THE OLDEST CITY'S HISTORY

Flagler tidbits

Flagler the man: (details)

Flagler dominated St. Augustine's economy late 19th century as vividly shown in "The Oldest

City" book issued by the St. Augustine Historical Society:

"A traveler from towns as New York City could step into a Pullman "palace" car and thirty-five

hours later step out unto Florida's sunshine at Flagler's new railroad station.

From the railroad depot they rode omnibuses of the St. Augustine Transfer Company, whose

stables were built by Flagler, over asphalt streets paved by Flagler, passing the Flagler-built

baseball field, Flagler's laundry building and dairy.

On Sunday worshippers might attend Memorial Presbyterian Church, Grace Methodist

Church, financed by Flagler or Ancient City Baptist church built on land donated by Flagler.

In the event of illness there was Alicia Hospital, named for Alice Flagler.

The town's government resided in the City Building, build and owned by Flagler.

Prospective home buyers could contact the Model Land Company, the real estate arm of Flagler."

Flagler's Wives:

Mary Harkins - died 1881

Ida Alice Shourds - 1883 wedding - she 34, he 55

Mary Lily Kenan - August 1901 - she 34, he 71

The "Whitehall" mansion was built by Carrere and Hastings in 1902 in her honor.

Flagler's Hotels:

St. Augustine: Ponce de Leon - opened January 1888

St. Augustine: Alcazar - opened 1889

St. Augustine: Cordova - bought from Franklin W. Smith in 1889

Ormond: Hotel Ormond - bought in 1890 from S.V. White and increased to 150 rooms (details)

Palm Beach: Royal Poinciana - raised in 1936 (details)

Palm Beach: Palm Beach Inn, renamed Breakers - burned 1903, rebuilt 1904 (details)

Miami: Royal Palm Hotel - built 1897 (details)

Jacksonville: The Continental - built 1901, burned in 1919 (details)

"Flagler's Folly" becomes reality:

On January 22, 1912 the railroad's Key West Extension was oficially opened.

It was his ultimate triumph.

The extension lasted till Labor Day 1935 when a hurricane destroyed it.