Fountain of Youth artifacts
go to UF Museum of History
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Published by former Mayor George Gardner December 18 2013
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Contributions are greatly appreciated.
or mail to George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
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Fountain of Youth artifacts
go to UF Museum of History
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Museum Director Jones signs transfer with John Fraser (left). Looking on, Elizabeth (Binninger), Elaine and Bryan Fraser and Dr. Deagan.
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An estimated 97,000 artifacts excavated at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park since 1976 were formally transferred Tuesday to the University of Florida's Museum of Natural History.
"It just makes sense," said park Director John Fraser. "These are primarily from the 'Deagan digs' over that period of time, and the Museum of Natural History has been curating them in Gainesville from the start."
Florida Museum of Natural History Distinguished Curator Dr. Kathleen Deagan has been principal archaeologist through those years, attempting to define the first settlement of St. Augustine in 1565.
Deagan and University of Florida's Drs. Doug Jones and Marie Emerson were on hand Tuesday to sign formal documents.
Both Deagan and Fraser noted that, despite the years of archaeological work at the park, only about 30 percent of the Menendez site has been excavated. "Important information about the organization and defenses of the original St. Augustine settlement still lies buried," said Deagan. She is working on an application for National Landmark status.
"Most people think the Fountain of Youth Park is only about a drink of water," Fraser noted. 'But the picture being filled in by these digs and artifacts is so much more."
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Navidad en
San Agustín
Navidad en el Viejo San Agustín (Christmas in Old St. Augustine) presents Christmas customs and music of 16th-century Florida, circa 1580, Saturday 6-9 pm at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.
The free event is hosted by Florida Living History, Inc. and the Diocese of St. Augustine/Mission Nombre de Dios.
Features:
Las Posadas - a 500-year-old colonial Spanish Christmas tradition with children reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for lodgings in Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve;
A performance of El Auto de los Reyes Magos ("The Play of the Three Wise Kings"), the oldest-known Spanish play, on the Magi journey to Bethlehem;
A traditional Spanish belén, or Nativity scene, constructed by Elizabeth Duran Gessner, featuring hand-made scenery and structures, as well as over 200 figures, all imported from Spain;
Samples of colonial Spanish holiday treats (available for purchase);
Colonial Spanish musical entertainment.
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Virtual exhibit of artifacts
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From Jacksonville Business Journal, 2002
The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida has developed a virtual exhibit online to salvage, preserve and document the archeological artifacts excavated in St. Augustine over the past 30 years.
The site, called "St. Augustine: America's Ancient City," is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/staugustine/. 
The artifacts from St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, are a unique resource for the study of America's colonial origins because they constitute the country's only collection of Spanish colonial remains spanning the period of first European settlement in 1565 to the beginnings of Florida statehood.
For over a decade, more than 1 million specimens excavated in St. Augustine were packed in cardboard boxes and stacked and stored in non-climate controlled hallways and closets in St. Augustine's Government House because the artifact repository in the basement was previously devastated by a flood.
While the artifacts were safe, they were inaccessible to researchers, and in danger of deterioration through mechanical abrasion, oxidation and chemical reaction.
To ensure the safety and accessibility of the artifacts, the Florida Museum of Natural History in 1992 offered to preserve, clean and house the specimens, and make them available to scholars and students through computerized documentation.
"In addition to creating a computerized catalogue of the objects themselves, we decided to create a virtual exhibit that would be accessible to anyone with an internet connection," said Florida Museum of Natural History Distinguished Curator Kathleen Deagan, who excavated most of the artifacts.
"The exhibit tells the story of life and society in Spanish St. Augustine from 1565 through 1800, using the life stories of real people who lived in the city during each phase of the colony's history.
"The ultimate lesson, apart from those of history and society in Spanish Florida, is that museum collections and archaeological sites are an invaluable, but poorly-understood source for understanding the American past," said Deagan.
