Haunted St. Augustine and St. Johns County by Elizabeth Randall

I picked out several weird and odd books on St. Augustine that I wanted to read.  Luckily, I found many on the legendary town that were well done.

"Haunted St. Augustine and St. Johns County" by Elizabeth Randall is easily one of my favorite "Haunted" type of books to come around in some time.

For one thing, this book came out in 2013, so it is a pretty up to date volume.  Also, Randall takes a very fact based stand in her ghost book.  Sure, she interviews people who have worked at the sites, but there is a lot of researched history in this book.  She is very clear when she gives a legend, and she is also clear about the generous amount of specific names and dates she uses.  Additionally, unlike many similar books, she includes a large bibliography section in the back!

Elizabeth Randall covers one tragic event in St. Augustine in a more professional manor than most.  The death of two people in 1944 that is covered by probably every ghost tour in town is mentioned.  The author does cover some of the ghost sightings, but she focusses more on the known history of the location.  She discusses a thorough history of the site, given to her by an employee.  She also gives information from the coroner's report. 

Randall does let the reader know what she thinks about some of the sites trying to snag the many tourist dollars with their ghostly legends.  She is a bit critical of one location cashing in on a $25 per person ghost hunt. 

Elizabeth's way of thinking could easily help any traveler prioritize the stops they want to make while in town (while also thinking about their budget).  The above mentioned attraction can be admired from the outside.  You can walk by, take some nice photos and be happy.  You will have an extra $25 to spend at one of the exciting restaurants Ms. Randall mentions (one with an amazing and strange history, a resident ghost, AND that doesn't charge an admission fee).

I thought it was pretty interesting that the book has a chapter on the still unsolved murder covered extensively in the out of print book, "Bloody Sunset in St. Augustine."  It was good to see a recent mention of this case.

I read this book pretty quickly, as it is 120 pages.... BUT I felt like it was packed with very usable information.  You get a whole lot more for your money with this one.  I give it my highest recommendation.

The Pearl Shop- St. Augustine Florida

I wanted to quickly mention a cool little place we walked in to in St. Augustine, The Pearl Shop.

Getting a piece of jewelry is becoming a habit when we travel.  Finding something nice, yet affordable is part of the fun.

This little hidden away shop was a great find, and I just wanted to give them a quick endorsement as a favorite jewelry dealer in St. Augustine!

Oldest House in America, St. Augustine Florida

This undated postcard mentions on the back-

The old Spanish Mission Building on St. Francis Street is without a doubt the oldest building in America.  It was erected by the Monks of St. Francis who came to St. Augustine with Menendez and used by them as a Chapel until 1590.  It is now private property, open to the public as a historical museum.

Night View of Grady Bridge, Connecting St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida

This postcard was sent from Tampa in 1929!  A friend mentions to another friend in New York that the Bridge is 6 miles long!

Gandy Bridge, Between St. Petersburg and Tampa Florida

This undated postcard shows the Gandy Bridge, Six Miles Long, Spanning Tampa Bay Between St. Petersburg and Tampa Florida.

Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement in St. Augustine

On our tour of St. Augustine, our great guides pointed out several buildings with direct links to Martin Luther King Jr.- and the Civil Rights movement in the 60s.

The Woolworth's lunch counter where four African-American teens were denied service (and arrested) in 1963 is displayed at the current Wells Fargo.  This Wells Fargo is where the Woolworth's was located (the doors still have the Woolworth name on the door handles).  Here is a nice article about the display.


Our tour guides told us that when King was in town, he actually stayed in different houses each night for security reasons!  It was exciting seeing those homes!

Unfortunately, a very significant place in relating to the Civil Rights movement in St. Augustine is no longer there.  The Monson Lodge was destroyed and replaced in 2003 by a Hilton.

The tour guides and the town itself have done a great job of acknowledging this part of St. Augustine's past.

Old postcard of Fort Marion and Old City Gates in St. Augustine Florida

The back of this old, but undated postcard states-

The upper view shows Fort Marion.  This ancient fortress, on the Matanzas River, was originally built in 1565.  It was destroyed in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake.  The present fort was finished in 1756.
The lower view shows a section of the Old City Gates, all that now remains of the wall, which together with the moat, once protected the city on the North.  Built by the Spaniards in 1743.  Rebuilt in 1804.

Postcard of the Arch, Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida

Still on the topic of Castillo de San Marcos, the back of this undated postcard says-

This arch without a keystone, supported heavy guns during Spanish occupation.  Viewed by 150,000 visitors each year.

