Hurricane Ian – The Aftermath Naples Historical Society
October 3, 2022
Back door of the Cottage…notice the water/mud surge line.We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe. We know this has been a devastating storm for Naples.
Naples Historical Society is an organization that is resilient. This quality is essential for any successful nonprofit organization, but it is especially needed today. Hurricane Ian lashed a blow not only to the Society but to the City of Naples as well. You’ve seen the images…you may be knee-deep in it, too.
Preparing for a wind and surge event is impossible for a building that must sit idle and endure a storm’s wrath. It cannot flee.
That said, Historic Palm Cottage™, just like it has since 1895, stands proudly today. Thankfully, it’s roof, walls, and windows are all intact, boasting gleefully how good construction was “back in the day.”
Cottage living room…Gulf of Mexico remnants. The photo you see does not tell the full story, there is mud everywhere. The floors have buckling in four places as well.To the casual passer by, Historic Palm Cottage, The Norris Gardens and the other Society properties look okay.
Immediately after the storm, Society staff worked to remove a gargantuan amount of Gulf of Mexico seabed MUD and MUCK from the gorgeous, original Dade County pine wood throughout the first floor of Historic Palm Cottage. We have done the same for the other properties that are full of mud.
The Norris Gardens walking path with the majestic Cottage in the background. We don’t know which vegetation will survive yet.Our General Contractor has already indicated that each plank of the first floor must be pulled and restored, if possible.
As our reality tells us (there is no suggestion!), we must close Historic Palm Cottage to visitors for the foreseeable future. We have much work to do at this point in time.
If you wish to volunteer your time to help us bring Historic Palm Cottage back to its glory, please visit us M-F at 10am at 137 12th Avenue South.
If you wish to provide charitable financial support, please do so by mailing a check to Naples Historical Society, P.O. Box 201, Naples FL 34106. Thank you for your consideration!
We wish the best to you and your family during this time.
Sincerely,
Elaine Reed, MPA
President & CEO
