Past Meets Present

Submitted by Susan Mowery
January 17, 2019 12:03 p.m.

For several years Historic District homeowners Jim and Connie Scott have maintained a “love-hate” relationship with the large, obsolete cistern that dominates their backyard. The cistern was originally constructed to collect rainwater for The Egmont Hotel, Fernandina’s Golden Age luxury winter tourist destination. Located on Beech Street between South 6th and 7th Streets, The Egmont (1878 -1900), attracted wealthy visitors from Boston, New York City, and Chicago. As the Golden Age came to a close, the hotel was sold and later demolished. Four houses on South 7th Street, today known as The Four Sisters, were built circa 1904 from materials salvaged from the Egmont. The previously noted cistern remained, likely serving as a demolition trash dump.

One of Fernandina’s cisterns located behind a “Four Sisters” home built from lumber from the former Egmont Hotel.

The Scott’s truly appreciate the historical significance of the cistern, but also wish to replace the structurally compromised small garage located adjacent to the cistern with a larger garage that will accommodate a modern car. In order to protect and preserve the cistern, the Scott’s have applied to the Historic District Council to have an archaeologist record and document the cistern. They then propose to build a structural support over the impacted side of the cistern so that the new garage can then extend over that area. The remainder of the cistern will then be filled with gravel so that only the brick rim will be visible.

Emily Jane Murray, M.A., of the Florida Public Archaeology Network conducted documentation of the cistern Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Ms. Murray recorded and photographed aspects of the cistern including location, size, type of construction, construction materials, location of inflow and outflow pipes, and distinct architectural features. Her report will be submitted to the Florida State Archaeological Master Site File, as well as to the City of Fernandina Beach, and the homeowners.

Editor’s Note:  Susan Mowery obtained an M.A. from Memphis State.  She is an  ABD in physical anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.  She has volunteered at the Amelia Island Museum of History where she derived most of her knowledge of local history, and she has taught a course on the history of Amelia Island for Adult Continuing Ed.  We thank Susan for her contribution to the Fernandina Observer.