35 Bernard Street

35 Bernard Street

35 Bernard Street, St. Augustine, Fla. 32084

Johnnie Mae McBride

Masters Tract falls within the colonial defense perimeter known Mil y Quinientos [The Fifteen Hundred]. The subdivision evolved out of two late Second Spanish Period land grants to Miguel Villalonga and Jose Hernandez. [1] Hernandez was a member of the City Council, served as the first Florida Territorial delegate to congress, mayor from 1848 to 1849, Brigadier General of the Florida Volunteers during the Second Seminole War, and was involved in the capture of Osceola. [2] In 1879, Bernard Masters, of a prominent Minorcan family, purchased the land and began subdividing lots in 1885. [3] Masters, whose name is given to both the subdivision and the street, was a wealthy cattleman and meat market owner and was responsible for building many of the houses in Masters Tract. [4] One of the first predominently Black settlements in the North City area was along Bernard Street, where Masters erected many small, wood frame houses for the Black servants of the Masters family. [5] In later years, there were to become the homes of employees of the St. Augustine Ice Plant and the steam laundry located at the western end of the street. [6] The southern section, what is today known as Hope Street, was owned in 1852 by the Genovar family, and in 1876 by Walter Lyon, one of St. Augustine's residence formerly stood at the corner of San Marco Avenue and Hope Street. The oldest surviving building in the subdivision is at 102 San Marco. [8]

This one-story Frame Vernacular residence at 35 Bernard Street was erected between 1885 and 1894, making it one of the older homes on this street. It fits into the architectural design of the neighborhood but has been altered over the years with asbetos shingles and metal awning windows. It is typical of the early construction style. Masters Tract represents a period of development from 1879 to 1930 and includes both Victorian buildings and those of later styles. Bernard Street was cut through between 1885 and 1894 and contains a significant cluster of 19th century Frame Vernacular homes. It was named for Bernard Masters, the developer of Masters Tract and is one of three traditionally Black residential streets in the North City area. The area is threatened by the current Commercial Intensive zoning.

David Nolan

Stephanie Giordano

Florida Master Site File

Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board

7903

8SJ276