The Progressive Era, WWI, and the Great Depression: 1900-1939
E. Reynolds 1900 St. Johns County School Report
E. Reynolds was a one term School superintendent and the son of the school system’s 2nd superintendent. This report was reprinted in the newspaper. 1900 report. (Letter Writing as a Course) (Teachers 1900-1901) Students who were neither absent or tardy 1904-05
St. Joseph’s Academy
The Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Florida gives a view of St. Joseph’s Academy at the close of the 1900 school year: “This institution was founded in 1868 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, of Puy, France, and is still conducted by them under the patronage of the Rt. Rev. John Moore, D. D., Bishop of this diocese.
The course is divided into three departments: Primary (with Kindergarten), Junior and Senior. The Senior Department comprises a course of three years. It is thorough, and embraces all the branches of a useful and refined education, including French, taught by Sisters who are natives of France. The program for graduating class covers all studies required for public school teachers; certificates of the highest grade.
The situation is one of the most pleasing in a city justly celebrated for its healthfulness and climatic beauty.
Young ladies may enter at any period of the scholastic year, either as boarders or as day pupils. Music, painting, stenography, typewriting with use of necessary instruments are extras.
There are in attendance 150 students. The number of teachers is seven. For further information address Sister M. Eulalia, Superior.
Ponce de Leon Hotel Gets and Important Visitor -March 21, 1900
Admiral Dewey and Wife.
Apartments have been engaged at the Ponce de Leon by Admiral George Dewey and Mrs. Dewey, who are expected to be here either on the evening of Saturday next or on Sunday morning. Mr. Robert Murray has caused Mr. Flagler’s suite of rooms to be put in readiness for the reception of the Admiral and his wife. This suite, which is naturally the most elaborate in the house, was used by ex-President Cleveland and Mrs. Cleveland when they visited this city several years ago.
Any projected entertainment of the distinguished couple will be deferred until a consultation as to their wishes can be had with the Admiral and his wife; it being the wish of those desirous of entertaining them that they may be permitted to pass their time as pleasantly and informally as they please.
It is hoped, however, that a reception may be one of the many entertainments which will be furnished.
All St. Augustine is waiting to give Admiral and Mrs. Dewey a cordial reception. Palm Beach and Miami after St. Augustine are the objective points of their trip.
Casino Bowling Alleys
At the Casino Bowling Alley three prizes will be awarded for the month of March: A large “Stein” for the best score made during the month, and a wee, blue mug for the best cocked hat score made in the month.
The tournament for the News Herald challenge cup is now on. This cup was won in 1896 by John O’Connor, in 1897 and 1898 by William Carcaba, and last year by Donald Dunham.
To further encourage ladies who go in for bowling, a hatpin contest will be inaugurated by Mr. Taylor for those making a certain score. He has several attractive hatpins, some with a coonhead design and others with coat-of-arms of the State.
Cake Walks - March 17, 1900
The twelfth annual cakewalkof the Ponce de Leon waiters at the Casino last night was a pronounced success. There was a regular crush. The first part of the program consisting of some singing and dancing did not amount to much, with the exception of some good buck dancing which was done for a $5 prize. This was won by Wragley, to the satisfaction of everybody.
The cakewalk itself, which began about ten o’clock, was the main thing, of course, and the contestants included some very clever steppers. After a short time it became evident whom the favorite couple in line was and the decision of the judges awarding the cake to couple number fourteen met with general approbation. The cake is the large and much ornamented one which has been on exhibition at the Casino for the past several days, and was won by the Valencia bell-boy and his partner, a dusky belle of Jacksonville. A couple of two steps and waltzes were participated in after the award by the entire “push” and some very graceful dancers were seen.
1901-1902 State School Report
W. S. M. Pinkham the new County Superintendent (elected in 1900) submitted his first report to the State Superintendent. The school system is dealing with a chronic shortage of money and except for the city schools the term of the schools is shortened. A new issue for schools is compulsory education. For more of W. S. M. Pinkham’s reports see (1906) and (1910).
