Old Town Fernandina Remembering Old Town October

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 Bicentenary in 2011 – Patriots – Mac. Gregor – 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 • 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 Town Pilots – 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 (8 th & Beech) • 1868. Harry Johnson. (818 San Fernando) • 1877. George Latham (111 S 5 th St) • 1878. Tom B Lasserre (818 San Fernando) • 1882. B. Mc. Neil (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 3 rd St) For full report see http: //www. portoffernandinamaritimeexchange. org/services_pilots. Hist. html

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 715 San Fernando. – Sharp (1865) – Kavanaugh (2009)

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 818 San Fernando. – Johnson (1868) – Lasserre (1878) – William Hair (2009) (deceased)

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • 212 Estrada. – – James Bell (1867) Robert Downes (1882) ? Littrico Joan Altman (2009)

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes - 2009 • Marine (White & San Fernando). – Thomas Smith Davis (1885)

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes – from 1900 Directory • 902 Ladies. – – Joseph Newton (1867) ? Swearingen ? Fulford Julie Starr Sanford (2009)

Remembering Old Town Remaining Pilots’ homes – 2009 • 910 San Fernando. – B Mc. Neil (1882) – Les Kenyon (2009)

Remembering Old Town (1900 Fernandina Directory) Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP? Barr Fred’k carp 1314 N 8 th (Estrada) - Barr Edw wks jetty contr 1314 N 8 th (Estrada) - Barr John pilot 1314 N 8 th (Estrada) - Barr John W carp 1314 N 8 th (Estrada) - Barr Chas H - 1314 N 8 th (Estrada) - Bell Capt Jas pilot 1414 N 8 th (Estrada) - Brown - wks jetty contr 901 White - Carruthers JS inspr cor N 8 th & White - Cassidy Henry C steamboat capt 1314 N 8 th - Cribb Isabella - 1205 N 8 th - Dodson SM wks jetty contr 901 White - Dougherty Foster pipe fitter 1505 N 9 th (Amelia) - Dougherty Mrs. R widow 1505 N 9 th (Amelia) - Dougherty Leven watchman 1505 N 9 th (Amelia) - Dougherty Wm carpenter 1505 N 9 th (Amelia) - Dougherty Sarah - 1505 N 9 th (Amelia) -

Remembering Old Town (1900 Fernandina Directory) Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP? Douglass Wm H - 906 Somerulos - Downes Robt H pilot 1102 San Fernando - Flinn MA widow 1612 N 8 th - Johnson Harry pilot 1411 N 9 th (Amelia) - Jones HF lab 909 Somerulos - Jones PH lab 909 Somerulos - Jones MK lab 909 Somerulos - Keating PJ inspr cor N 8 th & White - Kumlander Mrs. M grocer 1508 N 9 th (Amelia) - Kumlander Hilma - 1508 N 9 th (Amelia) - Maldon Jas carp 816 Ladies - Maldon Jas jr employe SAI 816 Ladies - Marshall Ellsworth steamboat capt 1418 N 8 th (Estrada) - Mc. Neill Capt B J pilot 910 San Fernando - Newton JH pilot 902 Ladies - Nikola Mrs. Z - 901 White -

Remembering Old Town (1900 Fernandina Directory) Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP? Sharpe Wm pilot 715 San Fernando - Sharpe Chas barber 715 San Fernando - Silver Frank gardner (sic) 811 Ladies - Suydam DW - 911 San Fernando - Tillotson Ralph ledgeman 811 Ladies - Campbell Chas - 1006 Ladies cp Cook Jos lab 809 Somerulos cp Cook John lab 808 Ladies cp Cook Rufus fisherman 809 Somerulos cp Cribb Roman - 1615 Estrada cp Dannberg Oscar carp 917 Ladies cp Denegall Gus - 917 White cp Denegall Victoria - 917 White cp Floyd Alex - 817 Ladies cp Floyd Jerome - 1006 Ladies cp Floyd Refida wid 716 San Fernando cp Floyd Rosabel clk 716 San Fernando cp Floyd Cerepta teacher 716 San Fernando cp

Remembering Old Town (1900 Fernandina Directory) Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP? Foster Frank lab 804 San Fernando cp Francis Butler - 1110 San Fernando cp Harker John lab 717 White cp Hippard Jack lab 1202 White cp Hippard Dan - 1202 White cp Hippen Ella cook 1202 Amelia cp Johnson Louis lab 1002 Ladies cp Johnson Simon - 707 Garden cp Knabb Wm - 909 White cp King Dan - 1101 Ladies cp King John clk 810 Somerulos cp King WM meats 810 Somerulos cp Mc. Call Tempie laund 1202 Amelia cp Mc. Donald Henry cook 801 Somerulos cp Mc. Donald Renaldo lab 801 Somerulos cp Mc. Donald Robt lab 703 Garden cp Mitchell Patience - 1001 White cp Mitchell Primos - 1301 White cp

Remembering Old Town (1900 Fernandina Directory) Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP? Traeye Roman drayman 705 San Fernando cp Traeye Miss F C - 705 San Fernando cp Traeye Emil lab 705 San Fernando cp Traeye Fva lab 705 San Fernando cp Wilkinson Prince lab 1007 White cp Williams David - 1009 White cp Williams Jos A lab 1232 Estrada cp Williams Theresa - 1017 Ladies cp Total 76 - - - 39

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 14 th Street Extension was created? Maps show Towngate Streets (12 th 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