1 00:00:01,580 --> 00:00:10,360 [Music] welcome to Green Cove Springs where 2 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:13,519 history meets the present and looks forward to the 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:18,439 [Music] future the area that would become Green 4 00:00:16,119 --> 00:00:24,599 Cove Springs has a unique history no other place in Florida has 5 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:29,480 had an uninterrupted run of 250 years surviving the civil war three seminal 6 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:35,520 Wars and under the rules of both Charles II of Spain and King George III of 7 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:40,800 Britain beginning as a Lumber Town of White Sulfur Springs the town was 8 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:46,840 renamed Green Cove Springs in 1866 in 1871 Green Cove Springs was 9 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:52,399 selected as the new county seat and on November 2nd 1874 it officially became 10 00:00:50,039 --> 00:00:58,000 an incorporated city the city's name originates from 11 00:00:55,199 --> 00:01:02,719 three physical characteristics green refers to Perennial green vegetation 12 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:07,840 characterized by its treescape and foilage Cove refers to Abend in the St 13 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:13,240 John's river creating a safe area for moing of boats during inclement weather 14 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:19,640 periods Springs refers to the natural spring one of 600 in Florida originating 15 00:01:16,479 --> 00:01:25,880 from the Floridan aquafer Green Cove uh was sort of out in the middle of nowhere 16 00:01:22,479 --> 00:01:29,439 um when Florida uh I should say when uh the Spanish territory known as East 17 00:01:27,960 --> 00:01:33,799 Florida was purchased by the United States 18 00:01:30,479 --> 00:01:39,600 1821 uh this place really had a had several names one of which was white 19 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:45,200 White Sulfur Springs uh etc etc but anyway the the town got its uh 20 00:01:42,119 --> 00:01:50,479 Beginnings when Timber Cutters from the New England area we're down here looking 21 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:54,799 for uh live oak trees to send back to New New England as part of the ship 22 00:01:52,439 --> 00:02:00,560 building process and then down through the years uh you know the spring was 23 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:05,520 always sort of the the common uh of this place called White sulfer 24 00:02:02,479 --> 00:02:08,800 Springs and then about uh I don't know it was shortly after the Civil War that 25 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:13,480 the name the place name changed from White Sulfur Springs to Green Cove 26 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:18,959 Springs and a lot of people don't realize it but that name was actually 27 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:25,680 given by two people u a brother and a sister Sarah Palmer and uh Darius Ferris 28 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:31,599 you've probably heard of Ferris Street and Palmer Street here in Green Cove uh 29 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:35,920 they were they were entrepreneurs they uh they were developing u a little 30 00:02:33,879 --> 00:02:40,800 village called mport in those days and they came down here and bought 840 acres 31 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:45,280 and they started uh selling property here and that's how Green Cove sort of 32 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,280 got it 33 00:02:45,959 --> 00:02:52,560 start nestled along the St John's river the city quickly became a popular 34 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:58,080 destination for those seeking the healing powers of its natural 35 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:02,280 spring early settlers were drawn to the area by the promise of health and 36 00:02:59,959 --> 00:03:07,000 Prosperity the spring known for its mineral Rich Waters became a central hub 37 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:13,120 for the community giving the city its name and fostering growth we have to 38 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:20,120 recognize that we are right here one of the higher points in Clay County and in 39 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:25,040 some respects we're EXT rather High when it comes to 40 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:32,400 Florida so first of all it's High Ground fresh water mild climate hunt 41 00:03:29,799 --> 00:03:38,040 fish forage so if we go back 10,000 years to the T ukan 42 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:46,000 people and we look at who came here in that day and time to hunt to fish to 43 00:03:41,879 --> 00:03:49,400 forage that fresh water mild climate you can build your shelter you can take care 44 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:56,760 of yourself you can survive quite 45 00:03:53,400 --> 00:04:00,879 well during the late 1800s the city experienced great Prosperity as 46 00:03:58,799 --> 00:04:06,120 evidenced by the large number and quality of hotels constructed near the 47 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:11,439 spring and surrounding area after uh Palmer and Ferris started 48 00:04:09,959 --> 00:04:15,879 selling property here and you had businesses started being built homes 49 00:04:13,799 --> 00:04:20,680 built and so forth uh you had people moving into the area and as a result of 50 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:25,560 that it was just the normal uh development of of business activities 51 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:29,840 and anywhere there's money to be made you're going to have people that will 52 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:37,120 invest and after the Civil War a number of uh investors from the north uh came 53 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:40,960 here bought property and started to either selling property or in this case 54 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:45,759 building hotels and so forth and of course with uh the St John's river right 55 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:50,840 here at our doorstep you had a lot of Steamboat traffic Up and Down the River 56 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:57,680 so it was very