Soldiers in the Philippines
Soldiers from Lincolnville that served in the U. S. army during the Philippines insurrection were in the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Infantry: Wm. Robertson, Wm. Plummer, Joe Robertson, Granville Houston, Bill Dummitt, Lawrence White, Geo. Adams and Arthur Kyles. There may have been others participating in other regiments.
Shooting of Councilman John Pappino
In 1902 one of the most dramatic moments in the St. Augustine City Council occurred. The Reconstruction period came to an end with the shooting of Councilmen John Pappino by the Town Marshall Charles Benet in chambers and the failure of the town to do anything about it. For the newspaper account. Jessie McCain another black Alderman was arrested after his term. 1902 also saw the death of John Papy.
The Rebuilding of Trinity Episcopal
Although talked about since the 1880s the rebuilding of the Trinity Episcopal Church, begun in 1900 was completed in 1902. The architects were Snelling and Potter, New York architects. The entrance to the church was now oriented toward St. George Street.
Cordova becomes the Alcazar Annex
In 1903 a bridge is built across Cordova street connecting the Cordova Hotel (old Casa Monica) and the Alcazar. Over the years since its creation the Alcazar Hotel (originally an overflow for the Ponce de Leon) became more and more popular. The bridge ended the independent existence of the Cordova Hotel making it simply an overflow annex of the Alcazar.
Rural Schools - On again/Off Again
On July 13, 1903 an article appeared in The St. Augustine Evening Record about new desks for Osceola School. The school board was trying to consolidate the Tocoi, Picolata and Osceola schools to boost the number of students. Because the schools did not have enough of students, the schools had not been open for two years.
Young Men’s Christian Association.
The Y.M.C.A. grew out of the 1904 Florida East Coast Railway Athletic Association. In 1908 Henry Flagler built a red brick YMCA building for the people of St. Augustine. The YMCA was located at the corner of Valencia and Riberia Streets. The railway was the main backer. It had bowling allies, a gym and later a swimming pool. Its members were expected to pay dues. This was another extension of the sports and entertainment vision of the Flagler Empire. The building of the Y.M.C.A. was especially important because it was a year round operation as opposed to the Alcazar’s Casino that was only open during the winter season.
Theodore Roosevelt Visits the Ponce de Leon Hotel
On Oct 21, 1905 Theodore Roosevelt made a visit to the Ancient City with a party of 12. Even though he was early the flagship hotel was opened in his honor. Wm. Kenan represented Henry Flagler. A committee of distinguished citizens and officials of the Florida East Coast Railroad greeted Roosevelt. The crowd came through the main gates on King Street for a brief reception in the great Rotunda. Then he was escorted to Henry Flagler’s private suite.
The Film Industry Comes to St. Augustine
In 1906, the Selig Polyscope Company filmed “A Trip to St. Augustine”. This company was founded by William N Selig in 1896. This is the company that gave Tom Mix and Bronco Billy Anderson their starts.
In 1909, the Ponce de Leon Celebration was filmed by Kalem Staudios. Kalem had a production studio in Florida.
1913 saw the first movie studio at the Fountain of Youth with the Pathe Company. This was a short venture as Pathe a French company stopped US production in 1914.
In 1915, from a poem of Rudyard Kipling, “A Fool There Was,” Theda Bara launched her career. She became famous for her vamp pictures. Also appearing was Edward Jose and Creighton Hale.
The oldest city turned into a favorite location for movies and actors and actresses. Ethel Barrymore, Billie Burke, Pearl White and others visited and film in St. Augustine. The estate of “Three Oaks” at 175 Oneida St, the Fort, the Ponce de Leon Hotel and Fountain of Youth were popular film locations.
Dr. Brown’s Hospital
Dr. D. H. Brown was a physician and surgeon who specialized in diseases of women and children. His office was at 61 Washington Street in Lincolnville. In 1907 he had Fannie R. Mason the second richest African American woman in the United States as a patient at his hospital.