Old Fort Marion Arch and Stairway, St. Augustine, Florida

Here is another old postcard showing Castillo de San Marcos that was most likely published before 1942, when it was still called Fort Marion.

"Showing the ramp over which guns were transported to the terreplein.  In Spanish days there were no steps."

Hot Shot Oven, Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida

Here is another old postcard showing Castillo de San Marcos that was published before 1942, when it was still called Fort Marion.

"In this oven shot were heated to fire at wooden vessels.  At the rear may be seen bullet holes in wall where prisoners were executed."

1906 Postcard showing Castillo de San Marcos in Florida

This great postcard from St. Augustine was sent in 1906!  I removed the address from the front.  It shows Castillo de San Marcos.

Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida

On this trip to St. Augustine, we took the tour of Castillo de San Marcos!  Of course... I don't think I have ever heard anyone call it that.  I think it is generically called "The Fort".

If you are in St. Augustine, you see the Fort.  The thing is huge, and very visible from just about everywhere.

In fact, it is spectacular from the outside.  You can walk all around it from the outside- without buying a ticket.  One evening, after it had officially closed, we went over and had coffee on a bench near it, admiring the Fort, the Bridge, the water, and the city.  It was a very perfect moment.

Some have become too cozy with the Fort.  One of our tour guides told us that he has witnessed more than one relic hunter with a metal detector escorted away by the police.  This historic site is monitored closely.

I don't want to rehash the history of a site- check out the official National Park site for that- but it is more than three centuries old.  It has changed hands six times among the Spanish, British, the Confederacy, and the US government.  Each take over was peaceful.  Additionally, Castillo de San Marcos was used as a military prison to hold captured Native Americans during the Indian Wars in the West.

It is so much fun exploring an old structure like this.  And, like the other Forts we have visited lately, the National Park service is pretty generous about allowing access.  You can literally just walk around and investigate casually.

Oh, they also shoot cannons right outside of the structure too!  A short walk away, at the Fountain of Youth, they also fire cannons!  So, several times a day it seems a tourist can see a cannon in action!  How cool is that?

Old Postcard of Hotel Ponce De Leon, St. Augustine, Florida

The back of this undated postcard showing the Ponce De Leon Hotel in St. Augustine says-

Built in 1885.  One of the famous East Coast System hostelries.  Spanish style of architecture.  Cost $2,000,000; considered one of the finest hotels in the world.  Has five acres of roof.

St. Augustine Coffee Shops

I did make a point to stop by several coffee shops in St. Augustine!  We were able to stop by Crucial Coffee, The Kookaburra, and City Perks Coffee.  

All were in the main downtown area of St. Augustine (walking distance from the Gates and the Fort).

I liked them all.... though, these are busy areas, and none of the shops provided much inside seating space.... which is to be expected in this area.  A couple did have a couple of tables inside.  Outside seating was pretty common though.

They all had great coffee, which I wasn't expecting!  Some coffee shops in heavy tourist areas really slack in having a quality product (a particular shop in Savannah comes to mind), but all of them in St. Augustine were great!

They ALL had good, fresh coffee, great staff, and nice, clean shops!

Random Thoughts on Friday

I usually like to avoid mentioning the passing of a celebrity.....  There are PLENTY of sites that cover such things.

BUT, I wanted to say a little something about the recent passing of folk musician Jean Ritchie.

When I was going to Berea College in the 90s, I remember her playing around.  At that time, I had NO IDEA that she was such a legend.  She was just a sweet local lady who you would see playing around the area.

This might sound weird too, but I think she greatly influenced the way that I experience live music (she made me the music snob I am today).  I still have very high expectations when It comes to live music- it doesn't matter if I am at a stadium show, or a small coffee shop in Berea.  I am let down if the performer isn't exceptional.

It took me a while to realize that the lady playing a dulcimer at small venues in Berea was actually not just an exceptional Berea musician, she was one of the best of the best in the world.

Old postcard showing Logia of Hotel Ponce De Leon, St. Augustine, Florida

Noted on the back of this unused postcard is that the Logia is "a favorite lounging place for the guests during concert hour."

