Dow Museum of Historic Homes Privatization: Investigation of Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) Urgently Required

Kenneth Worcester Dow was in his late seventies when the Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) convinced him to donate his art, antiques and curio collection and nine homes in St. Augustine. Mr. Dow died May 24, 2002, aged 90. Was Mr. Dow the victim of elder financial abuse by the Daytona Museum, which took his homes, took $2 million in state funding and then sold the homes to a "developer?" I have asked the State of Florida to investigate. As a 501c3 tax exempt foundation, did MOAS commit a breach of fiduciary duty? MOAS wanted Mr. Dow's art collection. But as a group of local residents documented (including then-Mayor Len Weeks) in letters to MOAS, not enough attention was ever dedicated to making the Museum a success. When MOAS sold the Museum, it put a dagger to the heart of St. Augustine. Don't take my word for it -- developer DAVID BARTON CORNEAL himself told City board members that the Dow Museum represents "the heart of St. Augustine."