Belle Haven Historic Cottage now open, more than a year after Helene

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A piece of Anna Maria Island history is now open to visitors after being closed since Hurricane Helene.

Earlier this month, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society reopened the “Belle Haven Historic Cottage.”

Being able to step into a world from the past is what Carolyn Orshak protects.

“We are so excited to have it open. It was a year in the making,” she said.

Orshak is the president of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society.

She said the “Belle Haven Historic Cottage” just opened this month, after volunteers worked hard to restore it.

It was damaged by Helene last September.

“She had to just buckle up and store all of our artifacts that we couldn’t get into the museum yet,” she said.

The cottage sustained some water damage, but the museum was flooded with four feet of water from Helene. Artifacts dating back to the 1800s were damaged — some were destroyed.

“Because it was a very slow, tedious process,” Orshak said. “Every artifact had to be inventoried and cleaned. It took months, it took months.”

Longtime volunteers like Heidi Pratt played a key role in the restoration. She says the renovation also gave the society a chance to make the museum even better.

“I’ve volunteered now for 10 years, and originally this place was jam-packed like an antique store, shelves and things. We’ve had it properly curated. Everything’s in its place, little areas that belong together. It’s perfect,” she said.

Orshak said this 1920s house is a vital piece of history for the island community.

“Children really need to learn our history. Because as we grow into adulthood, we need to understand the things about our world that make it that way, the things that we can do to make it better,” she said.

History serves as a reminder of our past, and Orshak plans on protecting that for years to come.

She says they are applying for grants that could provide funding for upgrades to the Belle Haven Cottage to keep it in good condition.