Indian Burial Ground- Fountain of Youth Park, St. Augustine, Florida

This old postcard that would likely not be marketable now, says

"On April 13th, 1934, while preparing to set out full grown orange trees, workmen came in contact with human bones.  The Smithsonian Institute at Washington was immediately notified.  They sent Dr. M. W. Sterling head of the Department of Ethnology, under whose supervision the excavations were made.  In his report he states that in his opinion these skeletons were part of an ancient Burial Ground, made during the early mission and military period of the Spanish regime, which dates after St. Augustine was established in 1565.

There are over one hundred skeletons exposed in the exact position as they were found, housed in an appropriate building of Indian Communal design."

These skeletons are no longer on display.

World War Memorial in Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Florida

Here is another undated old postcard from Florida.

Hotel Ponce De Leon, St. Augustine, Fla

"Built in 1885.  One of the famous East Coast System hostelries.  Spanish style of architecture.  Cost $2,000,000; considered one of the finest hotels in the world.  Has five acres of roof."

This postcard was sent in 1930, the sender tells their friend in New York that they are on their way to Miami.

This is one of the spectacular hotels in St. Augustine I mentioned before!

Old Postcard of the Lightner Museum, St. Augustine Florida

This undated postcard mentions on the back-

The Lightner museum of Hobbies, the only one of its kind in the world.  Gift of O.C. Lightner, publisher of Hobbies Magazine, Chicago, Illinois, to the City of St. Augustine.

Cafe Alcazar in St. Augustine, Florida

The Café Alcazar in St. Augustine is easily one of the nicest places I have had lunch.

It is dizzying as you walk through this area.  There are a few huge and beautify buildings.  There are churches and museums, and a few former hotels that are now museums that seem to go on forever.

The Lightner Museum (formerly the Hotel Alcazar) is one of these amazing spots.

Inside of the museum is what was once the largest indoor swimming pool in the world.  That area is now the Café Alcazar.

We asked our very friendly waiter about this.  He showed us a large postcard of the place back when it was a swimming spot.  The dining area has changed very little from the time it was a water filled!  Having a meal in an old historic hotel pool was pretty cool!

Still, this is an upscale restaurant, and they know it.  No corners were cut.  Everything was clean and neat.  Our waiter talked to us at length about the facility, our food, and he gave us directions to some local sites we asked him about!


AND we really enjoyed our meal.  I had a very tasty veggie burger and fruit.  The meal was fresh and flawless.  The veggie burger was probably the best one I have had in my life.

It didn't seem like these guys were making much of an effort to advertise.  We noticed a small sign for it as we went by.  I think they are trying to keep the atmosphere small and cozy.

But I have told you about it!  You are in the know!  Eat there the next time you are in St. Augustine!

"Kentucky's Civil War Battlefields" by Randy Bishop

I wanted to take some time to mention the INFORMATIVE and very helpful book- "Kentucky's Civil War Battlefields: A Guide to Their History and Preservation" by Randy Bishop.

This fun book is a complete guide to the Civil War Battles fought in the Bluegrass State.  There are 13 chapters, one devoted to each battle.  Randy Bishop gives a good description of each one.  After that, he discusses what you will see if you go to the sites where those battles happened now.  There are photos and maps.

What I like the most about each chapter is Bishop's info on the current state of the battlefields.  Some have amazing visitor centers, and are well maintained.  Others are in desperate need of attention and interpretation.  The author does give his opinion that some areas would benefit from making a bigger deal out of the historic sites they have to offer.  A nice visitor center, a driving tour, trails to walk, etc. would bring in more tourists (and tourist dollars) than a couple of weathered looking markers.

This book gets my highest recommendation.  I have a small milk crate of books in my trunk- mostly Kentucky travel books that might come in handy while I am out on the road.  This is definitely one of those books I will want close by while I am on Kentucky roads.  I have also ordered Bishop's similar book on Tennessee.  I will mention that one after I read it!

Green Sightseeing Train, St. Augustine, Florida

This postcard was sent from St. Augustine in 1952, from a mom and dad to a child.

Similar trains still go through St. Augustine- see my other posts!

Sea Wall, St. Augustine, Florida

This undated postcard, says on the back-

Sea Wall, showing Hotel Monson, Bennett House, Matanzas Apartments and Fort Marion in the distance.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! St. Augustine, Florida

I already mentioned that we were able to spend some time at the Ripley's Museum in St. Augustine.  I am going to have to make seeing the museums a priority when I travel.  They are all so weird!

It seems that various strange items relating to death are always present.  Shrunken heads, skin masks and torture devices are common.

Like I mentioned, we did their on/off Red Train tour, and their nighttime ghost tour.  Check out our pictures!