Hughes makes good on Mound House pledge
Former Beach Mayor Dan Hughes made it official to reimburse the costs in the refurbishment of a room within the oldest standing structure on Estero Island.
On Monday evening, the current treasurer of the Friends of the Mound House was applauded for making good on a financial arrangement he made in a March 2013 pledge to Town officials to develop the Period Room inside Mound House museum. He had vowed to make the donation, worth more than $10,000 monetarily, in loving memory of his wife, Ann, who passed away in April 2011. It was his desire to create a lasting memorial for her.
The contribution aids in the mission in restoring the home to its original 1921 grandeur using Florida’s historic preservation standards.
Hughes made a power point presentation in describing the room’s contents -two wicker chairs, clock, lamp, painting of a sail boat, fire place andirons and a book case- to best emulate the scene in a photo of that time era. He credited Beach resident Judy Owen for finding the items and various other artifacts that took nearly one year to acquire.
“The purpose was to replicate as best we could the condition of the room as it existed in 1909,” said Hughes, who was mayor when Mound House was acquired.
After the presentation, Friends of the Mound House President Barb Hill presented a “deed of gift” to the Fort Myers Beach Town Council.