Carcaba’s Cigar Factory
The former St. Mary’s Convent and Academy building on Cathedral Place became the Carcaba’s Cigar Factory.
By 1909 one of the leading businesses in St. Augustine was cigar rolling. The Sola-Carcaba Cigar Factory at 88 Riberia Street was completed at this time as a building to be given away in a contest. Fred A. Henderick made the plans for the building.
Orange Street School and 1st Methodist Church
1910 saw the building of two of St. Augustine’s institutions: 1. The Orange Street School. This school replaced Public School #1 on Aviles Street. The building had originally been built in 1857 and although expanded many times, was no longer adequate for the student population. (Orange Street School picture and extended history of the building of the school and school life 1910) (for an additional 60 pages of extracts on life in 1910 from the St. Augustine Record) The Orange Street land was part of the old moat and had been deeded over to the School Board by the United States for school purposes. The second building was the First United Methodist Church (at that time the church was a Methodist Episcopal Church, South). The Methodist Episcopal Church, South had not been in St. Augustine since before the Civil War but 1st United Methodist Church claims its descent from that church.
Frank Genovar and the Cuban Connection
In 1910, Frank Genovar returned to the United States after a 10 year absence in Cuba. At Tampa, he gave a newspaper interview about his experiences. He is the final link in the chain that begins with Father Miguel O’Reilley who taught Father Felix Varela. Varela was the “Father of Cuban Independence” who helped write Spain’s constitution of 1812. Frank Genovar, born in the era of Father Felix Varela helped rebuild Cuba after participating in its liberation.
The Town of Hastings in 1910
Hastings was a progressive town of about 1200 people, on the Florida East Coast Railway, in St. Johns County, 54 miles south of Jacksonville. They called it “the New York of the South,” 18 miles from St. Augustine. It was famous throughout the world as a magnificent winter resort, and eight miles east of Palatka. A hard-surface road, connecting St. Augustine and Palatka, ran through the settlement. It was only three miles from the beautiful St. Johns River, 17 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
“The town has seven general stores, a brick hotel, one bank, two drug stores, two meat markets, a cold storage and ice plant, one bakery, two large barrel factories, two livery stables, a grist mill, three doctors, one dentist, telephone, telegraph and express service, water works, sewerage and cement sidewalks; also an electric light plant is in contemplation. It has a fine school building, managed by an efficient corps of instructors, and a well-attended Union Church and Sunday School.
Grand Opening of the Ponce de Leon Hotel January 5, 1910
With the booming of the culverin from one of the towers, the flags fluttering to their places on the tall staffs at the blast from the bugles and the strains of stirring music from the band, the great Ponce de Leon hotel opened for the tourist season of 1910 this afternoon.
Promptly at the hour of three, the great portcullis at the main entrance was raised for the winter months. At the same moment the culverin boomed out from one of the towers and the crowds waiting without poured in to inspect the palatial hostelry.
Manager Robert Murray has been superintending the final preparations for the opening for two weeks or more and everything was in readiness today for the beginning of what promises to be one of the most successful seasons in the history of the hotel. The Ponce de Leon is Florida’s pride and nothing has been left undone to hold it up to just as high a standard this winter as ever.
Tonight in the spacious dinning room, the opening dinner of the season will be enjoyed by many invited guests from among St. Augustine’s citizens as well as by the guests of the hotel. Every preparation has been made and the hotel service from the very start will be second to none.
Throngs awaited the opening gun this afternoon and as soon as the portcullis shot up at the great main entrance the crowds poured in to inspect the great hostelry. It is the custom to allow all to visit every part of the hotel and grounds on the opening day and practically every visitor to the city takes advantage of the fact to see the Ponce de Leon and there are always not a few residents of the city who are in the line of visitors.
