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St. Augustine Free Public Library

Buildings and structures in St. Augustine, FloridaHouses in St. Johns County, FloridaSpanish Colonial architecture in the United StatesSt. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine Free Public Library by Bernard W. Close, June 23, 1936
St. Augustine Free Public Library by Bernard W. Close, June 23, 1936

The St. Augustine Free Public Library is the oldest non operating library in Florida; opened in 1874 as a "subscription library." The library was first located in the U.S. Customs house, now known as the Government House at 48 King St, St. Augustine, FL. Its second location, at 12 Aviles Street in St. Augustine, Florida, is the building currently known as the Segui-Kirby Smith House and still stands as a Research Library for the Saint Augustine Historical Society.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article St. Augustine Free Public Library (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

St. Augustine Free Public Library
Artillery Lane,

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N 29.891388888889 ° E -81.311666666667 °
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Saint Augustine Historical Research Library

Artillery Lane
32084
Florida, United States
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St. Augustine Free Public Library by Bernard W. Close, June 23, 1936
St. Augustine Free Public Library by Bernard W. Close, June 23, 1936
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Government House (St. Augustine)
Government House (St. Augustine)

Government House (Spanish: Casa del gobierno), also known as Governor's House, is located at 48 King Street in St. Augustine, Florida, adjacent to the Plaza de la Constitución. The building, constructed of coquina, served as the governor's official residence from c. 1710 during the First Spanish Period (1565–1763), throughout the British Period (1763–1784), and until 1812 in the Second Spanish Period (1784–1821). Governor Gonzalo Méndez de Canzo was the first governor to build his residence on the present Government House site in 1598.A new structure was built on the site in 1706 for use as a residence, office, courthouse, and the social center of the town. The east wing of the present building dates to the original construction between 1706 and 1713. Due to the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Florida passed into British ownership. During the British Period, the house was the official residence of James Grant, the British royal governor of East Florida (1764–1771). Among his guests were American explorer Daniel Boone, who was in East Florida to inquire about land purchases, and Patrick Tonyn, who was appointed as Grant's successor. At the close of the American Revolution, Florida and St. Augustine were returned to Spain by the 1783 Treaty of Paris. General Nathanael Greene visited Government House in 1784, hosted for an elaborate seven-course meal by Governor Vicente Manuel de Zéspedes. From 1785–87 the governor’s residence again underwent major renovation. The last governor to use the house was Enrique White during the Second Spanish Period; he died in 1811. By the time Florida was annexed by the United States in 1821, the building was in ruins with only the walls remaining. In 1833–34 Government House was rebuilt with federal funds, following plans drawn up by architect Robert Mills, later famous for designing the Washington Monument. The structure incorporated existing walls and contained 16 rooms, including space for a post office, a courtroom, and other federal functions. During the American Civil War federal troops were headquartered in the building. In 1873 another major remodeling took place, using plans by architect William M. Kimball. Through the next 60 years the post office and customs house gradually took over more and more of the building as the town grew. In 1937, Government House was once again renovated by Jacksonville architect Mellen Clark Greeley as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The U.S. Postal Service continued to use the building until 1965, when a new post office building was constructed. Government House was transferred to the State of Florida in February 1966 as a public monument to be administered by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (later renamed the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board). The Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board used the 1937 wing of the building for a research library, archaeological and curatorial laboratories, and historical displays until the board became defunct in 1997. Today, the ground floor of the building is open to the public as Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, managed by UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc. A research library managed by the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida is housed on the second floor. During their tour of St. Augustine on April 1, 2001, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain made a public appearance on the east balcony of Government House. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain also visited Government House on September 17, 2015.Government House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 2014.

Capo's bath house

Capo's Bath House was a structure that appeared in many images of the Saint Augustine, Florida waterfront during 1870–1914. Capo's occupied an octagonal-shaped building located on a bay pier near 20 Bay Street across from Baya Lane throughout the Flagler Era. It appears in a sketch from 1875 that shows a wood building on a stone foundation across the street from the Old Spanish Prison and the residence of George H Emery. The facility provided hot and cold sea water, sulfur water baths, and shower baths "in the season." Women and children bathed at separate times than men. Dressing rooms were provided to change from formal clothing to swim attire. In a 1934 interview with the Saint Augustine Record, Ocean View Hotel proprietor Henry E Hernandez described the Bath House: "When asked about how tourists in the '80s amused themselves, Mr Hernandez told of the many ways in which they could pass their visit pleasantly. In those days the beaches were rather inaccessible but Capo's Bath House, located in front of where the Monson Hotel now stands, provided a place to swim right here in the city. A brick pool filled by the waters of the bay offered a sheltered, safe place for a swim and there were also private pools with hot water for those who didn't care to swim in the larger pools. There were dozens of sailboats for hire along the bay front and beach picnics and moonlight sails were favorite amusements." The proprietor was Philip V Capo (1844-1901), who was a Saint Augustine native descended from Minorcan colonists. He served in the Confederate Army and returned to city after the war. It was managed for many years by Adolphus N Pacetty (1829-1913), who was also a Minorcan descendant and a Confederate veteran. Pacetty was the nephew of Antonia Paula Bonelly, and the husband of Amelia Monson, whose brother was the proprietor of Monson House. Capo's Bath House was destroyed in the 1914 fire that also ruined Genovar Opera House, Florida House, Hotel Clairmont, Monson House, and the Saint Johns County Court House.