St Augustine History Part 9: WWII-1960
Monday, June 1st, 2009WWII-1960
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
In 1941 Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and her busband Norton Baskin purchased Warden Castle and made it a hotel. This became Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” Museum,” after it was sold to Robert Ripley in 1957.
After the 1941 attack on Pear Harbor, the U.S. Navy took over the airport. It was used as a gunnery base.
Coast Guard Took over Ponce de Leon Hotel
By October 1942 the Coast Guard established a training academy at the old Ponce de Leon Hotel. It also brought its auxiliary SPARS to St. Augustine.
Zora Neal Hurston
In 1942 Zora Neal Hurston moved to St. Augustine. She taught at Florida Memorial College. One of her stories for the Journal of Negro History was about Fort Mose. She lived in West St. Augustine.
Army Signal School
The Army Signal School started a training school at Florida Memorial (Normal) for African-Americans. Zora Neal Hurston began to criticize the program and the college for its supposed ill-treatment of the students.
Qualifications for the exclusive program included a license to operate an amateur radio station. Desirable contributing qualifications could include: The trainee had built sets; or had six months of full time paid experience in technical radio work; or a one year residence vocational course in electricity or radio repair work; or, a six months resident technical course in a radio school; or, satisfactory completion of one year of college physics which must include electrical laboratory; or, a United States sponsored Engineering Defense Training Course in telephone or radio work; or, satisfactory completion of Mechanic Learner (Radio) course15.
The program was open to both men and women. There were 500 trainees including one from St. Augustine. Over $700,000 was pumped by the government into the program.
Death of Miss Evelyn Hamblen
On September 17, 1943 Evelyn Hamblen died in her sleep. Miss Hamblen was a teacher in the local public schools for many years. She started teaching in the rural areas and then moved to the Aviles school. When Orange Street opened she taught English and Latin. She was also the Assistant Principal at various times. She was a St. Johns County School Board member and later became the Chairperson.
World War II Guard Casualties
Several Men from St. Johns County/St. Augustine were casualties in the Second World War from the Florida National Guard.: Horace H. Adams, Sergeant was killed in Hebecrevow, France; John P. Browning, Sergeant, Holland; James H. Christopher, Private, Philippine Islands; Russell E. Hall, 1st Lieutenant, Veghel, Holland; William C. Golden, 1st Lieutenant, Bulgaria; Francis M. Herring, Sergeant Saales, France; George M. Nettles, Sergeant, France; Jere F. Palmes, Captain, Germany;
Florida Memorial
In 1945 Florida Memorial College had it first graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Airport
In May 1946 the airport was returned to the city. For a while we had air postal service and two passenger airlines.
Lightner Museum
January 1, 1948 the Lightner Museum of Hobbies was opened in the old Alcazar Hotel by Otto Lightner. The Board of Trustees consisted of Mayor Frank Harrold, Frank J. Tart, and Judge David R. Dunham. Herbert J. Wolfe and C. L. Beals were appointed for life. Otto C. Lightner died on June 9, 1950. Services were held in St. Augustine at the Craig Funeral Home. Lightner is buried today in the courtyard of the old Alcazar Hotel.
Snow
February 1951 a two-inch snowfall hit St. Augustine. This event was so rare as to make the history books.
Florida Memorial Accreditation
In 1951 Florida Memorial College was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and it was also approved by the Florida State Department of Education.
Death of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
December 14, 1953 Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings died at Flagler Hospital. She was the author of Cross Creek and The Yearling. For a time she lived in Castle Warden which she and her husband, Norton Baskin transformed into a hotel. Later they lived at Crescent Beach.
Gary Cooper
1951 Gary Cooper came to St. Augustine to star in the movie Distant Drums. The movie is about the Seminole Indian War of the 1840s. However, in this movie Gary Cooper blew up the Castillo as a haven of arms dealers. The movie is located in south Florida. Anyway, it’s the only place you’ll ever see the old Castillo being blown up.
More Florida Memorial
In 1954 Florida Memorial College obtained membership in the Association of American Colleges and the American Council on Education.
In 1958 the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors was organized at Florida Memorial College. Dr. Leslie E. Hartley was the president. Dr. William C. Lee, secretary-treasurer; Dr. R. Edward Townsend, chaplain.
Creation of Richard J. Murray High School
March 21, 1955 Richard J. Murray High School opened. It was the second black high school. Richard J. Murray was the first principal. Murray was principal until 1970. Mr. Murray knew all the families that attended the school. (Other principals include: Mr. A Malcolm Jones, Jim Smeland, Carolyn Lucas, Bernard Scott and Tyrone Ramsey.
Palm Valley Gets its School
The Ponte Vedra-Palm Valley Elementary school opened in the fall of 1959 on land donated by Eunice Pitt Odom. The school started with 127 students with Mrs. Merkin Purcell as principal. It started with 6 classrooms.
