Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 15 2011
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Special Report
Challenges & spirit of the 450th
Mayor Boles early on in the 450 planning process quoted US architect & city planner Daniel H. Burnham: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work."
Someone else once said, "Faith can move mountains, but it can't hurt to bring a shovel."
City Manager John Regan said, "In a perfect world, we sell sponsorships at values large enough to fund our community partners (for the commemoration). We're looking to raise money for everybody."
In this tough economy, St. Augustine people and organizations are showing it doesn't take a Hollywood budget to present the nation's oldest city to the world.
The community-based organizers of the 400th anniversary focused on legacies to last another 50 years - the amphitheater, great cross, restoration area.
We don't have those resources today, but we can direct limited resources and public/private initiatives to legacies like beautifying our entry corridors and historic streets around the popular St. George, supporting countless volunteer efforts, and creating an environment to encourage private sector initiatives.
This report features examples of the challenges and the spirit of St. Augustine at work. | |
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Historic street
a patchwork
Treasury Street between Charlotte and St. George is one example of dismissed history and uninviting path-ways.
Century-old brick is visible amid asphalt patching.
These streets could be an opportunity for public/private projects, their restoration and beautification marked with plaques recognizing bene-factors. |
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Some 40 strong, the 450th Youth Ambassadors from grades 7 to 9 are learning their history to serve commemoration visitors.
They've explored the Colonial Spanish Quarter, taken a historical ghost tour, toured the Castillo and the Mission of Nombre de Dios, and now have applied for a National Park Service grant to organize a theatrical group to portray teens in St. Augustine's history. |
Spark for teen involvement | |
At a City Commission meeting in 1962, a 17-year-old St. Augustine High School student stunned the gathering during debate on whether to restore the Old City Gate, saying, "... it seems to me we could all give up a little to restore America's  oldest city. ... We shouldn't think how we are helping ourselves but how we are helping America."
Nancy Calhoun (today Mrs. Ron Birchall) went on to earn University of Florida Hall of Fame honors for scholastic achievement and involvement in campus and community activities, then St. Johns School District's Learning Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award on retirement as its Tobacco Prevention Coordinator.
With the same quiet dedication, she stepped into 450th commemoration planning, first with the 450 Corps, then First America Foundation, quietly developing a 450th Youth Ambassadors corps amid the ups and downs of official planning. |
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Pedro Menendez lives in dedicated reenactor |
Over the years, a variety of community figures portrayed St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez during annual Founder's Day ceremonies and the Noche de Gala Menendez birthday celebrations.
TV and film actor Chaz Mena was brought in to portray Menendez during the First America series at Flagler Auditorium.
And all the while, a peerless image of the city's founder stood in the wings, finally being recognized as the perfect persona.
Chad Light of the Fountain of Youth Park has not only the appearance, but stage presence and study to present living historic interpretation of the complex Menendez.
The multi-talented Chad has even painted a new rendition of Menendez, based on early engravings but corrected in details found during his research. That painting was recently presented to the city.
No less than Chad are the hundreds of reenactors who, more than play dress-up, are historians, studying every detail to present living history interpretation. |
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Woman's Exchange: steward of history |
In 1932 the Woman's Exchange of St. Augustine volunteered to manage the Pena-Peck House on St. George Street, home of the Spanish Royal Treasurer in the 1700s and the family of Dr. Seth Peck from 1830 to 1931.
A coquina pillar on the house and museum grounds recognizes Anna Gardner Burt, granddaughter of Dr. Peck, who willed the property to the city, as well as numerous modern donors helping maintain the property.
The Woman's Exchange has carried out that maintenance through a variety of programs both benefitting and showing the property's history - luncheons, special events, tours, a gift shop, and now in production is a Weddings and Events brochure. |
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Volunteers, businesses caring for our corridors | |
Installed by volunteers and maintained by merchants along San Marco Avenue, planters are "a pilot project to raise interest in beautification," Committee Chair Rhey Palmer says. 
Southern Horticulture donated labor and the plants at cost, and the St. Augustine Garden Club aided financially.
"We'd like to see them up and down San Marco as well as along other entry corridors," Rhey says.
The committee vision: planter boxes, trees, banners, painted buildings, cleaned up business districts throughout the city.
"This project is truly evolving by the week," Rhey says. |
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Modern 'hardware' respecting history | |
West Augustine's Morrison's Hardware building is getting a makeover, and while it's going from traditional hardware to high tech solar power systems, Brian Bosley of Solar Stik™ Inc. promises its 50-year service to St. Augustine won't be forgotten.
"Like Morrison's, Solar Stik™ is a family-owned operation, founded here in St. Augustine nearly 6 years ago," Brian says. "The building will continue to be known as the Morrison's Hardware building; the iconic sign that graced the front of the building for 50 years has been preserved and will hang inside, visible from the outside through the cathedral glass windows."
And a bronze plaque was just installed on the front of the building denoting the building as the "Morrison Family Building."
"Solar Stik™ plans to restore the structure over time, keeping much of the original design in place," Brian says.
Renovation is also underway across the street at the former Foodway, soon to be a Mariotti's Dry Cleaners. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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