- May 5, 2024
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The exterior improvements to the MacDonald House are now underway, a restoration effort that the Ormond Beach Historical Society has been working toward for over a decade.
The contractor, A.M. Weigel Construction Inc., of Daytona Beach, was awarded a $448,650 contract in December 2020 to restore the east and west side of the 1903 home, located at 38 E. Granada Blvd. The house is one of the oldest remaining structures in Ormond, and was purchased by the city in 1979. The project was made possible thanks to $100,000 raised by the OBHS, as well as an ECHO grant and matching city funds.
The work is moving along swiftly, and OBHS President Jerry Lampe said they're expecting the current improvements to be finished by July. Then, if the City Commission approves the second half of the project — the improvements to the north and south walls — he estimates the work to be fully completed by December.
“Finally, it’s happening," Lampe said.
Their goals all this time have been to both preserve the house and turn it into an enhanced welcome center, to be known as the Ormond Beach Museum of History. Though the OBHS still has a long road ahead, Lampe shared that they do have a vision in mind. The Macdonald House won't be a traditional museum, but a modern one that uses technology, such as digital walls, to tell the story of Ormond Beach, from its recognition as the "Birthplace of Speed" to the historical figures that made an impact in the city, such as John D. Rockefeller. It is a history that is rich and diverse, especially for a small city, Lampe said.
“We feel lucky that it’s here and we want to do as much as we possibly can to make sure that we accomplish our mission which is to preserve the local history and to share the information about it to the community," Lampe said.
Once the exterior renovations are completed, the OBHS will turn its focus to the interior of the home. They don't plan on asking the city for any funding for that part of the restoration, but Lampe shared they are hoping to enter into a 50-year lease with the city in order to allow them to search for grant opportunities, as done by the Ormond Memorial Art Museum to raise funds for its renovation, which has also initiated.
