The building at 2915 Estero is comprised of three legal units and two commercial units in a tri-level design - an 1100 square foot residential condo on the second floor, a 1,000 square foot ground floor and a 400 square foot split level office that projects out closest to Estero Boulevard.

Over the years numerous businesses have operated out of this structure. Grandpa's Workshop was the best-remembered business. Grandpa Strock sold and fixed up just about everything under the sun and was most famous for his detailed woodcarvings. He was a well-respected local and a landmark on the Island; nevertheless he maintained a very modest enterprise on a bare concrete floor with naked light bulbs - more reminiscent of a garage than a storefront.

During Grandpa's tenure, Captain Bob Baldi's Everglades Skin Diving School was perhaps the most unusual use of 2915 Estero.

Our friend, Ollie Curran, owner of Hair Etc. in Sea Grape Plaza told us to call Bob since he owned the building when Grandpa had his workshop and would know a lot of the history. It was a great delight to get in touch with Bob Baldi.

"I bought the building from Colonial William L. Riles in the mid '70's. At that time my wife and I were running the Skin Diving School in another location. We moved the dive shop under 2915. At that time it was just a dirt floor. We poured the concrete and built up the walls making it into a new home for the dive shop. Over the years I trained half of Fort Myers Beach to dive. I also fondly remember many fishermen from the Shrimp Fleet as loyal customers. I paid $60,000 for the place and not only did Sandy and I run a business, we lived upstairs just like you and Karen do now."

Bob is semi-retired now though he still holds and works his commercial fishing license. A true gentleman, he supplied us with some great photos showing the IAF's new home in a bygone era - complete with pilings and asbestos shingles that have long since passed into history as several successive owners continually renovated and upgraded the premises.

One successful business was Beverly "Bev", who ran Mystiques Beauty Salon out of the front office. Bev had a busy clientele and those who visited her shop always noticed the pink colored décor so prominently used throughout her salon.

Aside from Bev, several businesses tried unsuccessfully to utilize the units that housed the old dive shop and Grandpa's. It was the beginning of a ten year long decline for the downstairs. First, Captain's Cabin Tattoos, then Big Beale's Hot Dogs and Snow Cones, than the never-opened Bistro. The final and most disruptive tenant was named Charley - Hurricane Charley to be exact. His occupancy was marked by three feet of water, mold and rot. It appeared that a death knell was being sounded for the 60-year-old building, but like the mythical Phoenix, it has arisen from the grave in transformation to be the promised home for the arts.

It may have been Carl Conley's vision and architectural design but it has surely been the hand of English Master Carpenter Martin Franklin that has crafted Conley's vision into reality.

"When I started the project it was with much smaller ideas in mind. There are a few good carpenters working the beach but few as skilled as Martin, we call him the "Queen's Carpenter", and he did, in fact work for the royal family, though not the Queen."

Martin Franklin started his own company in England in 1979 at the young age of 24. He has been in the United States on a work visa for the past two years - the better part of one of them making the IAF home a tour de force. During his years across the pond he honed his skills as an artisan in the homes of such distinguished folks as Princess Eunice of Belgium, the famous golfer Vijay Singh and a very popular British D.J. named Jimmy Young. During this time Martin won a top 100 building designation two years in a row - a distinction seldom duplicated. Martin told us about a memorable job he did for the Playboy Club in Mayfair, and how it prepared him for the "interesting" work he would be doing for Conley.

"This guy from India came and took pieces of hardwood from the jungle - I don't remember what kind - and carved them," said Franklin, taking an unusual midday break to speak with us, "They were 20 feet long by 6 inches wide, and there were six of them, all carved intricately. My job was to use them to make the roof over the stairwell. If I cut just a little bit too much off one end, they would have been ruined!"

Martin said that there are twelve different kinds of exotic hardwoods in the IAF building, ranging from the Honduran Mahogany doors to the rare Purpleheart after which the theater is named.

"I did very little structural work most of that was already sound when I started. My specialty is trim. That's where all the exotic wood came in to play," said Martin.

"The doors are the first thing I worked on and one of the most historically significant parts of the building," he said. "They were built in Miami by the same Cuban guy who built the doors to Hemingway's house in Key West. Brand new, they cost $2,700 apiece! When I got to them - there are six of them - they were in pretty bad shape - Charley had certainly wrecked his havoc. I refurbished them completely - outside slats, the door itself, and the inner door. They are made from Honduran Mahogany, and that stuff will last forever." The doors aren't the only things made from mahogany. The staircase trim leading from Carl's office in to the upstairs part of the building was made from an antique mahogany headboard. "That was tricky!" Franklin recalled, "I cut it in half, then refit the treads to the sides."

Martin took us on a tour, pointing out to us the other woods used in the project. "See that," he said, pointing to the top of the staircase leading downstairs. "That's called Cocobolo, and it's probably the hardest wood known to mankind. It's like steel. You don't even have to varnish it - its natural oils keep it shiny. They used to make railway tracks out of it."

