Historic group begins major move

Just beyond the front visitors center is the research center and staff office. Here, program director Jim Crescitelli and archivist Lynne Sylvester work in the new space.

— Staff and volunteers at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation moved the organization's collection of historic photos and documents into its new home.

WINTER GARDEN — After being kept for years in a metal warehouse built a century ago, the pieces of Winter Garden’s past are now securely stored in a climate-controlled facility in the heart of downtown. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s $1.1 million History Research and Education Center project is nearing completion, and staff and volunteers have been carefully packing and unpacking decades worth of historic photographs, documents and objects for the transition.

The WGHF secured the land for the new facility in 2011, began a capital campaign the next year and broke ground on the 5,224-square-foot building last fall. The foundation received two Orange County Cultural Facilities grants totaling half a million dollars, and the rest of the funds were raised through pledges, monetary donations and in-kind donations.

“This is a result of a 2011 Conservation Assessment Program Study funded by a national grant,” WGHF Director Kay Cappleman said of the new home. “In the study, two professional conservation assessors came to Winter Garden and looked at our historic collection and current facilities. They were impressed with the extent and significance of our historic collection and liked our two museums but were alarmed at the facility we were using to store the historic documents, photos and artifacts not on display.

“Basically, the building holding most of the collection was a 1,600-square-foot metal warehouse, built around 1915,” she said. “It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter, and humidity was a problem. We had historic objects and documents literally stacked to the ceiling and we were working in and around them. There was no fire or security protection. No handicap accessibility. The assessors were horrified and suggested we find a new place soon. As a result of the study, the board of directors began looking around for a new facility.”

She said the facility needed to be near downtown Winter Garden and the foundation’s other museums. When the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden agreed to sell this neighboring piece of land, the fundraising began.

“This community has been awesome in its response to the capital campaign,” Cappleman said. “It’s a dream come true.”

In 2007, the History Center moved to cramped quarters in the back of the Central Florida Railroad Museum on South Boyd Street. Prior to that, it spent two years in the Edgewater Hotel and four years in a donated storefront, both on Plant Street.

THE MOVE

To prepare for the move, staff and volunteers packed 160 crates. It took Ace Relocation four 26-foot trucks to haul everything to the new building. Ace employees also disassembled and reinstalled all the shelving in the large climate-controlled room. This company was one of many that donated in-kind services, Cappleman said.

The heritage group’s new space, at 21 E. Plant St., has a visitors center at the front, where volunteers can dispense maps and information about the city and its history, dining and lodging options, local businesses and people. On the east wall, replica orange crates built by Cappleman’s father, Fred Geitgey, will hold T-shirts created by local residents Andy Crabtree and Will Blaine, founders of AB Newton & Company. On the north wall, original orange crate labels will recognize top donors.

Beyond this room is a research center and the staff office. To the east is the storage room, which will be a constant 72 degrees and is designed to hold the bulk of the memorabilia. Health Central donated its record-storage shelving from the radiology department when it switched to digital records. Dozens of additional shelving is available for donated items that have been catalogued, including the many Winter Garden-themed school projects made by Lakeview Middle students.

Fifteen four-drawer cabinets hold historic photos, documents, family files, citrus files and information on businesses and churches and schools. Ten double-door cabinets will contain all of the donated scrapbooks from the city and local residents and clubs like the West Orange Junior Service League.

Unbleached muslin covers hanging on a rod protect band and cheerleading uniforms. A large table will be set up for examining maps and large books.

On the west end of the building is the Briley Voss Conference Room, a kitchen for catered events and Heller Bros. Hall, which Cappleman calls the prettiest room in the building. The hall will be used for special events, educational tours and rotating exhibits, and it can be rented for occasions such as wedding receptions and luncheons. A covered courtyard will be built just outside this room.

In keeping with the historical charm of downtown Plant Street, the center is built of red brick and its arched recessed entrances re-create the feel of the old railroad loading dock that was once on the property.

COME ON IN

A housewarming event will take place Jan. 9, 2015, for donors and members, and then an open house will be held for the public on Jan. 11. 

A plaque outside will recognize anyone who makes a cash donation or pledge of more than $100. Another way to be commemorated on the site is to purchase an engraved brick for $50. Donations of items are still being sought to complete the facility, from a 70-inch television to a large antique-looking cabinet for storage.

For more information, call the WGHF at (407) 656-3244.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].