the area.

Representatives from the St. David's Island Historical Society this week signed a ten-year lease to take over Southside's historic Carter House from the Bermuda Land Development Company -- for an annual rent of one lily bulb.

BLDC chief executive Carl Musson said: "Carter House is a national treasure and we are delighted that the Society has stepped forward with a plan that complements the historic character of the building.'' And the BLDC will back the plan with a $10,000 grant for repairs to the house, which has been empty and deteriorating since the US Navy quit its Air Station four years ago.

Another $15,000 has been promised on condition the Historical Society comes up with a matching sum.

The lease was officially signed at a special ceremony involving Society members, including ex-St. David's MP and Historical Society president Rick Spurling and the BLDC which owns the site.

A date for the opening of the museum is still to be finalised.

Flowering ambition! St. David's Historical Society president Rick Spurling hands over the one token lily bulb rent to Bermuda Land Development Company chief executive Carl Musson for historic Carter House at Southside, once the home of the US Naval Air Base. It's planned to turn the house into a museum.

MUSEUM MUS CLUB CLB