While the south end of St. George Street appears to be newer than the north end, most of the buildings on the north end were actually built relatively recently. Many colonial-style buildings were built as part of an authentic restoration and reconstruction project taken on by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission in the 1960’s. The purpose of this project was to recreate the streetscape of St. Augustine in the colonial era, and most of the buildings were reconstructed on top of the original foundations found during archaeological excavations. Some of these structures were museums, and others housed commercial businesses, just as they do today, but only three of them operate in the same capacity as they did in the 1960’s. Those buildings are the Spanish Bakery (in the Salcedo Kitchen) Tedi’s Ice Cream (in the Benet House) and the Spanish Military Hospital (in the William Watson House).
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There was a time when downtown was home to furry friends bigger than the squirrels that scurry down the streets today. A living historical farm was established and housed the beloved star of this feature, Josephina the Goat.
As I have mentioned before on this blog (and will, undoubtedly, mention again), the Quadricentennial/400th Celebration in 1965 was a big deal for St. Augustine. Many of the projects that happened between then and the Bicentennial celebration in 1976 helped to define and shape St. Augustine into the "Ancient City" that we recognize today. There were big projects, like the restoration and reconstruction of colonial-era buildings and the construction of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, but there were also a number or smaller projects and events that easily slip through the cracks of public memory. A lot of these smaller projects are still peppered around the city, and it can be pretty exciting to stumble across one. Ray wrote and illustrated the St. Augustine book in the 1960's, in anticipation of the aforementioned 400th Celebration. The drawing in the book that really stands out to me is the one that depicts the slaughter of French troops by the Spanish in the dunes south of St. Augustine in 1565 - the Matanzas Inlet gained its name from this event - "matanzas" is the Spanish word for "slaughters." To me, the most compelling thing about this image is the pose that Ray chose to give Pedro Menéndez, the founder of St. Augustine, as he stands on a dune overlooking the massacre. This is the only illustration in the book where someone is striking the classic Superman pose: legs astride and one fist on the hip with arm akimbo. The bunched flag behind him gives the illusion of a billowing cape. Heck, with that armor Menéndez is literally a man of steel - the top half, at least. While the reference to Superman is very clear, it is less clear to me why Ray chose this particular scene to make it. I doubt Superman would approve.
The City Gate is one of our most iconic historic landmarks. The northern entrance to St. Augustine has been protected by a gate since 1704, although the coquina sentries we know and love weren’t constructed until 1808. In addition to protecting the city, the gate also marked the end (or the beginning…depending on which direction you were heading) of the eastern branch of the Comino Real, which connected Spanish colonies in the hinterland with Mexico City.
Or Hawthorne, Florida. One of the two. It’s possible that you’re actually passing through the gateway of the Baden-Powell Scout Reservation - a replica of St. Augustine's old City Gate. The nearly 900 acre reserve is home to Camp Shands. The Reservation was purchased by the North Florida Council in 1964, but the gate wasn’t constructed until three years later - which coincided with the opening of Camp Shands. This was around the time when St. Augustine was celebrating its 400th Anniversary.
While the gate itself is a reminder of Spanish colonial times, the drive out to the Baden-Powell Reserve reminds one of Old Florida. The two lane road snakes between pastureland and pine forests, under the moss-decked limbs of live oak trees, and even offers a “vista” view of some of the lakes that dot Putnam County. The landscape is as much a treasure as the replica of the gate, and both are worth taking the time for the next time you are driving west out of St. Augustine. You won’t regret it - scout’s honor.
Maybe the similarity is just my imagination, or maybe the multi-storied arcade surrounding the pool was simply a popular design at the time. However, I’m inclined to believe this is more than just a coincidence…it certainly makes a more interesting blog piece if you believe that. The Alcazar Hotel was Henry Flagler’s second Gilded Age resort in St. Augustine. Built by the NYC firm of Carrere and Hastings, it opened for business the winter of 1888. Whereas Flagler’s Hotel Ponce de Leon right across the street served as the apogee of glitz and luxury, the Alcazar would shine for its recreational amenities. Reduced glamour also meant a reduced price for guests. The hotel boasted Turkish (steam) baths, a "Russian Plunge" (steam followed by an icy dip…no thanks), gymnasium, bowling, tennis courts, ballroom, massage parlor, and an indoor swimming pool in the back section known as the Casino (guests of the Ponce had access to the Casino as well). The pool was 120 feet long and 50 feet wide, reaching a depth of 12 feet at its deepest point, and covered by a glass roof. It was filled with sulphur water from an artesian well, which I’m sure smelled lovely. The pool was floored over in 1947, and today you can dine in the Café Alcazar, where those old Victorians once swam. With all the Alcazar had to offer, it makes sense that it would serve as a source of inspiration for a contemporary spa. And the Neiman Marcus Greenhouse certainly continued the tradition of serving high society; Dallasnews reported that guests included the likes of Grace Kelly, Cindy Crawford, Lady Bird Johnson, Barbara Bush, etc. However, not even the Greenhouse was spared when the spa industry tanked in the mid-2000’s. It was auctioned in 2010 and is now living a second life as the Greenhouse Addiction Treatment center, operated by Treatment Solutions.
What do you readers think? Do you see the similarities? Leave a comment! What do the founding of St. Augustine and the 1954 World Series have in common? You could have seen both from the same seat. When the St. Augustine Amphitheatre was constructed in preparation for the 400th Anniversary of the city in 1965 (funded entirely by private donations from citizens), the play "Cross and Sword" was a driving force behind the design - commissioned especially for the quadricentennial celebration. It was a stage dramatization focusing on Pedro Menendez and the founding of St. Augustine, replete with song and dance numbers. The play was written by Pulitzer Prize winning author Paul Green, and only eight years after its debut it was designated the official state play of Florida. I think this article from the St. Augustine Record says it best: "Cross and Sword" will dramatically and spectacularly transport the audience, through the magic which is the theater, on a magic carpet woven of music, song and dance to the glittering court of Phillip II and on to the wilds of Spanish Florida in the 16th century.
And that wasn’t the only time St. Augustine got second-hand seats from a New York City landmark. 100 chairs from the Metropolitan Opera House were installed into a newly remodeled conference space in the Government House in 1967. Government House had served for many years as the St. Augustine post office until it was acquired by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. It was renovated by the Commission to serve as a conference, community, and exhibition space. The Cross and Sword Alumni keep a blog with a lot of really interesting information and photographs relating to the play, so make sure you give that a visit.
Any readers remember going to see Cross and Sword? Any performed in it? Share a memory with us! |
AuthorA small group dedicated to exploring the history of the Ancient City. Archives
May 2017
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