CALUSACALUSA NEWSNEWS NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PROJECT RANDELL RESEARCH CENTER FLORIDA M USEUM OF N ATURAL H ISTORY NUMBER 10 • NOVEMBER 2001 Teaching Pavilion to be Built at Pineland Stans Foundation Grant Paves Way for New Development Phase by William Marquardt THE STANS FOUNDATION has taken the receptions and musical entertainment. lead in helping the Randell Research A walking trail will also be con- Center develop its teaching and research structed. Attractive signs along the Top: Architect’s preliminary concept drawing of facilities. A grant of $105,000 from the trail will explain various aspects of open-air teaching pavilion for the RRC. Stans Foundation, plus $25,000 from Pineland’s 2000-year human past. (Drawing by Jeff Mudgett.) the Maple Hill Foundation, $10,000 The pavilion will be a major step from Michael Hansinger, and $1,000 forward for the Randell Center. Up to Bottom: Plan view of pavilion, activity area, from Bill Marquardt added up to now, there has been no place for visiting and restrooms. (Drawing by Jeff Mudgett.) $141,000. This was matched by the school children to go in case of inclem- State of Florida, for a total building ent weather except back to their bus. fund of $282,000. Construction begins Nor have we been able to offer our tion. The testing project was contin- in winter, 2002. guests a cool drink of water or a com- ued by our second annual summer Our teaching pavilion will provide a fortable place to watch a video or a archaeological field school, in coopera- covered, open-air learning space for up lecture. We have had a chemical toilet tion with Florida Gulf Coast Univer- to 50 people, with storage space for on site for three years, but our new sity, and extended through fall, 2001 teaching and research equipment, public facility will provide more pleasant and with the help of a grant from the rest rooms, a parking area, water, and convenient, handicap-accessible rest Wentworth Foundation. New informa- electricity. In the pavilion, we will be rooms. tion from this research will add more able to teach formal classes, give public In March, 2001, archaeological test pieces to the puzzle of the Pineland programs, demonstrate artifact replica- excavations began in the areas of the site Site Complex and help us interpret the tion, show videos, and even have to be impacted by our planned construc- site for our visitors. ❂ CALUSA NEWS • NOVEMBER 2001 1 Randell Research Center Becomes Reality A Three-Year Perspective from the Site Archaeologist by Corbett Torrence OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, the Randell Research Center at Pineland has moved steadily closer to its goal of becoming a permanent research and education facility. It has been a great privilege for me to have represented the RRC as site archaeologist. Here are some of the highlights. First, some background. In 1994, following several seasons of research and education at Pineland by the Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), Donald and Patricia Randell donated 53 acres of the Pineland Site Complex to the University of Florida Foundation (UFF) to establish a permanent center for research and education. This gracious gift includes the central portion of the site, encompassing Topographic map of the Pineland Site the Brown’s Mound complex, the Randell Complex by Corbett Torrence. Mound Complex, Old Mound, Batty’s Mound, the Citrus Ridge, a section of the Pine Island Canal, and most of the pasture small hut at the top of Browns mound for use helped organize a small but dedicated work with which many of us are familiar. In the as a residence, but food-money and sanitation crew, whose core members included Bud and Randells’ honor, the land was named the would be a problem. Bill and I struck a deal Shirley House, Don Taggart, and Fred Tyers. Randell Research Center (RRC). that if I worked to improve the site one day a Foot by foot, one Brazilian pepper at a time, week and conducted regular site tours at we began clearing and reclaiming Pineland’s plan was formed to Pineland, Bill would find the money for a pastures. A few months later Charlie Dugan establish the RRC on a chemical toilet, and donations during the and Joe Gluckman joined the team. Before firm financial footing. tours would pay some of my expenses. long they had cleared substantial forests of The UFF would sell the Then, beginning in spring, 1998, for pepper trees, and the brush piles were Agift property to the State through the reduced rent in exchange for grounds work, I building up. Bob Repenning from the Conservation and Recreational Lands was able to stay in Daryl Baumgartner’s Department of Environmental Protection (CARL) program, and the State would beautiful 1911 Victorian house on top of the volunteered a wood chipper and a crew of appoint the FLMNH as