The Winged Scarab Building
Bought 9 years ago, rezoned, restored and rehabbed, this historic building has gone through a metamorphose of immense proportions. After rehabbing, rezoning, restoring and bringing new life to a long-neglected beautiful piece of architecture, it's now time to move on.
A great deal of blood, sweat and tears went into this place but I believe it was worth every effort. Moving out was a massive feat and the downsize began in earnest years ago in sorting through the mounds of debris left behind by former tenants. Home to pigeons, snakes, mice, bat and adults and children of the people variety; this building has seen it all. Nude models sat for the life drawing classes held in the former Art Center here. Heck, the first floor was a full basketball court only a few years ago. If these walls could talk, they'd tell stories of industry, of accidents, the great flood of 1951 and happier days of progress and renewal. Within the last two years, three movies were made within these walls and a business was born. Air Shows and Fourth of July displays watched from the roof. Bar-b-que dinners grilled on the front dock and Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners at the 2nd floor loft filled this place with family, friends and loved ones. Birthdays Celebrations, Drag Parties and Halloween Bash's became the stuff of legend. And the building still stands more beautiful than ever before.
I'm leaving with a great sense of accomplishment. I did something here. And when the steam whistle blows at the end of the day, I'll know that I contributed to a piece of history that will be standing long after I'm gone.
Cynthia Pesselato
