OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – A contractor’s portfolio is usually measured in buildings that stay firmly in one place. One of Stentiford Construction’s most memorable projects did just the opposite.
Ten years ago in October, a two-story house weighing approximately 75 tons left the Lake Weir shoreline, rolled onto a barge and floated roughly two miles to a new home at Carney Island.
This was no ordinary house. Built in 1930, it was the historic Ma Barker house, remembered for its connection to Ma Barker, her son Fred and one of Marion County’s most notorious chapters.
For Paul Stentiford and the Stentiford Construction team, moving it was a rare assignment—and an unforgettable opportunity to help preserve local history.
Two generations, one growing Ocala company
Construction has been part of the Stentiford family for three generations. Paul, owner and president of Stentiford Construction Services, brings decades of hands-on experience and long-standing relationships throughout the Ocala area. His son Tyler represents the next generation, contributing a fresh perspective on design, technology and project planning.
Together, they have helped the family business grow while keeping its core values intact. The company describes its foundation as being built on God, family and trust—principles that guide how the Stentifords approach clients, projects and the community they call home.
Over the years, Stentiford Construction has become especially well known for commercial work across Marion County. Its portfolio spans offices, retail spaces, restaurants, renovations, historic restorations and other recognizable buildings throughout the area.
The company’s experience has widened, but its reputation continues to rest on careful planning, strong relationships and the ability to see complicated jobs through.
Few projects tested those abilities quite like the Ma Barker house.
An Ocala contractor takes on an unusual assignment
After the property containing the house was sold, the structure itself was donated to Marion County so it could be preserved as a museum recognizing the home’s history and the FBI’s involvement there. The county hired Paul Stentiford for the challenging relocation.
The task was easy to describe but far more difficult to execute: Move a roughly 3,000-square-foot, two-story house from one side of Lake Weir to Carney Island without sacrificing the character that made it worth saving.
The crew had approximately one month to complete the project. They worked seven days a week, frequently continuing until dark, as they prepared the building, coordinated the move and dealt with the unusual logistics of transporting a 75-ton historic structure by water.
The team ultimately finished ahead of schedule. The house was removed from its original property four days before an Oct. 31 deadline.
On Oct. 27, 2016, the structure was pulled onto a barge. A push boat then guided the house about two miles across Lake Weir to Carney Island, where a new foundation had been prepared.
Despite the weeks of preparation and the spectacle of seeing an entire home out on the water, the crossing itself took less than 30 minutes and proceeded smoothly.
Preserving more than four walls
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the move was how much of the house stayed in place.
The chimney remained intact. So did most of the original furniture. Only a China cabinet, pictures, mirrors and a small number of wall-mounted items were removed before the journey.
That level of preservation made the project more than a feat of engineering. The house was not simply an old building being carried to another lot; it was a physical record of Marion County history, with its original features and contents contributing to the story.
For Stentiford Construction, that meant success required more than getting the structure from one shoreline to another. It meant delivering the house with its historic integrity largely undisturbed.
Paul has said he was grateful for the opportunity to help save an important piece of the county’s past. A decade later, the image of the Ma Barker house gliding across Lake Weir remains one of the most distinctive examples of the company’s problem-solving experience—and of the trust local leaders placed in an Ocala contractor to handle a project with no ordinary playbook.
From local history to what comes next
The Ma Barker move stands apart, but the skills behind it—planning, coordination and attention to detail—continue to shape Stentiford Construction’s work today.
Among the company’s major current projects are new residences at The Club at Iron Lake, formerly Club Adena. Stentiford Construction is building luxury townhomes in the community and working on a large custom spec home designed to showcase the company’s residential craftsmanship.
The Iron Lake projects point toward the company’s next chapter, while the Ma Barker house remains a reminder of the kind of challenge that helped build its reputation.
From commercial spaces used every day to a historic home that once floated across Lake Weir, Paul and Tyler Stentiford continue a family tradition of building—and preserving—places that become part of Marion County’s story.