North Florida Land Trust sets closing date for the Spanish American War Fort
NFLT will close on a piece of Jacksonville history on November 3.
- Jacksonville, FL (1888PressRelease) October 05, 2016 - North Florida Land Trust has set a date to close the deal on the purchase of the 1898 Spanish American War Fort. On Nov. 3, they plan to sign the paperwork to take over the title to the property. While NFLT still needs to raise about $21,000 to complete the purchase, they are close enough to schedule the closing. This is possible, in large part, to a match from an anonymous donor who has offered to match donations up to $39,000 in order to raise the final money needed to complete the purchase.
"With the support of the City of Jacksonville, the Delores Barr Weaver Fund and the anonymous donor, we have saved a piece of Jacksonville history," said Jim McCarthy, Executive Director of NFLT. "Mrs. Weaver got us started. Councilman Hazouri was instrumental in leading the City's effort. And the anonymous donor has made it possible for us to set a closing date."
Over the next month, NFLT will continue to reach out to donors for the final $21,000 needed to reach the $400,000 purchase price. NFLT is confident they will be able to raise the final funds.
"We are very grateful for the support of our larger donors and to all those who gave to save the fort, including the 10, 50 and 100 dollar donors," McCarthy said. "It is just wonderful that our children and future generations will be able to see and touch a part of our history more than 118 years old."
Donations to finish the fort fundraising can be made online at www.northfloridalandtrust.org, or by check marked for the "Fort" to North Florida Land Trust, 2038 Gilmore Street Jacksonville FL 32204.
NFLT has served as the acquisition and fundraising partner of the National Park Service and plan to hand the fort to them. The National Park Service will add it to the Fort Caroline National Memorial as a public access park. The preservation will make sure the only actual fort in Duval County remains intact. The property will be a critical addition to the National Park Service's interpretive and community education outreach programming.
The 1898 Spanish-American War artillery battery fort was one of four forts on St. Johns Bluff that acted in defense of the river and is the only one that still remains. The first, Ft. Caroline, was constructed in 1564 by French Huguenots. It was later taken by the Spanish and renamed Fort San Mateo. The exact location is not known, but it is believed changes in the river left it submerged. An English fort was constructed in 1778 and was likewise lost when man-made changes to St. Johns Bluff caused considerable erosion along the marsh. A Confederate Earthworks was built in 1862 and has been buried. It now lies underneath a residential development.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a non-profit organization who serves as a champion of environmental protection in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. NFLT was founded in 1999 and has protected thousands of acres of environmentally significant land including land at Big Talbot Island, the River Branch Preserve, Pumpkin Hill State Park, Moccasin Slough, along the St. Mary's River and other valued natural areas in Northeast Florida. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with private landowners and other public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org.
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