|
Share your Report with friends on these social networks
|
|
Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 3 2013
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
Contributions are greatly appreciated. Click or mail to
George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
Click to order St. Augustine Bedtime Stories
two sets of twelve, $15 each set
|
Dig permits - bad idea
The state of Florida is considering a Citizen Archaeology Permit program, similar to the Isolated Finds Program it abandoned a few years ago.
Bad idea, say Florida archaeologists.
"Recently, a citizen group has expressed interest in what they are calling a "Citizen Archaeology Permit," which is essentially a revival of the failed Isolated Finds Program," says a statement of the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
"This program, or CAP as it is being called, would again allow individuals to collect and keep archaeological materials from state-owned lands and especially submerged lands.
"The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) believes this proposed program is contrary to the public trust and would result in the archaeological heritage that belongs to all of Florida's citizens disappearing into private collections or being sold to collectors in other states or countries, thereby depriving us all of valuable information about our common past."
Read the official statement and legislative contact information here.
|
|
|
|
Commemorating Ponce de Leon
The 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon's discovery of La Florida continues today and this weekend, following the dedication of a statue depicting the explorer Tuesday near 30 degrees 8 minutes, 18 miles north of St. Augustine - the only known historic navigation record.
Today's events include a Commemorative Landing on the bayfront at 10 am, Commemorative Mass and blessing of a replica Ponce de Leon Baptismal Font at the Cathedral at 11, and unveiling of a 2013 Ponce de Leon commemorative stamp at Flagler College's Lewis Auditorium at 12:30.
The weekend will bring more ceremony but also the flavor of a Hispanic Fiesta - the La Fiesta de la Florida, a free production of the community-based, non-profit Historic Florida Militia.
Landing ceremonies at the Ponce statute on the east end of the Plaza will be followed by entertainment Saturday and Sunday in courtyards on north St. George Street, Cuna Street, the City Gate and Cubo Line site on Orange Street. Visit the website.
|
|
|
|
|
'Archaeology is more
than collecting artifacts'
The Isolated Finds Program was in place for 11 years (1994-2005), and designed "to facilitate communication and information exchange between river-diving collectors and professional archaeologists," but most collected artifacts were unreported and underreported.
"Archaeology is more than collecting artifacts," FPAN says. "The proposed CAP is not an archaeology permit, but rather merely a collecting permit. Archaeological investigations stress context, the matrix of artifacts in relation to one another that enables dating and understanding of objects, archaeological sites, and human activity that forms our understanding of the past."
Case in point: Marine salvage
In the late 1940s, a building contractor began finding Spanish coins along the beach near Fort Pierce. He wrote to the director of the Archives of the Indies in Spain and learned that the coins must have been from the 1715 Treasure Fleet disaster, one of the worst losses in the history of Spain's maritime empire.
 | | St. Augustine Lighthouse archaeology program |
He was granted a search-salvage lease in 1959. The standard policy was that the governor of Florida could grant leases for search or salvage operations. In return, the state would receive 25% of whatever was recovered. The State took primarily artifacts while the salvagers kept most of the coins.
As commercial salvage excavations continued on various Florida shipwreck sites throughout the 1960s, the state decided to send marine archaeologists along to officially record and document each wreck site. The marine archaeologists found that because the "treasure hunters" did not use proper archaeological techniques, much evidence that could have provided important information about the treasure fleets had been carelessly destroyed.
Ultimately, the State became convinced that commercial treasure hunting and underwater archeology are not compatible and that an important and irreplaceable part of Florida history was being damaged or destroyed. After 1984 the state stopped issuing salvage permits and began enacting laws that prohibit the unauthorized disturbance, excavation, or removal of artifacts on shipwrecks.
Today, Underwater Archaeological Preserves have been created off Fort Pierce and the Florida Keys, sites of the 1715 and 1733 Treasure Fleet shipwreck sites.
|
|
|
|
Wendler/City duel continues
 Following a reversal in appellate court on the argument that Scott and Donna Wendler filed a complaint too late, St. Augustine's City Commission has held two executive sessions with City Attorney Ron Brown to decide the next step in fighting the Wendler claim that denial of demolition permits to build a boutique hotel has created an economic hardship.
