Work has begun to restore a venerable structure of the Pineland community. Owned by Lee County and leased in 2001 to the Randell Research Center for use as its headquarters, the Ruby Gill House was severely damaged by Hurricane Charley in 2004.

two to people walk carefully along the roof of a house
Structural Engineer Bob Rude (left) confers with Dale Schneider about the roof on the Gill House. Photo by W. Marquardt

Re-roofing of both the house and the post office next door were funded by the Florida Museum shortly after the storm. In 2007, Lee County historic-preservation funds, a grant from the Arts and Attractions Committee of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, and private donations have helped us stabilize both buildings and begin the restoration process. A new heating/air-conditioning system and new wiring are also partially completed. Additional work on the Gill House will include architectural and engineering assessments, external structural work, and interior restoration.

Historically the Gill House and the Pineland Post Office are closely connected. In 1922, Ruby Vance Gill, then age 35, moved to Pineland with her husband Percy. The Gills bought several acres of groves and built the two-story house. In 1924, Ms. Gill succeeded James Wheeler as postmaster. Soon after, a storm swept away the tiny post office, which was then on the waterfront. Ms. Gill built a new post office next to her home, where it still stands today. Here, she was postmaster until 1957, serving 33 years. Early on, she operated a small store in the same building. She also served on the county electric board and was instrumental in bringing electricity to Pineland in 1941. In 2005, the Gill House was listed as a Lee County historic resource.

Architect and RRC advisory board member Jeff Mudgett (left) confers with contractor Dale Schneider about the new double flashing Dale installed to stop the leaks around the upstairs window at the Gill House. Photo by W. Marquardt
From left to right, Gladys Schneider, Karen Walker, and architect Linda Stevenson confer about the interior of the Gill House, now being renovated. Gladys wrote an architectural history of the house, and Gladys and Karen worked together to provide measurements to aid Linda in completing detailed drawings to document the structure. Photo by W. Marquardt

This article was taken from the Friends of the Randell Research Center Newsletter Vol 6, No. 3. September 2007.