The Historic Baynard House - Auburndale, Florida

Ariel W.

As a fan of architecture and history I had to stop and check out this gem while I was traveling through Aburndale, Florida. Once owned by Ephraim Mikell Baynard, this historic home brimming with charm.

The first settlers arrived in Aburndale in the 1870's and 1880's to take advantage of natural resources and prime cattle grazing land. The town experienced more growth when Henry Plant's South Florida Railroad laid track in the area in the area in the early 1880's connecting Polk County with a larger regional economic market. In 1884 the town received a train depot and post office and the community of Auburndale continued to grow.

Ephraim Mikell Baynard was born in South Carolina in 1861. In 1888 he settled in Auburndale, on the south side of Lake Stella. Baynard proved to be a savvy business man and he owned a general store and worked as a developer, cattle rancher, citrus and tomato farmer, and owner of a turpentine factory. In 1889 Baynard married Nettie Lee Brooks after she came to the area to escape an outbreak of yellow fever in Key West. The couple had two daughters Ruth and Elizabeth. In 1894 he built a stately, L shaped, two-story, wooden Folk Victorian home designed by Alfred Chipman Thorpe. The home was located just north of downtown Auburndale business district. The house has a dining room and two parlors downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. A highlight of the home is a spindlework porch that wraps around the front of the house. Baynard's family lived in the home until 1913 as the fledgling town of Auburndale sprouted up around them.

By 1951 the house had been chopped into five apartments, each with its own bathroom and kitchen and it teetered on demolition as city officials wanted the site for a parking lot. A group of students from Auburndale High School, led by guidance counselor Bonnie Burhans, stepped in to save the home. Over the next 5 years hundreds of students worked to restore the home uncovering heart pine flooring, oak fireplace mantles, handcrafted door and window frames, and century-old glass.

The City of Auburndale now owns the home and it was turned into museum in 1997. The house has period furnishings including some owned by the Baynard family. After the Baynard house was restored it set off a wave pf preservation that also saw the restoration of the City Hall and the train depot with other buildings following. The Baynard House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 2001. Ephraim Mikell Baynard was designated a Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State in the Great Floridians 2000 Program.

J S

My husband and I chose the place because of how romantic and simple it looks, and I fell in love with the place. Thank you so much for making my wedding the place I dreamed of.

Kassidy Goldberg

Had my wedding here in September, and it was beautiful!

Nathan Guteras

Great Auburndale FL treasure that connects past with the present. So much to learn about impact things and people over the centuries.

Patricia Mills

I've gone a few times. I used to write articles for the high school newspaper when they were reconstructing and my first official visit was when they had their grand opening party. I've also been for a couple tours with my nieces and once to the tea party with my husband, when they used to do that, which was absolutely delightful. The place is beautifully done with period furniture and other accents. One guide suggested it might be haunted and orbs did show up in some of my photos, but if spirits are there they must be friendly because I've never had a bad experience there.

Amanda Hurd Rychel

We've had family photos taken here a few times. This place is always well kept and there's lots of places for photo opportunities. The pictures always come out beautiful.

John Johnson

My daughter and I love to hang out up there and discuss what it must have been like in 1894 Auburndale... good times

Silver-san

Just old house and shutdown. Nobody has access in the house. Just look around the outside small garden. Nothing special.