Few people would argue with the
fact that nonprofit organizations support our nation and our communities. But many people fail to grasp just how big of a role
nonprofits play. From the Red Cross, to National Public Radio to UNICEF to your
church, the reach of nonprofit organizations is extensive.
A friend of mine once said “you gotta bet big to win big.” I
think he then lost $100 on a roulette table bet! This story is about a big bet that created a win-win situation for all parties involved.
As the news cycle so often delivers- another story of new
development threatening a historic home. This time it was the new owners of the
lot that the historic Capen-Showalter home sat on, on the banks of the Osceola
Lake in the Winter Park, Florida. In
stepped a collaboration of preservation advocates, engineers, grassroots “community”
folks, and a team of nonprofits to implement a simple solution-
“Let’s cut the 200 ton
house in half, load it onto several barges strapped together and move it across
the Lake Osceola and put it back together to preserve it!”
While those were not their exact words that is exactly what
they did. The historical house once belonged to James Capen (1852-1931) one of
the founding fathers of Winter Park. Christine
Madrid French was the project director for this effort and represented Preservation Capen, Albin Polasek
Miseum & Sculpture Garden and also graciously allowed SignVine to use her
photographs.
“In an unprecedented partnership, three separate Winter Park
nonprofit cultural and arts organizations came forward as a team with an
unusual proposal. Operating as Preservation Capen, the Casa
Feliz Historic Home Museum, the Winter Park History Museum, and
the Albin Polasek Museum &
Sculpture Gardens moved full steam ahead to get the house out of the way,”
stated the Preservation Nation blog that
served as inspiration for this post.
First, the house was cut into two
sections using hand tools- one half of the house was dubbed “Fred” and the
other “Ginger”.
A semi-truck moves ½ of the house to the shore
after the separation.
Second, the house was put onto
barges and moved.
Project Director Christine Madrid French, with
"Ginger" floating on the lake.
Third, the house was relocated and reassembled.
“Mission accomplished” within the 6-month window of
opportunity the new owners of the lot had extended.
Clearly this story has nothing to do about the Sign
Industry, but it does demonstrate the importance of a nonprofit
organization to the community. So, if you are a Sign Company perhaps you should
look at supporting nonprofits so they can continue their mission- whatever it may be. There are so many of them, doing so much, as they fly under our "awareness radar",that we lose count!
Many nonprofits don’t have `a building or an office, much
less have any need for an outdoor message sign- but many do. What about that
school, church, or VFW? They can’t afford it, you think. But maybe you’re just
not thinking far enough outside the proverbial box.
Maybe you need a new tool in your tool chest to help them.
Maybe that is SignVine. Maybe!
This video shows the Capen-Showalter house loaded onto the barges.
This
blog represents my personal opinion and does not represent the
opinion, practices, or values of SignVine or any other organization or
person. If you have feedback, please email michael@signvine.org. I am an
Alumni of the University of Central Florida and this article was
inspired by yet another story found in their direct mailing entitled "Pegasus".
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