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Old Town Fernandina. Remembering Old Town – October 2009. Thanks to GDLCHS for markers. Remembering Old Town. History up to 1821 is fairly well documented. Timucua French Spanish I English Spanish II Amelia Island Post renamed Fernandina January 1811 Old Town is platted 1811
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Old Town Fernandina Remembering Old Town – October 2009
Remembering Old Town • History up to 1821 is fairly well documented. • Timucua • French • Spanish I • English • Spanish II Amelia Island Post renamed Fernandina January 1811 Old Town is platted 1811 Bicentenary in 2011 • Patriots • MacGregor • Aury.
Remembering Old Town • Since 1821, we know relatively little of Old Town’s history. • Major events that affected Old Town: • Florida becomes a US Territory – 1821 • Florida admitted to the Union – 1845 • Yulee establishes New Fernandina – 1853 • Category 4 hurricane comes ashore at Brunswick, GA. 14’ storm surge. - 1898. • Old Town placed on National Register of Historic Places - 1990
Remembering Old Town NRHP application 1989
Remembering Old Town Photo AIMH
Remembering Old Town Photo AIMH
Remembering Old Town • New Fernandina established in 1853; most of Old Town’s ‘wealth and gentry’ moves ‘downtown’. • Old Town’s population changed, and many pilots took up residence. • In c.1980 Capt. George T Davis wrote a history of local pilots. If they lived in Old Town, he identified their homes.
Remembering Old TownPilots – from George T Davis.(Dates are ‘date appointed pilot. Honorary title of ‘Captain’ omitted for brevity) • 1837. Association of Branch Pilots founded by George W Latham and Samuel Cribb. • 1865. William Sharp (715 San Fernando) • 1866. David Cribb • 1867. Joseph Newton, James Bell, William Bell. Cape Fear pilots and blockade runners. • Newton (902 Ladies) • James Bell (212 Estrada) • Williiam Bell (8th & Beech) • 1868. Harry Johnson. (818 San Fernando) • 1877. George Latham (111 S 5th St) • 1878. Tom B Lasserre (818 San Fernando) • 1882. B. McNeil (910 San Fernando) (* Davis places house 1 block east) • 1882. Robert Downes (212 Estrada) • 1885. Thomas Smith Davis (Marine) • 1885. Ed. F Morse. (not identified, later 424 N 3rd St) For full report see http://www.portoffernandinamaritimeexchange.org/services_pilotsHist.html
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 715 San Fernando. • Sharp (1865) • Kavanaugh (2009)
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 818 San Fernando. • Johnson (1868) • Lasserre (1878) • William Hair (2009) (deceased)
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 212 Estrada. • James Bell (1867) • Robert Downes (1882) • ? Littrico • Joan Altman (2009)
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • Marine (White & San Fernando). • Thomas Smith Davis (1885)
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes – from 1900 Directory • 902 Ladies. • Joseph Newton (1867) • ? Swearingen • ? Fulford • Julie Starr Sanford (2009)
Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes – 2009 • 910 San Fernando. • B McNeil (1882) • Les Kenyon (2009)
Remembering Old Town • What happened in Old Town Fernandina when many of its residents moved away to the new Fernandina location in the 1850’s? • What damage was done in Old Town by the 1898 Category 4 hurricane? • What went on here when Florida was a Territory of the US? (After the Spanish left in 1821 until Florida gained statehood in 1845). • What were the early days of statehood like? • How was Old Town affected by Fernandina’s Golden Age (1870-1912)? • What stores were there in Old Town? • What were the major routes from Old Town to Fernandina before the 14th Street Extension was created? Maps show Towngate Streets (12th Street) and a Boardwalk running from Estrada to Front Street. Did you ever use them? • Where are the town gates? • Early maps of Fernandina show tunnels on the North side. Do you remember talk of tunnels? • Did you attend school in Old Town? • Did you attend church in Old Town, at either the Catholic Church, or the Episcopal Church that were here?
Remembering Old Town • We want to capture the memories of Old Town that you and your family hold. • Oral interviews • Photos (for scanning) • What do you remember? … • Amelia Island Museum has a similar project – Heritage Keepers. Results will be pooled.
Remembering Old Town • Mike and Jenny Harrison • 820 Someruelos Street, Old Town • Phone: 904.491.1259 • Email: mike@oldtownfernandina.org • Web: www.oldtownfernandina.org. • alexbuell@ameliamuseum.org