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Univ. Of Ill. Library 951 3983
Oak Street UNCLASSIFIED
Saint Augustine Saint Johns County, Flonda, Illustrated
Pictorial Edition of the St. Augustine Evening Record
Price 15 cents
A. W. CORBETT
The Square Deal Grocer Main Store and Headquarters at 155 King Street
BRANCH STORES 174 Bridge Street and San Marco Avenue
A SQUARE DEAL OUR MOTTO
ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
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GREENLEAF& CROSBY JEWELERS
'SUNNY SOUTH SOUVENIRS' 17 ALCAZAR DIRECTLY OPPOSITE HOTEL PONCE DE LEON
Branches at Jacksonville, Palm Beach and Miami. Florida, and Hot Springs, Va.
GREENLEAF & CROSBY COMPANY
Jewelers, Gem Merchants, Importers of European Novelties, and Makers of Unique Souvenirs of the Sunny South
Shop 17 and 19 Alcazar Court Directly opposite Hotel Ponce de Leon
Visitors Cordially Welcome
Real Estate and Insurance Agency
EUGENE L. BARNES
· Phone 75 . 212 St. George Street
REAL ESTATE
EXCLUSIVE AGENT for some of the best property in the city.
Large list of desirable property for sale.
Rents collected, unfurnished houses for rent. FURNISHED houses for rent during winter season. Loans negotiated.
Money to loan upon city property. Non-resident property cared for.
INSURANCE
I represent 22 old line Fire Insurance Com- panies, time tried and fire tested-nothing better on earth.
My facilities for handling this line of business is second to none.
Also represent Mutual Life of N. Y., Fidelity & Casualty Co. of N. Y., and U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. of Md.
A perusal of my list of companies is most convincing.
Remember, I'm the Square Dealer
ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
The Ancient City
BY OSCAR B. SMITH
O lovely St. Augustine, thon art sublime, Thy glories extending through ages of time! Men love thee intensely as centuries roll, For thon hast true feeling, a sentient sonl.
Dear Sweetheart, thy beauties do ever increase, Thy mild golden sunshine insures rest and peace; Thine equable clime so invariably sweet, Brings mortals a pleasure quite boundless, complete.
Thy feet the proud Ocean in rapture doth kiss, Its waves sing thy praises ecstatic with bliss, The mocking bird warbles for thee his sweet notes While perfume of orange blooms over thee floats.
Men wandered afar in the years that are flown, And many famed places have claimed as their own, But few have attained such unmeasured delight, Such health and content as thou givest by right.
Oh, charming St. Augustine! may heaven send That smiles, aye so cheerful, the whole world befriend; Be it thine to attract all Earth's children who roam And promise them ever glad welcome and home.
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
THE ANCIENT CITY, FROM THE BAY
St. Augustine, the City of Promise
Known to all the world as a fash- ionable winter resort, St. Augustine is still to a great extent a closed book even to many who have wintered for years within its limits. Its history, old relics and attractions have been sub- jects for writers, poets and painters, but the inner life of the old city is but
little known except to its residents. Famed for its antiquity and beauty the Ancient City has not been featured as a city of great pos- sibilities. Known as the greatest winter resort in the United States, St. Augustine has not been presented as an ideal residence city at all seasons of the year. Pictured as the winter playground of the wealthy and fashionable, this city has not been portrayed as a resort with accommodations easily within the reach of people of moderate means.
St. Augustine is the county seat of St. Johns county, one of the richest agricultural sections in the country. It is the healthiest city in the United States. It has a miost equable climate and the summers are as delightful as the winters are pleasant. It gives as much if not more value in accommodations and service for the money than any other city in the country. The person of lim- itcd means may live in luxury here without serious injury to bank account. The question of expenditure depends entirely upon the disposition and purse of the visitor. Excellent accommoda- tions may be procured from one dollar per day upwards. Com- fortable dwellings are offered at a nominal rental, while accom- modations for light housekeeping are much lower in price than in any of the large cities. While real property has a stable value, prices are very moderate and persons of small income can well afford to buy or build a home here. Again, St. Augustine offers far more in return than the average city, inasmuch as the numer- ous attractions for the wealthy classes arc open to all.
