Arsenault Paints to Save Everglades Depot

The deteriorating 1928 Atlantic Coastline Railroad Depot building in Everglades City has gained a new ally. Prominent local artist Paul Arsenault spent most of the afternoon on New Year’s Eve capturing the historic site on canvas. The Depot, owned by Bill Odrey, is one of 47 historic sites in the county recognized by the Historic and Archaeological Preservation Board. The Depot is immortalized in the 1958 film Wind Across the Everglades. Scenes from the movie were filmed on location at the Depot. Academy Award winning screenwriter Budd Schulberg (Along the Waterfront) worked with Burle Ives, Christopher Plummer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Emmett Kelly on the film that is praised in the movie industry for its ahead-of-its-time ecological themes and authentic scenery. 

Arsenault, of Old Naples, has been capturing iconic local scenes and landmarks for the past 50 years and has a devoted following. This is the first time he set about painting the Depot.  

"What my art is right now is putting together the key elements and the people of the 50 years I’ve been here,” Arsenault said. "My agenda is to honor these things that have come up as important in mytime here. The Depot here at Everglades City has been such a beautiful building all along. The fact that we have a turning point with this beautiful building, it's about to be refurbished, I was asked to do a before and after painting. It's an honor to paint a building when it’s in a certain state of disrepair but is going to be saved. I love that this building will be living on for generations, so I’m happy to be a part of it.” 

Arsenault currently has a large exhibit of his historically themed art on display at the Marco Island Historical Society through February 15. 

Odrey, the embattled owner of the Depot, recently received significant contributions in the form of decking and roofing supplies needed to help get the landmark building back up and running. Owens Corning, Wear Deck, and  Carlisle Syntec have stepped up to contribute to the project. “We’re still trying to find soffit and fascia manufacturers, and a paint supplier,” Odrey said. 

"Bill's a guy that saw the beauty of the building,” Arsenault said, "and went after it when a lot of people in town knew the building and just let Bill do the work to find it and get it. I know he's been having a lot of trouble with logistics and all, and it's really unfortunate because of the fact that this would be a wonderful building to have operational as soon as possible." 

Odrey has a history of run-ins with city officials but feels things are heading in the right direction. He hopes to have the Depot back up and running soon. He’s thrilled to have Arsenault’s involvement. Arsenault feels Odrey’s pain. 

"Oh, yeah,” Arsenault said, “he's been stonewalled. But, you know, it's an old waterfront town, and particular in their own ways. They kind of run their thing, and it's just that they have their rules, but they have their limitations. So, we're just kind of honoring the fact that this is a building that should be refurbished and it should be operational, and it should be loved because it represents a big part of the heritage of the community.” 

Arsenault loves what the Depot represents. 

 “There's just a certain classic Spanish architectural influence that was Florida in the 1920s,” Arsenault said. “There's that styling going on, along with the great function of being a depot, and essentially the end of the line. It's got a real charming, romantic, position here in Everglades City. And you know it’s kind of odd anymore to find an old architectural gem on the waterfront that hasn’t been taken over, taken down, or repurposed. As the community evolves, the waterfront changes.” 

Arsenault was alerted to the Depot’s disposition by a local resident. 

“A member of one of the esteemed pioneer family members at some art event mentioned Bill Odrey to me and what he was trying to do. I said, ‘Well, you know, I'd love to help out however I can.' Bill got in touch with me a couple of days later. This was the day I could commit to coming here and doing my first painting of the place. Architecturally, it's a regional gem." 

Arsenault would like to see the area’s part-time residents become more involved in saving the area’s historical sites. 

“It's been an ongoing problem,” Arsenault said. “Most people that are coming down here are very attentive to back home and their historical societies and all of that. Down here, it's more grandkids, golf, and shopping. Arsenault has a suggestion for those folks. “Honor your adopted home,” he said, "hug a building."