Downstairs, Martin showed us how the trim at the entrance to the theater was made of Brazilian Rosewood. "After the Cocobolo, that's the most expensive wood here," he said, "And look over here, at this old fireplace area, this is trimmed in Tiger Wood. There's also Zebra Wood in the upstairs bathroom and American Red Oak with Floridian Cypress in Carl's office." Martin explained that all these woods were chosen for a reason other than their obvious beauty. "Some of these tropical hardwoods, you could sink in a river for 50 years and they would never float. You can't even bang a nail in any of this without drilling a hole first, and termites won't eat any of it, either." But some of the best wood, said Martin, was already in the house. "Yellow heart pine - it came from around the Everglades when they were putting the road through. It was never appreciated in its day, and now it's all gone. They used to build vacation homes on the Island out of it, and it will last virtually forever. We preserved all of it throughout the home and theatre."

While the wood is beautiful, what is truly amazing is how Martin integrated it with pieces of antique stained glass. On one side of the theatre is a uniquely crafted window transom that, according to Martin, "is made from stained glass that's over 100 years old. The window is fashioned in such a way that the two lower windows open out, and you can prop them up and put drinks right on the glass because it's 3/8" thick." Another window is actually encased by the wood from an 80-year-old English school desk that Martin fashioned into a frame.

The coup de grace of the entire theatre, however, is the abundant use of a very special hardwood called Purpleheart. From the entrance to the front office to the stunning stained glass framed sliding doors leading to the outside part of the theatre, this rich, dark lavender colored wood is clearly the showpiece of the building. Brilliant sunlight plays through the colored glass off its natural tones, creating a kaleidoscope of red hues on the salmon colored Italian tile floor.

"I had never even seen this type of wood before," said Martin. "It comes from the Central American sub-tropics, and it lasts for hundreds of years. This wood is amazing, when you cut into it, it's brown, but as soon as the air gets to it, it turns purple and stays that way."

The entrance stairs overlay is crafted from thousands of pieces of Purpleheart interlocked with recycled water tank cypress to create a visually unique landing. According to Martin, this was designed with one thing in mind, "This will never move or warp, no matter how hot it gets or how much water gets on it."

The exotic hardwoods aren't the only fine materials used to transform this structure, however. The driveway is laid with hundreds of draining cobblestone pavers, and the roof was redone with galvalume. We spoke with Tim Smith, proprietor of J and J Pavers and Paul Debeer, owner of Pro-Line Roofing, and they told us about the work they did refurbishing the theatre.

"Carl picked out a top quality 'galvalume standing' themed roof and we added insulation, a skylight and ran a matching seamless gutter around the edge," said Paul. "Galvalume is a type of material made from aluminum and galvanized steel, so it incorporates the rust proof qualities of aluminum and the strength of steel." Paul told us that the roof was finished with a bright paint finish that resembles copper. "This is a premium roof that will last 50 years."

One of the first changes to be made to the building wasn't even made to the actual building. Tim Smith and his crew replaced the ugly blacktop parking area with brick pavers, and the effect was instantly dramatic. "These pavers are called 'Euro-cobbles' and we literally sawed and cut the old black-top to lay them in," said Tim. "The color is called 'Old Chicago' and the cobbles really give the place an old-world feel."

It's readily apparent that those selected to do the work at 2915 thought the project was worthwhile and gave an extra effort in support of the building's artistic use. "Leslie and I look forward to seeing those shows ourselves." said Debeer

The Purple Heart has not yet published an upcoming events schedule. Yet those who are familiar with the IAF under Conley's direction understand fully the organic growth of the organization. The IAF is first and foremost a membership organization and its future will be planned accordingly.

"I urge locals who really want to enjoy all the amenities to join now - once we reach full membership, we have 150 now, we'll stop seeking new member applications, so those who really love and participate in the performing arts on the Beach will not be disappointed by overcrowding," said Carl. "We're not trying to make money, just insure support for a full and artistically meaningful agenda and for that charter members are essential. Just this past week we spoke with a surviving member of Ray Charles' Orchestra about performing for a member's event. And the Orpheus Players, our local theatre company, have engaged in a dialogue with Elizabeth D'Onofrio, sister of famous actor Vincent D'Onofrio. She's a noted theatrical producer in her own right. So, it's safe to say that anyone who joins and pays their dues won't be disappointed." Conley went on to say, "We have an ongoing occupancy permit from the County for a theatre and our CO zoning allows for membership organizations like the Arts Association on Donora, but I have an upcoming appointment with Town officials to make sure the IAF is properly permitted, zoned and licensed for any eventualities our cultural site might face in the future. We've heard grumblings from a very few - mostly those with some gripes over politics but it's great to say 99% of the public supports the arts and would be thrilled to have a small, affordable place to go on the Beach to enjoy plays, recitals and other creative performances."

Furnishings and fine detailing should be complete by mid-August and an open house is planned immediately after the dedication ceremony in October 2008.Commisioner Ray Judah is scheduled to officiate and many dignitaries have expressed an interest including Sr. Senator Bill Nelson and his wife Grace. At that time everyone will get a chance to see the "Labor of Love" that has transformed an eyesore on the Boulevard into a small, eclectic space dedicated to all who appreciate the beauty in performing arts. Or, as Pablo Picasso once put it, "Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life." Indeed!