W.J. Quarles House in Long Beach to be restored

The oldest building in the City of Long Beach is officially being restored thanks to a two-million-dollar grant from the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund.

- the oldest building in the city- of long beach is- officially being restored thank- a 2 million grant from the gulf- coast restoratio fund..

- news 25's grace boyles checks - out the wj quarles- property and learns more about- what how the historic - property will serve the long- beach community.- - through the years, the w.j.

- quarles home has endured- hurricane damage, was - moved from its original place o- railroad street, and in 2003 it- was - listed as one of the ten most - endangered historic sites in- the state.- now the oldest building in the- city of long beach is set to- be revived and open to the- community.- jenny levens, city of long beac- commnuity affairs director: - "it's-- this is nice.

This is the last house- that's even around that has any- history to it in long - beach.

We lost so much in - katrina, so this is the only- historical house that - we have in this city."

In 18-94, eight years after - moving to long beach from - tennessee, jim quarles built th- two story home-- known as - greenvale-- for his family.

- following quarles' death in - 19-24, the 127 year-old home- had been sealed for most of the- twentieth century and up- until now.- jenny levens, city of long beac- commnuity affairs director: "th house - will host the long beach- historical society and be like - - - - welcoming center for visitors t- come and check out the history- of the city."

Grace boyles, news 25: "just on of the many ways the city hopes- to incorporate- the quarles home into the long- beach community is by having- local artists - display their artwork inside th- home."

Additionally, the city is hopin- to have a community garden as - well- as host community events at the- quarles - property, however, the main goa- is to highlight the - city's past.- jenny levens, city of long beac- commnuity affairs director: "so we can- just showcase long beach and- show what we have to offer and- show its rich history."

While the rehabilitation of the- historic site has been a long - time coming, community members- will finally be able to - see one of the first steps in - the restoration of the property- soon.

- jenny levens, city of long beac- commnuity affairs director: "we will start- the porch pretty soon because - that design is already approved- and then as far as the rest - of it, it will follow through - with all the planning and we'll- have to go through- archives and history for the- preservation of the house."

Prints of what the restored hom- will look like are available- for purchase for $35 through th- long beach historical - society.- in long beach, grace boyles,- news