A large number registered today and with the inauguration of the winter tourist service over the Florida East Coast Railway and the opening of the Ponce de Leon the season may be said to be on in earnest. Every indication points towards the heaviest tourist travel south this year of any previous season in the history of the East Coast and there is little doubt but that the immense hotel will have an unusually large number of guests for the opening week of the season.
As usual Mr. Murray has spared no effort in securing the members of his staff from among the very best and most capable hotel attaches in the country. There are a few new faces among the members of the staff this winter and all come from the best hotels of the north.
Miss Annie McKay is again with the hotel this season. Mr. A. E. Conklin, formerly of the Hotel Champlain in New York, is the new room clerk. The other members of the staff are Mr. L. W. Maxson, cashier; Mr. J. E. MacQuinn, bookkeeper and assistant cashier; Mr. E. J. Morrill, night clerk; Mr. B. J. Redmond, assistant room and front clerk; Mr. Glenn A Miller, mail and front clerk; Mr. Martin W. Brazee, stenographer; Mr. N. S. Beebe, steward; Mr. Joseph Stoltz, chief; W. T. White head waiter; Hance Howard, head bellman.
While the sky was overcast with clouds, the weather was mild and delightfully pleasant. It was a most auspicious opening for one of the most palatial and greatest of America’s hotels.
For anyone wanting to party in St. Augustine, the Casino’s Washington Day Ball was the place to be
Foremost among the social affairs that celebrated the birthday of George Washington was the grand ball given in the Casino by Mr. Wm. McAuliffe, manager of the Hotel Alcazar. This was one of the most brilliant social functions given in St. Augustine in years, and was enjoyed by hundreds of residents of the city, and a large number of visitors from the various hotels.
The magnificent ball-room had, with the aid of artistic decorations, been transformed into a bower of beauty. The great arches were draped with red, white and blue bunting, while large American flags and hundreds of tiny ones arranged in most attractive designs adorned the walls. A large picture of the Father of Our Country draped with our nation’s colors, and illumined by many tiny vary-colored electric lights occupied a prominent place in the hall. Southern smilax, that most graceful of all vines, twined the pillars, and the effect of the glossy green leaves in contrast to the white columns was exceedingly lovely. In the alcove, where punch was served during the evening, quantities of smilax were used most artistically in draping the walls and arching the windows.
The beautiful ball-room thus adorned was a most lovely setting for the number of beautiful women who thronged the room. The display of exquisite evening gowns rendered the brilliant scene like a great parterre of gorgeous flowers, and this was illumined by the soft radiance from myriads of electric lights of the colors red, white and blue.
The Ponce de Leon, under the direction of Professor Shaw, and the Alcazar orchestras, led by Mr. E. J. Quiry, furnished the delightful music for the dances. Dance followed dance in rapid succession until eleven o’clock when a delicious course supper was served the guests in the spacious dining room of the Hotel Alcazar. An hour later dancing was resumed and continued until the wee hours.
The dance cards bore on the covers excellent likeness of our first President. In dainty lettering the cards contained beside the program of dances the names of the patronesses and members of the floor committee, and formed very pretty souvenirs of this brilliant ball.
Airplane Flights
In 1911, local businessman Charles F. Hopkins, Jr. arranged with the Curtis Exhibition Company to conduct airplane flights here with two noted aviators, James J. Ward and J.A.D. McCurdy. They flew on the bay front.
Health Department
The board of public health for the City of St. Augustine issued rules for the improvement of health in 1912. This board had been very active in St. Augustine since almost the beginning of the territorial period.
D. D. Corbett becomes County Superintendent
A Dental Clinic was started at St. Augustine School (Orange Street) All white public school students were examined and their teeth treated free of charge with John T. Dismukes paying the dentist’s salary. A two-year commercial course with nine typewriters, and the following classes: shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping, commercial law, business arithmetic, business English, spelling and penmanship. Hot lunches were served in the basement of the Orange Street High School building and a special tax district was created in Hastings for schools.
