83 Bridge Street

83 Bridge Street

83 Bridge Street, St. Augustine, Fla. 32084

Richardson, Cornelius and Patricia

Tourist Homes

The eastern section of Dumas Tract Subdivision, the genesis of Lincolnville, is bounded on the north by Bridge Street, an 18th century thorough-fare which led to one of three late colonial San Sebastian River ferry crossings. The subdivision also is in the vicinity of the early 18th century thorough Indian village of Palica. The tract evolved out of two early 19th century Spanish land grants to Bartolo Juarez and Gaspar Papy, a prosperous Greek merchant who came to St. Augustine from new Smyrna in 1777. Both soon developed some of the first commerical orange groves in Florida. By the late 1830's, the grants were consolidated by Peter Sken Smith, a prominent Territorial period land speculator, who subdivided much of the tract and commenced selling lots. The economic depression of the 1840's ended attempts to develop the areas on the fringes of the old city, and by 1840 Philip Weedman and Peter Dumas, county clerk and post-Civil War leader of the Florida Radical Republicans, acquired most of the property formerly belonging to Smith. After the war, the community of Africa soon developed on the marshes of Maria Sanchez Creek as newly freed Blacks began renting the property from the city. Africa, later called Lincolnville, extended along the banks of the Creek and by the early 1870's, Blacks began buying lots and building homes along Central Avenue and Benedict Street. Construction along Oneida and Bridge Streets commenced later in the decade. By 1885, Lincolnville was a rapidly growing Black community, although some Whites lived along Bridge Street next to the Craddock Hotel. The eastern edge of Lincolnville, Washington Street, became a prosperous Black commercial district in the first several decades of the 20th century. By that time, Lincolville had extended beyond its original boundaries into adjacent areas, particularly Genovar and Atwood Tract Subdivisions. Today Lincolnville generally refers to the all Black neighborhoods in the southwest peninsula.

This two and one-half Frame Vernacular residence at 83 Bridge Street was originally constructed as one and one-half stories between 1871 and 1885, making it one of the original structures in Lincolnville. It was expanded to two and one-half stories between 1917 and 1924. Significant details include chamfered posts on concrete block piers.

The Eastern half of Dumas Tract was one of the first residential neighborhoods of Lincolnville and is physically visible as a separate development in terms of its street patterns and lot sizes. The homes here are mostly on a modest scale, but include some nice Victorian examples and some interesting gingerbread patterns, especially along Oneida Street. It is the area of concentration for shotgun-style houses in St. Augustine. There are churches interspersed with residential neighborhoods and a commercial fringe along Washington Street and Central Avenue. The eastern half of Dumas Tract was developed prior to the western half. The area is threatened by some housing deterioration, and by traffic along Bridge, Central and Washington Street. There has also been a problem of demolition of buildings along Washington Street.

David Nolan

Erin Kelbaugh

Florida Master Site File

Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board

7811

8SJ366