3/29/2015
Howey Mansion
The Howey Mansion, located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, was built in 1925, by William J. Howey. The mansion contains 20 rooms and spans 15 acres. It also includes a full guesthouse with garage and a mausoleum where the Howey family's remains rest.
I was privileged to be invited by a local Sarasota artist, Virginia Hoffman, to go on this photo adventure.
There is an interesting story on the dubious "caretaker" that let us visit the property that I will write for another time.
The site sat vacant and empty on and off for the past several decades, falling into decay and ruin. It was vandalized many times over the years.
In 2017 the Cowherd family purchased the property and fully renovated it. It is now a historical event space that may be rented out.
At the time I took these photographs, the Mansion was a highly sought after unicorn of a location to get into for the Urban Exploration community. Aside for the few that broke in over the years, nobody was allowed to officially visit the property. Most that were spotted on property had the police called on them via the neighbors that live across the street. Imagine my surprise and joy when I was invited along this amazing adventure.
Driving up to the property and seeing it for the first time was a dream. I couldn't imaging unlimited access to such a historical landmark that was left abandoned for so many years. What would we find inside?
After taking quite a few outside shots of the front of the house while we were all in one space, we agreed to enter. Most of us split up immediately to find our own corners to begin photographing this breathtaking space.
I started with the great ballroom. The large timbers across the high ceiling, chandelier and fireplace were grand and inspiring. There were amazing wall sconces everywhere in many different styles.
The main entryway was made completely of marble and iron and spiraled up to the 2nd floor in a grand fashion. The front door glass work was beautiful.
One of my favorite photos I took was of the very blue green dining room. I have a large print of this on metallic paper hanging in my office. When the light catches it, it seems to pop out of the photo. This is the most commented on photo I have ever taken.
The kitchen was equally amazing, with it's old phone system, appliances, and dumbwaiter all intact.
Moving back to the central area, there was a hidden passage that led to a spiral stair down to a vault, complete with a vault door. The shelves were empty. One can only imagine what the rich stored here.
Walking up the central spiral staircase, halfway up was a library that overlooked the rear of the house.
The upstairs contained several large bedrooms and bathrooms.
The old light and plumbing fixtures were really neat to see.
The back yard contained an overgrown garden and pond. I imagined it was once a beautiful green space.
The rear of the property contained a large 3 car garage with an apartment on the upper floor.
A quick hike off to the side of the property through a wooded lot brought you to the Howey family Mausoleum.
I have been researching property owners to see if I could trace it back to the Howey family, but became stuck somewhere in the 1980's. According to all of the public records I could find, since 1984, it has changed hands at least 3-4 times, not including bouncing from bank to bank.
There were a few records I found that were amended to include access for family members to visit the mausoleum and be able to add family to it. It also included instructions of all current property owners to maintain the mausoleum, which I found very interesting that one could do that when the no longer own the property.
I made quite a few amazing new photography friends that day and have memories to last a lifetime from this location. Thanks again to Virginia Hoffman for the invite. I also want to give a shout out to Dylan, it was wonderful meeting you. Dylan does amazing photography as well!
Virginia's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaHoffmanPhotography/
Dylan's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Dylan.JW.Cox
I was privileged to be invited by a local Sarasota artist, Virginia Hoffman, to go on this photo adventure.
There is an interesting story on the dubious "caretaker" that let us visit the property that I will write for another time.
The site sat vacant and empty on and off for the past several decades, falling into decay and ruin. It was vandalized many times over the years.
In 2017 the Cowherd family purchased the property and fully renovated it. It is now a historical event space that may be rented out.
At the time I took these photographs, the Mansion was a highly sought after unicorn of a location to get into for the Urban Exploration community. Aside for the few that broke in over the years, nobody was allowed to officially visit the property. Most that were spotted on property had the police called on them via the neighbors that live across the street. Imagine my surprise and joy when I was invited along this amazing adventure.
Driving up to the property and seeing it for the first time was a dream. I couldn't imaging unlimited access to such a historical landmark that was left abandoned for so many years. What would we find inside?
After taking quite a few outside shots of the front of the house while we were all in one space, we agreed to enter. Most of us split up immediately to find our own corners to begin photographing this breathtaking space.
I started with the great ballroom. The large timbers across the high ceiling, chandelier and fireplace were grand and inspiring. There were amazing wall sconces everywhere in many different styles.
The main entryway was made completely of marble and iron and spiraled up to the 2nd floor in a grand fashion. The front door glass work was beautiful.
One of my favorite photos I took was of the very blue green dining room. I have a large print of this on metallic paper hanging in my office. When the light catches it, it seems to pop out of the photo. This is the most commented on photo I have ever taken.
The kitchen was equally amazing, with it's old phone system, appliances, and dumbwaiter all intact.
Moving back to the central area, there was a hidden passage that led to a spiral stair down to a vault, complete with a vault door. The shelves were empty. One can only imagine what the rich stored here.
Walking up the central spiral staircase, halfway up was a library that overlooked the rear of the house.
The upstairs contained several large bedrooms and bathrooms.
The old light and plumbing fixtures were really neat to see.
The back yard contained an overgrown garden and pond. I imagined it was once a beautiful green space.
The rear of the property contained a large 3 car garage with an apartment on the upper floor.
A quick hike off to the side of the property through a wooded lot brought you to the Howey family Mausoleum.
I have been researching property owners to see if I could trace it back to the Howey family, but became stuck somewhere in the 1980's. According to all of the public records I could find, since 1984, it has changed hands at least 3-4 times, not including bouncing from bank to bank.
There were a few records I found that were amended to include access for family members to visit the mausoleum and be able to add family to it. It also included instructions of all current property owners to maintain the mausoleum, which I found very interesting that one could do that when the no longer own the property.
I made quite a few amazing new photography friends that day and have memories to last a lifetime from this location. Thanks again to Virginia Hoffman for the invite. I also want to give a shout out to Dylan, it was wonderful meeting you. Dylan does amazing photography as well!
Virginia's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaHoffmanPhotography/
Dylan's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Dylan.JW.Cox