Letter: City of wonder
Steven Smith
St. Augustine
Published Monday, July 12, 2004
Editor: I am amazed. I am amazed at the history of this city. I am amazed at the beauty of this city. I am
amazed at the people of this city. What an amazing privilege to live and raise families in the midst of such
wonderful historical culture. We have the fort. We have the nation's oldest house. We have the lighthouse,
which has guided ships to safety for centuries. Why, we even have the original Ripley's! We have the
nation's original animal marine park just to the south of us. We have the only zoo that can claim to house
every species of alligator in the world. Why, we are the nation's oldest city! This is really something to be
proud of! I could go on and on.
I love to walk down St. George Street (it used to be more fun when there were street entertainers), but I still
walk down it once in a while. To touch some of the old buildings. Have you ever really looked closely at
the oldest school house or the old drug store? I love to stand by the gates of the Huguenot and Tolmatto
Cemeteries. Our ancestors are buried there. Such history! I have yet to enter the cemeteries when they are
open, but I want to do this. There is something wonderfully sacred about a cemetery. Especially when you
have an ancestor buried there. To know that the person buried there and remembered on that stone is
partially responsible for your being. If they didn't walk this earth, you wouldn't be here either. I love
thinking things like that when I visit the cemeteries. St. Augustine is so full of this kind of thing. Ancestral
lineage, historically significant elements at every corner. Why, just a few weeks ago they found some of the
oldest burial grounds anywhere in the area! Some of us are descendents of the ancestors buried there. What
a treasure to find such a place. A holy place really. One more burial ground where we can go in respect and
remember our grand and great-grandparents. Family members of some of us. People who fought to make
this area a home for themselves and for the children to follow. Of course I am talking about the burial
grounds found in the development on Tremerton Street.
I hope that this cemetery of our ancestors will indeed be preserved as planned. I mean, nothing like greed or
development or anything would ever take precedence over something this historically significant. Not here
in St. Augustine anyway. I am sure that landowner Michael Johnigean will make every effort to insure that
these remains will remain undisturbed and that this sacred place will remain accessible to all peoples -especially Native Americans who would desire to come to worship and honor the Great Spirit and their
ancestors. I would like to see him investigate the rest of the property as well, to make sure that all the
history is preserved.
That is one thing I really like about living here in St. Augustine. The people here don't let money or greed
get in the way of preserving the history and beauty of our wonderful St. John's County. The developers
can't get away with destroying the beautiful land or the historically significant places found here just to
make a buck. The people and the elected officials that represent them just won't allow it. Am I dreaming?