The Wendlers seek $3.5 million in damages under the Bert Harriss Property Rights Act after assembling eight properties along King and Oviedo streets, then being denied demolition permits under a stiffened demolition ordinance. They had planned a replica of the Henry Flagler estate on Valencia Street - bulldozed in the 1960s and now site of several modern homes.
Said Brown, "two options remain: 1) appeal to the Florida Supreme Court or 2) return to the trial court for continuation of the lawsuit."
Cartoon: Robt. Censoni, 1971 Saturday Review, reprinted in "I feel I should warn you ..." Historic Preservation Cartoons, National Trust for Historic Preservation
|
News & Notes
Beauty is in the planning
Armed with $30,000 authorized by the City Commission, the city's Public Works Department and citizen Street Tree Advisory Committee are mapping plans for beautification. Included: Plantings on the former car wash site at King Street and US 1, a flower program, and ten locations for bike racks. Details forthcoming.
1,850 peanut butter jelly sandwiches
 St. Francis House Executive Director Renee Morris was all smiles accepting from the Kiwanis Club of Historical St. Augustine more than 120 pounds of peanut butter and 100 pounds of jelly to help restock the kitchen pantry of St. Francis House. Club President Donnie Thomas (left) and project Chair Steve Fricke made the presentation. Donation value $475; sandwich yield 1,850. It's part of statewide initiative by Kiwanis Clubs to help food pantries and homeless shelters.
Curator tour at Lightner
Today and every 1st Wednesday at 10 am, tour Lightner collections with Curator Barry Myers. Today, architectural fragments Otto Lightner salvaged from mansions and public places in Chicago during the great depression. Tours are included in the price of admission and begin on the second floor of the Museum at 10 am. 
Valdes named to HARB
John Valdes, a contractor specializing in historic restoration, completes his terms on the city's Planning and Zoning Board and moves on to the Historic Architectural Review Board, replacing landscape architect Fred Halback.
|
|
History's Highlight
Ponce de Leon
The myth, landing and discoveries
2 years, 5 months, 6 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Juan Ponce de Leon was born to nobility about 1460, and was destined to command ships and territories. He joined Columbus in his discovery of the new world at San Salvador in 1492 and himself discovered Florida in 1513. 
He was appointed by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1508 to govern Puerto Rico in the newly discovered Caribbean. With the death of Columbus in 1506, his sons went to court to argue - and eventually win - claim to Columbus' discoveries, including Puerto Rico. Ponce was dismissed from his governorship in 1511.
In 1512, the secretary of the Council of the Indies wrote, "There is an island about 325 leagues from Espanola ... in which there is a continual spring of running water of such marvelous virtue that, the water there being drunk, perhaps with some diet, maketh old men young again."
The existence of a fountain of youth was very believable among the mysteries of the 16th century, however its quest was not attached to Ponce de Leon until an historian's treatise on the Indies - 14 years after his death.
As early as December 1514, historian Peter Martyr wrote the Pope about the rumored existence of such a spring, but he did not connect this story to Ponce de Leon.
It was the historian Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo who, in 1535, originated the story that Ponce had wasted time searching for the fountain of youth during his voyage.
Records of the day do not indicate that Ponce de Leon was even aware of the fantasy.
In 1513 the king granted Ponce commission to seek that island to the north. What Ponce found was not Bimini but Florida, the tip of the North American continent.
And he also discovered - as his ships were pulled northward while heading south along the Florida coast - the Gulf Stream. This powerful current, stronger than any other current on earth and greater than all the streams and rivers in the world combined, would become the catapult for treasure ships returning to Spain from the Caribbean.
That current, and a reading of 30 degrees 8 minutes latitude recorded in one of the few records of his voyage, make the likelihood of Ponce de Leon's landing just north of St. Augustine - above the current's pull - the most plausible.
On April 2, 1513, Ponce de Leon claimed these lands for Spain, naming them La Florida for the Spanish Easter season and the lush vegetation.
On 1521, continuing his explorations of these new lands, Ponce de Leon was wounded by an Indian arrow. He died in Havana while recovering from that wound. He is buried in Puerto Rico.
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine's history - in booklets designed for quick reads before bed. Information here.
Click to order St. Augustine Bedtime Stories through Paypal.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
