From Citrus Grove to Coffee Grounds

 

 

 

 

The Lord-Higel House has had more adventures than some people. Built in 1896 by entrepreneur Joseph Lord, it first stood proudly on a citrus grove along Roberts Bay, its pine bones cut from the heart of local trees. Soon after, George Higel—who managed the grove—moved in with his wife Abigail and their children. The house bustled with family life until 1919, when the Higels moved on and left the home to fend for itself.

 

By 1950, the house was in trouble. Progress was coming, and “progress” usually meant demolition. Luckily, George Wesley Higel swooped in like a historical preservation superhero and had the entire house moved to Laguna Drive. The wrap-around porch didn’t make the journey—it was left behind like an old suitcase on a family vacation—but the house survived. For a time, it was chopped into a duplex, then later restored back to a single-family home in the 1990s. Think of it as the real estate version of trying different hairstyles through the decades.

 

In 2005, the Lord-Higel House was once again facing the wrecking ball, but the City of Venice stepped in and had it moved to Granada Avenue, where it now sits behind City Hall. Venice Heritage, Inc. has since taken on the long and patient task of restoring it—rebuilding the gable, reinstalling that missing porch, painting, and adding modern touches like ADA access. Piece by piece, they’ve been coaxing it back into its 1896 glory, only now with plumbing that actually works.

 

And the future? The city has earmarked funds to restore the interior, with plans to transform it into a pioneer-era museum, a visitor welcome center, and possibly office space upstairs. Picture rocking chairs on the porch where locals spin tales of old Venice—some true, some probably not—and you’ll have the right image. Adding a twist of modern community flavor, Black Gold Coffee Roasters will be setting up a coffee shop inside. So soon you’ll be able to sip your latte while pondering life in 1896, when the house was brand-new and coffee came boiled in a pot over a wood stove.