1951-1994 Long Era
Several cosmetic changes were made to the house and grounds by William and Florence Long who purchased the property from the James Foundation in 1951. Board siding was applied to the second story exterior of the house and jalousie windows installed on the second floor porch. The roof was also replaced and the dormers removed. The grey brick of the first story was painted red and bougainvillea was planted to enhance the entrance to the house. Later changes to the property included the construction of a swimming pool within the mound in 1958 and an adjacent Florida Room constructed around the 1906 Tudor building. A caretaker's suite and carport area were added in the 1980s.
During this era, the Long's reduced the land surrounding the Mound House from 26 acres to its present 2.77 acres and relocated the dock into its present location. The remaining property was subdivided into the Shell Mound Park Subdivision where a series of canals divide residential streets and lots sold for $1,200 in 1958. The Town of Fort Myers Beach acquired the Mound House from the Long Estate in 2000 and is currently in the process of restoring the house to its 1921 grandeur with grant assistance from the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources.
