RESTORED SAMPLE-McDOUGALD HOUSE TO BECOME MUSEUM

Final phase of the restoration of this 94-year old home soon begins.  It is one of South Florida’s oldest homes, in Pompano Beach, and is becoming a museum.  Preservationists have worked for the past decade on restoration of the 1916 Colonial-style home which was moved in 2001 from Dixie Highway just south of Sample Road to 450 NE 10^th Street.  It now features a new roof, repaired Dade County Pine woodwork and updated columns. New native trees and vegetation are now on the 2.5-acre property.  The home is built of cypress throughout and includes a wide columnar U-shaped porch. 

Two stories, there are 5 bedrooms upstairs, one downstairs and a reception room, parlor, dining room and kitchen with butler pantry.  Ceilings are 11’ high and there are many windows.  Extra brick pillars reinforced the foundation, and it withstood devastating hurricanes.  Kitchen and bathrooms have been updated.  New electrical and climate-control systems will be installed, and floors refinished and exhibits installed.  There will be space for special events and social functions.

So far over $1MM has been spent, with another $1.2MM anticipated to be spent.  When finished the grounds will be a Centennial Park in honor of Pompano Beach’s 100^th Anniversary celebrated in 2008.  The house, built during South Florida’s pioneer era, is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Tours will be held focusing on the region’s history.