Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 9 2015
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History survives 450th hoopla
'History guru' digitizes St. Augustine's story
 Matt Armstrong spends his days digging up history buried deep inside library files as Digital Preservation Curator at Government House. Matt's work is an extension of the research collection of the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board (1959-1997), taken over by the University of Florida in 2009.
"The library itself is a very cool and unique collection," Matt tells writer Sarah McCartan of St. Augustine Social. "It's made up of archival research material, archaeological documents, maps, architectural drawings, photographs, and slides."
Among sources Matt accesses, St. Augustine's Tatler, a winter months paper from 1892 to 1908, and the Florida National Guard Florida Guardsman magazine, published from 1960-2008.
"Staff from the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library has been able to digitize the first seven of seventeen volumes of the heavily consulted weekly periodical The Tatler of Society in Florida," says Matt. Digitizing those issues "ensure the printed volumes' long-term preservation due to less handling"
Matt has his own history in the oldest city, his first job in 2006 with Karen Harvey, giving history themed walking tours of the downtown area, and volunteering and interning with City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt.
To get into St. Augustine's extensive history digitally, a good start is more than 25,000 photographs, maps, overlays of the city, architectural drawings, government records, transcriptions of key Spanish documents, and archaeology site summaries, at http://tinyurl.com/USACH-staug
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Interfaith 450
Commemoration
An Interfaith 450 Commemor-ation last week filled First United Methodist Church.
The services drew together White, Black and Indian Americans in a presentation of the broad spectrum of spiritual beliefs in the nation's oldest city.
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The birthday weekend over, folks can get back to enjoying history and community throughout September and beyond.
 Royal visit
The king and queen of Spain are expected September 18 as the US-Spain Council convenes here. King Felipe VI, 46, ascended the throne after his father, King Juan Carlos, 72, abdicated June 2 after a 39-year reign.
Queen Letizia, 41, was a journalist and TV presenter who earned the Madrid Press Assn.'s Larra Award for most accomplished journalist younger than 30.
El Galeón Andalucía
Returning to her North American homeport for the 450th, the authentic replica of the ship that traveled between Spain and the New World 500 years ago is docked at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina through September 23. Tours are offered 10 am to 6:30 pm daily. Tickets $10 adults, $5 ages 5-12, free under age 5.
Obelisk Art 450
The large-scale public art initiative, Obelisk Art 450 Tour of Compassion, exhibits replicas of the Constitution Monument at Crisp-Ellert Museum through September 18, 10-4 weekdays. The obelisks, designed by well-known artists and students and interpreting the values of Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Compassion, will then begin being set at locations throughout the city.
Celebrate St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Art Association launches its 92nd season with a juried exhibit Celebrate St. Augustine through September 28. The art reflects St. Augustine's landscape, people, wildlife, history, culture and more in celebration of the 450th commemoration.
The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday noon - 4 pm and Sunday 2 - 5 pm. Admission free. http://www.staaa.org |
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Veterans Day parade military strong
 This year's Veterans Day Parade "promises to be the best ever as we plan for a military parade which will be the culmination of the celebration of the 450th Anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine," Veterans Council Chair Bill Dudley says.
"The Veterans Council and local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America are working diligently. Requests have been sent to the US Navy, Marines and Florida National Guard military marching bands for their participation in this year's parade.
"The Spanish, French, and British consulates have been contacted and plan to have representatives participate, some with marching units," says Dudley.
"We are also planning for marching units from local high school Junior Reserve Officers cadet units as well as several sources for military assets such as WW II jeeps and other rolling units."
Dudley says the Coast Guard will be displaying a drug interdiction helicopter on the grounds of the Castillo with some vessels from the Coast Guard unit at Mayport.
"One of the highlights of the event will be a vintage aircraft flyover as WW II Stearman Bi-Planes make a formation flyover."
It all happens November 11 along the bayfront and in the bay.
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A Classic Theatre meet & greet
A Classic Theatre (ACT) invites "all who are interested in theater in St. Augustine to come to The Art Studio September 17, 5:30 - 7:30 pm tolearn more about A Classic Theatre and its exciting plans for the 2015-16 Season," says ACT President Jean Rahner,
Location is the Art Center, 370 AIA St. Augustine Beach, next to the pier, with entrance on the side of building facing the pier.
Calling themselves the "nomad theater," ACT moves from venue to venue to put their financial resources into producing exceptional plays - productions running the gamut from serious drama to light-hearted comedy
"This Meet & Greet will provide the opportunity to meet the women who are the core of ACT and learn the plans for the season," says Jean.
There will also be entertainment and light refreshments. will be provided. Visit the website.
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After founding, first muster
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Florida Living History recreates the first mustering of America's citizen soldiers - an event that marks the birthday of Florida's National Guard - September 16 at 9 am at St. Francis Barracks on Marine Street.
It was on this date 450 years ago that St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez charged civilians with protecting the new settlement while he marched troops north to attack the French Fort Caroline 40 miles away.
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History's highlight
Menendez' work not done
9 days past St. Augustine's founding
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Founding ceremonies completed, Pedro Menendez now turned his attention to removing the French from La Florida.
From the Memoir of Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, principal priest to St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez, recounting Menendez' capture of the French fort near present-day Jacksonville in 1565.
 I have previously stated that our brave captain-general set out on the 17th of September with five hundred arquebusiers and pikemen, under the guidance of two Indian chiefs, who showed them the route to the enemy's fort.
They marched the whole distance until Tuesday evening, the 18th of September, when they arrived within a quarter of a league of the enemy's fort (Caroline), where they remained all night up to their waists in water.
... It appears the enemy did not perceive their approach until the very moment of the attack, as it was very early in the morning and had rained in torrents.
The greater part of the soldiers of the fort were still in bed. Some arose in their shirts and others, quite naked, begged for quarter. In spite of that, more than one hundred and forty were killed. A great Calvinist cosmographer and magician was found among the dead. The rest, numbering about three hundred, scaled the walls, and either took refuge in the forest or on their ships floating in the river, laden with treasures, so that in an hour the fort was in our possession, without our having lost a single man, or even one wounded.
There were six vessels on the river at the time. The enemy took one brig, and an unfinished galley and another vessel, which had been just discharged of a load of rich merchandise, and sunk. These vessels were placed at the entrance to the bar to blockade the harbor, as they expected we would come by sea.
Another, laden with wine and merchandise, was near the port. She refused to surrender and spread her sails, when they fired on her from the fort, and sunk her in a spot where neither the vessel nor cargo would be lost.
The taking of this fort gained us many valuable objects - namely two hundred pikes, a hundred helmets, a quantity of arquebuses and shields, a quantity of clothing linen, fine cloths, two hundred tons of flour, a good many barrels of biscuit, two hundred bushels of wheat, three horses, four asses and two she-asses, hogs, tallow, books, flour, and many other things of little value.
But the greatest advantage of this victory is certainly the triumph which our Lord has granted us, and which will be the means of the Holy Gospel being introduced into this country, a thing necessary to prevent the loss of many souls.
Image: 1670 lithograph of Fort Caroline
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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 a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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