Snowden House

Snowden House in the beginning.

In 1881 R.R.Snowden, a local druggist, purchased the lot and completed building his large residence by 1885. That same year he sold the property along with his drug store located across from the downtown square. He remained living in the Ocala area, manufacturing and selling soda pop.

The property changed owners many times over the years. Eventually the house suffered from indignities of being divided into a dozen apartments, its porches enclosed, and being set on fire in 1992. Yet its dignified beauty and solid structure survived hidden under layers of modern materials, partitions, and grime!

In 1995, after three years of vacancy, Historic Ocala Preservation Society purchased the property for $17,500. This was the first time since our founding in n1980 that HOPS was actually the owner of a historic property....even if it had been condemned and was uninhabitable.

Nearly nine years later, in June of 2004, the house was totally restored to its' original status and beauty. After years of demolition and restoration, combined with state matching grant funds, donations of money and materials, in-kind services and labor, a grand sum of nearly $335,000 was expanded to bring this historic house back to life for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Today, the R.R. Snowden House serves as office for the Historic Ocala Preservation Society. Visitors are always welcome. Please call 352.368.5817 for an appointment