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Archbold Biological
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Archbold Biological Station seeks support and funding for restoration of hurricane-damaged roofs.
Archbold Biological Station of Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida, a private, non-profit ecological research institution, seeks support and funding to repair and restore hurricane-damaged roofs on three historic Roebling buildings (Main Building, Rand Building, Generator Building). These buildings are the core campus at the Station.
 The Main Building at Archbold Biological Station
was the nucleus of John A. Roebling, Jr.'s 1, 050-acre Red Hill estate,
8 miles south of Lake Placid, Florida. This poured-concrete warehouse,
built during 1930-31 along a former railroad siding, is 340' long and 40' wide.
Richard Archbold added the east porch soon after the Station was founded in
1941 (see link below, Extraordinary
Roebling Buildings, for additional photos). |
Primary efforts are:
- apply for funding from the Special Grants Program, Florida Division of Historical Resources (May 31, 2005);
- generate strong public citizen support for this application (general public, elected representatives, community leaders, education community);
- work with local, state, and national historical societies and organizations to further document the history of this site and the buildings;
- seek additional private support as matching funds towards the restoration; and
- increase awareness of this historical site and further encourage public visitation.
The longstanding (64 years) success of ecological research and education at Archbold Biological Station is based on a remarkable confluence of philanthropy by two of America’s major business families; first the Roebling and second the Archbold.
The Roebling Family. John Augustus Roebling (1806-1869) constructed suspension bridges, including the Brooklyn Bridge, and founded a family business, John A. Roebling’s Sons Company, which manufactured the wire rope used in suspension bridges, telegraph and electrical cables, elevator cables, harbor defense nets, and in many other applications. His grandson, John A. Roebling, Jr. (1867-1952), constructed the 1,058-acre Red Hill Estate in southern Highlands County, Florida, during 1930-31.
The Archbold Family. John Dustin Archbold (1848-1916) became a Director of Standard Oil of Ohio Company in 1875 and by 1897 was functionally in charge of the company. His grandson, Richard Archbold (1907-1976), founded the Archbold Biological Station in 1941.
The Remarkable Confluence. It was Donald Roebling (1908-1959), son of John A. Roebling, Jr. and school-time friend of Richard Archbold, who facilitated the donation of his father’s Red Hill Estate to Richard on July 21, 1941. At the Red Hill Estate, Richard Archbold founded and sustained a biological field station where scientists conduct research on the ecology of native plants and animals of central Florida.
The extraordinary Roebling buildings, soundly built of poured concrete and using excellent materials and construction practices, were originally the support and storage facilities for a mansion that was never built. In October 1941, Richard Archbold became the resident director of the Station, living in the Main Building until his death in 1976. At the Station, he fostered ecological research by converting storage units in the Main Building to air-conditioned laboratories, offices, and a library. These improvements have not modified the major historical features of the buildings, and the structure has been well maintained; for example the original bronze windows and doors are all fully functional, and the bathroom fittings, water-treatment plant, and other Roebling-era constructions are in daily operation. The original Roebling land of pristine pine and oak forest became the long-term ecological research capital of the Station. In 1973, Richard Archbold added to that research capital by purchasing 3,000 acres of adjacent native landscape. At his death in 1976 he left his fortune as a permanent endowment for the Station. With Archbold family leadership, the Station continues to thrive. Since the early 1980s the Station has added new permanent scientific staff and continued to acquire adjacent land in natural condition including a further 3,648 acres donated by the Archbold family. Archbold Biological Station is recognized as one of the premier biological field stations in the nation. The public is welcome to visit. A self-guided tour, group tours, scientific seminars, and other visitor activities are available.
Three recent hurricanes in 2004 took their toll on the building roofs with, ironically, most damage occurring on modern tiles installed about 1960. The need to replace these tiles offers an opportunity for Archbold Biological Station to undertake a restoration of the roofs that will last for many decades to come by using historically accurate materials, and by adhering to a high standard of construction that matches that of the original roofs. If you would like to assist Archbold Biological Station in these efforts, or seek more information, please contact Susan B. Pettine, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Office via e-mail or by phone at 863-465-2571.
© Archbold Biological Station, 4 March 2005.
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