New survey is updating history data

It's a survey crew from Bland and Associates, the firm hired by the city to do a wide-ranging survey of more than 500 historic structures in Fernandina Beach.

The $40,000 survey is being paid for by a $20,000 Florida Division of Historic Resources grant and $20,000 in matching city funds.

City Planner Kevin Sullivan said the last survey, done in 1985, was not accurate.

Find out more The Fernandina Beach Historic District Council will have a public meeting on the historic structure survey at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the City Hall conference room.

Typical historic data collected about each structure include past owners, date and reason for construction, its use over time, its style, the presence or absence of alterations and significant character-defining features that might give it the potential for being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The survey process is complicated and thorough.

"We do compare old photographs with the current building, which we will be digitally photographing while we are in the field," said Myles Bland, president of Bland and Associates. "The records typically examined by our historian include architectural renderings and blueprints, articles of incorporation, contracts, leases and property agreements, deeds, director's minutes, inventory books, legal instruments, ledger books, maps, city directories, maps, news- papers, periodicals, Sanborn Co. maps, and microfilm collections of government records and documents.

The firm also consults maps such as the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War, an invaluable resource.

"From a cartographic standpoint, we use old military aerial photographs, old geological maps service maps from 1917, gazetteers, old road maps, city guides, current and old municipal records, and just about every- thing else to document structures," Bland said. "We would also like to note that the wonderful staff of the Amelia Island of Museum of History also provide us access to their superb facility and its records."

Sullivan said there are 385 attributes on each form filled out.

"It's a big job but these consultants are experts at it," he said.

Surveyors will look at 485 sites already identified as being historic -meaning they are at least 50 years old - and an additional 25 to 50 more, including new sites in the Peck neighborhood, including the former Peck High School.

"The city wants to do that and has wanted to for some time," Sullivan said. "We want to look at it."

The data gathered will be incor- porated into the city's master plan for development. The results also may be used to promote heritage tourism opportunities.

Myles Bland said the city's structures have been silent wit- nesses to the pivotal role Fer- nandina Beach has played in Florida history.

"This survey is a great research opportunity and we look forward to documenting each of these historic treasures," Bland said.

The historic district is 30 blocks around downtown Fernandina Beach. The original survey was done in the middle 1970s and was the foundation for the Centre Street renovations that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of starting the project.

mary.hurst@jacksonville.com, (904) 261-7606, ext. 6353