The History
What we know about Pauline Manor... and the mysteries we're still trying to uncover.
History Is Rarely Perfect
The history of Pauline Manor is still very much a work in progress. Every old record seems to answer one question while creating two more, and there are still plenty of gaps that I hope to fill over time. Some of what you'll read below comes from official records, some comes from local newspapers, and some comes from stories shared by neighbors and former residents. As I uncover more, I'll continue updating this page so the history of Pauline Manor is preserved as accurately as possible.
Pauline Graupera Gonzalez
Pauline Manor is named after Pauline Graupera Gonzalez, the woman for whom Pauline Street was named. Pauline was born in New Orleans in 1800. When her father passed away in 1818, her mother, uncle, and two younger siblings relocated to Pensacola.
Pauline later married Celestino Gonzalez, the eldest son of Don Manuel Gonzalez. Don Manuel emigrated from Spain and served in the Spanish Army before settling in Northwest Florida. After his discharge in 1792, he was granted land in the area that would eventually become the community of Gonzalez.
Was the House Really Built in 1908?
Official property records list Pauline Manor as having been built in 1908, but the story may not be quite that simple.
I've found photographs and drawings that appear to show a house in nearly the same location years before 1908. I've also come across references to a house fire in the late 1800s, which raises the possibility that the current construction date reflects a rebuild rather than the original home. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find records that clearly answer that question, so for now, it's simply one of the many mysteries surrounding the property.
Pauline passed away in 1896. She and Celestino had nine children, but I haven't yet been able to determine exactly how ownership of the property passed from the Gonzalez family before the home listed in the official records was built in 1908. That's one mystery I definitely plan to keep researching.
The Pierce Family
In 1923, the property was purchased by Charles Franklin Pierce, whose family owned the home for more than ninety years.
The Pierce family became well known throughout Gonzalez, and several local buildings and landmarks still bear the Pierce name today. One member of the family who grew up in this home still owns Grandview Florist in nearby Cantonment, Florida.
Many local residents who stop by Pauline Manor still remember the Pierce family fondly and often share stories about visiting the house, playing in the yard as children, or attending family gatherings here.
The Rainbolt Family
In 2014, the property was purchased by Natalie Rainbolt, a local author and autism advocate.
The Rainbolt family embraced a more self-sufficient lifestyle, raising sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and even tilapia on the property while maintaining a large garden. They also completed several important infrastructure improvements, including installing a well and updating the home's water and electrical systems to modern code.
Although they loved the property, they eventually decided they wanted more acreage to continue expanding their homestead.
A New Chapter
Mike and I purchased the property on December 12, 2022, and named it Pauline Manor because the house sits on Pauline Street and is the largest home in the surrounding neighborhood. It felt like the right name while also honoring the history that came before us.
Over the years, this house has been home to generations of families and has hosted weddings, funerals, graduations, holiday gatherings, and countless ordinary days that rarely make it into the history books. Now it's our turn to care for her and add our own chapter to the story.
The restoration is still very much a work in progress. Some rooms have been completely transformed, others are waiting their turn, and we continue uncovering surprises every time we open a wall or tackle another project. My goal has never been to make Pauline Manor perfect. It's to preserve as much of her history as possible while making sure she'll still be standing for another hundred years.