Catering as this city does to a wealthy and fashionable element `jt naturally is maintained on a high plane. It enjoys the conven- iences and pleasures of a great city. It offers a variety of enter tainment to be found in few places in the world and to these are added the natural advantages which supply an inexhaustible source of interesting pleasure. Tourists, homeseckers and winter visitors will find a cordial welcome in St. Augustine, and in addi- tion all that makes life brighter. Improved health, a perfect cli- mate, a fertile soil, boating, fishing, riding, driving, motoring, a
never-ending list of ancient relics to explore, splendid schools for their children, in fact all that the heart can desire.
St. Augustine is situated in latitude 291/2 degrees north, longitude 81/2 de- grees west, and is thirty-five miles south of Jacksonville, the metropolis of the State. It is within easy reach of Chi- cago, St. Louis, New York and the great centers of population, trains mak- ing the trip from New York in 26 hours · and from Chicago in 33 hours. Owing to its close proximity to Jack- sonville, the city enjoys practically the transportation facilitics of that city, which boasts of railroad connection with the entire coun- try and steamship lines operating to New York.
Situated on the beautiful Matanzas bay, at an elevation of ten feet above sea level, with the broad Atlantic a mile away St. Augustine enjoys all of the advantages and pleasures of a coast city, with none of the drawbacks, as none of the undesirable ele- ment that frequents shipping centers is found here. The bay front is one of the beauty spots of the city. Another great advantage held by St. Augustine is its location at the northern terminus of the Florida Coast Line Canal, which extends to Biscayne bay, giving an island waterway nearly 400 miles in length. The canal will be extended to Jacksonville, giving this city another and a very desirable route to the State metropolis. In connection with the location of the city may be mentioned the splendid beaches which are reached by trolley car.
Without doubt the healthfulness of St. Augustine is due to its location. This city, according to United States Government statistics is the most healthful in the country, and according to the last report of the State Commissioner of Agriculture has the smallest death rate of any city in the State. The report applies to the entire county in which the mortality is but one to the thousand. The abundant supply of pure artesian water no doubt contributes to the health of the community. The city is a peninsula, bounded on the east and south by Matanzas bay and on the west by the San Sebastian river, a tidewater stream.
St. Augustine, as every school boy knows, is the oklest city in the United States, being founded in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Avilles. Landing here on the day dedicated to St. Augustine, he named the place in honor of this saint. Of all the places passed along the coast, none so impressed the Spanish explorer so favor-
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
Photo by Harris
PICTURESQUE ROADWAY ON ANASTASIA ISLAND, LEADING FROM ELECTRIC CAR LINE
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
ably, and he took possession of the Indian Village Selooe, which formerly occupied the site of this delightful and quaint old city. The history of St. Augustine is familiar to all and only a brief sketch will be attempted here. It has been occupied by Spanish, English and Americans, and bears the imprint of its various occu- pants, making it one of the most interesting cities in the Western world. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to set foot on its shores, and the halo of romance which is interwoven with the famous old knight's search for the fountain of youth still clings to the history of the old town.
Old Fort Marion, formerly Fort San Marco, still frowns on the beau- tiful little city, a page from the early history of St. Augustine. On every hand the visitor will find some relic of a bygone age to rivet his atten- tion. Slumbering through the cen- turies amid its orange groves and flowering gardens, St. Augustine was awakened a quarter of a century ago to new life. Direct railroad connection with Jack- sonville supplanted the picturesque, if somewhat tedious trip via Tocoi and the St. Johns river. The life-giving climate, and nat- ural beauty of the place came into prominence immediately after the old town was rendered accessible to the outside world and the few hundred pioneer winter visitors were followed by thou- sands. Mr. Henry M. Flagler came on the scene shortly after the completion of the railroad to Jacksonville and invested millions in beautifying the city and building his magnificent hotels, which have become world renowned. The fame of St. Augustine spread over the civilized world and in addition to those who came to renew their lease on life flocked the wealth and fashion of the great cities. Pleasure seekers found here an ideal winter play- ground, the business man found a place for relaxation and pro- teges of fashion found congenial company and environments and all found the fountain of youth in the perpetual sunshine and balmy air.
