Nearly three-and-a-half years after a suspected electrical fire reduced the historic main building at the St. Francis Retreat Center near San Juan Bautista to little more than ashes, a modern, environmentally-friendly structure has opened in its place.
A pre-dawn fire on June 23, 2006 destroyed the Flint-Bixby mansion, a 25,000-square-foot Victorian that served as the centerpiece of the retreat's activities, housing the dining, meeting and staff living areas. The original structure, built in 1863, was a total loss in the blaze.
The new structure, at just more than 11,000 square feet, was opened for use during the first weekend of October. A dedication of the new facility is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. and a ribbon cutting with the San Juan Bautista and San Benito County chambers of commerce is slated for Nov. 18.
"We're in there and finishing the final details," said Ed DeGroot, the center's business manager. "Everything came together. It was far beyond what we were imagining but here we are. People who have been in here have been really impressed with it."
The portable buildings that have housed a dining room, commercial kitchen and conference room since the blaze have been removed and retreat guests are using the mission-inspired building.
"It's been a dizzying process," DeGroot said. "Since June of 2006 we've had to deal with the insurance, planning new buildings and raising over $3.8 million in this economy."
Insurance covered about $3.2 million of the estimated $6.4 million cost of rebuilding the retreat house, with the rest coming from donations from thousands of donors throughout the world. The center still needs to raise between $300,000 and $400,000 to complete the work, including some landscaping. Volunteers interested in helping with the landscaping are encouraged to contact the center.
Look for the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
Adam Breen Adam Breen is a staff writer with the Weekend Pinnacle.
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