The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-04-25
OUR ANCIENT CITY.
"A GLIMPSE OF OLD ST. AUGUST
INE, FLORIDA
AND OF THE VERY AGED FORT.
The Hotels Prominent Feature Of the
Town.-A Headquarters for Winter
Northern Tourists.-Its
Gaiety and Activity.
AND OF THE VERY AGED FORT.
Especial Correspondence

L
st. Augustine is quaint old Spanish
town, and claims the honor of being the
Oldest town in the United States, hav-
ing been settled by the Spaniards about
1868, preceding by many years either
jamestown, Va, or Plymouth, Mass.
1t was captured by the French and re-
captured by the Spaniards several times
and the garrisons put to the sword, and
then in turn captured by the English
colOnists of Georgia, and Sir Francis
Drake, the renowned navigator, once
gave the town a call and carried off a
large quantity of plumber, and for more
than century the town never seemed
secure to any nationality.
Here, side by side, may be seen
standing the quaint old Spanish build
ing, with It's overhanging balcony, dat
ing back into the early part of the last
century, and the modern building just
finished, "with all the modern i'm
provements, marrow streets in Euro
pean ancient style. with no sidewalks
front of the buildings "a plain surface,
with few right angled openings for
doors and windows, as destitute OF Or
namentatiOn as a square hole in dry
goods box. The grim old fortress, a.
solemn looking old Spanish fort, erected
two centuries ago, and commanding the
harbor, is a conspicuous object in front
of the town. 1t was built at date
much earlier, and rebuilt, and on this
fortress, it is claimed, was performed
the first negro slave labor within the
United States in 1865.
/ nd
several spots are pointed out where
| they were struck with cannon shot
more than $50 years ago. Its original
name was Fort San Marco; since it's
transfer to the United States it has been
changed to Fort Marion. It requires
l 900 men and 100 guns to garrison and
equip it thoroughly. The ancient stone
parts of the gates of the city walls are
still standing in state of good pres
ervation, and are pointed to with pride
by the people as one of their old land
marks.
The population of the city is claimed
to be 5000, which is greatly increased
during the winter by the great influx
of northern tourists. 1t is the most
noted place Of winter resort in the
|
ably visited by a greater number of
strangers than any other town in the
state, many invalids remaining through
the summer.
1t is decidedly city of hotels. The
Ponce de Leon, it is claimed, is not
eclipsed by any hotel in the world
contains 400 guest rooms, and was
built at a cost of $2,5O0,OOO. 1t is
opened about the last of December and
closed early in April, ahd>is fairly pat
ronized at SIS per day, but the invest
ment cannot pay large dividend. The
COrdOva, Alcazar, San Marco, Mag
nolia, St. George, and half dozen 9TH
ers, would be prominent in city of
$4,000 population.
During the winter everything is gay
and active. At the close of the season
the great hotels close, the numerous
bazaars aud curiosity shops close their
doors also, and great numbers of trad
ers who come here for the winter only,
pack their goods and return to the
north, and the whole town cOllapses.
We're it not for tourists, Florida would
be lonely state during the winter.
Large sums of money are disbursed and
the people realize it. Although there
have been many tourists in the state, it
| is said that few of the large hotels have
more than paid running expenses,
while not a few have fallen behind.
Their appearance has indicated it.
With rates 81 to So per day, people
make short stops, and with railroad
| fare four to five cents per mile, thev
make short journeys. The former may
be obviated by seeking cheaper hotels
and boarding houses, and they are
numerous and respectable, but the rail-
road fare seems to be here to stay.
Among prominent objects of the city
one of note must not be omitted 1t is
the old slave market on the plaza. or
public square. The floor IS platform
of brick raised foot above the ground
with shed-like open structure, the
roof supported by brick columns, and
about fifty feet in length. 1t is one of
the relics of past ages when the negro
was a chattel.
1t is claimed that this town contains
the oldest building in the United
States, but that claim is not easily veri-
fed. The structures of the early colo
nists were frail and have long since dis
appeared and early records with them.
In the New England states are build
ings known to be 200 years old and up
wards. One house in Norwich, Conn.,,
bears tablet with 1866 on it.
An old Spanish monument and con-
| fedeTate monument adorn the plaza,
and the building occupied by the GUS
| tom house and postofice was once the
residence of a Spanish governor.
| Orange blossoms, SO prominent at this
season of the year, are conspicuous by
| their absence. The furnishing orange
groves of last season are burnt and dry.
Scarcely sprout or leaf is to be seen.
The freeze of Feb. s completed the
destruction commenced Dec. %, and
J and hundreds who were in affluent cir