To-day St. Augustine is up-to-date in every respect. The streets of the city are paved with vitrified brick and asphalt ; electric lights illuminate the city, an electric car line connects the city with the magnificent beach of Anastasia island, and extends five miles, paralleling the ocean; electric cars operate in the city and the system, tapping all of the suburbs, is in the finishing stages of com- pletion. One of the finest gas plants in the State serves the city with fuel and illuminating gas. The city owns its water plant, which is not surpassed by any city in the country. Artesian wells are the sources of water supply, and the water is free from all impurities. The city has a very efficient paid fire department. A splendid pub- lic library is open to visitors as well as residents. Parks are scattered over the city at convenient points and the mild climate permits one to enjoy them every month in the year. Beautiful driveways extend from the city for miles, while in the ocean beach nature provides a driving. or automobile course such as the ingen- uity of man car not rival. Three hundred feet in width, and as hard and smooth as polished marble it is not to be compared with the handicraft of man. This beach may be reached by trolley, or by a drive through a beautiful woodland.
A power boat club has just been organized here and has applied for admission into the National Association. Every courtesy will be extended to visiting boatmen by members of the club, and visitors in general will be extended many privileges. The club will this winter build a recreation pier which will be opened to the public as soon as finished.
Service taken into consideration, accommodations in St. Augus- tine are not surpassed anywhere in the country for the prices charged. Visitors can curtail expenditures to accommodate their pocketbooks. Palatial hotels cater to a class who do not hesitate at rates commensurate with the luxury offered. Others find plain, but excellent fare, with clean, inviting sleeping rooms at a dollar a day in the boarding houses. Rates range from five to seven dollars per week at the boarding houses, to $5 or $50 per day, ac cording to accommodations and service, at the magnificent hostel
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ANASTASIA LIGHT HOUSE. OPPOSITE THE CITY
WINTER HOME OF MR. THOMAS LAWTON KING STREET
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
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Saint Augustine, Saint John County, Florida Illustrated.
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
ries. Between these are hotels charging $4, $3, $2.50, $2.00 and $1.50 per day. The cuisine at the higher priced of these last men- tioned houses is the very finest. The houses are steam heated, have suites with baths attached, are equipped with elevators, lighted by electricity, and in fact offer all that is to be found in the pretentious hotels of the large cities. Even at $2.50 per day the visitor can secure nearly all of the luxuries mentioned. At $2.00 and $1.50 per day the visitor will find delightful rooms and excellent table in hotels that are models of neatness and comfort. Hot and cold baths are included, electric or gas light, while the public rooms are sumptuously furnished.
Those who prefer the privacy which is impossible in hotels or boarding houses may rent rooms, furnished or unfurnished, bed rooms or rooms furnished for light housekeeping. Again, if their means permit, they may rent a cottage or a pretentious winter resi- dence. As in the case of the hotels, prices range widely in renting rooms or dwellings, all depending on the character of the accom- modations. Furnished dwellings may be rented for the season ( five or six months) from $300 to $1,800. Unfurnished houses, accord- ing to location and improvements may be rented as low as $10 per month for the season and up to $50 per month. St. Augustine is well supplied with dwellings suitable for renting to visitors. The majority of these dwellings are in desirable locations and are equipped with baths, lighted by gas or electricity and comfortably furnished.
People who prefer to keep house will find splendid markets here. All seasonable fruits and vegetables are to be found, and as veg- etables grow luxuriantly in this section during the winter the mar- ket is always well supplied. Western meats are carried; also game, poultry, etc. Prices are moderate and thousands of families who labor under the erroneous impression that a winter in Florida is beyond their means would find that it is less expensive than re- maining in their Northern homes.
Provisions are no higher in St. Augustine than elsewhere, and the assertion can be made without fear of contradiction that the family of moderate means can save money by wintering in Florida. The great saving in fuel, winter apparel, doctor's bills, etc., will more than compensate for the cost of transportation, and living expenses, as has been stated, are no higher than in Northern cities and towns.
At hotels special rates are offered family parties and season guests, so the daily rate must not be accepted as the minimum.
Rental of dwellings vary with size, appointments and location. Furnished cottages, provided with baths, modern improvements, etc., and containing from five to seven rooms may be rented for $300 for the season. More pretentious dwellings may command rentals as high as $1,800 for the season.
