St. Augustine Survey, Part IV West Augustine and the subdivisions of Fort Moosa Gardens and Saratoga Lakes Prepared for City of St. Augustine St. Johns County, Florida by Meghan Powell, Historian Meagan Scott, Preservation Planner Sarah McDonald, Architectural Historian Patricia Davenport-Jacobs, MFA HP HK197193 June 2020 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC., A Terracon Company 7220 Financial Way, Suite 100 Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904)470-2200 St. Augustine Survey, Phase IV West Augustine & Fort Moosa Neighborhoods EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Environmental Services, Inc., a Terracon Company (ESI) of Jacksonville, Florida conducted an architectural survey of structures in St. Augustine, specifically the area known as West Augustine and the subdivisions of Fort Moosa Gardens and Saratoga Lakes, for the City of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida between November 2019 and June 2020. The survey was conducted under for the City of St. Augustine to fulfill requirements under a Historic Preservation Small-Matching Grant, grant number 20.4.sm.200.058, “St. Augustine Survey Part 4.” The objectives of the survey were to, at a minimum, record 600 combined original and updated resources using Florida Master Site File (FMSF) forms for all resources 45 years or older for planning purposes. ESI utilized the Historic Structure Form v5 and assessed the eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as well as assess their eligibility for contribution to a historic district. All work was intended to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended) implemented by 36 CRF 800 (Protection of Historic Properties), Chapter 267 F.S. and the minimum field methods, data analysis, and reporting standards embodied in the Florida Department of Historic Resources (FDHR) Historic Compliance Review Program (November 1990). All work also conformed to the professional guidelines set forth in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (48 FR 4416). Field survey methods complied with Chapter 1A-46 Florida Administrative Code. The architectural survey consisted of pedestrian investigation to field verify all historic resources, including architecture, objects, or linear resources (such as roads and railways), within the project area constructed in 1975 or earlier. Data from the St. Johns County Property Appraiser and the FMSF was collected and cross referenced to insure the accuracy of information and the correlation with respective buildings and developments. Research conducted at local and state repositories focused on the historical context of the project area. Initial estimates for the project included one thousand and thirteen (1,013) parcels which met the age criteria in the project area. In total, 887 historic resources were assessed through a desktop reconnaissance and pedestrian inspection, including two (2) statues, one (1) railroad, and (1) cemetery. Of the surveyed structures, ESI recorded a total of 795 resources using the FMSF form. Of those recorded, 325 resources were previously recorded and were updated; the remaining 468 resources were recorded for the first time. This survey resulted in the potential eligibility for six (6) National Register Historic District’s (NRHD) within the survey area; including 365 resources considered potentially eligible or contributing to a potential NRHD; 371 resources were considered ineligible or non-contributing structures; and fifty-seven (57) were considered to have insufficient information to determine their eligibility. In addition, ESI recommends further investigation into two areas that may be eligible for listing as a Historic Conservation District, as well as one (1) historic property that may be individually eligible from the NRHP. An electronic copy of project GIS data layers showing all surveyed resources is included with the final deliverables to the City of St. Augustine and the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. Final deliverables include both new and updated FMSF forms, maps, images, and all other associated data; a Survey Log Sheet and associated map; and a file geodatabase. An inventory of resources can be found in Appendix A of this report and the Survey Log Sheet and map can be found in Appendix B. An overall report map of the survey area can be found in Appendix C and Appendix D contains details on the city’s demolished structures within the project area. i St. Augustine Survey, Phase IV West Augustine & Fort Moosa Neighborhoods AKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was financed in part with the historic preservation grant assistance provided by the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission. This survey and subsequent report would not have been possible without essential feedback from city staff concerning the historic context as well as oversight on the recordation of historic resources with the FMSF. The consultant and authors would like to thank the City of St. Augustine Planning & Building Department and Historic Preservation Officer Jenny Wolfe and the St. Augustine Historical Society, especially Charles Tingley and Bob Nawrocki for their help, conversation, and extensive knowledge. The St. Augustine City Commission and the Historic Architectural Review Board should be commended as their tireless effort to promote and record St. Augustine’s history. The St. Johns County Property Appraiser and the Florida Master Site File staffs were invaluable, for providing baseline information for the project team to build upon. The team also would like to thank Virginia Savage McAlester, author of A Field Guide to American Houses and preservationist extraordinaire. The project team would like to thank the citizens of West Augustine and Fort Moosa neighborhoods for their appreciation of their neighborhood and desire to preserve and better their community. They permitted photographs and answered questions to the best of their ability. ESI hopes this survey will continue to provide helpful information for future historic preservation in the neighborhoods. ii St. Augustine Survey, Phase IV West Augustine & Fort Moosa Neighborhoods Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................... i AKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................. ii Table of Figures ......................................................................................................................................................................... v Table of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................................ vii INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 SURVEY CRITERIA & METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 2 The Importance of Historic Preservation ................................................................................................................. 2 Background Research and Previous Surveys .......................................................................................................... 3 Survey Criteria ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Survey Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 HISTORIC CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 1513-1783: Colonization and the American Revolution .................................................................................. 10 The region west of the San Sebastian River from 1763 to the 1874 ...................................................... 13 1821 – 1860: Territorial and Statehood Period ................................................................................................... 13 1861 – 1900: Civil War & the Flagler Era ............................................................................................................... 15 New Augustine, 1861 - 1900 ................................................................................................................................... 17 1901 – 1941: The Florida Land Boom and the Great Depression ................................................................ 18 New Augustine, 1900 – 1941 .................................................................................................................................. 19 1942 – 1959: World War II and the Aftermath .................................................................................................... 20 1960 – 1975: Contemporary St. Augustine & Civil Rights ............................................................................... 21 Specific Subdivision and Area Histories .................................................................................................................