REMEMBERING OLD TOWN

A project for us all.

 

Link to Presentation at General Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society – October 12, 2009

 

Our knowledge of Old Town between 1821 and 1990 is very sparse, and we have many unanswered questions including:

  • What happened in Old Town Fernandina when many of its residents moved away to the new Fernandina location in the 1850’s?
  • What damage did the 1898 Category 4 hurricane that came ashore in Brunswick Georgia do to Old Town?
  • 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. What stories do they tell?
  • Did you attend the school in Old Town?
  • Did you attend church in Old Town, at either the Catholic Church, or the Episcopal Church that were here?

 

The aim of the project ‘Remembering Old Town’ is to fill in as many missing pieces as possible from the attics and memories of people who grew up here, or who had family here. We are looking for photos (to scan and return), for maps, for remembrances. We’d love to sit down with you and tape-record your thoughts.

 

Initially, please contact Mike Harrison (Tel: 904.491.1259; email: mike@oldtownfernandina.org). We’ll take it from there.

 

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Here are a couple of things to get your memories awoken:

       

 

  • There was a Pilot’s lookout tower at Estrada/San Fernando.  This was the view from it looking south towards the port.

 

Photos courtesy of Amelia Island Museum of History.
  • The Fernandina Beach library has a copy of the 1900 City Directory, showing the names, addresses and occupations of citizens of more than 20 years of age. I have made an extract of the information that relates to Old Town residents in 1900. Do you recognize any of the names?
  • The Florida Maritime Exchange website has a list of Pilots from 1837: http://www.portoffernandinamaritimeexchange.org/services_pilotsHist.html. Many of these pilots lived in Old Town, and the locations of there homes are detailed in the article. Do you recognize any of the names

 

 

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