The Neshoba Democrat. (Philadelphia, Miss.) 1881-current, 1921-04-21
THE OLDEST HOUSE
and FORT MARION
MRS. RAND WRITES ABOUT OLDEST HOUSE
LNp FORT IN U. S.k

While In st. Augustine Florida we
had the rare pleasure OF visiting the
Oldest relics In the United States, the
Oldest House and Fort Marion.
The Oldest House is the Oldest
building in this country. 1t was used
by the Monks who came over to st.
Augustine with Pedro Menendez In
1865. In 1890 a large Monastery was
erected for the Monks, and from that
time until 1890 this old house was
used as residence. In 1890 1T was
opened for visitors who were inter-
ested In it's history. On November
15, 1918 the Oldest House was pur-
chased by the Historical Society and
Institute of Science and will be pre-
served thru the future generations.
The, walls OF the house are made
OF coquina, shell rock substance,
found In Florida, and used extensive
ly for building purposes.
On the entrance door leading from
the street, hangs solid brass knock
er which hung on the door OF the
palace of Juan Ponce de Leon In Sc
villa, Spain at the time OF his discoy-
cry OF Florida, and was brought to
this country in 1891 by member OF
the Historical Society.
| On entering the Oldest House one
finds in the small reception hall a
collection of pictures, post cards and
other souvenirs OF ST. Augustine:
The revenue obtained from the sale
of these articles goes toward the up
keep OF the building.
| A young lady acted as our guide,
conducting us thru the rooms and
explaining the association and his
tory OF the collection of antiques
One couldn't begin to enumerate the
many interesting things seen, and so
among those that appealed to me
InDst strongly were the following: A
Masonic table given to Washington
by Lafayette, a child's bed and other
furniture used by Maria Theresa, the
mother OF Marie Antoinette, won
derful consol table which belonged
/ to Napoleon, q dressing table used
by one OF the khedives Of Egypt. and
a very beautiful collection OF china.
In one room saw rare and valuable
oil paintings OF the apostles, Mat
thew, Mark, Luke and j John. In q
small room on the first floor there Is
a collection OF war relics from the
recent World War which have been
gath cred together thru the efforts of
Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, who 10
now the president of the Historical
Society.
A large room on the upper floor
was used by the Monks as a chapel,
and smaller room at the rear for
sleeping quarters. These rooms are
now crowded with lovely pieces OF
old furniture.
| The grounds belonging to the
house are most beautiful. Ledving
the house by a side door, leading in
to the grounds, one comes to the old
wishing well, blessed by the Fran
ciscan Monks. We were told that
any wish made at this well would
surely come true, and, ofcourse, each
OF us made the wish dearest to our
hearts. The grounds are inclosed by
a high stone wall and are dotted
with a luxuriant growth Of flowers.
An attractive little summer house,
made OF shells gathered from the
waters edge, occupies the center OF
a square. which is formed by four
Marble Statues, each representing o
season of the year. The whole at
mosphere Of the place is one OF SEN
tlment and romance and one can
understand why 1t is visited by
thousands OF tourists each season. \
j THE present Fort Marion Is stu
Ependons structure OF coquina, built
under the direction Of the. Spaniards.
Work was begun in 1865 and the fort
was completed 81 years later at d
cost OF thirty million dollars. The
labor was done by prisoners from
Mexico and native Indians. Some OF
these prisoners labored until death,
and their children. born in bondage,
went on with the work TO compile
tion.
i The fort has four bastions, and
four connecting walls, called cur
tains. On three OF the bastions are
| sentry towers, and on the fourth is
watch tower, with O view OF both
I land and sea. The walls are IL feet
| thick at the base, nine at the top and
25 feet high. The inside walls are 9
fleet chick. The covering over the
lspace between the outer and inner
walls Is 40 feet wide and upoh It the