Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 4, 2016 4:27 p.m.
If you look up “historic preservation architect” in any Florida dictionary, you will undoubtedly see a photo of Herschel Shepard. Shepard’s work covers the entire range of Florida’s architectural past, including restoration of landmark buildings such as the 1902 Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee and reconstruction of such historically significant sites as the Second Seminole War era Fort Foster and the Spanish mission site of San Luis de Apalachee.
Shepard has worked on the restoration of the Florida Theater in Jacksonville and many historic buildings in St. Augustine. But on August 3, 2016, he spoke to a lunchtime crowd at the Amelia Island Museum of History about his transformation into an historic preservation architect as he worked on a partial restoration of Fort Clinch between 1963-1971.
Shepard, who earned a B.A. from Princeton in 1953 and his M.F.A. in architecture from Princeton in 1956, told the audience that he had trained as a modernist. He had no interest in preservation architecture. But because he needed work, he accepted a commission from the state of Florida to re-roof parts of Fort Clinch in 1963. And so a historic preservation architect was hatched.
In the course of researching Fort Clinch’s building plans, Shepard visited the National Archives where he found the original drawings dating to 1851 and signed by Jefferson Davis, the Secretary of War at that time. The fort was designed in the Greek Revival style with iron framing and a slate roof. He said that the fort was an example of early industrial revolution construction in the United States and showed early experiments in the iron industry.
Additional drawings dated from the 1860’s and showed early examples of the use of trusses for the roof. But drawings and specifications were incomplete, so Shepard and his team faced the problem of trying to reconstruct originals based upon best guesses and available funding, while keeping in mind that new work needed to meet modern safety codes.
Shepard said that in trying to decide on a course of action he was forced to make decisions with respect to how far he should go to maintain architectural purity while knowing that cost was definitely a factor. He said that more effort was made to maintain purity in areas visible to the public, while saving in areas like attics where the public would not visit.
In researching Fort Clinch he discovered that the fort had been built too low, allowing for water intrusion. Also the barracks and storehouse buildings had been designed too tall. Their roofs were higher than the fort’s walls. That was probably the reason that those two buildings remained without roofs during the Civil War. Later, slate roofs were added.
By the time he started work on the restoration project, all the armament had been removed from the fort, either to be used as scrap during World War II or destroyed by local citizens who opposed continued use of the fort for military purposes after the Spanish American War. Since it was impossible to find original 10-inch Rodman guns, his team molded replicas from architectural cement. Shepard said this experience taught him that substitute materials sometimes had to be used in historic restorations.
Shepard said that his experience at Fort Clinch resulted in a book entitled The Construction of Fort Clinch, published in a small edition in 1965. But more than that, his experience on this project whetted his appetite for more historic preservation work, which he described as “an extraordinary adventure, involving delving into archaeology, history, engineering, paint analysis and dendrochronology, among other disciplines.”
The entire Fort Clinch project was brought in at a cost less than $250,000 in 1971. He talked about how important the project was to the community, singling out the dedication of the African Americans who repointed the fort’s brick. Even though money had run out, the masons continued working until their supplies were exhausted out of pride of place.
During a question and answer period Shepard said that the work on Fort Clinch is more properly called a “representation” as opposed to a “reconstruction.” In response to a question about reconciling historic accuracy with cost required to do so, Shepard said that such a decision depends on the values of a community. He said that each entity must make decisions based on its priorities, adding that he believes that in some instances “there is too much money spent preserving buildings that don’t deserve it.”
In the final analysis, modern cannons rendered Fort Clinch obsolete.
Herschel Shepard lives in Atlantic Beach. He retired as an architect in 1997. He donated his papers to the P.K.Yonge Library at the University of Florida in 2010. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Examples of his public and professional service include: University of Florida Historic St. Augustine Board of Directors, Member, 2015-; City of St. Augustine Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, Member, 1998-2001; State of Florida Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board, Trustee, 1992-1997; Florida Department of State, National Register Review Board, Member, 1986-92; Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, Director and Founder, 1978-79; National Trust for Historic Preservation, Advisor and Advisor Emeritus,1976-2000; Florida Department of State, Division of Archives, History and Records Management, Member, Advisory Board, 1975-78; Jacksonville Chapter, AIA; Member, 1966-present; Secretary, 1966-67; State Director, 1967-68; Vice-President, 1969-70; President, 1970-71.
Fort Clinch is a state park open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to sunset every day by admission fee. Camping is also available. For complete information on the fort, visit their website https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fort-Clinch or call (904) 277-7274.
Mr. Shepard is a true gem! Those of us lucky enough to learn from him and follow in his footsteps have big shoes to fill! I wish I could have attended.