After almost two and a half years of delays by the hurricane Ian, the Jean Cleveland House in Punta Gorda, is finally moved and marks an important turning point for the museum and the community. This house is of great importance for Martha Bireda, whose mother bought her from the Blanchards. From and without books or book bags, “said Bireda. Breeda explained that her mother knew that she had to found a museum in the Punta Gorda-House. Another important piece of Punta Gorda's historical puzzle is the Jean Cleveland House.” One of the things that happened is that my mother, British Russell and Cleveland, worked very closely together, around the Punta Bring Gorda history together, “said Bireda. A four- and twelve -hour step. He said that a little less than half a million dollars will be financed from 2022. The purpose of the restaurant is to be able to pay the means to pay for it, “said Cummings. Cummings added that the project highlighted the importance of the Punta Gorda community and serve as a cultural heritage boom to drill both residents. Cummings said. The Jean Cleveland House will be away about one and a half miles on Tuesday evening in Punta Gorda.
After almost two and a half years of delays from Hurricane Ian, the Jean Cleveland House is finally moved in Punta Gorda and marks an important turning point for the museum and the community.
This house is of great importance for Martha Bireda, whose mother bought it from the Blanchards, a prominent early African -American family.
“The thing that was important for my mother was after the connection that she would see these African -American children, especially the boys, past and without books or book bags,” said Bireda.
Bireda explained that her mother knew that she had to found a museum in the Punta Gorda house to raise the community.
“The children know what the beginnings in Punta Gorda were like African American were part of this whole thing,” she said.
The dreams of the mother of Bireda became reality with the Blanchard House, a historical museum. Another important piece of Punta Gorda's historical puzzle is the Jean Cleveland House.
“One of the things that happened is that my mother, British Russell and we Cleveland, have worked very closely together to bring the story of Punta Gorda together,” said Bireda.
The house damaged by several hurricanes is preparing to pull from Gill Street to US41 to an empty property at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
“We see each other between four and twelve hours. We start at 10 p.m., you actually have to move power lines and cable lines,” said Jaha Cummings, President of the Bernie Russell Community Development Corporation and former city council of the city of Punta Gorda.
Cummings, Bireda's son, was instrumental in reaching the move. He said it was financed by a state scholarship of a little less than half a million dollars from 2022. The Jean Cleveland House is now connected to the Blanchard House.
“As they work together in life, they will work together to really celebrate and preserve the history of our region,” said Cummings.
The house is transformed into the youth and cultural center and becomes Florida's first cultural heritage center and also includes a restaurant.
“The purpose of the restaurant is really to have the means to be able to pay for it,” said Cummings.
Cummings added that the project highlight the importance of the Punta Gorda community and will serve for residents and for visitors as a heritage boom.
“When people come here to see this, they will stay overnight, eat our restaurants, etc. Eating etc. So hope that we will be an economic driver to really help to really maintain our quality of life,” said Cummings.
The Jean Cleveland House will be moved about one and a half miles away in Punta Gorda on Tuesday evening.
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