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Across from the Planetary Court is the recently (1993) restored Founder's House
sometimes known as Teed's House or the school house. This two story building
was erected around 1896 and is the oldest surviving structure built by the Koreshans.
Modifications were begun to enclose the building with Koreshan produced concrete
"brownstone". You will also see the remains of what was to be an observatory.
Upon the death of Dr. Teed in 1908, work on this building began to wain and the changes
were never completed. The 1992-93 renovation put the building back to its original look,
based on early Koreshan drawings. Surrounding the Founder's Home (as well as throughout
the park), the Koreshans built paths and gardens. The remains of some of these can be seen
in this photograph. After the death of Teed the Koreshans continued their keen interest in
things botanical by starting a nursery and devoting their newspaper, The American Eagle
to horticultural issues. As mentioned earlier, the Koreshans took great pride in the fact
that they brought the culture of the the industrial north to the wilds of south Florida.
Besides the Art Hall, the Koreshans used to perform plays and musicals at the Bamboo
Landing, along the Estero River. The audience would board small boats and sit along
the north shore of the small river, while the performers would be on the landing. The
Estero River remains an important part of the park.
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From here, we go a short distance to the east and find the Damkohler Cottage, the
restored house built by Gustave Dahmkohler (b: 1825) a Florida homesteader who owned the
land in Estero. He heard about the Koreshans and wrote to Dr. Teed, offering him land.
After Teed visited, he accepted Damkohler's offer. In later years Damkohler became
disillusioned and sued for the return of his land. He was given part of it back Eventually
he moved to Alaska,where he died in 1905. The Damkohler house was restored in 1995 based
on archival photographs of the building. Once you leave the Damkohler house, walk back
toward the store and see the fountain, built from Koreshan pre-cast concrete and made to
simulate brownstone. The lion's head used to run water from his mouth.
Continue with the Virtual Tour
Updated May 18, 2005 by mlw