The Lesesne House, Fernandina Beach Florida

Another double  shot for this location-  Historical Marker plus being on the National Register of Historical Places.  There were lots of Lesene's in Charleston SC as well.  

Inscription. This Classical Revival style residence, built by Dr. John F. Lesesne circa 1860, is one of the oldest homes in Fernandina Beach. Lesesene left Fernandina during the Civil War and did not return. In 1868 the house became the property of the family of Judge John Friend, who had been appointed district tax commissioner after the war by President Andrew Johnson. Friend was a lawyer and served as a county commissioner and judge. At the time of his death in 1878 he was state senator-elect from Nassau County. The descendants of the Friend family still occupy the home. This double galleried home, constructed of hand-hewn lumber fastened with wooden pegs, is one of the major points of interest in the Fernandina Beach Historic District which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

December 17, 2014 The Nassau County Courthouse (1891) Fernandina Beach, Florida

This courthouse was a triple-bagger as well, had a historical marker, is a courthouse, and is on the National Register of Historic places.  

It's just up the street a bit from the Post Office-  

The 1891 Nassau County Courthouse is one of only a few remaining courthouses in Florida built in the late 19th century. An excellent example of the Italianate style, it features a square domed tower with cupola, brick corbelling, bracketed cornice, brick pilasters, arched windows, granite sills, and arcaded entrances with cast iron columns. Its architect, A.E. McClure, was from Jacksonville, but designed notable buildings throughout Florida, including the Lake City Agricultural College, forerunner of the University of Florida. The building's cornerstone was inscribed with the date 1891 and was scheduled to be laid on December 16 of that year, but the ceremony was delayed until April 12, 1892. Renovations to the courthouse include the 1926 addition of a vault for the recording office and a bell that was cast by Meneely & Co. of West Troy, New York. The bell served as part of the city's fire alarm until the mid-1930s. The clock was added to the bell tower in 1977. The courthouse is the tallest building in the Fernandina Beach Historic District and has served the county's judicial and governmental needs since its construction.

A Florida Heritage Site

Front view 

A small plaque that commemorates the redesign of the complex  

Rear view 

The Nassau County Courthouse, also known as the Old Nassau County Courthouse and the Historic Nassau County Courthouse, is an historic two-story red brick courthouse building located at 416 Centre Street in Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, Florida. Designed in the Classical Revival style, it was built in 1891 and features cast-iron Corinthian columns and a massive bell tower and steeple. Meneely and Co. of West Troy, New York, cast the bell for the tower, which was used as a fire alarm for many years.
In 1989, the Nassau County Courthouse was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press. 
In 2002 the building was carefully restored and renovated by the Auchter Company of Jacksonville. Also in 2002 construction began on a new Judicial Annex at 76347 Veteran's Way in Yulee. It was opened in 2004

December 17, 2014 The United States Post Office, (1912) Fernandina Beach Florida

This post office, which is listed on the National Register, is actually scheduled to be closed.  
When I visited, there was only one clerk on duty, and a long line.  I did get a cancellation.  
Originally built in 1912.  

As it looked in 1912

Today 

The United States Post Office, Custom House, and Courthouse is an historic building of the United States government in Fernandina Beach, Florida. It was constructed in the locally popular Renaissance Revival architecture style, and was completed in 1912 under the supervision of James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury Department. The building sits at the intersection of 4th and Centre Streets, across from another historic Court House (c. 1898), and adjacent to the pre-Civil War Victorian Lesesne House (c. 1859). It is three stories, comprising 18,800 square feet (1,750 m²), including a basement and a partial attic. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida met here until the creation of the Middle District in 1962, at which time the building entered use by the Middle District of Florida beginning in 1962. The facility was also in use as a post office during that entire period. Other federal offices vacated the building in the 1930s-1940s, with the post office remaining only on the first floor. Some second and third floor space was used commercially into the 1990s, but the condition of the structure and lack of elevators ultimately led to the end those uses.

In 1989, the building was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.

