Academy on the Go
On the Path of Sanibel Island’s Early Settlers Shell Point is sometimes humorously referred to as “Sanibel East,” since many current residents once called this unique island their home. Over the years, the Academy of Lifelong Learning has also been establishing a wonderful relationship with several of Sanibel’s organizations and cultural institutions. This past winter, residents enjoyed our collaboration with the Ding Darling Wildlife Society when we hosted a six-part author series that brought the likes of David Allen Sibley and Stan Tekiela, two of the most renowned ornithologists in this country, to our beautiful campus. Last month, The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village staff visited the Academy with its magnificent documentary “Secrets and Stories of the Sanibel Lighthouse.” This truly remarkable film, which was solely produced by the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village’s dedicated volunteers and sponsors, took the audience on a journey through rarely seen historical footage. More than 200 residents and guests learned about the strong connection the lighthouse had, and still has, to many island institutions, as well as how it was used for defense in World War II. Two weeks later, a group of 25 adventurous residents embarked on an exciting Academy on the Go excursion to visit both the Sanibel Lighthouse and the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village. The Museum & Village was founded in 1984 with a mission to preserve and share the history of this unique little island – including fascinating stories about those pioneers who used their resourceThe tour was led by Alan Lessack (Parkwood) fulness, persistence, hard work, and strong (below) and Bill Bachman (Rosemont), who are values to create a thriving community. It was both past presidents and current docents of the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village. fun to look at the historic buildings, like the Sanibel Packing House, Post Office, and Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room, and imagine what life was like on a tropical island 100 years ago – without air conditioning and bug spray!
Residents gathered in front of one of the Island’s one-room schoolhouses that dates back to 1896. 18
Shell Point Life | July/August 2022
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