The Plumb House, one of the oldest structures still standing in Pinellas County, has been repurposed as an art studio and tea room. Built circa 1896, the house is now home to multiple art workspaces and a tea room/event space.
Restoration Efforts
The Clearwater Historical Society, led by president Allison Dolan, undertook the restoration project after the City of Clearwater gave them an ultimatum in 2025: renovate the house or it would be torn down. The efforts included repairing the exterior wood, repainting it, and installing new electric work and fixing the wooden window frames.
The downstairs of the Plumb House is now utilized by the Tea Room at Lake Belleview and a boutique shop, managed by Sheri Aquilar. The event space will be used for monthly tea gatherings and is available for private functions. In the fall, Aquilar plans to host pop-up festivals outside on the lawn.
History of the Plumb House
Initially, the Plumb House was a paint store on the northwest corner of Lakeview and South Fort Harrison Avenues. The upstairs was reserved for living quarters. By the early 1900s, the home was acquired by Ralph and Florence Plumb. Ralph Plumb’s mother, Jennie Reynolds Plumb, was Clearwater’s first paid public school teacher.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