uh it was very easy to get to Green Cove Springs uh on one of 57 00:04:53,680 --> 00:05:02,199 the many uh River or Oceano vessels that plowed up and down the St John's river 58 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:05,880 every day and as a result of that uh these investors saw the opportunity 59 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:10,680 maybe to come in here and uh build some hotels and they 60 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:16,720 did during the I want to say at the turn of the century of 1900 uh we have 61 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:21,919 cataloged 17 different hotels uh Cottages or boarding houses that were 62 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:28,600 here in Green Cove Springs uh the largest of which was the claron hotel 63 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:35,840 that was built 1870 1871 right AC well where the city hall is out and uh it it 64 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:42,919 uh it featured 200 rooms with hot and cold running water and they had a Dynamo 65 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:48,400 to generate direct electric current and they had uh they had electric lights if 66 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:53,039 you will in that hotel uh starting in about 1874 and of course it was in 67 00:05:50,919 --> 00:05:58,360 business for about 30 years as I recall it burned in 68 00:05:55,199 --> 00:06:02,120 1900 Hotel eror was probably has been mislabeled because it's I think it 69 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:08,360 should have been called the destination era it was a hotel area and there was 70 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:14,039 the Clariton Hotel was the one that was where City Hall is today now there St 71 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:19,720 Elmo was walking distance to this to the spring uh the river side the Union uh 72 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:25,160 the Mohawk and so on the most notable one was the actual destination of 73 00:06:22,639 --> 00:06:30,080 Magnolia or sometimes referred to as Magnolia Springs it was a destination 74 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:35,199 place it was the absolute First Resort in the State of 75 00:06:32,759 --> 00:06:42,000 Florida and it was modeled after stuff that was built up in New England area by 76 00:06:37,319 --> 00:06:47,319 very high Finance folks so we were a destination Magnolia Hotel actually had 77 00:06:44,759 --> 00:06:52,400 a nine course golf course there because of the city's prominence 78 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:58,039 it earned recognition as the Saratoga of the South the parler city and watering 79 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:03,000 hole for the rich Saratoga of the South is probably one of our no notable 80 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:09,960 marketing things in marketing people want to relate with something and people 81 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:14,639 up north had a hard time relating with Florida they just didn't get it they 82 00:07:12,639 --> 00:07:19,560 couldn't get their head around it but people in New York City knew that they 83 00:07:16,639 --> 00:07:25,639 could get on a vessel on a Friday afternoon and they could go up the 84 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:30,479 Hudson they could get in a hotel they could put their hair down they can bet 85 00:07:28,039 --> 00:07:35,360 on the ponies and they could spend the weekend and Sunday evening they can get 86 00:07:32,919 --> 00:07:40,080 on a vessel and come back to New York City and they can go down to a place 87 00:07:37,479 --> 00:07:44,840 called Wall Street and make some money and then Friday afternoon they could get 88 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:49,240 on a boat and they could go up River to Saratoga 89 00:07:46,879 --> 00:07:52,759 Springs and they could bet on the ponies and they could put their hair down and 90 00:07:50,599 --> 00:07:56,560 they could do what they want and then they could come back to New York City 91 00:07:54,400 --> 00:08:01,479 and they could repeat it so as people realized what they could do off the 92 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:05,720 Hudson all we had to do is say Green Cove Springs is 93 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:10,120 Saratoga of the South tourists and visitors journeyed 94 00:08:08,599 --> 00:08:14,960 along the St John's river from Jacksonville by Riverbats bearing names 95 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:20,759 like the Florence the magnolia the manatee and the May Garner the absolute 96 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:27,080 most noted of all would have been the May Garner and the May Garner was was 97 00:08:23,919 --> 00:08:32,880 christened by the the the captain's uh daughter and they had to place right 98 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:38,039 there off of U uh right off the river and the most noted one that came and all 99 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:44,000 the way into the end of The Next Century the May Garner kept on kept on coming 100 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:49,279 here it was quote the Green Cove boat in 1883 the ladies Village 101 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:53,959 Improvement Association of Green Cove Springs Incorporated to promote 102 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:59,000 beautification efforts within the city and it later evolved into becoming the 103 00:08:55,959 --> 00:09:03,360 first Federated Women's Club of Florida The Village Improvement Association 104 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:08,279 still exists and operates from the building dedicated in 105 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:13,760 1915 I'm laran studs and I've lived in green cup springs for about 35 years um 106 00:09:11,959 --> 00:09:18,000 and I am currently the president of of the viia um it's actually the village 107 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:21,800 Improvement Association um it's the oldest Women's Club in Florida and we're 108 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:27,920 very proud of that well the oldest minutes we have for meetings of the viia 109 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:33,040 um would have been in April of 1888 well the mission was always just to clean 110 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:36,880 