Marianne Paton After nearly six years of rehabilitation, the offices at the Ruby Gill House are now up and running.

Nearly six years after Hurricane Charley swept across Pine Island leaving destruction in its path, Randell Research Center in Pineland recently announced the reopening of the Ruby Gill House. Serving as the headquarters for the island famed archeological sites, the Ruby Gill House was rendered structurally compromised and unsafe by officials as a result of the storm. Since that date of Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 when Charley played havoc with many island properties, work has been under way to restore the historic building. The building suffered from both wind and water damage and preservation and restoration involved every feature from roof to flooring.

Craftsmen and contractors set about the task of restoring the building’s original heart-pine flooring as wells as using recycled heart-pine to construct kitchen counters. The first floor bathroom is now wheelchair accessible and the enclosed front porch has a new tile floor and energy-efficient window.

The Randell Research team first moved into the Ruby Gill House in 2002 and today it serves as a laboratory and visitors center for those interested in learning more about the Calusa civilization who once inhabited the area.

According to RRC director, Bill Marquardt, “Ruby Gill and her husband Percy came to Pineland in 1922 after purchasing several acres of citrus grove. That year, they built the house we now call the Ruby Gill House. She became postmaster at Pineland in 1925 and had the current post office built next door to her house. A temporary structure located immediately south of the Gill home served as a post office while the current one was being built. In the early years, Ruby operated a small general store out of the post office to serve the community’s needs. She was a prominent member of the community. A member of the Lee County Electric Cooperative, she was instrumental in having power extended to Pine Island.”

Ruby Gill was postmaster at the Pineland Post Office until 1957. She died in 1969 and was buried next to her husband in the Fort Myers Cemetery. Today the home and post office are landmarks to local residents and a scenic part of Pineland Road as it winds through the Indian mounds to the waterfront. In 2001, Lee County bought the house and leased it to the Randell Research Center for use as its headquarters. The RRC occupied the house until Hurricane Charley struck in August, 2004.

Now open to the public, the Ruby Gill House at Randell Research Center offers comfortable seating on the porch for visitors to review films and print material about the Pineland facility.

Marquardt also said that following the preservation and rehabilitation plan created by historical architect, Linda Stevenson, and the recommendations of structural engineer, Bob Rude, contractor, Dale Schneider and his team of expert craftsmen and subcontractors, began rehabilitating the house with every detail to ensure its original state was preserved.

“The results of the rehabilitation are obvious in photos, and even more dramatic in person,” said Marquardt. “The Randell Research Center is grateful to many dozens of people who donated money, materials, and time to this cause. In addition to those who helped with personal gifts, we are grateful to the Department of Natural History of the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Lee County Historic Preservation Board, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, Lee County Parks and Recreation, the Florida division of Forestry, Lee County Tourist Development Council and the Arts and Attractions Committee of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.”

Archeologists working from the Ruby Gill House are dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the ancient Calusa through archeological digs and studies of the Calusa mounds found in Pineland. The Ruby Gill House is open to the public from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and for more information, visit flmnh.ufl.edu/RRC or call 283-2062.