Revised plans to move the War Memorial in the Plaza and a promised plan to move the former M&M Market building on Bridge Street go before the April 17 meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board.

The session begins at 2 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.

The city will seek approval to move the memorial into the Plaza de la Constitución from its current corner location behind electric panels, a shift from the earlier approved location to protect tree roots. Approval will also be sought to disassemble and reassemble the 1946 memorial because of its fragile state.

As promised by purchasers of 102 Bridge Street, the former M&M Market bought by the city after former owners were arrested for criminal activity, the board will be asked to approve partial demolition of building additions and moving the original 1885 structure within the site.

David and Sandra Corneal plan a seven-unit apartment complex with potential future restaurant use, rehabilitating "the existing building so that it will reflect the original historic character of the period in which it was built."

 

Demolition with a purpose

The Historic Architectural Review Board will be asked at its April 17 meeting to approve demolition of the 1917 home of Herbert C. Simmons, Sr. at 14 Lovett Street - and he's all for it.

Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns is asking for the demolition as a state condition to use grant money to build a Habitat home on the site for Simmons.

Neighbors volunteered to move the building, but Bill Cooke of Habitat explained the particular state grant requires a demolition for a new home.

 

Continuing its efforts to deal with rules and regulations underlying many cases that come before it, the city's Planning and Zoning Board will hold a second workshop April 16 at 2 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.

On the agenda:

A Stormwater Master Plan Presentation  by the Public Works Department

Tree removal applications, submittal requirements and review criteria

Ambient lighting on residential properties and across waterways

Submittal requirements for dock applications

In the first of what plan board members figure will be a series of workshops last January, the board tackled tree removal permitting and outlined issues for future workshops. 

 

The garrote & Andrew Ransom

 

1 year, 4 months, 28 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary

 

Rarely were pirates caught but once, in 1684, a group of pirates finally were captured.

St. Augustine officials felt they should make an example of the villainous pirates so other ocean outlaws would be less likely to disturb the peaceful town.

They chose to publicly execute them in the town plaza. The method chosen was garroting, a far more painful and lengthy means of execution than a simple hanging. A rope was tied around the criminal's neck and slowly tightened to effect strangulation.

Spectators could watch as the face became blue and the eyes bulged from the sockets. It was exactly the procedure the officials desired for these scourges of the sea.

The leader of this group was Andrew Ransom. He was forced to witness the execution of the other pirates before his sentence was administered. He stood before the executioner calmly as the rope was placed around his neck. He remained composed as it was tighten once, twice, three times. By the fourth time he lost consciousness.

One more turn and it would be over. But Instead of tightening the rope snapped.

To the amazement of the spectators, Andrew Ransom fell to the ground and began breathing. The Catholic priest walked to the body and slowly rolled it over.

From Ransom's neck hung a small metal cross.

"This man is a Christian," he exclaimed. "Spare him from death!"

And Andrew Ransom was spared. Not only was he given life, but his life was given purpose. He had extraordinary engineering skills and his talents were put to work on the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos.

He met and married a woman of the town and fathered several children. To this day, ancestors of this former pirate reside in St. Augustine.

Andrew Ransom was given a second chance. And, as far as is known, none of his children became pirates.

 

   Get ready for 450th anniversary with St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events. Details here