Old Town Fernandina

Old Town Fernandina

Remembering Old Town – October 2009

Thanks to GDLCHS for markers

Remembering Old Town

• History up to 1821 is fairly well documented.– Timucua– French– Spanish I– English– Spanish II

Amelia Island Post renamed Fernandina January 1811

Old Town is platted 1811Bicentenary in 2011

– Patriots– MacGregor– Aury.


• Since 1821, we know relatively little of Old Town’s history.

• Major events that affected Old Town:– Florida becomes a US Territory – 1821– Florida admitted to the Union – 1845– Yulee establishes New Fernandina – 1853– Category 4 hurricane comes ashore at Brunswick,

GA. 14’ storm surge. - 1898.– Old Town placed on National Register of Historic

Places - 1990


NRHP application 1989


Photo AIMH


• New Fernandina established in 1853; most of Old Town’s ‘wealth and gentry’ moves ‘downtown’.

• Old Town’s population changed, and many pilots took up residence.

• In c.1980 Capt. George T Davis wrote a history of local pilots. If they lived in Old Town, he identified their homes.

Remembering Old TownPilots – from George T Davis.

(Dates are ‘date appointed pilot. Honorary title of ‘Captain’ omitted for brevity)

• 1837. Association of Branch Pilots founded by George W Latham and Samuel Cribb.• 1865. William Sharp (715 San Fernando)• 1866. David Cribb• 1867. Joseph Newton, James Bell, William Bell. Cape Fear pilots and blockade

runners.– Newton (902 Ladies) – James Bell (212 Estrada)– Williiam Bell (8th & Beech)

• 1868. Harry Johnson. (818 San Fernando)• 1877. George Latham (111 S 5th St)• 1878. Tom B Lasserre (818 San Fernando)• 1882. B. McNeil (910 San Fernando) (* Davis places house 1 block east)• 1882. Robert Downes (212 Estrada)• 1885. Thomas Smith Davis (Marine)• 1885. Ed. F Morse. (not identified, later 424 N 3rd St)For full report see

http://www.portoffernandinamaritimeexchange.org/services_pilotsHist.html

Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes - 2009

• 715 San Fernando.– Sharp (1865)– Kavanaugh (2009)


• 818 San Fernando.– Johnson (1868)– Lasserre (1878)– William Hair (2009)

(deceased)


• 212 Estrada.– James Bell (1867)– Robert Downes (1882)– ? Littrico– Joan Altman (2009)


• Marine (White & San Fernando).– Thomas Smith Davis (1885)

Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes – from 1900 Directory

• 902 Ladies.– Joseph Newton (1867)– ? Swearingen– ? Fulford– Julie Starr Sanford (2009)

Remembering Old TownRemaining Pilots’ homes – 2009

• 910 San Fernando.– B McNeil (1882)– Les Kenyon (2009)

Remembering Old Town(1900 Fernandina Directory)

Last Name First Name Occupation Number Street CP?

