ORLANDO, Fla. – A crumbling old house in Parramore with huge historical significance is one step closer to being revived.
The Maxey-Crooms house in Holden-Parramore is named after the first black mail carrier, Woodford James Maxey, in Orlando. Today, Orlando City Commissioners approved a contractor to help get results and renovate it.
“You can see it needs some love and attention,” Navid Erfan told News 6.
The city of Orlando Division manager is overseeing the restoration of the Maxey-Crooms house. Located on Anderson Street in Holden-Parramore, a historically Black neighborhood that has faced many economic challenges, the house was originally constructed in 1924.
“The home adds historical significance to the city of Orlando. It was originally lived in by two prominent members of the black community, Woodford James Maxey and Mamie Crooms,” Erfan explained.
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Despite facing racial discrimination, the Maxey Crooms family prospered in education and real estate. Woodford James Maxey became one of Orlando’s three original letter carriers, a position he held until 1939.
No one has been inside the home for years. It is currently boarded and locked up, but plans are in place to restore the windows, doors, and tile work to their original glory.
The house was listed as a Historic Landmark by the city of Orlando on April 24, 1989, and the state of Florida awarded a million-dollar restoration grant in 2022.
The total cost of the restoration project is expected to be $1.87 million, which will be used to customize the house as closely as possible to its original state in 1924.
“What will this mean to the neighborhood? First of all, it’s going to help beautify the neighborhood. The house is in a state of disrepair and not safe to enter right now. Once restored, it will enhance the visual appearance of the community and hopefully bring joy to those who pass by,” Erfan added.
Today, the Orlando City Council approved Ovation Construction to start the project, which could take anywhere from six months to a year to complete.
