Work on the Fort Hope Branch of Mid-State Bank has moved right along.  The vault door is installed but has no gold in it just yet.  Waiting for the big “strike” at the mine.  

The change of the name of the bank was to call attention to the history of Mid-State Bank, which was founded in Arroyo Grande in 1961, and to dedicate the office in memory of Daryl Flood, one of the founding officers of Mid-State Bank. 

The exterior is done and the inside is now equipped with old fashioned teller counters and will be completed with antique banking office machines and roll top desks.

 Brent Pruett did most of the preparation work and we had a great work days with members of the Arroyo Grande “Men In Motion” walking group including Roger St. Dennis, Jim Miller, Chuck Bowles, Bill Caldwell, Tony Wood and Ed Minor.

Carrol Pruett

Fort Hope Bank

Project Coordinator

• The list of supporters and visitors of Fort Hope is growing, and Fort Hope is able to do more and more all the time! Thank you to all of our faithful supporters and volunteers.
• As you can see, Fort Hope is on the web! Be sure to also check out our Facebook page and “Like” Fort Hope, share the Fort Hope page with friends, and discuss ideas and ask questions in an open forum style. While no computers are used during a field trip to Fort Hope, the internet is a great tool for getting the word on this wonderful organization!
• Fort Hope also gives special thanks to Sharon Forester who donated funds to help start up Fort Hope’s Online store, which will be opening shortly!
• Fort Hope is being reviewed this month for another grant. Last month a grant from Central Coast Funds for Children came, and will give another check at the end of this year to sponsor three groups this coming spring. For more information on Central Coast Funds for Children, please see: http://www.centralcoastfundsforchildren.org/.
• Finally, in other exciting news, Fort Hope has recently received final approval of the building which will house the museum, including the jail cells, the trading post, the Saspirella Saloon where dances will be held, and the Ah Luis museum.

October 23, 2010, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Club of SLO County came with their leaders Sarah Rudd, and Heidi Miller, funded by the Hind Foundation. The Hind foundation supports preserving cultural heritage and non-profit, volunteer run organizations.

October 24, 2010, God’s Haven for Children came with their leaders Jim Davis and Victoria Bower, funded by the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club.

• Family Care Network: http://www.fcni.org/
• God’s Haven for Children http://www.ghfci.org/
• Arroyo Grande Rotary Club http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/home/homeE.asp?cid=2813
• The Hind Foundation: http://www.hindfoundation.org/About-hind-foundation
• Boys and Girls Club: http://www.bgcslo.org/page124852.aspx
• Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.slobigs.org/pages.php

June 7, 2010 a group from Oceano Elementary School came with their teacher Cheryl Krause, funded by the Altrusa Cinco Ciudades Foundation.

Both groups had an amazing time – special thanks to our wonderful sponsors!