AFMC Command News

Eglin receives award for Cape San Blas restoration

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Cultural Resources Branch here was recently honored by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation for their efforts in the restoration of one of the two Cape San Blas Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters structures located on Eglin property in Gulf County.

The 2006 Florida Preservation Award recognizes significant achievement in the preservation of Florida's rich heritage, specifically the proper restoration of a structure to an earlier or original appearance, or the rehabilitation and/or adaptive new use, according to the trust's Web site.

Built in the mid-1800s, the lighthouse and two keepers' quarters are part of the branch's historic buildings inventory as required by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Mother Nature and her fierce hurricanes prompted the relocation of the two keepers' quarters in 1999. Eglin moved the keepers' quarters away from the water's edge.

That same year, Eglin sought to completely restore one of the keepers' quarters to protect the structure since it is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the last few years, Eglin officials partnered with the St. Joseph Historical Society to restore the second of the two keepers' quarters inside and out. Eglin officials helped facilitate the lease of the 1.5 acres of land to Gulf County so they could receive grants from the State Historic Preservation officer in Tallahassee to help pay for the restoration of the second structure.

Russell Gunter, Eglin's historic building program manager at the time this project first began, said it was in the best interests of the Air Force and the community to turn the land over to the county.

Mr. Gunter, who now serves as an acquisition program manager for the Air Armament Center, cited fiscal challenges as to why the Air Force could not pay for the restoration of the second structure.

Although the lease process was lengthy and he didn't get to see the project all the way through, Mr. Gunter is glad to see it come to fruition now.

"It was something that definitely kept it exciting in that program, due to interest from outside parties," Mr. Gunter said. "I think it's pretty neat that it worked out for both parties. I'm glad to have been a part of it."

Maria Rodriguez, Eglin's current Historic Preservation officer, agrees.

"It's a win-win situation for Eglin and the society," Ms. Rodriguez said. "This directly supports our outreach efforts and the county's plan to open the site up to the public in the near future should be well received."