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Period dressed hosts in VIC contract
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A proposed city/county contract for $160,000 in county bed tax funding to support the St. Augustine St. Johns County Visitor Information Center calls for the city to provide period-dressed "On-the-Street-Hosts" in St. Augustine's historic district and a "concierge desk within the VIC to assist visitors," among a dozen provisions.
The County Commission Tuesday approved the contract. The City Commission next meets January 13.
The provision for period dressed hosts would bring back a former "townsfolk" program, discontinued by lack of funding and possible conflict with ordinances restricting activities on St. George Street. That contract provision:
Endeavor to, in cooperation with the County and in accordance with all applicable local regulations, provide trained staff, dressed in period costumes, to greet and provide off-site assistance to visitors within the City's Historic Preservation District. Such staff will be referred to as "On-the-Street-Hosts" and will provide visitor assistance no less than four (4) days per week weather permitting.
"We are attempting to develop some sort of street presence that will not violate the City Code," Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield says.
As to a manned information or "concierge" desk, Burchfield says, "Because of the limited space in the VIC, when exhibits are ongoing, an actual desk is not practical. Our new business model calls for our ambassadors to be able to move freely around the space to engage the visitor.
"Prior to the remodel they sat behind the desk and it required the visitor to engage them. The current model has the ambassadors engaging the visitor and providing the visitor with added information to encourage longer stays. The kiosks and hyperscreens are just an added level of service for the visitor."
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Seawall project nears completion
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 The $6.7 million seawall extension south of the Bridge of Lions is nearly complete, "however, there are some outstanding details that we are working with the contractor to finish up" says Public Works Director Martha Graham.
The extension is 12 feet into the bay with a promenade separating it from the original 1800s seawall, which remains visible at the left in its original position.
The new seawall will better protect the waterfront area south of the bridge from flooding.
The seawall website notes, "The Spanish first began building the original seawall in 1696 south of the Castillo de San Marcos. The section now being improved was built between 1833 and 1844 by graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point. But it has been battered by time and tide, from a devastating hurricane in 1846 that partially collapsed it to Tropical Storm Fay in 2008."
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... and a sleigh full of history
 Santa's loading up his sleigh with all the excitement of major figures and events in St. Augustine history.
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories are historic booklets packaged in a nightstand box for quick reads before bed. Compiled by former Mayor George Gardner, there are two 12-booklet series.
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 on these fascinating series here.
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History's highlight
Spain's Christmas Eve meal
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1 year, 8 months, 22 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
The second of two articles on Christmas celebrations in Spain
The family Christmas Eve meal is one of the most important meals of the year for a Spanish family and the housewife will be busy preparing the traditional fare.
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Christmas Eve menu
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Seafood is high on the list for the meal and prices tend to go through the roof at this time of year.
First on the menu is likely to be plates of cold shellfish and cold cuts of meat. This may be followed by soup, then baked besugo (Bream) with potatoes followed by roast lamb or suckling pig. Game is another option although turkey is becoming popular. The meal will be complemented with Cava, Spain's excellent sparkling wine.
At the same time, trays of Christmas cakes and sweets will be served. The important sweets are turrón and marzipan. Turrón is a nougat made of toasted sweet almonds and has been made in Spain for over five centuries.
After the meal the adults will then exchange presents. The children will usually only receive a small gift. At midnight, some people will go to the Midnight Mass. Others may stay at home and open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the birth of Christ. Some children go Carol singing and the youngsters may go to bed whilst the adults go out and party until dawn.
Every town and most churches will have a 'belen' which is a nativity display. Some of them are very impressive and can cover massive areas. Some are animated and illuminated and draw huge crowds. Christmas Day is a fiesta day so all banks and shops are closed, probably to recover from the night before.
Christmas Day in Spain is one of the quietest of the year. Anyone wanting to eat out on this special day will have to book well in advance.
Excerpts from Christmas, Boston University
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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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