| Post Reconstruction in St. Augustine 1877-1885 ab urbe condita - 312 to 320 |
| Growth of the St. Johns County School System In 1879 Mill Creek School (full history)was started by the 4th Superintendent of Schools Thomas A. Pacetti . By 1881 the St. John's County School system was firmly established. Compromises had been made with the Catholic church and nuns were paid for teaching through county taxes. 25 schools had been established across the county by this time although not all of them were in operation in the 1881 school year. (List of teacher's names and a page from the account book). In 1882 it grows further. (See list of teachers and another page from the 1882 account book.). In 1883 the trustee list for the schools is included. 1884 marks the return of the American Missionary Association to St. Augustine. They will work as teachers at Public School #2. For most of the decade it will be Emma Caughey and Helen D. Barton. (List of teachers 1884-1885) John Papino John Papino also served as town Marshall in 1885. He served as St. Augustine councilman from 1891-97, 1899-1901, 1902-1903. His shooting by the town marshall in a City Hall meeting (where the marshall was not charged) marks the end of reconstruction in St. Augustine. Communications The city becomes connected to the world-at-large with the telegraph, railroads, and finally in the 1880s the telephone. Presidential Visits Two U. S. Presidents take the St. Augustine tour. First U. S. Grant takes a tour of St. Augustine after leaving office. He's followed by President Chester Arthur. President Arthur is the first sitting president to visit St. Augustine. April 13, 1883 President Chester Arthur came by way of Jacksonville after completing a St. Johns River tour. He was greeted by a reception committee headed by General Fred Dent, brother-in-law of ex-President Ulysses S. Grant. He walked by foot about town. Later in company with Secretary Chandler and three ladies, he attended a Negro Methodist Church where the choir and congregation sang for more than an hour for him. In 1884, President Chester A. Arthur signed an appropriation for restoration and historic preservation of Fort Marion. The 1880's By the 1880s the population was 4535 for St. Johns County. There were only a few other towns in the county: Carterville, Fruit Cove, Switzerland, Matanzas, Moultrie, Orangedale, Picolata, Racy Point, Remington Park, and of course, St. Augustine. It had two railways: the St. John's Railway and the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Halifax River Railway. If one took the St. John's Railway to Tocoi they could take a ferry to West Tocoi and the Jackosnville, Tampa and Key West Railway. There were also steamers and stages. The newspapers consisted of The St. Augustine Press J. P. Whitney (established 1870), The Florida Press J. W. Whitney, editor (established 1873), St. John's Weekly, C. M. Cooper, editor (established 1879) and The Naturalist in Florida, a bimonthly with C. J. Maynard, editor (established 1884). The Bank of St. Augustine was the only bank, it was started by the capital of G. W. Gibbs and John T. Dismukes . Surprisingly besides the public schools there was a kindergarten school. The Newport of the South begins before the Flagler Era with Franklin W. Smith, Kingsland, Lorrillard, Edgar, Howard, Alexander Wilson and others. Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church (Grace United Methodist) In 1881 George L Adkins owner of the Florida House decided to help start a Methodist Episcopal Church. The church started in the Government house with Rev. Samuel D. Payne as its first pastor. They first met in the black Methodist Church on St. George Street (this congregation would later become Trinity United Methodist Church located on Bridge Street today. The white Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as Olivet Methodist Episcopal and the building was located on King and Tolomato (now Cordova) in 1884. When Henry Flagler needed land for the Alcazar Hotel he purchased the Olivet Church and built in exchange Grace Methodist Episcopal Church (see picture) (located on 8 Carrera Street as Grace United Methodist Church today). The church opened its doors for worship on January 1, 1888. The new building was designed by Carrere and Hastings and erected by McGuire and McDonald. Founding of the St. Augustine Historical Society The St. Augustine Historical Society started in 1883 in the old Presbyterian manse on St. George Street. The original members included Dr. Milton Waldo, the Presbyterian minister, Dr. DeWitt Webb, and Charlie Johnson. The society was originally named The St. Augustine Institute of Science and Historical Society. Restoration of the Castillo In 1884 President Chester A. Arthur signed into law an appropriation of $5,000 for the restoration and preservation the the Castillo. More appropriations were made in 1888 and 1909. Fire Department In October 1885 the fire department was established. W. Milford Ingraham was the chief and . H. Dewell was the assistant chief. Flagler starts the subscription for more fire equipment and begins the PDL Steam Fire Engine Company with J. C. Tosbach foreman. An African-American fire company was organized with James Morris as foreman with a Mansfield fire engine. Apache Indians Come to Fort Marion (partial list of captives) In 1886 members of the Apache Nation were held at Fort Marion including one of the wives of Geronimo and son. Geronimo (autobiography) did NOT stay in St. Augustine. (picture en route)There were over 447 prisoners at the fort. The first child born at the fort was Geronimo's. His wife christened the child "Marion," (letters about Apache Indians) after the fort, and a silver tag reading "Marion Geronimo, September 13, 1886," always hung from the babe's wicker cradle. This medal was given by the War Department. It is located on the Apache reservation today at Mascalero Rez. Chihuahua's daughter was also born in St. Augustine and given the name "Coquina." His son was named "Osceola". With the Apaches came one African-American named "Indian Dick". He stayed when the Apaches left and changed his name to Dick Hicks. (Personal account of the Apaches and life at Fort Marion by an Apache Indian) Col. Pratt came to Fort Marion and chose 62 of the older Apache children to go to Carlisle. Included in this group was Asa Daklugie, the sons of Chatto (the scout who convinced Geronimo to surrender) and Geronimo's son, Chappo. 1/4 of the Apache children died in Carlisle. (Description of Cha-ja-la Dance held at Fort Marion). Chappo, himself, would later die at Mobile Bay and be buried in the National Cemetary there along with 12 others (including Larry Fun the cousin of Geronimo.) Go to Flagler Era. |
| See 1884 Sanborn Fire Maps of St. Augustine for a detailed street by street, building by building view. |
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| Geronimo, Chappo, Yahnozha and Fun |
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| President U. S. Grant - Library of Congress |
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| President Chester Arthur Library of Congress |