Rooms for light housekeeping are available from $3 per week upward, and furnished rooms may be rented from $2 per week up. Probably no city of proportionate size in the country has so wide a range of accommodations.
Servants may be hired from $10 to $15 per month, and in St. Augustine they are plentiful and easily procured.
While St. Augustine has much in inducements to offer the transient and season visitors it has more to offer the permanent resident. As a residence city St. Augustine has no superior. Com- bining all of the virtues of an up-to-date city it does not suffer from the roar, grind and grime of the average manufacturing center. It is exceptionally fortunate in being peopled by a cultured and con genial population. It is favored by a climate unsurpassed in any part of the world, extremes of heat in summer, or cold in winter being unknown, as the table of temperatures in this issue will show. In summer, even when the mercury climbs, as it occasionally does, into the nineties, a refreshing breeze from the ocean tempers the heat and no suffering results. Prostrations or sunstrokes are un- known here, although nearly all of the building is done during the summer, and workmen are exposed to the sun the entire day.
Very desirable building lots may be purchased at from $500 to $5,000. Comfortable cottages may be built from $1,200 to $2.500, according to size. Of course there is no limit to the cost if the
ORANGE STREET, LOOKING WEST
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RESIDENCE OF L. A. COLEE, BRIDGE STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE
DIGGING POTATOES ON FARM OF F. R. ALLEN AT HASTINGS
HOTEL ALCAZAR
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
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owner desires to exceed the figures mentioned. Homes may be rented by the year from $10 per month up, and a very comfortable dwelling can be rented for $15 per month. There is, however, a pleasure in owning a home in this city, where the opportunities for beautifying it are limitless, owing to the luxuriance with which ornamental plants grow. Vegetables and fruits are grown here every month of the year, offering pleasant and profitable pastime in the residential grounds.
Diversity of amusement and recreation are other features that should appeal to the person contemplating a change of home. The ocean and salt water streams, adjacent to St. Augustine, offer the best fishing, finest surf bathing and boating to be found anywhere. The vast stretches of woods offer splendid hunting. Very impor- tant among the advantages of St. Augustine are its numerous splendid churches and excellent schools. Of the former the prin- cipal denominations are represented in the Roman Catholic, Episco- pal, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist houses of worship. Each of these churches has its societies in which the ladies of the re- spective congregations take a keen and active interest.
Public schools are maintained throughout the county and the high school in St. Augustine is equal to the best, the higher branches being taught by a large staff of competent teachers. St. Joseph's Academy, taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph, is one of the finest educational institutions in the State and numbers among its pupil- young ladies from distant and nearby States.
MAGNIFICENT STORES
In connection with its other advan- tages St. Augustine boasts of magnifi- cent stores covering every line of busi- ness and carrying enormous stocks of goods. To the permanent business es- tablishments are added during the win- ter season dozens of transient stores, carrying lines of oriental goods, jew- elry, silks, curios and bric-a-brac. The permanent stores dealing in staple goods are a credit to the city and nearly everything to be obtained in large cities can be found among the stocks here. The mercantile field here is too well covered to offer inducement to merchants to enter in competi- tion with established houses. St. Augustine is an ideal home for those having a regular income, or for those unable to withstand the rigorous northern winters. It offers inducements to those having capital to invest and is an ideal location for establishing cigar factories. Several cigar factories in operation here now have
built up a flourishing business. There is an excellent opening for a furniture factory, as the hard woods of the forest are at hand and a local factory would find ready sale at home for its products. having the great advantage of saving in freight. This section of Florida has much to offer to the developer and there are numerous fields in which a small capital can be used to great advantage and profit. Mattress making on a large scale is an industry that would succeed from the start and find a large home market.
The woods have inexhaustible supplies of material that genius and capital can turn to gold. Persons desiring to engage in some profitable pursuit here will find wealth in the work of developing the natural resources and not in opening a store. Those who have a competence will find in St. Augustine ideal conditions for a permanent home. Those who desire to get away from the snow, ice and slush of the northern winters can winter in the Ancient City as cheap as they can at home and enjoy in addition to the genial clime pleasures that their home city or lowns do not afford.
PARKS
The Plaza, in the center of the city: Elks Park, on Marine and Bay street>: Osceola Park, Charlotte street, Fort Reservation ; Postoffice Park, opposite Ponce de Leon Holel.