started off just to make the town better just to make the town prettier and to 111 00:09:34,959 --> 00:09:41,279 then get more involved they gradually went we were responsible for starting 112 00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:45,519 the first kindergarten in this area and then also the first Library even in Clay 113 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,680 County started right here and that was from the women in the village 114 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:51,440 Improvement Association because that's after they got everything cleaned up and 115 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:55,519 pretty like they wanted it then they moved on to more service projects and 116 00:09:53,640 --> 00:10:00,320 they actually funded a lot of it back then by having tea parties um they would 117 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:03,680 have big Gallas and stuff with the with tees and serving tea parties and I just 118 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:08,399 think it's neat that we still do a lot of that today um not they're fundraisers 119 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:14,200 for us but we do them because it's a historical thing to do back then that 120 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:19,680 was what you did in order to raise money the hotel era rapidly declined as 121 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:24,440 railroads took tourists to Beyond Green Cove Springs to flagler's jewels in St 122 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:29,320 Augustine Miami and Tampa the hotels mostly wooden 123 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:34,959 structures were no longer so attract active as they deteriorated or 124 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:40,959 burned a series of cold Winters particularly 1895 didn't help and if 125 00:10:38,639 --> 00:10:46,959 there was any hope in a Revival World War I put an end to any future 126 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:52,519 festivities by 196 there were a few hotels left in the whole country by the 127 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:57,920 Great Depression even these struggled all these were wooden hotels 128 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:01,680 and uh the claron is a good example of what happens when you have a fire is 129 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:09,600 completely destroyed and uh down through the years with uh the reduced uh need 130 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:15,360 for hotels uh they became dilapidated needing repair and so forth and they 131 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:21,360 they almost Disappear by 1930 1940 if you will and once again that that hotel 132 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:25,880 era came and went not only here but you know in other places as well now 133 00:11:23,399 --> 00:11:29,800 remember also our chief competitor over on the east coast here is St Augustine 134 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:34,200 and you had a guy named comes through and he's going to build 135 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:38,880 another railroad uh down the east coast along the beach area and he does push it 136 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,399 all the way out to Key West the decline was mainly because people wanted 137 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:46,200 something more we were a 138 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:52,040 destination but there was something more upu River down south today the River 139 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:58,399 Park in bed and breakfast is the last remaining connection to the hotel 140 00:11:55,000 --> 00:12:02,880 era the late 1800s also saw the birth of Augusta pH 141 00:11:59,839 --> 00:12:06,920 Savage austo was an American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance a 142 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:12,760 pivotal cultural movement that celebrated African-American art and 143 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:17,079 literature despite facing racism Savage fought to secure a place for 144 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:22,320 African-American women in the art World in honor of Augusta Savage's 145 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:26,680 Legacy the City established the Augusta Savage Museum and mentoring Center on 146 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:31,199 the site of the Old Dunbar High School library in 2021 147 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:35,959 it is now the creative heart of Green Cove Springs with classes ranging from 148 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:40,680 art and dance to reading and math tutoring we have uh several different 149 00:12:38,079 --> 00:12:46,839 ways that we try to enhance and support uh Arts uh green Co Springs thanks to 150 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:54,480 you know uh the Augusta Savage and her um uh accomplishments as a world famous 151 00:12:50,639 --> 00:13:00,600 sculpture artist uh has kind of really been the torch that has inspired so much 152 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:04,720 uh training in the Arts and and our mentoring centers that we already 153 00:13:02,079 --> 00:13:09,560 discussed that was a a challenging thing for us to find the money to do to to 154 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:14,000 rehabilitate and build that place and find the purpose for what it was going 155 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:18,480 to be and there was a lot of things the community wanted it to be from like you 156 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:23,880 know whether it's the dance instruction the museum the mentoring and and it's 157 00:13:21,519 --> 00:13:28,360 exceeded my expectations so I'm really glad that we invested in that a lot of 158 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:32,959 young kids go through and they get to appreciate and get quality instruction 159 00:13:30,519 --> 00:13:39,519 whether it's in the art the the dancing the history Finance like they can learn 160 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,519 a lot of different uh a lot of different 161 00:13:40,199 --> 00:13:47,920 things as the years passed Green Cove Springs evolved embracing new Industries 162 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:52,199 