December 17, 2014 The Tabby House Fernandina Beach, Florida

The Tabby House is a historic site in Fernandina The Tabby House is a historic site in Fernandina Beach, Florida. It is located at 27 South 7th Street. On June 4, 1973, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. R. S. Schuyler, credited as the architect, is also listed as the architect of the nearby Fairbanks House, also built in 1885.

Built in 1885 according to the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, the house is "...2 and a half stories, 2-story veranda with carved posts and brackets..." and is built from bricks made of concrete and local shells.[2] Although lovingly referred to as "The Tabby House" by its owners and local residents, the building materials are not, strictly speaking, Tabby, which is a mixture of lime, sand, water, and crushed oyster shells. This house is listed on the US National Historic Register and is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture.
 Beach, Florida. It is located at 27 South 7th Street. On June 4, 1973, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. R. S. Schuyler, credited as the architect, is also listed as the architect of the nearby Fairbanks House, also built in 1885.  Built in 1885 according to the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, the house is "...2 and a half stories, 2-story veranda with carved posts and brackets..." and is built from bricks made of concrete and local shells. Although lovingly referred to as "The Tabby House" by its owners and local residents, the building materials are not, strictly speaking, Tabby, which is a mixture of lime, sand, water, and crushed oyster shells. This house is listed on the US National Historic Register and is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture.

December 16, 2014 Martha's Hideaway or Hippard House, Atlantic Beach, Florida

Atlantic Beach was established in 1935- as the Negro Beach for the metro Jacksonville area.  It was started by a Mr Ervin, who was a wealthy life insurance executive.  Martha's Hideaway, also known as the Hippard House, was built as a getaway by one of Mr Ervin's family members, and it was reputed that lots of gambling and perhaps other activities took place here.  
It went on the National register in 2001. 

American Beach, founded in 1935, was a renowned beach for Blacks during the segregation era when African Americans could not go to public beaches. In the early development of American Beach, a few private homes were built, including one hidden deep in the woods at the end of Ervin Street. The Colonial Revival house, built for local African-American business owner and community activist Martha Hippard, is an unusual example of high style architecture in the beach resort community. Detached from the main house is a separate party house that some say was a gambling house. Others say it was used to host dances, club parties, and other civic and social activities. Both houses are constructed of hand-made concrete blocks from truckloads of crushed coquina shells hauled from American Beach and hand-molded bricks manufactured on the premises. The 1938 structures were built on nearly an acre of land, larger than any other parcel in the area. In January 1961, Elmo and Annette Myers of Fernandina purchased the house from its second owner, educator Lottie O. Harris of St. Mary's, Georgia. Martha's Hideaway, also called Hippard's Hideaway, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 2001.

