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HISTORIC BELL TOWER STILL STANDING AS BEACON OF HOPE
Olmsted Jr.’s Historic Landscape Gardens Devastated
LAKE WALES, FL – Three days after Hurricane Charley ripped through Polk County, staff at Historic Bok Sanctuary have been able to enter the property and start assessing the damage. For only the second time in its 75-year history, the Sanctuary will be closed to visitors for an extended length of time (after Hurricane Donna was the only other time). One of Florida's original tourism venues, Historic Bok Sanctuary is located on peninsular Florida's highest point, which generated has significant concern over the fate of the 205-ft carillon tower and 245-acre historic landscape gardens. While the assessment continues and clean up has started, the staff has determined the following:
- The 205-foot tall Tower is still standing!
- The Tower itself sustained little structural damage
- The Tower and Gardens will be closed until further notice.
- The interior of the Tower sustained moderate damage as a result of three windows blowing out, letting rain and wind ravage the some of archival materials housed in the Anton Brees Carillon Library
- The historic landscape gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. have been devastated, a full 100 percent of the gardens have been affected. The most stunning damage is a 100+-year-old oak tree, the largest in the Gardens, that was ripped up by its roots and is lying across the reflection pool leaving a cavernous, seven-foot hole. There is an average of 4 feet of organic debris strewn throughout the gardens. Staff expects the clean up to take at least 2-4 weeks depending on the availability of equipment and manpower. The horticulture team is currently operating in a triage mode to assess every single tree and plant in the Sanctuary and to try to save as many as possible.
- The tree that President Calvin Coolidge and Edward Bok planted at the 1929 dedication ceremony is still standing.
- The Horticulture Nursery and Potting Shed have been destroyed.
- Prior to the storm, staff placed the two resident swans in a secure interior location for their protection. Both swans survived the storm and did not apparently suffer any injuries.
- The historic mansion called Pinewood Estate received minor structural damage.
- The other newer structures on the property including the Visitor and Education Center, the Café and Gift Shop sustained minor roof and tile damage.
- The parking lot is overcome with debris and remains impassable.
- Several of the staff members’ homes were damaged and some are uninhabitable, but no one was injured.
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"Hurricane Charley reminded us of the sheer force Mother Nature, and it has devastated our historic landscape gardens that were created more than 75 years ago. However, the fact that the Tower is still standing, as is the tree President Coolidge planted in 1929, gives us hope and reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit," said Bob Sullivan, President of Historic Bok Sanctuary. "We are a non-profit and will be seeking financial support from individuals as well as government sources to help us restore the Gardens. Those individuals who want to help us repair this Florida icon, can send checks made payable to Historic Bok Sanctuary Restoration, to the Florida Attractions Association at 1114 North Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303." This page will be updated often as new information and photos come in. Please check back soon for the lastest updates. [View Photo Updates]
Last Updated August 17, 2004.
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© 2004 Historic Bok Sanctuary |
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