Watch: Venice Old Betsy’s New Fire Station Home 3D video and get information on purchasing a Old Betsy Lego for Christmas
Next week they will have Old Betsy lego sets available with the proceeds going towards the new fire station. To donate or find out about purchasing a lego set for Christmas.
All Donations Held by Venice Heritage, Inc., a 501(c)(3).
P.O. Box 1190, Venice, FL 34284
or go to veniceheritage.org and click on the yellow “DONATE” button to donate through PayPal. Information on purchasing a lego Old Betsy can be found at the VeniceHeratage.org site, once they are available (should be next week). VENICE, FL: Earl Midlam wants to build a new home for Old Betsy, the 1926 LaFrance Fire Engine — which is older than the city of Venice itself and was once used to fight fires from Gulf Gate to Englewood.
Tuesday, Midlam — one of the main caretakers of the 94-year-old engine, who also drives it during parades — and Venice Public Works Director James Clinch, will bring a proposal to the Venice City Council for a display building to be constructed with private funding on the Venice Cultural Campus.
“We need to preserve it; it’s in mint condition right now, especially with the air conditioning,” Midlam said.
Air conditioning is one key feature of the proposed $310,000 hurricane-hardened structure that would be located on the campus, at the corner of Nassau Street and Milan Avenue — positioned in such a way that it doesn’t even impact the number of parking spaces on the site. Other features include glass garage doors and windows, so people can stop and look at Old Betsy when she’s not out on parade. The side windows along Nassau Street would be shaded by a covered arcade and include benches for people to sit.
A solar panel on the roof would provide power for the garage interior to be lit constantly. “People could go by there day and night; there will be a covered area and some benches where people can sit,” Midlam said. “This way it’s going to be lit up. “You’ll be able to see it day and night.”
Venice Heritage Inc. already has an account established to which donors contribute to buy fuel, batteries and other supplies to keep Old Betsy running. (Midlam, a former Venice City Council member, proudly noted that Old Betsy hasn’t cost the city of Venice anything since 2011.)
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