Death of Henry Flagler
January 15, 1913, Henry Flagler fell down stairs at his home, Whitehall in Palm Beach. At this point he was almost blind and very hard of hearing. He had several rallies but on May 20 died. His body was brought back to St. Augustine, the place of beginning for his Florida career. On May 23 his body laid in state in the rotunda of the Ponce de Leon Hotel before removal to Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Dixie Highway
In 1913, a conference was held to talk about a Canada-Florida Road. This became the Dixie Highway. Parts of the original brick road can still be seen in Hastings today.
1914 Fire
April 2, 1914 saw the burning of the old Florida Hotel and with it much of the bay front. The fire destroyed five tourist hotels. Furniture and belongings were placed on the Fort Green and the Plaza. The County Courthouse also burned in this fire.
A Florida Enchantment
In 1914, Sidney Drew, Edith Stovey, Charles Kent, Mrs. Sidney Drew, Ada Gifford and Ethel Lloyd brought star power to St. Augustine in the filming of A Florida Enchantment. This comedy shows several scenes of St. Augustine and the film is still available.
Old Jail (County)
Of course, in the Progressive Era one of the concerns was prison reform. On November 12, 1914 the County Grand Jury under George D. Young as foreman, issued a report on the Jail (old Jail today). The grand jury found that the bunks downstairs had no mattresses on them as required by state law. Quilts were used but blankets were required. Wash basin clogged. Toilets in all cells had no tanks making them impossible to flush. Kitchen windows had no screens. There were no towels for prisoners. Bathing tubs should be replaced by showers. White and colored prisoners mingled together in recreation. There was no care for sick prisoners. There were no chairs or benches except in women’s cells. Water was kept in bottles that 4 or 5 people used. Prisoners held for trial were never allowed to have exercise. Young prisoners were held with the old and insane people were not segregated from the general population.
Nombre de Dios Chapel
In 1915 General Hardin gave a gift that enabled the building of a chapel at Nombre de Dios. It is a representation of the earlier churches that stood at this site.
Sister Mary Thomasine
April 24, 1916 a Warrant was issued by Judge George William Jackson for Sister Mary Thomasine of the Sisters of St. Joseph, a teacher at St. Benedict School. Her crime was that of a white teacher unlawfully teaching “Negroes in a negro school.” A continuance was requested after she pled not guilty. The bail bond was set at $25 which she refused to pay. She was taken to the county jail (old jail today). Her lawyers made a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to Judge George Couper Gibbs. It charged that the Florida statute violated the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution (due process clause). Judge Gibbs replied that the U.S. Constitution had nothing to do with education that was a state matter. But he gave the writ based on his conclusion that the state statute had nothing to do with private education only public. No further attempts were made against white nuns teaching Negro students.
Alicia Hospital
In 1916 Alicia Hospital was destroyed by fire. Through the help of Dr. Anderson and Mrs. Flagler money was raised to construct a new building. The new hospital was opened on January 5, 1921 with Dr. Anderson as the chairman of the board.
Schools Cut Back
In 1916 the commercial department, manual training and mechanical drawing departments at the Orange Street school were abolished due to lack of funds.
First Airport
In 1916 The Little Links Golf Course was taken over by the army and leveled to make the city’s first landing field. A first school of aviation trained Canadian flyers for military service in Europe. It was completed in November 1918.
World War I
World War I effected the small town of St. Augustine in the same way that small towns were effected throughout the United States (List of African-Americans who participated in World War I from St. Johns County)
Florida Memorial College
In 1918 the Chamber of Commerce persuaded Florida Baptist Academy to move to St. Augustine. It was renamed the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute later becoming Florida Memorial College. Its most famous teacher was Sarah Ann Blocker, who in November of 2003 was admitted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame.
