal of Clearwater, which became Fortune Federal Savings.
During the winter of 1873, Jennie Plumb taught all grades in a little log Baptist church
just east of the Plumb House and received the grand sum of $100 for a term of three months.
Ten years later, Clearwater built its first schoolhouse on South Fort Harrison, where the
South Ward School stands. Present day Plumb Elementary School is named for the Plumb
family.
Jennie Reynolds Plumb's brother, the Rev. C.S. Reynolds, established the first newspaper in
Clearwater in July of 1873. It was a small four-page paper printed on a hand press invented
and built by Reynolds. In 1894,Reynolds founded West Hillsborough Press.
In 1982, Dr. Charles Nach purchased the property when Mary and Kathleen Plumb went into
nursing homes. The Clearwater Historical Society at that time was searching for a permanent
home and Dr. Nach agreed to donate the house and the cost of moving it to nearby Ed C.
Wright Park. The move took place in December of 1983. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing
Services agreed to lease the house for three years from the Society and have been most
cooperative in the restoration of the historic structure. Formal dedication of the Plumb
House as a permanent museum for the City of Clearwater took place on January 24, 1985.
Contributions are welcome.
-Mike Sanders, Preservation Chairman
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