Saturday ushers in St. Augustine holidays

Published by former Mayor George Gardner December 4 2013

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Saturday's going to look a lot like Christmas in St. Augustine

British Night Watch

St. Augustine tradition opens the holiday season the first Saturday in December, and St. Augustine history documents lantern-illuminated holiday processions.

The modern era's Christmas Parade steps off at 10 am from the Mission of Nombre De Dios, along San Marco Avenue and the bayfront, past the Plaza de la Constitución to the Visitors Information Center.

Look for floats, marching bands, cars, horses, and the arrival of Santa, who will be available for pictures after the parade in the Plaza. Information 904-824-4997.

The historic British Night Watch torchlight parade starts from the City Gate at 7:30 pm, proceeding along St. George Street to Government House, around the Plaza, back along St. George to the City Gate, then returning to Government House for official declarations, musket volleys of joy and carol singing.

The torchlight parade is the highlight of British Night Watch weekend, with a British Encampment opening at 10 am at Francis Field, commemorating Britain's 20-year occupation of the city 1763-1784.

Look for a Colonial Market Square, entertainers, authentic sutlers (merchants), 18th Century musicians, townsfolk, and soldiers.

Easter committee

Votes for Sunday

Parade for 2014

The Easter Festival Committee voted 7-4 Tuesday night to continue the traditional Sunday afternoon Easter Parade, but promised to get community input before deciding whether to move future parades to Saturday morning, sought by the City Commission.

While city officials noted that parking restrictions all day for the afternoon parade hurt local businesses, Festival Chair Phil Genovar said he's talked to a number of businessmen who prefer the Sunday parade.

Voyage for

a record

Dr. Stanley Paris is all alone - and on his way to a non-stop voyage around the world. In the balance, breaking the record set by Dodge Morgan at 150 days in 1986, and being the oldest to do it. Paris is 76, Morgan was 54.

Add to that Paris' plan to make the voyage green, with only sail power, this could be one tough feat to beat.

The New Zealand native's 63-foot custom sailing yacht, named the Kiwi Spirit to honor his birth land, was towed through the St. Augustine inlet Sunday morning to sail to Bermuda, the official starting point.

Aboard is all the latest electronic gear, which followers can keep up with through Paris' blog and website.

Military procession was

real in 1740s St. Augustine

Youngsters learn about St. Augustine history. Photo: City of St. Augustine

Not a gala procession but a nightly occurrence in St. Augustine in the early 1740's as Spain was at war with the British in Georgia - armed soldiers with loaded muskets posted at the Governor's house, to be relieved during the night.

The relief unit marches from the Castillo to the Governor's House, orders are passed, the relief soldiers load their weapons, and the soldiers being relieved discharge their muskets and march back to their quarters.

A living history reenactment of the Changing of the Guard will be presented Saturday, December 14, at 5 pm in front of Government House.

The Spanish Garrison unit will begin its march at the Castillo de San Marcos at 4:15, proceeding to the City Gate and down St. George Street to Government House, where a history of the Changing of the Guard and 1740 military arts will be presented.

The Changing of the Guard is presented by the St. Augustine Spanish Garrison with assistance from the City of St. Augustine and a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. Contact Lynne Cason 904-810-9726.

For your Christmas card list

Wounded veterans should top our Christmas card lists.

The Veterans Council of St. Johns County provides this address to brighten the holidays for those without whom we couldn't enjoy the many gifts of freedom.

A Recovering American Soldier

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

%Red Cross

8901 Wisconsin Ave.

Bethesda, MD 20889

Quotable

"This stuff is the reason St. Augustine continuously kicks our butt. We need to find a way to promote Metropolitan Park, not get in the way."

Jacksonville City Councilman Richard Clark regarding noise level discussions at Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park. The city scrapped a proposal to build an amphitheatre, while the revamped St. Augustine Amphitheatre is attracting major concerts.

"I've been sailing a long time. Right now, I've got one of the best boats I've ever had, my experience is at its highest point and I have good health."

Stanley Paris, 76-year-old St. Augustine adventurer who hopes to make a record-breaking voyage around the world alone, as he prepared to launch last Sunday from St. Augustine.

Changing city scene - Replacing Flagler College's one-story communications building at Cuna and Cordova streets, work is underway on a new classroom complex, while on San Marco Avenue at Old Mission the former San Marco Inn has been fenced off to begin conversion to a DoubleTree hotel.

Rack 'em up

Bicycle rack at Cordova and Hypolita streets

Photo: City of St. Augustine

Following up on recommendations in the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization's 2011 St. Augustine Bike Plan, the city has begun installing bicycle racks in the downtown area. The specially designed racks allow both frame and wheel to be secured to reduce theft.

Initial locations:

Cordova Street adjacent to the Grace Methodist Church parking lot and adjacent to the Tolomato parking lot

Toques Place parking lot

Treasury Street near Spanish Street

Spanish Street near Hypolita Street

Give the gift of history

Ponce de Leon, Pedro Menendez, Sir Francis Drake, James Oglethorpe, Father Camps, Osceola, and Henry Flagler; Matanzas, the Castillo, Siege of St. Augustine, Dade's Massacre, Sack of San Agústin, Fort Mose, the Lighthouse.

Just some of the historic briefs included in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories, two 12-booklet series packaged for quick reads before bed, compiled by former Mayor George Gardner.

Ideal gifts of St. Augustine history for family, friends and business associates during the holidays.

Look for them at the St. Augustine Visitor Center, Castillo, Lighthouse, Fountain of Youth, Fort Menendez, and St. Augustine Textiles, or contact gardner@aug.com 904-669-1348. Details here.

History's highlight

Frances Kirby Smith

1 year, 9 months, 5 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary

Frances Kirby Smith was born in Connecticut in 1785. She married Judge Joseph Lee Smith, and they moved to St. Augustine, Florida, shortly after their marriage, in 1820.

Described in historical accounts as "brilliant and spirited, full of fire and ambition throughout her long life," she is remembered for the lively role she played during the Civil War, when she acted as a spy, at the age of 80, for the Confederates in Union-occupied St. Augustine. Frances Smith

When Union soldiers occupied Fort Marion (the Castillo de San Marcos) in March of 1862, Frances began to organize the transport of mail to Confederate troops without the Union's knowledge. In a successful plot to learn of Union-planned military maneuvers, she began to host parties and other events in her home.

She would then pass all the information she heard on to the Confederate Army. Frances was outwitting them and putting the enemy in possession of facts concerning their every movement!

Following the Federal government order in the spring of 1863 that called for removal of Southern sympathizers, Frances and other Confederate supporters were removed from their homes in St. Augustine.

Frances' son, Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, was the last Confederate general to surrender to the Union. At the conclusion of the war, Frances returned to her home In St. Augustine, where she lived for another 10 years.

A staunch Confederate to the end, she was a critic of Reconstruction and mourned the loss of "true Southern gentility".

Frances Kirby Smith's home, now known as the Segui-Kirby Smith House, is located at six Artillery Lane. It houses the St. Augustine Historical Society research library.

Two bronze statues in the garden and a plaque inside the home commemorate her life. She is also listed as a Great Floridian as part of the Great Floridians 2000 program.

Reprinted from The Nation's Storyteller, Historic Tours of America

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