A delegation was sent by the Chamber of Commerce of St. Augustine to Jacksonville in 1917 to visit President Nathan Collier to encourage the move to St. Augustine. Dr. Andrew Anderson was one of the delegates who promised to help the institution if it moved to St. Augustine. The school for its part had been looking for more land in order to provide teacher training courses and agricultural courses. The Academy moved to St. Augustine on September 24, 1918. In 1924 the first permanent structure was built as Anderson Hall in memory of the late Dr. Andrew Anderson.
Dr. D. W. Roberts
In the influenza epidemic that struck St. Augustine as well as the nation after World War I, a hero emerged in the person of Dr. D. W. Robe (picture) His unselfish devotion to the people of St. Augustine resulted in his own untimely death. A baptismal font was contributed by the doctors and others of St. Johns County for his service. The font is located in St. Paul’s AME Zion Church (obituary).
1919 Sees Largest Enrollment in Public Schools due to new state law
The 1919-20 school years saw a great increase in students with the compulsory school law. (See article for first day and St. Augustine teachers.) Boys could have work exemptions from attendance at public schools and had the opportunity for night school attendance.
Rudolph Valentino Comes to St. Augustine
In 1920, Rudolph Valentino came to St. Augustine to film “Silent Moments”. This was before “The Sheik” and its subsequent fame. Marguerite Namara was the leading lady in the film. This is one of three surviving films of Rudolph Valentino from 1920.
Flagstaff (World War I Monument)
November 11, 1921 saw a new monument off the plaza, along the bay front paid for by Dr. Anderson. A base was erected for a flagstaff designed by C. Adrian Pillars. It contained the city motto and it included information on the history of St. Augustine and Florida.
Webb Building and Dr. Dewitt Webb
The Webb Building at the St. Augustine Historical Society’s Oldest House was built in 1923 in the memory of Dr. Dewitt Webb. Dr. Webb was born December 19, 1840 in Clinton New York. He died in St. Augustine April 12, 1917. He moved to St. Augustine in 1880. He served as president of the St. Augustine Historical Society and Institute of Science and was a member of the St. Augustine Free Public Library Association. Webb was a member of the Florida State Legislature and in 1912 was Mayor of St. Augustine. He was a practicing doctor at Flagler Hospital, the doctor in charge at the State School for the Deaf and Blind, and Acting Assistant Surgeon and Medical Officer at Fort Marion when the Native Americans were located there in the 1880s.
Monument to Juan Ponce de Leon
November 11 of 1923 saw Dr. Anderson unveiling a monument on the plaza to Juan Ponce de Leon modeled after the San Juan Puerto Rico monument. The Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence Rhode Island cast the mould of the statute.
Fort Marion and Fort Matanzas Become National Monuments
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared Fort Marion and Fort Matanzas to be national monuments.
Hastings High School Construction Started May 1924
Construction was started on the new high school. The building was to contain 20 rooms, including 12 standard classrooms, laboratories, domestic science dept., offices, etc. and, in accordance with the latest health precepts, a cafeteria where hot food could be served when desirable. The auditorium could accommodate 650 people . . . hot water heat … electric lighting. Exterior of coquina shell stucco … Spanish tile roof. The school was designed by Fred A. Henderich
The day the school opened; the children marched from their old school at Stone’s Corner, to the new school, grade by grade. The Scottish Highlanders Band had performed in St. Augustine and traveled over to Hastings where they gave a concert in the band stand the day the new school opened.
Dr. Wilma Davis
In 1924 Dr. Wilma Davis became the first woman to be ordained a deacon in the Florida Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In five years she was ordained an elder. She became an associate pastor at Daytona Beach, but in the depression she returned to St. Augustine and preached in Hastings. She was baptized in Grace Methodist in 1893 and joined the church in 1899. In the forties she served as Dean of Women at the University Foundation. This school was held in Kirkside, the old Henry Flagler Mansion.
St. Johns Welfare Federation
The St. Johns Welfare Federation was founded in 1920 and incorporated in 1924. The 1924 charter stated the mission of the Welfare Federation — “to take care of and look after the indigent, the sick and needy persons in the City of St. Augustine and County of St. Johns.”
