Editing Scotland House

{{Infobox Building
|image=
|caption=
|name=Scotland House
|location=1417 N. [[12th Avenue]]
|architect=
|client=[[Max Lee Bear]]
|engineer=
|owner=[[Scotland Yard]]
|construction_start_date=
|completion_date=[[1906]]
|cost=
|renovations=
|date_demolished=[[February 16]], [[1991]]
|structural_system=
|style=Mediterranean Revival
|size=9,009 square feet
|mapcode=
}}
The '''Scotland House''' was an historic [[East Hill]] home built circa [[1906]] for [[Max Lee Bear]]. The two-story, 17-room house of red brick was located at 1417 North [[12th Avenue]], on a 2½-acre city block bounded by 12th and [[11th Avenue]]s, [[Blount Street]] and [[Lee Street]]. In [[1914]] Bear sold the home to [[Robert F. Mitchell]], president of [[West Florida Naval Stores]], who in turn sold it to [[D. W. McMillan]] in [[1926]].

In [[1940]], the late Dr. McMillan's estate donated the house to the West Florida branch of the state Children's Home Society, who operated it as the '''Harry A. Lurton Receiving Home''' from [[1941]] to [[1960]].

In [[1962]] the [[YWCA]] bought the home and operated there until around 1985.

In [[1986]] it was purchased by [[Wilmer Mitchell]], grandson of former owner Robert F. Mitchell, and architect [[Hugh Leitch]]. The men intended to renovate the home as a professional office complex to be called "Scotland Yard,"<ref>"Retain Basic Character." Undated newspaper clipping in Pensacola Historical Society archives.</ref> but house sat vacant as plans fizzled. It became a hangout for teenagers (who believed it to be haunted) and a shelter for vagrant squatters.

On [[February 16]], [[1991]], the house was destroyed by a fire. (Another historic building owned by Leitch at [[227 Intendencia Street]] was also destroyed in a fire later the same day.<ref>"Architect hit hard by 2 fires." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 17, 1991.</ref>) Two teenaged boys, among 14 [[Pine Forest High School]] students who visited the house the previous night, had used a lit palm frond as a torch and left it on the floor when they left, igniting the blaze. The two were charged with arson.<ref>"2 youths accused of arson." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 24, 1991.</ref>

Starting in [[1993]], Mitchell and Leitch developed the block as [[Scotland Yard]], which included 20 single-family brick homes in a vernacular style.

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* "Scotland House a landmark for 80 years." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 17, 1991.
* "East Hill to get new homes." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 30, 1993.
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:East Hill homes]] [[Category:Orphanages]] [[Category:Buildings destroyed by fire]]