and Technologies the arrival of the railroad 163 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:56,600 and the growth of local businesses transformed our small City into a 164 00:13:54,519 --> 00:14:00,199 thriving Community well people had already 165 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:05,120 realized they wanted they can move farther they could get into the interior 166 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:10,600 now the thing is they want to do it faster Henry Flagler came here in 167 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:15,320 honeymoon with one of his wives but what he had left St James Hotel earlier he 168 00:14:13,399 --> 00:14:21,480 came to Green Cove now this is standard oil Henry 169 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:26,639 Flagler a board member that's taking a leave of absence to go look at this new 170 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:32,680 found territory a new area and he just simply says 171 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:37,720 it moves too slow he got on a vessel went right across to Hallow's Cove or 172 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:41,839 down to K's Cove or maybe down in P colada where he went I don't really 173 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:46,839 specifically recall but he got on a Narrow Gauge Rail and he went over to St 174 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:54,560 Augustine and as Florida history tells us from that point Florida history 175 00:14:51,839 --> 00:14:59,759 changed Green Cove Springs played its part in significant historical events 176 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,720 our city had the first first Trolley system in the state providing 177 00:15:01,279 --> 00:15:07,519 transportation for Commodities and also residents and visitors with their 178 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:12,360 luggage from the riverbank Piers to the various lodging accommodations in the 179 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:17,199 city it wasn't really a trolley system uh to speak of only half of it was 180 00:15:14,279 --> 00:15:22,560 because there was a they had laid rails from the pier at the foot of walut 181 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:26,399 street at the River's Edge and they came all the way up to the central business 182 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:30,199 district just a block from here and that's where it terminated but remember 183 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:34,880 you had people that were coming to Green Cove and they would get off at the train 184 00:15:32,959 --> 00:15:39,800 and then they they were expected to walk or carry their bags this far no so what 185 00:15:37,319 --> 00:15:45,920 happens is you had several entrepreneurs that would uh that established a uh a 186 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:50,800 wagon and pickup system to where they would take you from the railroad on on a 187 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:55,040 wagon and it was a they had it rigged up with a su and a top and all that and 188 00:15:53,160 --> 00:16:00,319 take you right down to the hotel The Trolley system was probably 189 00:15:57,519 --> 00:16:06,680 the greatest hosting thing perhaps many of us my wife and I being 190 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:09,720 amongst the group do not need a coner at a 191 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:15,839 hotel but I know the few times that we've traveled to upscale places a coner 192 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:21,399 is very nice to have and you want to have your things taken care of at your 193 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:27,480 wishes so when BT Barnum came through here of Barnum Bailey Circus when BT 194 00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:31,240 Barman came through here and saw just how things were handled from the time 195 00:16:29,199 --> 00:16:34,880 you got off the vessel somebody was there to accommodate you if you wanted 196 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:38,440 to go from one place to another and it was was more than the short walk there 197 00:16:37,199 --> 00:16:43,959 were accommodations that also provided 198 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:48,160 opportunity for local folks to be to set a good Benchmark for the service 199 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:54,959 industry so uh that put us that put us in the 200 00:16:51,480 --> 00:17:01,560 category of being a parlor city of the South um or as BT Barnum would say 201 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:09,199 sometimes as I understand it came from BT barning the watering hole for the 202 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:14,640 wealthy during World War II the city became home to a naval air station which 203 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:19,480 brought New Opportunities and challenges Benjamin Lee field was a 204 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:24,799 naval air training field designed to train Pilots for landing operations on 205 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:30,240 aircraft carriers during World War II the facility was later renamed Naval Air 206 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:34,720 Station Green Cove Springs and later redesignated as a naval auxiliary 207 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:39,559 station associated with the Naval Air Station Jacksonville complex during this 208 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:44,919 period the government expanded the complex with construction of 13 concrete 209 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:50,799 peers serving as the birthing place for over 600 ships placed in reserve status 210 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:58,960 and referred to as the world's largest mothball fleet mball Fleet was the 211 00:17:54,320 --> 00:18:06,000 largest fleet mball Fleet in the country the Navy brought 734 ships into Green 212 00:18:02,159 --> 00:18:11,000 Cove Springs some said it was a Scourge because the city did not have 213 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:15,400 any idea the Navy was going to come here 214 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:23,480 from September of 1945 and December of 215 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:29,000 1945 the Navy brought in 300 plus 