October 25th Beaufort SC City tour- The Verdier House

Verdier House

1. Verdier House Marker   Inscription. John Mark Verdier 1759-1826 Builder Of This House 1795-1800 General Lafayette Spoke To The People Of Beaufort From This Portico March 18, 1825 Erected by Beaufort County Historical Society. Marker series. This marker is included in the South Carolina, Beaufort County Historical Society marker series. Location. 32° 25.846′ N, 80° 40.265′ W. Marker is in Beaufort, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Bay Street, on the right when traveling west.  Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 Bay Street, Beaufort SC 29902, United States of America.   By Mike Stroud, February 2008 2. Verdier House with Marker   Regarding Verdier House. National Register of Historic Places : Verdier, John Mark, House ** (added 1971 - Building - #71000746)  ♦ Also known as Lafayette Building ♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering ♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown ♦ Architectural Style: Federal ♦ Area of Significance: Architecture ♦ Period of Significance: 1750-1799 ♦ Owner: Private ♦ Historic Function: Domestic ♦ Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling ♦ Current Function: Commerce/Trade ♦ Current Sub-function: Organizational, Professional Also see . . .  1. The Verdier House,. The house is in Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District. 2. John Mark Verdier House. John Mark Verdier House, also known as Lafayette Building, is a building in Beaufort, South Carolina., South Carolina.) 3. John Mark Verdier House. The John Mark Verdier House has been a Beaufort landmark since the 1790s, when it was built by John Mark Verdier. 4. Historic Beaufort Foundation. The mission of Historic Beaufort Foundation is to support the preservation, protection and presentation of sites and artifacts of historic, architectural and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina. (   By Mike Stroud, February 2008 3. Verdier House, 801 Bay St   5. Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France.   Additional comments.  1. John Mark Verdier House - National Register Nomination Form (1971) Description The house is frame with clapboarding. It has two stories on an elevated stuccoed tabby basement. The roof is hipped. On the front is a double-tiered portico. The interior, which follows a modified Adams style, has the traditional center hall with drawing room on the right, dining room on the left, and two additional rooms behind. In the hall, an archway frames the staircase. On the landing is a handsome Palladian window. From the landing a divided stairway leads to the second floor where there is a large ballroom with a retired room. Exceptionally, fine, handcarved mantels featuring allegorical figures, ribbons, fruit, flowers, and sheaves of wheat. The molding and cornices are beautifully decorated. The house is in good condition, and    4. Verdier House   partially restored. Historic Beaufort Foundation, for which the house is headquarters, plans to continue restoration already begun: restoration of elaborate plaster molding; scraping and painting of walls, ceilings and mantels in five rooms; exterior painting; replacing of porch banisters and shutters will follow comprehensive restoration plan by Charleston architect Albert Simons. Also planned is restoring of historic garden area, according to Simons plan. Significance Beaufort landmark since the 1790s, when built by john Mark Verdier. Son of a french Huguenot emigrant, Verdier was a wealthy planter and merchant whose house typified Beaufort's gracious architectural style and was a focal point of the town, providing entertainment for Lafayette during his Southern visit, and in the 1860s, headquarters for Union troops. (Historic Beaufort Foundation has a picture of the house with Union troops in front.) In the ballroom, Beaufort's first telephone was installed. The heirs of the builder owned the house until 1940 when it was bought by a committee for the Preservation of the Lafayette Building through public subscriptions. In 1967, this committee founded the Historic Beaufort Foundation, which now owns the house as headquarters, and makes it the focal point of the Historic Beaufort District which is listed on the National Register of    Historic American Buildings Survey, 1940 5. Verdier House Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-1 Significance: A late 18th century house where Lafayette was a guest in 1825, with elegant architectural features. Click for more information.   Historic Places.

Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 6. Verdier House , southeast view Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-5	Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 7. Verdier House stair landing ,first floor, rear Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-11
Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 8. Verdier House Northeast room, first floor Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-22

October 25, 2014 Charlesfort/Santa Elena Site Parris Island SC

Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site

1. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker   . Has Been Designated A National Historic Landmark  This site possesses National significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America 2001 National Park Service United States Department of the Interior Erected 2001 by U.S.Dept. of the Interior. (Marker Number # 74001822.) . Location. 32° 18.376′ N, 80° 40.54′ W. Marker is in Parris Island, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Belleau Wood Road, on the right. . At the end of Belleau Wood Rd, north end of the circle. Marker is in this post office area: Parris Island SC 29905, United States of America.     2. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker located at the Belleau Wood Rd circle   Also see . . .  1. Charlesfort-Santa Elena.  2. Charlesfort - Santa Elena.

3. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker along the north hiking trail National Historic Landmark: Charlesfort--Santa Elena Site *** (added 1974 - Site - #74001822) • Also known as Ribault Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe;38BU51 • Address Restricted, Beaufort • Historic Significance: Information Potential • Area of Significance: Military, Historic - Non-Aboriginal • Cultural Affiliation: Spanish Colonial, French Colonial • Period of Significance: 1500-1599 • Owner: Federal • Historic Function: Defense • Historic Sub-function: Military Facility • Current Function: Landscape, Recreation And Culture • Current Sub-function: Museum, Underwater •

4. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker ( AKA Ribault Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe ); see nearby Markers for Ribault Monument

5. French Tribute The first French stronghold on this continent

6. Tabby pylons outline a part of the : Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site -Ribaut Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe site

