The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-29
Wrecking of Old Methodist
Church Building Re
moves Landmark.
IT ALSO RECALLS SOME FACTS
OF THE EFFORTS OF THE CON-
cREGATGoN TO PROCURE A
cHURcH-A NEGRO WORKMAN
FELL FROM STEEPLE IN 1892
AND SUFFERED NO INJURY.

Speaking for Pensacola real estate,
its pretty much to the good just now,
isn't Il?
Had you noticed it? And has il oc-
Cured to you, that even before the
boom came on and things began NOV
ing generally, that the local variety
of real estate had already formed a
habit of nearly doubling itself in
value every year at least for the past
quarter century and more?
Let's figure it out.
In the year 1882, according to au-
thentic information, the site of t1e
new San Carlos hotel, until recently
, the site of the old Palafox Street
Methodist church, was secured by the
Methodists on a trade, by which its
owner at that time, Colonel G. =.
Yonge, received in exchange an OLD
church building located on Tarragona
street, valued at $1,000, and the sum
OF 800 Ito boot"
In the wear 1908, or just about six
months ago. the same site was pur-
chased by the hotel company for the
sum of $4,000, or at an incr
amounting TO 46 IA times that which
was paid for the selfsame land in st
&c years before. Following up the cal
cuiation. We may easily see that the
land has nearly doubled itself in val
ue each of the Intervening years, the
exact proportion having been LA
times per year.
Pretty good record for PensacolS.
isn't it?
Well, we guess yes.
Some Ancient History.
Although the church was commenc-
HSi in 1882, it did not reach any salts
Factory stage of completion until dur
Ing the year 1887.
The trade which had made IL pos
Sible for the congregation to own the
Important site on Palafox street had
been effected by Rev. G. B. Dubose,
Eho died soon after, during the cpl
Hemic which broke out In Pensacola
In the year of 's2. Tt became an up
hill struggle in those days to secure
funds for the completion OF the
church. and for long time the serV-
ices were necessarily held in what
was to be in later years, the basement
of the building. Plans changed many
times during this period, and in tear
sng down the walls, several strata of
different kinds of brick have been dis
covered.
When the building was finally com
pleted and occupied by the zcOngrega-
ton it was looked upon as a great
credit to Pensacola and considered
DnS OF the HnSSL DuiiuiA5S N tho CITY
which it undoubtedly was at that
time. The congregation, as well as
all residents. little dreamed at that
time that within the comparatively
short space of time Of 26 years the
building would be demolished 70
make room for 3 half million dollar
hotel building.
When the church was still in con
struction, a negro by the name OF
Matthew Stewart. who was working
on the steeple, fell to the ground be-
low, striking on his head He failed
10 sustain injury, strange TO say
however, and is at present in the EN-
ploy of Jas. McF4ugh, as sound as
ever,
Bought of Investment Company.
TIE old building, which is of no val
ne, but in reality an expense and hin
dranee in that its establishment Is
necessary before the actual work o.
building the new half million dollal
hotel is commenced, was purchased
along with the site, the entire sun
received By fits owners, the Pensacola
Investment company, being $4,000
In each case an old building figured
In the exchange.
Twenty-six years ago the pTesen
site sold for 800 and an old building
and last year the cash price was SO
np0, with the building reckoned onl,
as an item OF expense.