I arrived back in the States a couple of days ago and have been shivering ever since. Allan flew down to take over the construction at the museum. We overlapped a couple of days to bring him up to speed as well as have him attend some meetings with Alejandro and I in Santo Domingo. The construction is proceeding on schedule. The demolition and major rebuilding is completed, now the finish work starts. You can tell from the photos posted that we have painted the entire interior black and have begun nailing on the furring strips to attach the lumber to. The museum will look like you are in the hold of an old ship and when you go from area to area it will have the feel of being in different areas of an old ship. The conservatory is now the main focus of construction as we are enclosing it in, putting in the ventilation system and building the recovery tanks. That was the subject of one of our meetings in Santo Domingo. We are greatly pleased to be able to work with the government offices to provide some artifact conservation as their facilities are nearing maximum usage. Our conservatory is not large; it will have two tanks – one large enough for a great gun and a smaller one for other artifacts. There will be a work bench along the wall where the window to the museum is so museum patrons can watch recovery taking place.
The lumber arrived from Santo Domingo today for the interior walls and Allan is starting to frame them up. Check the photos section for progress. We also met with a law firm in Santo Domingo to establish a Dominican company for the purpose of taxes and workmen compensation plans. This was a necessary step to ensure we could do business in the DR not just for the museum, but future ventures as well.
I admire your work to the community of believers, your dedication is an example to the rest of us. You live by faith it is your business model that shows your mettle as well as your desire to bring history to life. Now more than ever men of your caliber are a rare quality. Of course rare quality is your business you obviously know it well. I was a seaman in the U.S.A. Navy in the late sixties aboard the USS Leader mine sweeper smallest ocean going vessel in the Navy made of wood. We crossed the Pacific ninety miles from the eye of a hurricane we were going as fast backward as we could go forward at thirteen knots. Out on the deck not recommended, the bow would bow to the force of gigantic waves that would break over the entire ship. Then as the ship rolled for the next impact there were bright stars and clear sky! THANKS for the work of the crew have fun be safe at least reasonably so AND KEEP GOIN! L.S.