In early 2004, the Volusia County School Board donated the historic Enterprise Elementary School building (c. 1936) to The Enterprise Preservation Society.

          To escape demolition, the 3,000 sq. foot building, originally used foreducating grades 7-10 and then as a community food pantry, had to be moved from the school campus.

          In June of 2007, the building was moved about 1/8 of a mile across Main Street, where it begins its new life as The Enterprise Heritage Center and Town Hall. The interior of the building is in surprisingly good shape, retaining many of its original features, especially on the second floor.

          After renovation, the building will be open to the public, as a permanent display space for the extensive collection of historic letters, documents, photos, artifacts and other material owned by The Enterprise Preservation Society. These important and valuable items relate to the history of Enterprise and surrounding communities such as Stone Island and Garfield. In addition, the Heritage Center will feature a 1930's-era classroom; exhibits on Enterprise history and area ecology, a gallery for works by local artists, community meeting space, archives and library space as well as office space for the Society.

          "It is rare for a preservation society to have a building, such as the Enterprise Elementary School Building, to be donated toward such a culturally important cause," said Sally Landis Bohon, then President of the West Volusia Historical Society.

          An article with photo of The Heritage Center was featured in the Summer 2004 issue of The Florida Preservationist Magazine.

          In November 2004, the Enterprise Heritage Center booth and exhibit was honored with a first place award at the Volusia County Fair.

          Money for foundation work and building renovations is, of course, a major need. While the Volusia County ECHO program has pledged matching funds to pay for much of the building move itself, there is still much work to be done. Sponsors can buy an engraved paver in a walkway or a brick building foundation. Corporate sponsors can buy naming rights to one of the galleries. Other fund-raising efforts include a wine and chocolate tasting in September, tha Festival of Tables in October and, of course the Annual Old Enterprise Festival in the spring.

          For more information, please contact Cindy Sullivan, EPS fundraising chair for the Heritage Center project: Phone 386-575-0694 or email cindy-sullivan@cfl.rr.com.

          If you would like to make a donation to the Heritage Center project, please make your check payable to Enterprise Preservation Society and mark for "EHC project." Mail to EPS, PO Box 4015, Enterprise, Florida 32725.

*Enterprise Preservation Society is a 501c.3 non-profit organization.