216 00:18:25,799 --> 00:18:35,120 warships still pulling man and most of the Destroyer 217 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:42,159 escorts all carried at least 250 men so you can do the 218 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:45,039 math by the end of December of 1945 Green coold Springs became one of the 219 00:18:44,159 --> 00:18:51,400 most populated cities in the state of Florida 220 00:18:48,679 --> 00:18:59,240 when no shift by the end of December they had another 60,000 Sailors living 221 00:18:54,960 --> 00:19:03,760 in Greeno the USS Harmon was the first ship in the United States 222 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:08,799 to be named after an africanamerican as far as the Destroyer 223 00:19:05,919 --> 00:19:15,799 escorts now there's only two left in the left now one is the USS 224 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:22,039 Slater that's in no New York and the other is the USS Stewart 225 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:31,520 it's in Seawolf Park Texas that was the last of De LST 226 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:37,280 325 it is still operational and it's in Jefferson bille 227 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:41,840 Indiana it runs cruises up the Ohio to New York or down to Mississippi to New 228 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:47,720 Orleans they do this several times a year but it's still an active ship and 229 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:51,919 it's also a museum cuz that's where the ship was built the city purchased the 230 00:19:50,159 --> 00:19:56,520 facility from the federal government then later sold it to the J Lewis 231 00:19:53,919 --> 00:20:02,280 Reynolds Corporation now known as Reynolds Park 232 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:08,280 they came to the city in 1961 said they were going to close it they said it 233 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,280 would take one to three years to 234 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:17,360 close by June of 1962 the base was completely 235 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:24,400 closed and the last thing they closed was a golf course that was the last 236 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:29,840 thing Green Cove Springs was also home to Gustafson Farm owned and operated by 237 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:35,559 Frank and Agnes Casta son their family Dairy operation began 238 00:20:32,679 --> 00:20:41,159 in 1908 within the city and earned recognition as mama and papa Gus they 239 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:46,640 started delivery of milk products to the local hotels supplied from one cow named 240 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:51,520 Buttercup after we got the roads all cleaned up then um the gustavson then 241 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:57,120 when they started their dairies you know that right back here um they also had 242 00:20:54,480 --> 00:21:01,280 the cows Buttercup was their first cow and so even though the the viia and the 243 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:06,400 gustavson had a good relationship along with the cows came 244 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:10,240 the Cow Patties and so they wanted that cleaned up too so that was another 245 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:14,640 project that we had and then the gapsin moved their their cows out to another 246 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:19,640 location but they still live there and still had a good 247 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:24,080 relationship during the 1960s and 1970s green Co Springs earned the nickname 248 00:21:21,799 --> 00:21:29,640 little Detroit because of the cluster of automobile dealerships along 249 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:34,320 us7 these dealers ships were largely established by Justin Pierce reels who 250 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:38,679 opened the first Ford dealership in the State of Florida this Automotive 251 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:45,240 presence provided an economic identity for Green Cove Springs during that time 252 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:49,799 little Detroit was a uh a moniker if you will that the car dealers got together 253 00:21:47,279 --> 00:21:55,080 in the 60s and basically uh banded together and they decided they would 254 00:21:51,880 --> 00:22:00,000 call themselves little Detroit uh and increase automobile sales here in Green 255 00:21:57,919 --> 00:22:04,440 Cove as to going into Jacksonville and buying a car St Augustine poac car or 256 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:09,159 Lake City and that effort was very successful up down through the uh the 257 00:22:06,559 --> 00:22:13,520 70s if you will and I want to say there was probably six or eight car 258 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:18,919 dealerships all the majors Ford Buick Cadillac uh Chevrolet Ford and so forth 259 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:23,679 and they were they were known if you want to buy an automobile at a 260 00:22:20,559 --> 00:22:28,600 reasonable price come to Little Detroit so once again they did well to back up a 261 00:22:25,919 --> 00:22:33,679 second one of the first motorc car dealerships in the State of Florida was 262 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:38,400 just a block from here over the because stavon house is over the next block and 263 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:42,000 uh there's a vacant lot there now and that was gustavis and Motor Company I 264 00:22:40,039 --> 00:22:46,159 can remember that while the city has grown and thrived over the years its 265 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:51,240 true heart lies in the memories of those who have lived and worked here well I 266 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:57,880 grew up here in greenco Springs my mother originated from uh Georgia my dad 267 00:22:54,240 --> 00:23:00,720 lived here um my great grandmother my great great grandmother and my great 268 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:07,799 great grandmother all from um greenco Springs 269 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:12,240 I remember as a little girl walking the streets of Green Cove and a lot of the 270 00:23:09,679 --> 00:23:16,200 streets was not paved there was very