October 24th The Corner Store and Office Frogmore, Beaufort County SC

The Corner Store and Office, also known as the McDonald Wilkins, and Company Store and Mark D. Batchelder Office, is a historic general store and office building located on Saint Helena Island near Frogmore, Beaufort County, South Carolina. It was built about 1877, and is a two-story, wood frame building with a gable roof. It features a two-story wraparound porch. The adjacent one-story office was built about 1905. The store sold provisions to the islanders, most of whom were African American, and became one of the major centers of commercial and social activity on St. Helena.  It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

2 Additional locations in Palatka, Florida

Hit two locations on the National Register today in Palatka:  Also did 7 markers at the courthouse, and 1 out at the airport.   

First up was something called the Central Academy.  The Central Academy (also known as the Old Central Academy High School) is a historic site in Palatka, Florida. It is located at 127 Washington Street. Established in 1892, Central Academy became the first accredited African-American high school in Florida in 1924. The first Central Academy building was destroyed by fire in 1936. The present building replaced it in 1937. For a time it served as the school district's transportation office. The building, which the district turned over to the Palatka Housing Authority, fell into disrepair. A committee is working to raise money for its restoration. On November 12, 1998, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
I can vouch for the fact it is certainly fallen into disrepair. The roof is totally gone, can expect the interior is much better.  Probably a candidate for removal.  

Next was the Larimer Memorial Library on Main Street downtown: 

It had survived much better!  Larimer Memorial Library is a historic library at 216 Reid Street in Palatka, Florida, United States. It was given to the Arts Council of Greater Palatka in 1992, and renamed the Larimer Arts Center. On March 12, 2008, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.  It as you can see, has been repurposed as an Arts Center.

Bronson-Mulholland House, Palatka Florida

Visited this fine home last Sunday on my Palatka visit-  it is and was a fine example of antebellum homes here in town.  This one was actually built in 1854, and occupied during the Civil War.  Had a 45 minute tour by a very knowledgeable guide.  

Issac Bronson gravesite

The house from the street 

The museum on the grounds very well done. 

The later family of the house

September 26th The Pierce House, Bushnell Florida

September 26th Bushnell, Florida, National Register of Historic Places, the Pierce House/Hotel

This is a sad case of something that is going to the downs-  House was originally built in early 1900's  once was cared for and operated as a hotel/bed and breakfast, but is now signed with no trespassing signs and headed for ruin.   Sad to see.

The "old" mansion:

And how it appeared today: roof will be failing soon:  

September 26, 2014 The Citrus County Courthouse, Inverness Florida (1992)

This was a stop for a marker, and a courthouse stop, and then I discovered 6 new markers and turned them in to the data base.  

First, the marker:  easy enough

Inscription. Citrus County was formed from Hernando County in 1887 and Mannfield, in the center of the new county, was chosen as the temporary county seat by the state legislature. After a political tug-of-war and several elections, Inverness was chosen as the permanent county seat in 1891. In June, 1911, the Board of County commissioners adopted a resolution to erect a new building to replace the Victorian style wood courthouse on the square. The 1912 Courthouse, designed by architect Willis R. Biggers, includes a copper cupola topped with a belvedere and constructed at a cost of $55,885. Its eclectic design incorporates features from four distinct architectural styles, Italian Renaissance, Neoclassical, Mission, and Prairie School. The building is uniquely situated on a square lot at 45 degree angles. It is historically significant because of its association with county government over eighty years. A restoration returning the building to its original appearance was funded with grants from the Division of Historical Resources, matching funds from the county, and fund raising efforts by the Citrus County Historical Society. The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1992.

Nice example of a 1900's courthouse.  Noticed it was on the National Register of Historic Places, so looked for it's plaque and found it:

Also a neat cornerstone, built in 1912:

And, in the front of the grounds, a set of two groups of 5 War memorials, that were not listed in the Data Base, so I've sent them in:

From left to right, a Korean War Marker, a combination Korea/Vietnam marker, and a Desert Storm/Desert Shield Marker

On the left, a marker to all who gave, on the left, a WWI and WWII memorial

They had a very nice museum store, but no pins.....