A Day at Sweetwater Mansion

Wasn't this mentioned before and it was decided that some woman had just come one here and made all that up about them re-opening Sweetwater? I mean, are they doing it or not?

This is not about re-opening SweetWater, I know nothing of that. This is about the plans for this week-end on SweetWater grounds, which someone posted on FaceBook.

Do you have the url for the Facebook page? I looked up Sweetwater Plantation and it was a deer preserve in Florida.

I just looked it up on Facebook. It is the old mansion on Florence Boulevard. Under the events tab, it had the listing, but no details. You have to become a friend to get in to see any details.

Sorry, I couldn't see the link.

It would be good if the Sweetwater House was restored, but it is going to take a lot of money to restore it. The last time I was there when Mrs Region was alive, water had filled the basement and was pouring through the roof.

I would like the Times Daily to find out more about who is behind this project and what funds have been raised, then more about the story at christmas where money was stolen.

quote:

Originally posted by Covsomni1:

I would like the Times Daily to find out more about who is behind this project and what funds have been raised, then more about the story at christmas where money was stolen.

If you post it in feedback, maybe someone will pick it up and run with the story.

I saw this in the weekly Courier this week. I thought about going but was unsure due to all the talk back in Oct. over Sweetwater. If I have the extra money I may go as I like to support these type of renovations. Just hope the money goes to what it is suppose to be for, the renovation.

Here's the FaceBook link, but you may have to have a FB account to open it.

http://www.facebook.com/home.p...1239027261.320435..1

$10 to get in isn't all that bad; it seems to me this is suggesting they are opening it up - at least for outside tours; I'm afraid the money wouldn't get to where it is supposed to be going. I just don't really trust this.

I thought it was proven to be a lie before?

quote:

Originally posted by Covsomni1:
It would be good if the Sweetwater House was restored, but it is going to take a lot of money to restore it. The last time I was there when Mrs Region was alive, water had filled the basement and was pouring through the roof.

I would like the Times Daily to find out more about who is behind this project and what funds have been raised, then more about the story at christmas where money was stolen.

Susan Smithson still owns the property. I think she has it listed for 6 mil. It should be restored, but I balk at giving her the money. I doubt that the state would take the home off her hands anyway, so I'm not sure if any of this will do any good or not.

Hi all,

Here are the links:

A Day At Sweetwater Mansion event page:

http://www.facebook.com/topic....014096.2466210335..1

Sweetwater Mansion Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/topic....27&v=wall&ref=search

I wish I were there to experience this.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

It sounds like fun but I just heard the weather report for tomorrow and it is not favorable for outdoor activities. A good day to stay home.

In Eastern Lauderdale its raining cats, dogs, and cows. Don't think Smithson is making any money today.

quote:

Originally posted by Trutooit-II:
In Eastern Lauderdale its raining cats, dogs, and cows. Don't think Smithson is making any money today.

It was cancelled today.

I'm hoping not too many people get ripped off on that Sweetwater thing.

More about Sweetwater

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/

some guy named "martin" came in during the last "sweetwater" event and said those ladies had nothing to do with the event. i wonder if he will inform us about this event!?!

i would personally love to see sweetwater, but i want to see the house. i've seen old pictures. it was so majestic in its day! perhaps someday it will be restored. each passing year gives me less hope. sweetwater is going to become so dilapidated, it wont be worth fixing!

I had forgotten that. Now one of them is listed as PR person. Its interesting to say the least.

I'm guessing the event must have been cancelled on Saturday due to weather.

Shoalanda obsessed with sweetwater???
http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/

Sure looks that way.

I would hardly call a small mention with a video "obsessed". You seem the one who'd obsessed. How many time are you going to post the same link?

quote:

Originally posted by forumaddict2:
I would hardly call a small mention with a video "obsessed". You seem the one who'd obsessed. How many time are you going to post the same link?

I think she is what our great-great grandfather would call a "muckraker". See my post on what will I do for my opinion of it. I really didn't mean to slander the blog site, though I probably did, and to them I appoligize. I meant it as a jab to suseecues incessant ranting about the place

quote:

Originally posted by suseecue:
Shoalanda obsessed with sweetwater???
Sure looks that way.

Doesn't look that way to me at all. I find the history of SweetWater very interesting & have enjoyed watching the video's that Ms. Glass has done on it. Would you call me obsessed?

suseecue seems to be jealous of Deb Glass and Shoalanda. She needs to get a life away from the computer. As for Sweetwater, I'm glad the owner took it off the market. Maybe they can find the funding to really fix it up. I do wish the state could buy it and protect it.

smells hency to me. History is always good to know -- otherwise, we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.........................................................................................