Barr Fred’k carp 1314 N 8th (Estrada) -

Barr Edw wks jetty contr 1314 N 8th (Estrada) -

Barr John pilot 1314 N 8th (Estrada) -

Barr John W carp 1314 N 8th (Estrada) -

Barr Chas H - 1314 N 8th (Estrada) -

Bell Capt Jas pilot 1414 N 8th (Estrada) -

Brown - wks jetty contr 901 White -

Carruthers J S inspr cor N 8th & White -

Cassidy Henry C steamboat capt 1314 N 8th -

Cribb Isabella - 1205 N 8th -

Dodson S M wks jetty contr 901 White -

Dougherty Foster pipe fitter 1505 N 9th (Amelia) -

Dougherty Mrs. R widow 1505 N 9th (Amelia) -

Dougherty Leven watchman 1505 N 9th (Amelia) -

Dougherty Wm carpenter 1505 N 9th (Amelia) -

Dougherty Sarah - 1505 N 9th (Amelia) -



Douglass Wm H - 906 Somerulos -

Downes Robt H pilot 1102 San Fernando -

Flinn M A widow 1612 N 8th -

Johnson Harry pilot 1411 N 9th (Amelia) -

Jones H F lab 909 Somerulos -

Jones P H lab 909 Somerulos -

Jones M K lab 909 Somerulos -

Keating P J inspr cor N 8th & White -

Kumlander Mrs. M grocer 1508 N 9th (Amelia) -

Kumlander Hilma - 1508 N 9th (Amelia) -

Maldon Jas carp 816 Ladies -

Maldon Jas jr employe SAI 816 Ladies -

Marshall Ellsworth steamboat capt 1418 N 8th (Estrada) -

McNeill Capt B J pilot 910 San Fernando -

Newton J H pilot 902 Ladies -

Nikola Mrs. Z - 901 White -



Sharpe Wm pilot 715 San Fernando -

Sharpe Chas barber 715 San Fernando -

Silver Frank gardner (sic) 811 Ladies -

Suydam D W - 911 San Fernando -

Tillotson Ralph ledgeman 811 Ladies -

Campbell Chas - 1006 Ladies cp

Cook Jos lab 809 Somerulos cp

Cook John lab 808 Ladies cp

Cook Rufus fisherman 809 Somerulos cp

Cribb Roman - 1615 Estrada cp

Dannberg Oscar carp 917 Ladies cp

Denegall Gus - 917 White cp

Denegall Victoria - 917 White cp

Floyd Alex - 817 Ladies cp

Floyd Jerome - 1006 Ladies cp

Floyd Refida wid 716 San Fernando cp

Floyd Rosabel clk 716 San Fernando cp

Floyd Cerepta teacher 716 San Fernando cp



Foster Frank lab 804 San Fernando cp

Francis Butler - 1110 San Fernando cp

Harker John lab 717 White cp

Hippard Jack lab 1202 White cp

Hippard Dan - 1202 White cp

Hippen Ella cook 1202 Amelia cp

Johnson Louis lab 1002 Ladies cp

Johnson Simon - 707 Garden cp

Knabb Wm - 909 White cp

King Dan - 1101 Ladies cp

King John clk 810 Somerulos cp

King W M meats 810 Somerulos cp

McCall Tempie laund 1202 Amelia cp

McDonald Henry cook 801 Somerulos cp

McDonald Renaldo lab 801 Somerulos cp

McDonald Robt lab 703 Garden cp

Mitchell Patience - 1001 White cp

Mitchell Primos - 1301 White cp



Traeye Roman drayman 705 San Fernando cp

Traeye Miss F C - 705 San Fernando cp

Traeye Emil lab 705 San Fernando cp

Traeye Fva lab 705 San Fernando cp

Wilkinson Prince lab 1007 White cp

Williams David - 1009 White cp

Williams Jos A lab 1232 Estrada cp

Williams Theresa - 1017 Ladies cp

Total 76 - - - 39


• What happened in Old Town Fernandina when many of its residents moved away to the new Fernandina location in the 1850’s?

• What damage was done in Old Town by the 1898 Category 4 hurricane?• What went on here when Florida was a Territory of the US? (After the Spanish left in

1821 until Florida gained statehood in 1845).• What were the early days of statehood like?• How was Old Town affected by Fernandina’s Golden Age (1870-1912)?• What stores were there in Old Town?• What were the major routes from Old Town to Fernandina before the 14th Street

Extension was created? Maps show Towngate Streets (12th Street) and a Boardwalk running from Estrada to Front Street. Did you ever use them?

• Where are the town gates?• Early maps of Fernandina show tunnels on the North side. Do you remember talk of

tunnels?• Did you attend school in Old Town?• Did you attend church in Old Town, at either the Catholic Church, or the Episcopal

Church that were here?


• We want to capture the memories of Old Town that you and your family hold. – Oral interviews– Photos (for scanning)

• What do you remember? …

• Amelia Island Museum has a similar project – Heritage Keepers. Results will be pooled.


• Mike and Jenny Harrison

• 820 Someruelos Street, Old Town

• Phone: 904.491.1259

• Email: [email protected]

• Web: www.oldtownfernandina.org.

• [email protected]

Old Town Fernandina

Documents

Transcript of Old Town Fernandina