manager of the nearby Adams Mound (recently sold to workers under the direction of Andy property. The proceeds from the sale, along Sharon Kurgis). A timely research project on Goodwyne. Soon the pepper piles were with additional gifts and grants, would make Buck Key undertaken for Mariner Properties turned into mulch. Clearing off the heavy up an endowment to help pay for education helped make ends meet, and a grant from the vegetation and removal of several fences and research at the site on a continuing John E. and Aliese Price Foundation provided enabled Butch Snearley of B& D Mowing to basis. The endowment goal was initially set another important funding boost. Bud House reclaim the south pasture. at $1,200,000. Unfortunately, Colonel Randell died in July, 1995. Patricia Randell and son Ricky Department of continue to reside in the home, but the cattle Environmental were sold and the gifted property began to Protection crew revert to its feral state. Delays in the state pitches in at the purchase process meant that the vegetation Randell Research continued to grow. Center. (Photo by In the fall of 1997, I needed to support Corbett Torrence.) myself in southwest Florida in order to complete my dissertation field research. Bill Marquardt needed someone to help main- tain the site. I figured I could screen-in the 2 CALUSA NEWS • NOVEMBER 2001 Meanwhile, the tours were bringing in continued to grow. In visitors, many of whom remembered the November, across the sound Year of the Indian project’s great success in on Useppa’s southeastern the 1990s (see Calusa News nos. 8 and 9). shell ridge, Karen Walker With the help of Anna Stober and word-of- began exploring evidence of mouth recommendations, site visitation a possible sea-level rise increased. Anna spearheaded a fund-raising during the ninth century campaign to help with operating expenses. A.D. Funded by Gar and The RRC’s new sign at Within a few months, tour proceeds and Sanae Beckstead, the the gate on Waterfront contributions were sufficient to support a Maple Hill Foundation, Drive, installed in 1999. half-time position for a site manager/ and the Pender Memo- (Photo courtesy Time archaeologist, a position I gladly accepted. rial Fund, the project Sifters Archaeology Charlie Dugan noted that our new employed the help of Society.) entrance, located across from the American the RRC’s site Bible College on Waterfront Drive, was archaeologist, and difficult to recognize. He offered to pay for Useppa Islanders and visitors looked “a real sign worthy of the site.” Charlie’s gift into their past once again. Dwight and Susan Siprelle, Paul resulted in a sign built by Lee Designs of In the spring of 1999, with the help of and Warren Miller, and Gordon and Chessie Fort Myers, constructed and installed for Cindy Bear of Lee County’s Environmental Crosby, we were able to purchase a 1968 half price. Thanks also go to Merald Clark Education program, Arden Arrington and I Ford diesel tractor complete with bucket, for his creative artistic abilities on the sign. began offering elementary school tours at mower, drag box, and rake. A special thanks In July, 1998, Bill Keegan, chair of the the Pineland site on Tuesdays. Other goes to Debbie Gruelle and Brent Fouts for Florida Museum of Natural History’s educational activities in addition to the keeping our tractor running smoothly. research and collections division, committed regularly scheduled tours included lectures, While the tractor has contributed greatly to $34,000 over three years toward support of special programs for archaeological and our on-site maintenance activities, we still the RRC site archaeologist. Sara and Kevin historical societies, and the filming of need a road-worthy truck or van to transport McAuley invited the RRC to use their Everglades by Wall to Wall Productions. It field crews and supplies. beautiful house in St. James City to house aired nationally in the U.K. that spring and, Thanks to the efforts of Kat Epple and the RRC office and site archaeologist. Our later, throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sally Maitland, a Calusa Festival was held at regular volunteer maintenance crew grew to Also in 1999, Rob Patton began supervis- Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers the week- include Gordon and Dianna Willman, ing work on a grant funded by the Division end of February 26-27, 1999. Kat and Gloria and Andy Andrews, Bill and Norma of Historic Resources, Florida Department several others provided music, Bill Pretsch, and many other periodic volunteers. of State under the direction of Bill Marquardt and I gave talks, and Stuart Barbara Renneke and Greg Leblanc of Marquardt to evaluate some 40 state-owned, Brown and Dick Workman joined us at the Captiva Kayaks donated their time and coastal sites in Lee and Charlotte counties.