Lincolnville Museum scores Top Ten for an African-American Cultural and Historical grant!
The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center (LMCC) scored in the top ten organizations to receive $1 million from the Florida Department of State’s African-American Cultural and Historical grant program with a score of 96.875. A total of 152 museums, universities, municipalities and organizations from throughout the state applied for the $30 million grant which was designed to provide “funding for construction projects at facilities in Florida that highlight the contributions, culture, or history of African-Americans.”
The LMCC will use the funding to complete the second phase of a two-part preservation project for the historic Excelsior High School Building, which has housed the museum since 2005. The 97-year old building was built in 1925 as the first high school for Black students in St. Johns County. The grant will complete a process begun by a $500,000 National Park Service grant for preservation. The first phase included the preservation of the exterior facade, plumbing and electrical upgrades and the rehabilitation of second floor interior spaces, according to the museum’s Executive Director Regina Gayle Phillips.
The Phase II grant will restore more of the building’s original Mediterranean style by replacing asphalt roof tiles with clay barrel tiles as it was originally built and designed by Fred Henderich. Additionally a new elevator and complete overhaul of the HVAC system will be the bulk of the grant, Phillips said, adding: “Most of the work will be things that will improve the functionality of the building and preserve it for the next century.” The museum’s large auditorium space, now the site of live performances, theater and other community functions, will be reengineered to include built-in theater sound and lighting, making the space more versatile for not only the LMCC, but for other organizations seeking a venue for their programs and events.
LMCC has struggled for years to find financial support to make the much needed restoration of interior spaces and preservation of the Excelsior’s exterior. “This grant represents the best thing that could have happened for the museum’s home,” said Phillips. The grant required no match for up to $500,000 and a 50 percent match for anything above that amount up to $1 million. With the help of community support and a pledge from the St. Johns County TDC, the museum was able to meet the requirement to raise $250,000. That amount includes a $50,000 donation from the Bailey Group and a pledge for another $50,000 upon approval of the grant. The total cost of the project is $1,250,000.
Other projects in the county to receive funding include Ft. Mose, the site of the United States’ first free legally sanctioned Black settlement, which is planning to build a replica of the original fort, built in 1738.
The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center is proud to preserve an historic site such as the Excelsior High School, and maintain the building in time for its centennial celebration in 2025.