Capen House may be floated across lake

The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden could become the new home of the Capen House if the museum raises enough money to move the historic Winter Park home across Lake Osceola and onto its property.

The museum’s proposed relocation plan awaits approval from Capen House property owners John and Betsy Pokorny, and would involve splitting the home into two pieces and floating it by barge to the museum grounds.

Once reassembled, the Capen House would be preserved as a historic location for events and office space – a reality that depends on raising at least $650,000 by the end of this year.

A letter of intent regarding the relocation was sent off to the Pokornys earlier this month. Debbie Komanski, executive director of the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden, said the couple “responded positively” to the project, and she remains hopeful that the museum will succeed in saving the house.

“I think it would be such an honor and a privilege to receive this home that’s part of the Winter Park past and allow it to become a permanent historical location,” Komanski said.

The museum will reveal its fundraising progress with donations at a press conference open to the public tentatively set for Aug. 8. Members of the Capen family are expected to be present.

“This will only succeed if our community embraces it and helps donate,” Komanski said.

“If we don’t move it, we will lose it. It’s as simple as that.”