The Historic Stranahan House Museum in downtown Fort Lauderdale recently received a new air conditioning system courtesy of Sunrise-based Air Around the Clock and Rheem. The installation will not benefit visitors, but having a modern cooling system will help protect timeless artifacts that require a controlled climate to stay preserved.
“We try to limit the exposure to heat and humidity as much as possible because we have so many authentic, precious pieces,” Christine Yates says, president of the Stranahan House board of directors. “That is why this donation from Air Around the Clock and Rheem is so significant to us in helping to preserve the history of Fort Lauderdale.”
The idea for the donation started when Mike Lang, chief of operations at Air Around the Clock, heard that Stranahan House needed a new air conditioning system, so he contacted the company’s supplier, Rheem. They offered to donate the unit, while Air Around the Clock donated the labor.
“I have children and I have grandchildren who I want to know the history of our area. I think that’s important,” Lang says. “This will help Stranahan House raise more money to preserve a treasured community landmark. We’re standing in an area surrounded by modern buildings and there sits the Historic Stranahan House Museum, where it truly all began. This is the only history Fort Lauderdale has.”
Historic Stranahan House and Air Around the Clock were recently featured on the home improvement show SoFlo Home Project. During the show, viewers got a tour of Stranahan House with Education and Curatorial Coordinator Jonathan Axler who brought the architecture and history to life. Viewers also learned how to incorporate features of Stranahan House into their own homes. The video is available for viewing here.
The Stranahan House is the site most closely associated with the founding of the city and the center of its economic and social development. Today it is a vibrant cultural asset, historical resource, educational facility and tourist attraction. Stranahan House is open 350 days per year, educating and entertaining more than 3,000 fourth-grade students and more than 30,000 visitors annually, making it one of the top cultural attractions in the area. The City of Fort Lauderdale Historic Preservation Board has certified Stranahan House as a Historical District.
For additional information, call (954) 524-4736 or email director@stranahanhouse.org.
