Century-old McSwain Home in Bonita Springs is relocating near West Terry Street

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — The historic McSwain Home in downtown Bonita Springs is moving, but it's not going far from its original location.

The home built in 1915 was one of the first in the city when Old 41 was just a dirt road. It's survived hurricanes and lots of changes to the area over the last century.

The Bonita Springs Historical Society says that as the city continues to develop and grow, they want more room to expand its programs and preserve the integrity of the historic home. On Tuesday, the city's Planning and Zoning board approved the group's Certificate of Appropriateness application to pick up and move the structure to Pine Avenue.

The property, located off West Terry Street, is owned by the Oglesby family, who are descendants of the McSwain family. The family shared the following statement:

"Our family has deep roots in Bonita Springs. The history of this city is our family history, and the McSwain family is part of that story. Our connection runs through Elizabeth McSwain, her daughter Inez, her granddaughter Elsie Oglesby Cooley, and the generations that followed.

That is why we are proud to support the Bonita Springs Historical Society and provide a new home for the Historic McSwain Home Museum & Gardens on our family property.

To us, this is more than moving an old house. This home represents the people who came before us — families who worked hard, raised their children here, and helped build the community that became Bonita Springs.

We have watched Bonita Springs grow and change over the years. Change is part of life, but it is also important to hold on to the pieces of our history that remind us where we came from.

Having the McSwain Home on land connected to McSwain descendants feels right to our family. It gives the home a place where it can be cared for, shared with the community, and passed on to future generations.

We are happy to be part of preserving this piece of Bonita Springs history — our own family history — and we fully support the Bonita Springs Historical Society's efforts to protect this historic home so it can be remembered and shared for generations to come.

The historical society is hoping to be in its new location by next spring, depending on how fast permitting goes.