Vandals Hit the Historic Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, and Its Limestone Columns Cannot Simply Be Painted Over
The downtown Fort Myers art center said vandals struck its exterior columns — delicate 1930s limestone that needs specialized care to clean without permanent damage.
One of downtown Fort Myers' oldest buildings has been vandalized. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center said in a Facebook post on Saturday, October 31 that it was saddened to discover that someone had recently vandalized the exterior columns of its historic home at 2301 First Street.
The damage is not a quick cleanup. "Our columns are made of delicate historic limestone that cannot simply be painted over or cleaned with conventional methods," the center wrote, explaining that removing the paint requires specialized care to avoid permanently damaging the stone. The center said it is working with the city to determine who is responsible and consulting professionals on the best way to clean and restore the building.
The city-owned building has stood in downtown Fort Myers for more than 90 years: it was constructed as a U.S. Post Office and dedicated in December 1933, later served as a federal courthouse, and has been home to the art center — run by Florida Arts Inc., a nonprofit — for almost 20 years under a long-term lease.