Halloween's approaching. Wonder if they'll have it this year or not?

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspo...-sprinklers-are.html

The Sweetwater tour is a business like any other.Why bad mouth it.If you don't want to pay don't go.We go to the mini-mart get ripped off and say nothing.If a person is intrested in history i think a tour would be worth the money.Last year the Sweetwater thread got ugly.We don't another repeat.Just my two cents.JR

I’m not sure who is behind the Shoalandaspeaks blog, but you might want to check the accuracy of your postings as you have implied the major reason for no inside tours is the lack of a sprinkler system. I would suggest that you check with someone more familiar with the adopted codes and standards to educate yourself, as it’s a lot more involved than you may realize. I for one am curious as to what codes and standards have been adopted by currently used by ALL departments within the City of Florence and how they are applied. Don’t be surprised if you find some discrepancies as I’ve had in the past.

I rec'd this from SS:

The Haunted Plantation owned by Liz McIntyre was shut down in Central for not having a sprinkler system installed.

Greystone Manor had to install one.

Sweetwater is planning inside tours and DOES NOT have one. A friend from the Carter House in Franklin just called and checked. Also, to perform any renovations to the house, they are required to have a state licensed architect on board. I doubt they have any of this.
______
Now, I can't vouch where this came from but I know Liz Carpenter and remember when she had to close hers.

I've heard from some others that there has to be lighted exit signs as well. Don't think those are in place. Course they could be by the opening. I'm also seeing two prices for the tours. One for SW and one for GHOST. Are there two tours inside?

I think the main thing is where the money is going? Smithson isn't a role model there it seems. I would worry the property would be sold. Wish the city would buy it. It would be worth the money if Smithson would come down from 9 mil.

Yes, but why would she really even want to sell it if she can avoid having to do any major renovations and keep making money on this every year? Now she gets to charge people to walk inside this shamble, makes them sign a waiver, and has a nice little yearly stash o cash without having to do a darn thing to it.

What would be the safer choice? Walk inside a run-down old house with-out sprinkler system or go on a ghost walk at night in down-town Florence with-out protection? Think i would choose the spook-house in killen with the sprinkler system.

Fair enough, Junior, but just remember if you fall through a floor or staircase, get hit in the head with a falling ceiling, or the place catches fire and you are plowed over and stomped dead, that you signed that waiver saying you and your family can't sue for medical bills or damages. The Ghost Walk has groups of people and I believe for the most part the places they go are well lit. It should be much safer than going into some dilapidated building.

Ain't scared.I,m going to Sweetwater,Ghost walk and Killen spook-house.I really look forward to the ghost-walk this will be the second time for me.

quote:

Originally posted by AtticFeline:
Yes, but why would she really even want to sell it if she can avoid having to do any major renovations and keep making money on this every year? Now she gets to charge people to walk inside this shamble, makes them sign a waiver, and has a nice little yearly stash o cash without having to do a darn thing to it.

You got it all wrong. It's all about the ghosts. After all there is some undiscovered ghost out there waiting to be discovered and become the next star.

I love that haunted house in Killen! We look forward to it all year and it's always different enough from the year before that we don't get bored. Fall in Alabama is so much fun!

I may start my own ghost-walk.We got a bunch of them critters out my way.Lets see now 5 bucks a head and if 200 people go on my "ghost-walk" hummmm.I see a new set of tires and wheels for my old truck!

And not to forget Junior,s haunted house,It will make you wet your pants!

I amfamilar with the issues that forced the closure Haunted Plantation, and Good Springs in addition to the installiation of the sprinkler system and other safety features at Graystone.

One of the main requirements to have a sprinkler system or not is determined by occupancy classification. Axe Mortis, formally Gray Stone and the Haunted Plantation are amoung an occupancy classification of Special Amusement, because of visual/audible distractions/devices. The fire and life safety codes for this type of occupancy are very specfic and restrictive.

Believe it or not, there is also a fire and life safety codes for attractions such as Corm Mazes.

I know from my dealings with development and design professions as well as inspectors, especially the DSFM assigned to this area, this classification which is very specific as to what level of protection is required. I my business dealings, I also found the DSFM more knowlegable of these issues and easier to work with, than I did at a local level.

From what I have learned, a simple walk-thru of an old house in itself, does not meet the definiation of a special amusement occupancy. It's no different than a tour of homes; someone hosting an open house; or similar event and would not require a sprinkler system.

quote:

Originally posted by AtticFeline:
why would she really even want to sell it if she can avoid having to do any major renovations and keep making money on this every year? has a nice little yearly stash o cash without having to do a darn thing to it.

From what I understand, any money made is to be applied toward renovations. I hope it does well.