few streets that were paved I remember 271 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:21,080 walking in the hot sand like if though you were walking on the beach I used to 272 00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:28,200 love to be barefooted and I would walk in the sand um going to other relatives 273 00:23:24,919 --> 00:23:32,039 home and uh friends home lot of fun remember 274 00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:37,240 about of fun my family's been here since the the ' 50s and so just going to 275 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:42,559 school and living around here for all these years um I came back from college 276 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:47,720 to start opening businesses in Green Cove and we just grew to love the 277 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:53,320 community and then the history and the more families that we met here that have 278 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:58,760 been here for Generations the more our passion grew for the area and and we 279 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:05,559 just became so incredibly invested I came to Green Coast Springs to pursue my 280 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:10,760 uh my personal U and professional uh life and education by coaching and 281 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:14,799 teaching well the Bible says in Psalms it says that if you delight 282 00:24:13,159 --> 00:24:19,000 yourself in the Lord he give you secret desires of your heart so my secret 283 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:25,159 desire was to play pro football I wasn't go to go to teach and coach and uh I got 284 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:29,159 hurt so I wasn't going to take their operation so I tell them I said look I'm 285 00:24:27,159 --> 00:24:34,159 I'm through I'm going home so when I came 286 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:38,039 home I got this phone call from Green Co Springs and they said we'd like for you 287 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:43,360 to come down to interview for a teaching job I was the first African-American in 288 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:48,679 a in a white school in the state of Florida I was the first African-American 289 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:54,679 Recreation director and over the times I had lots and lots I taught generations 290 00:24:51,799 --> 00:25:00,679 of kids the mama the daddy the grandom and everybody else and uh you know I 291 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:05,640 don't think I ever had a a a a somebody that didn't like you and when I first 292 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:10,159 come your kids didn't have a way home and I and for them to play sports I took 293 00:25:07,679 --> 00:25:15,360 them home I took everybody home every day so I'd like to leave that that 294 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:20,240 school with 35 or 40 kids on the back of my truck I wore out three trucks then 295 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,520 you know we went on to start coaching well that year we didn't have a great 296 00:25:21,559 --> 00:25:29,240 football team we had a lot of young kids and it 297 00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:33,520 was like we one and one one and one and seven we lost 298 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:38,880 seven but then when we got ready to go pay Lake 299 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:43,039 Butler uh we uh we went on over there and when I got to leg Butler they said 300 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:47,799 uh where's the coach I said I'm back here he said let the boys come on in so 301 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:54,440 the boys walked on in and I got ready to walk in he said I'm going to use another 302 00:25:51,399 --> 00:25:59,679 word he said where you going I said I'm I'm the coach he said 303 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:05,360 boy you must be crazy they ain't got no black people coaching no no white school 304 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:09,360 in Florida and so the parents heard him and the boys are standing right there 305 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:13,360 and they got mad so the parents said something to him and then he said ma'am 306 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:17,279 I hadn't heard of that said I'm sorry mister I said okay and I went on the 307 00:26:15,559 --> 00:26:21,600 locker room so I got the locker room the guys told me say look you don't need to 308 00:26:19,279 --> 00:26:27,279 come in here so we got something to talk about I said okay so I just went on back 309 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:31,200 outside and sat down and when you saw those boys when they come out look like 310 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:36,600 it had fire in their eyes and U you know if Lake Butler they 311 00:26:34,279 --> 00:26:42,360 were eight and three if they beat us they were in the state playoffs but when 312 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:47,320 them boys come out we beat them 33 to nothing we beat everybody else and they 313 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:51,960 had a custom here in greenco if um you know we went off to 314 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:56,240 play a game cuz we were winning all the time they would stay up and when when we 315 00:26:54,640 --> 00:27:00,240 come through green cold everybody would blow the horn and when you blowed the 316 00:26:58,559 --> 00:27:04,600 horn you can see lights turning off all over green Co so we getting ready to go 317 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:10,720 to state championship we went down to graville that's down near 318 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:13,960 Alabama with next door really and so the boys got out we got out there and warmed 319 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:18,919 up and the boys was out there talking and they was you know this they they 320 00:27:16,399 --> 00:27:22,520 were giving us a hard time so y'all I know y'all sorry cuz y'all a got about 321 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:26,640 four or five students and and people in the stands and I told the boys I said 322 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:32,520 y'all just