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On Saturday, December 4, 2004, the former home of “Colonel” Charles A. & Katherine M. Walsh (1914-1932) and the Bud & Betty Osterhoudt family (1955-2004) began the journey from its original site at 6880 Griffin Road to the site of the Old Davie School to save it from demolition. Its original site had been purchased for a new housing development. The four Osterhoudt daughters made it a condition of the land sale that Jordan and Harold Klemow of Klemow, Inc. (the developer) would sponsor the relocation of the house and the Osterhoudts would donate the house to the Davie School Foundation.
| Osterhoudt Sisters |
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| Moving the house unto the museum property |
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| 1930’s |
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The house was built for “Colonel” Charles A. Walsh and his wife, Katherine, c.1914. The Walshes moved to Davie around that time and Charles became President of Wacico Groves Corporation, the developer of the pioneer Everglades orange. Charles’ pioneering work proved to the world that the Everglades would produce fine citrus fruit. Katherine was the organizer and first president of the Broward County Federation of Women’s Clubs and the first president of the county welfare board. She was also the sister of Davie pioneer Helen Viele, who with her husband Harry, owned and operated Viele Groves. The Walshes also helped to organize the Davie Community Church (1916). The Walshes occupied the home until 1932 (both died that year).
In 1955 it was bought by the Osterhoudt family. The Osterhoudt family is important to the Old Davie School site and to Davie history because Betty Osterhoudt taught first grade at the Davie School for 25 years. She had lived within walking distance of the school throughout her career until she retired in 1976. After her retirement, Betty served as a docent and was the “acting” school teacher for the school tours when the school repoened as a museum in 1997.
| New roof courtesy of a Broward County grant |
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The Walsh-Osterhoudt House is among the oldest residential structures remaining in Davie and is significant because it was built during the early agricultural development of western Broward County. The main part of the house appears much the same today as it did when it was built. Later additions (i.e., sun room, kitchen wing and back portion) were added throughout the years.
The Walsh-Osterhoudt House will join the village of historic buildings at Old Davie School where it will serve to enhance programming that depicts life of the first settlers of the Everglades at the beginning of the twentieth century.
| First Baptist Church members help out |
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Currently the Walsh-Osterhoudt House is undergoing renovation. Volunteers and materials are needed to complete the project. Please join the Davie Historical Society on Saturday mornings to help preserve this treasure of Davie. In addition to funds raised by the Davie Historical Society, the Walsh-Osterhoudt House project has also received a $41,250 historic preservation grant from Broward County.
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