Temperance Hall
Dublin Core
Title
Temperance Hall
93 Washington Street, St. Augustine, Fla. 32084
Subject
Williams, Carl H.
Undertaker - E A Johnson & Co (1924-25)
Johnson’s Funeral Parlors (1927)
Bacon Funeral Parlor (1930)
Holmes and Johnson Funeral Home (1934)
Restaurant - Moran and Sanks (1914-15)
Clothes Cleaners and Pressers - George Robinson (1916-17)
Shoe Repairer - Kearney and Ferrell (1937)
Shoe Repairers - Jas Ferrell (1940)
Description
History:
Until the late 19th century this block formed the western bank of Maria Sanchez Creek. In the 18th and 19th centuries a series of walkways or bridges crossed the marshes in the vicinity of Bridge Street, and this thoroughfare led to one of three late colonial ferry crossings across the San Sebastian River. After the Civil War, the community of Africa, later called Lincolnville, soon developed on the marshlands as newlyfreed Blacks began renting in the property from the city. Lincolnville expanded west of Washington Street by the mid-1800's, at which time Henry Flagler filled in the Creek to St. Francis Street.(1) The Cordova Street side of the black, running parallel to the 18th century Rosario defense line, was used for quarters for the employees at the Flagler hotels, offices of the St. Augustine Record, and some private residences. The Washington Street side became an extension of Lincolnville and developed into a prosperous carly 20th century Black commercial district. The southern tip of the block was developed in the mid-1890's by Heth Canfield's St. Augustine Park Association as part of the planned Water Park around the newly dredged Maria Sanchez Lake. (2)
The building at 93 Washington Street was used as a meeting hall until the erection of the Odd Fellows Hall across the street. There is a possibility that the building was rented out between 1924 and 1934 to E. Aldrich Johnson, a Black funeral director, who had taken over the business from Frank T. Bacon. The 1927-28 City Directory lists this as also the address for the Temperance Hall, a Black pre-prohibition meeting place. Today the building is used as a tavern. (3)
Until the late 19th century this block formed the western bank of Maria Sanchez Creek. In the 18th and 19th centuries a series of walkways or bridges crossed the marshes in the vicinity of Bridge Street, and this thoroughfare led to one of three late colonial ferry crossings across the San Sebastian River. After the Civil War, the community of Africa, later called Lincolnville, soon developed on the marshlands as newlyfreed Blacks began renting in the property from the city. Lincolnville expanded west of Washington Street by the mid-1800's, at which time Henry Flagler filled in the Creek to St. Francis Street.(1) The Cordova Street side of the black, running parallel to the 18th century Rosario defense line, was used for quarters for the employees at the Flagler hotels, offices of the St. Augustine Record, and some private residences. The Washington Street side became an extension of Lincolnville and developed into a prosperous carly 20th century Black commercial district. The southern tip of the block was developed in the mid-1890's by Heth Canfield's St. Augustine Park Association as part of the planned Water Park around the newly dredged Maria Sanchez Lake. (2)
The building at 93 Washington Street was used as a meeting hall until the erection of the Odd Fellows Hall across the street. There is a possibility that the building was rented out between 1924 and 1934 to E. Aldrich Johnson, a Black funeral director, who had taken over the business from Frank T. Bacon. The 1927-28 City Directory lists this as also the address for the Temperance Hall, a Black pre-prohibition meeting place. Today the building is used as a tavern. (3)
Architecture:
The one-story Frame Vernacular residence at 93 Washington Street was constructed between 1865 and 1885 and is one of the oldest buildings in this area. Originally it has a two-story porch on the front which has since been removed. There was also a one-story addition on the rear which has also been removed. The building has chamfered wood posts on the front.
The Lincolnville area first developed along Washington Street after the Civil War, but the development that preceeded its heyday took place in the Flagler Era. The 1885 Birds-Eye View of St. Augustine shows churches and small residences scattered along the banks of Maria Sanchez Creek. The 1894 Birds-Eye shows the Creek filled in, where the Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels and Ponce de Leon Barracks were built. By this time several commercial buildings had been constructed along Washington Street. By the early 20th century it played the role of "Main Street" in Lincolnville. Washington Street has long been a thoroughfare of combined usages--residential buildings shared the street with churches, commercial and fraternal buildings. Many buildings along the street have combined usages as well, with commercial first floors and residential second floors. Washington Street has some of the city's few surviving wooden Victorian commercial structures. Earlier buildings along the street are also wood frame. while later ones are masonry. There are problems of deterioration, abandonment, vandalism, and demolition of buildings along Washington Street.
The one-story Frame Vernacular residence at 93 Washington Street was constructed between 1865 and 1885 and is one of the oldest buildings in this area. Originally it has a two-story porch on the front which has since been removed. There was also a one-story addition on the rear which has also been removed. The building has chamfered wood posts on the front.
The Lincolnville area first developed along Washington Street after the Civil War, but the development that preceeded its heyday took place in the Flagler Era. The 1885 Birds-Eye View of St. Augustine shows churches and small residences scattered along the banks of Maria Sanchez Creek. The 1894 Birds-Eye shows the Creek filled in, where the Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels and Ponce de Leon Barracks were built. By this time several commercial buildings had been constructed along Washington Street. By the early 20th century it played the role of "Main Street" in Lincolnville. Washington Street has long been a thoroughfare of combined usages--residential buildings shared the street with churches, commercial and fraternal buildings. Many buildings along the street have combined usages as well, with commercial first floors and residential second floors. Washington Street has some of the city's few surviving wooden Victorian commercial structures. Earlier buildings along the street are also wood frame. while later ones are masonry. There are problems of deterioration, abandonment, vandalism, and demolition of buildings along Washington Street.
Creator
David Nolan
Charlie Ewing
Source
Florida Master Site File
Publisher
Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board
Date
July 1978
Identifier
8SJ2326
Citation
David Nolan and Charlie Ewing, “Temperance Hall,” Resilience: Black Heritage in St. Augustine, accessed May 6, 2024, https://blackheritagestaugustine.omeka.net/items/show/173.