Read more about the Cross Creek Paint Out in the Summer Issue of the LTA Exchange
Conservation Trust for Florida and the Artists Alliance of North Florida
(AAONF) are co-sponsoring the "Evinston to Cross Creek Paint Out" to
raise funds to protect the Wood & Swink Old Store and Post Office. The Paint Out
culminates with the Gala Collector Sale at the Thomas Center in Gainesville on Friday,
April 14, 2006 from 7 to 10 pm, and Saturday, April 15, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Did you know that the oldest working country store post office in Florida is
located in Alachua County? Yes, it's true - the Wood & Swink Old Store and
Post Office, located in Evinston and little changed since 1882, is Florida's
oldest working post office and one of the last working general store post
offices in the nation. It still features its original brass mailboxes from
1882 and an old wood stove for heat in the winter. Visitors can purchase
home-canned jars of peppers, fresh yellow squash, or mail a registered
parcel.
For six magical days at the dizzying height of wildflower season, fifty of
Florida's finest plein air landscape painters will converge in Evinston and
Cross Creek to paint from dawn till dusk. The Evinston to Cross Creek Paint
Out is free and open to the public and runs from April 7 - 15. The event
culminates with the Gala Collectors Sale of paintings produced at the event,
April 14 and 15 at the Historic Thomas Center.
The event is co-sponsored by the Artists Alliance of North Florida (AAONF)
and the Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. (CTF) to help raise funds for the Evinston Historic Preservation Project. A portion of all sales will
benefit the Wood & Swink Old Store & Post Office Renovation Fund, which will
purchase an historic preservation easement to protect the building forever
and carry out upgrades required by the Postal Service to maintain the post
office in its current location. CTF is also searching for additional funds
to raise the approximately $200,000 needed to protect and restore the
building.
The Wood and Swink has been in the Wood family since 1906 and is currently
owned by Freddie and Wilma Sue Wood; the Post Office rents out space. A
member of the Wood family has served as the postmaster since 1913. However,
Wilma Sue plans to retire soon, after 28 years of service as the Postmaster
and the fate of the post office is a concern for the entire community
because the building does not have modern conveniences.
The woodstove and ceiling fans are authentic, but not the working conditions
most people desire and there's concern that the next postmaster would not be
willing or able to work under those conditions and that the Postal Service would retire Zip Code 32633 or move the Post Office to another building.
The Postal Service sent a letter stating they do not intend to close the
Post Office, but the upgrades and preservation are still necessary. Although
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this designation does
not provide permanent protection for the Wood and Swink, but the historic
preservation easement will protect the building forever.
Alan McKellips of Hunter McKellips Associates Architects is providing the
design work and architectural services free of charge. Restoration and
upgrades include installing a central heat and air conditioning system, a
handicap ramp, two new restrooms, a glass "alcove" to enclose the solid
double-hung wood doors and restoring the wood plank floors and windows.
Funds from the purchase of the historic preservation easement will be placed
in an interest bearing account to pay for the yearly insurance costs.
The Evinston area and the "triangle of lakes" - the Orange, Lochloosa, and Newnan's Lakes are rich in ecological, historical, and cultural diversity.
Some 59,800 acres are now protected as public land or with conservation
easements, boasting one of the largest bald eagle populations in Florida.
CTF is also working with private landowners in the area to preserve the
scenic countryside, agricultural land, and natural areas with conservation
easements.
Visit www.FloridasEden.org or call AAONF at 352-377-0777 or CTF at
352-466-1178 for more information.
Article by Annie W. Pais, Co-Director of the Artists Alliance of North
Florida and Busy Shires Byerly, Executive Director of the Conservation Trust
for Florida, Inc.