Return of Pedro Menendez
In 1911 Pedro Menendez returned to St. Augustine. Or at least his outer coffin did. On August 6th the delegations from St. Augustine met with King Alfonso of Spain and were given a ball. They returned to St. Augustine with the coffin but where to put it proved to be a greater problem. Today it is located at the Shrine Gift Shop. On the statue of Pedro Menendez in front of City Hall is a plaque that gives information about the coffin (but the plaque is another story).
Steven Vincent Benet
In 1925 Steven Vincent Benet published his novel Spanish Bayonet. The grandson of General Benet had never been to Florida but wrote his story about the Minorcans coming to New Smyrna.
Excelsior School
In 1925 Excelsior School was built. It was the first high school for African-Americans in St. Augustine. The school building shows the power of the Florida land boom in the 1920s with the Mediterranean Revival Architecture style. Many famous graduates of Excelsior include: Willie Galimore, Robert “Monk” Myers, Willie Irvin, Doug Carn and Shirley Myers.
Evelyn Hamblin Center
The Evelyn Hamblin Center opened in the fall of 1925 as the West Augustine Grammar School. The name was later changed to the West Augustine Elementary School. The school was a large elementary school designed by Fred A. Henderich for 450 elementary students. In 1957 the school was renamed the Evelyn Hamblen Elementary in honor of Evelyn Hamblen longtime teacher and vice Principal of Public School #1. She was later elected to the school board (and have the distinction as the first elected female official in St. Johns County) and serve as chairperson until her death in 1943.
Bridge of Lions
In 1927 the Bridge of Lions was constructed. It was originally called the Matanzas River Bridge (NEVER the Flagler Bridge). The bridge is 1,545 feet long. J. E. Griener of Baltimore was the engineering firm. The city raised a 1 million dollar bond for the bridge. It opened on February 26, 1927. On the first day 1,443 autos, 64 trucks, 4 motor cycles, 8 horse carriages, 143 pedestrians and 23 bicycles crossed the bridge. On April 1, the bridge’s lights were turned on. The official opening was April 7, 1927, when the bridge was christened by Miss Jean Rodenbaugh the daughter of H N Rodenbaugh the vice-president of the FECR. The two lions at the foot of the bridge were given by the estate of Dr. Andrew Anderson(he had ordered them before his death). The two Carrera marble lions are the work of F. Romanelli.
First National Bank Building
1928 was the first and last skyscraper built in St. Augustine. It’s the First National Bank Building located on Cathedral Place beside the Plaza. The old Lorillard Race Track off State Road 16 was used as an airfield in 1928.
The Great Depression
1932 was the end of an era with the closing of the Alcazar and the Cordova. Of course, the most critical closing was the casino, a major source of recreation and employment for local folks.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order transferring the Forts to the National Park Service. The WPA built the civic center which is now the visitor information center and built another civic center in Hastings. The WPA also through its writers program spoke to people in St. Augustine and St. Johns County and recorded their oral histories: St. Elmo Acosta, Reverend L.M. Anderson (First Baptist Church), Bennett Family, Martin Cross, Mrs. Elizabeth Dismukes, Margaret Pierson Hall, T.J. Marshall, Mary Elizabeth Moore, The Olsens, Dr. Henry Perrine, Dr. Daniel W. Roberts, and Dennis Potinos.
Government House
In 1936 the Government house was redone by Florida architects Mellen Clark Greely and Clyde Harris. The King Street entrance was made to look like the chapel at the Castillo.
Return of Castillo de San Marcos
Congress restored the original name of the Castillo de San Marcos to Old Fort Marion.
Nathan Collier
President Nathan Collier died in February, 1941. He served as President of Florida Memorial longer than Booker T. Washington had served at Tuskegee.
St. Augustine Airport
Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939, vast new sums were provided to upgrade the St. Augustine Airport with an eye toward its possible military use