CHILDREN'S DELIGHT - BURROS
". RESTHAVEN." A DELIGHTFUL RETREAT FOR CONVALESCENTS
SAW FISH PART OF A DAY'S CATCH AT ST. AUGUSTINE
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
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OLD SLAVE MARKET
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Fort Marion-The Old Spanish fort, built of coquina. Begun 1565 as San Juan de Pino by Indian slaves; finished as Fort San Marcos in 1736; and changed to Fort Marion in 1825. Covers five acres.
Old City Gates-Built in 1804. Located at head of St. George street. These pillars are built of coquina.
The Sea Wall-Begun in 1690; finished by the United States Goverment in 1835-36; cost $100,000.
Cathedral - Completed by the Spanish in 1791; burned in 1887; re- built the following year, the old walls remaining.
St. Francis Barracks - At south end of Sea Wall; an old Fran- ciscan monastery; built about 1740.
Anastasia Island-Lighthouse and South Beach, old coquina quarries, jetties, etc., reached by new bridge from foot of King street.
Cathedral-Completed by the Spanish in 1791; burned in 1887: rebuilt the following year, the old walls remaining.
St. Francis Barracks-At south end of Sea Wall; an old Franciscan monastery ; built about 1740.
Anastasia Island-Lighthouse and South Beach, old coquina quarries, jetties, etc., reached by new bridge from foot of King street.
Dade Monument-In Barracks' Cemetery. Major Dade and his entire command, 110 men, were massacred by the Indians during the Seminole War, in 1835.
Old Slave Market-In the Plaza, coquina pillars, brick flooring. Spanish Monument-In Plaza, commemorating the new Span- ish Constitution of 1812.
Narrow Streets with Overhanging Balconies-Eastern part of city, between Fort and Barracks.
The title of the oldest house' is in dispute, several very old buildings claiming the honor. All are open to the inspection of visitors.
Many visitors find the old cemeteries interesting. The old Spanish Cemetery, on Ocean street, contains the ruins of the first Catholic Chapel. The old Protestant Cemetery, near the City Gates, and the Catholic Cemetery, on Cordova street, also contain ancient tombs.
A SUMMER RESORT
How often have we heard the remark: "You must fairly bake in Florida in the summer months!" This is a common error among peo- ple who have never summered in the Peninsular State. They judge that the same wide difference in tem- perature between the Northern States and Florida which exists in the winter prevails also in the summer. As a matter of fact, Florida has the most delightful summer climate of any state in the Union. The torrid heat which prostrates the North in the summer is unknown in Florida. Lapped by the waves of the Atlantic ocean on the eastern shore and by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the west Florida is contin- nally fanned by cooling breezes. The days are bright and pleasant and the nights delightfully cool. Even in mid-summer a cover- ing is comfortable at night and sleep is refreshing. It is unnec- essary to draw attention to the palpitating heat of the North in the summer, where the days are marked by sunstroke and pros- trations and the nights are periods of torture. In contrast to the summer climate of the North Florida is an ideal summer resort, and this is more especially true of St. Augustine. Not only is the delightful climate a recommendation for St. Augustine in summer, but all of the pleasures which the sea coast afford are offered. Surf bathing, boating, fishing, are among the summer attractions. The
BEARING ORANGE TREE, DR. YOUNG'S GROVE. ANASTASIA ISLAND
DR. GARNETT'S HOME SAN MARCO AVENUE
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
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THE PLAZA AND CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL
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ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, ILLUSTRATED.
beaches opposite the city can be reached in a few minutes by trol- ley, bicycle, carriage, automobile or foot. The beaches stretch away for miles as hard and smooth as a floor and offer a matchless course for driving, riding or automobiling, along the edge of the vast ex- panse of waters, The numerous streams abound in fish, crustaceans and shellfish, which may be gathered for the trouble, or, rather, pleasure of catching. In the summer months accommodations are abundant and at very moderate rates. In the summer the residents of the city have the time to enjoy life, and picnics, excursions, dances, bathing parties and social and outdoor entertainments of every kind enliven the duller season. These enjoyments are open to visitors, who are invariably given a cordial welcome.
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