keep practicing don't worry about them so the game starts at 8:00 323 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:37,320 about 10 minutes before the game started they had a gate down it started 324 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:41,080 rumbling and when that gate come on there were 11 bus 325 00:27:38,919 --> 00:27:45,519 loads from greenco and I I don't know how many 326 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:50,640 people drove but when when the game started we had people line up from the 327 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:57,440 front of the sideline all the way down to the end and it you know we beat them 328 00:27:54,360 --> 00:28:00,519 33 to nothing it was a great thing you know every everybody was together and 329 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:04,720 that we didn't have no fights we didn't have no problems the school went fine 330 00:28:03,399 --> 00:28:07,279 and everywhere else they were having problems in Jacksonville they were 331 00:28:05,919 --> 00:28:12,760 talking they were beating people up with ax handles and all kind of stuff you 332 00:28:10,159 --> 00:28:18,039 couldn't do nothing but we didn't have that kind of stuff in green Co and like 333 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:21,880 I said God always had prepared this everything I touched was like touching 334 00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:30,320 gold today Green Cove Springs is a harmonious blend of the past and present 335 00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:36,320 historic landmarks stand proudly alongside modern amenities reflecting 336 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:42,240 our Rich Heritage and Progressive spirit in April of 2004 the city 337 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:47,720 relocated its operations adjacent to the municipal swimming pool and moved into a 338 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:51,799 new two-story stucco structure situated on the side of the former Clarendon and 339 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:57,320 the kisana hotels the present day City Hall complex 340 00:28:54,760 --> 00:29:01,880 emulates the Mediterranean architectural style of the for former KY Sana hotel to 341 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:07,840 preserve a historical Link to the community's Past Heritage and 342 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:12,000 history our community thrives on Unity Innovation and the spirit of 343 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:17,360 togetherness from farmers markets to festivals Green Cove Springs is a place 344 00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:22,519 where tradition and modern coexist beautifully whenever developers come and 345 00:29:20,039 --> 00:29:26,159 they want to be in Green Cove Springs and and you see new businesses pop up 346 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:31,039 they pop up in areas where it makes sense where it enhances 347 00:29:28,399 --> 00:29:39,399 um the walkability enhances the quality of life it showcases our uh culture and 348 00:29:34,919 --> 00:29:44,279 history um these have been some of the uh the one would say boring and tedious 349 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:48,440 groundwork that we have been laying that now we're starting to see these pieces 350 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:54,440 go into place that's going to create this wonderful puzzle uh that is going 351 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:59,399 to be the vision of GRE Co Springs going forward we have these Grand events 352 00:29:57,279 --> 00:30:05,480 whether it's the Riverfest or our Memorial Day presentation our veterans 353 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:11,360 uh tributes that we do our uh whether it's the food truck Fridays they have a 354 00:30:08,399 --> 00:30:17,480 a really great polish and and they're Grand and they can attract 8,000 people 355 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:23,720 but it still just feels like you're just around neighbors and friends we have the 356 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:29,159 Cavita which is a great um a great event that is ran by more local volunteers and 357 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:33,240 that highlights our from all over and brings it down here to our beautiful 358 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:37,919 Park and makes it interactive uh and so that these people 359 00:30:35,559 --> 00:30:42,720 can put their work on display and then we can also teach youngsters and all of 360 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:47,880 our other community members uh all of these different creative acts we also 361 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:52,200 one of the first projects of our new newly established 362 00:30:49,399 --> 00:30:55,279 CRA the that thanks to our partnership with the county we just got that 363 00:30:53,519 --> 00:30:58,559 established this year so that we can invest in our City's core one of the 364 00:30:57,039 --> 00:31:04,480 first projects that under taking is public art exhibits or displays uh in 365 00:31:01,559 --> 00:31:07,600 some of our public spaces and and some of them we're going to highlight history 366 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:12,760 some of I'm going to highlight local art and beauty of gr Cove Springs the 367 00:31:09,399 --> 00:31:16,559 natural beauty and it's it's another one of those things it's it sets the tone so 368 00:31:14,679 --> 00:31:21,960 it being the first project the CRA is going to tackle shows exactly where art 369 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:27,559 and culture stands as far as importance for green Co Springs with the different 370 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:31,600 activities and events that brings the community 371 00:31:28,519 --> 00:31:37,600 together so as you know we have the Soul Food Festival that's in October we have 372 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:42,559 uh who can't forget about the Food Truck Friday that we have once a month we have 373 00:31:40,559 --> 00:31:48,559 our Police Department that have put us on events we have the friends of Augusta 374 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:54,200 Savage that puts on events and our park is filled with a lot of events now since 375 00:31:51,760 --> 00:32:00,360 it's been renovated um we have people come from near and far just to be in the 