Money Pit Mansion
By Mark McConville
STUNNING pictures have revealed the hidden beauty of an ornate abandoned Mahogany house known as Money Pit Mansion complete with a £20K grand piano.
Eerie images show the empty, forgotten remains of the house with the intricate pillars and plaster work still clear to see.
Other shots show the porch which surrounds three sides of the house and a Civil War-era Chas M Stieff square grand piano that is estimated to be worth around £20,000 to £25,000.
The snaps were taken by American urban explorer Abandoned Southeast at the Money Pit Mansion in central Florida.
“Deep in the heart of Florida sits a Neoclassical Greek Revival mansion known as the Money Pit,” he said.
“Built in 1908 by a Georgia lumber tycoon, the enormous 11,000 square foot mansion is made entirely of mahogany wood.
“It took three years to complete at a cost of £20,000. The Money Pit was one of the most ‘ornate mansions in the county and quickly became ‘The talk of the town.’”
In 1924, the lumber tycoon and his family moved out. The family traded homes with the vice president of a local bank.
The Money Pit was sold in the 1940s and converted into a funeral parlour. It remained a funeral home for about 20 years before being converted into a meeting hall. Soon after it was sold and turned into apartments.
“Left empty to decay for several years, the Money Pit fell into a state of disrepair and became bank owned,” said Abandoned Southeast.
“In 1989, a fight over demolition began with the city. A local couple stepped up and purchased the Money Pit in 1992 for £73,000 saving it from the wrecking ball. The extensive termite damage would require £180,000 or more in renovations.
“The couple planned on opening a non-profit to aid in the renovations. They secured enough funds to repair the outside of the structure to reduce further interior damage.
“They hoped within five years they could have it open to the public as a historic library or a wedding venue. Unfortunately, donations slowed and the house sits idle.”
The abandoned house is also said to be haunted although there is no concrete proof.
“Paranormal investigators who have explored the home say they have heard noises, seen orbs, and felt cold spots,” said Abandoned Southeast.
“On my visit, I never felt anything out of the ordinary. The house is one of central Florida’s most ornamented 20th century mansions. After WWII many of the early mansions in Florida were destroyed to build commercial buildings and condominiums. The Money Pit is indeed an architectural treasure.”
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