376 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:05,960 city of of greenco Springs dynamics of greenco Springs have kind of shifted and 377 00:32:02,919 --> 00:32:13,880 changed some and uh I believe we're it's a setup for a great great City in the 378 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:19,679 future the future of Green Cove Springs is bright with plans for sustainable 379 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:25,000 development enhanced infrastructure and community-driven projects we are Poise 380 00:32:22,399 --> 00:32:30,519 for continued growth and success one of the first decisions we 381 00:32:27,639 --> 00:32:35,000 made made when I came on Council was huge infrastructure Investments like 382 00:32:32,279 --> 00:32:40,639 we've never done and uh that was shocking as a new council member coming 383 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:45,080 in before IID really learned anything so these are the the the steps that are 384 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:49,200 taken that are kind of The Not So Exciting steps but so necessary to set 385 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:55,200 us up so that we're really headed in the the right direction um making sure that 386 00:32:52,159 --> 00:32:58,880 we enhance and protect the the things that all of our residents hold dear 387 00:32:57,399 --> 00:33:03,279 which is like like our our natural beauty our natural resources which all 388 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:07,200 of our infrastructure and our utilities they all have that in mind they know we 389 00:33:05,039 --> 00:33:12,480 have a responsibility to protect our waterways to protect our residents to 390 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:17,679 keep our trees uh tree canopies beautiful and healthy to maintain that 391 00:33:15,559 --> 00:33:22,279 cultural feel that we have that is going to be the balance going forward I think 392 00:33:19,519 --> 00:33:26,159 we've really laid down the groundwork whether it's through our ordinances and 393 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:31,639 form-based codes and laying out the city in an intentional way even in the next 394 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:37,200 50 years and I know that my grandchildren and family will be able to 395 00:33:35,559 --> 00:33:45,200 um you know see the results of what we're doing today and um that'll be 396 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:51,760 something special for them so right now we are celebrating history but I'm 397 00:33:48,639 --> 00:33:57,360 making history one of my favorite phrases is honoring Our Heritage and 398 00:33:53,679 --> 00:34:02,000 forging our future uh part of that uh process 399 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:08,079 is knowing what has occurred in the past and then trying to build off of that in 400 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:14,240 a way that makes the community better uh as we've gone through the the history of 401 00:34:10,919 --> 00:34:19,599 green Co Springs we've had several eras that we have gone through since the 402 00:34:17,839 --> 00:34:27,839 1874 uh incorporation uh we've had the the 403 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:34,760 tourism draw the uh military era we had had the little Detroit era uh and now 404 00:34:31,240 --> 00:34:40,440 we're having the heavy growth era U that growth is coming and we can't do a whole 405 00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:47,119 lot about it other than manage it and managing it involves a lot of different 406 00:34:43,240 --> 00:34:54,320 areas of City operation which include the uh Planning and Zoning the land use 407 00:34:52,399 --> 00:35:02,960 uh making sure we have sufficient um people in departments such 408 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:09,160 as Public Safety um Public Works um to make sure that the quality of life that 409 00:35:05,119 --> 00:35:14,960 existed back 150 years ago continues to exist today as well as as we move 410 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:19,960 forward into the future into our next 150 411 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:24,560 years from our storied past to our promising future Green Cove Springs 412 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:31,640 stands as a testament to resilience community and vision I think the The 413 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:36,599 Pride that I have in the city now is not only the mayor and Council but our team 414 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:42,680 which uh I think I would put up against any team that uh you know we would be 415 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:47,920 compared to and I think the members of that team will do their part to move us 416 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:51,960 into the next 150 years we want to be the place that people can work and play 417 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:56,960 and there's just something about living here going to whether it's going to the 418 00:35:53,760 --> 00:36:00,800 food truck Fridays or just going up to the the GR grocery store or walking down 419 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:05,119 the street there's a 420 00:36:02,599 --> 00:36:11,240 familiarity and a neighborliness that uh I just did not 421 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:14,400 experience until I came back and and we put down Roots here in Green Cove and 422 00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:20,640 there's definitely something that sets us apart join us in celebrating 150 423 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:26,599 years and writing the next chapter of our City's remarkable history happy 424 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:31,839 anniversary Green Coast Springs happy anniversary 425 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:38,480 150th Green Cove Springs happy anniversary Green Cove Springs happy 426 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:46,119 anniversary greenco Springs happy 150th anniversary greenco 427 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:51,680 Springs I love living here happy 150 of green Co Springs happy 150 year 428 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:58,839 anniversary green Co Springs thank you for being the best part of our Cove life 429 00:36:54,960 --> 00:37:06,700 happy anniversary green happy 150th anniversary we 430 00:37:03,540 --> 00:37:42,469 [Applause] [Music]