WPA Folklore Project Life Histories

The Olsen's (30 Sanford St St Aug Feb 21, 1939 by Alberta Johnson Federal Writers Project Folklore Project - Life Histories

Excerpts

Curious about the beginning of the shrimp industry here, as we know it, I find that it originated about 1913 in Fernandina FL. St Augustine having a harbor well protected and amply deep for small boats, soon attracted fishermen who gradually built up a lucrative business. Swedes, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, and Greeks man the fleet, and also a number of negro helpers are employed. The narrow San Sebastian River offers safe anchorage to the many small craft that have their headquarters here during the season.

Packing houses were erected, and also a canning factory, where the shrimp are prepared for the canning process. The completed products of this factory are shipped to various sections of the US and also to foreign markets.

Formerly the fresh shrimp were packed in barrels of ice and shipped by freight or express, but now most of the shipment are made in the refrigerated trucks owned and operated by several local dealers, and in this manner quick delivery is made directly to the northern markets, New York City being the main distributing point.

CA Dupont and Hazel Ruth Dupont mentioned in article

T J Marshall - Excerpts

Mr. Marshall's early boyhood was in a small place called Canaler a few miles from Ocala. During the Spanish-American War he enlisted for service and was in training at Ft McPherson, but as he was under age, his mother procured his discharge.

Mr Marshall, said I, don't some of the Negro burial contracts seem a little peculiar?" The agent smiled as he cut off the ignition switch and took his debit book in hand. "I know what you are thinking about "The Over the River Burying Society" and other humorous references to colored burial societies. It is true that some contracts used to call for say; two Buicks, two Cadillacs, two Dodges, and so forth, for the funeral procession. I have even seen some provision made for "moaners" and rental of black coats for pall bearers but you read more about that in fiction than you see in actual life.

Mrs Elizabeth Dismukes Pioneer Floridian May 11, 1939 21 Bay St St. Augustine FL Rose Shepherd writer.

Mrs. Dismukes, an erect, slender woman, was interviewed in her lovely home overlooking Mantanzas Bay. ....

With reference to a copy of Mames McMeill Whistler's famous painting of his mother hanging on the wall in the living room, Mrs Dismukes said:

"She married my father's cousin, becoming Anna McNeill, and we always called her "Aunt Anna' as she was old when we first knew her. She had tuberculosis, or 'consumption' as they called it in the early days, and always wore the little white shawl around her shoulders. She looked just like the picture. There were five sons and one daughter in Aunt Anna's family. I never saw James McNeill Whistler, as he was sent abroad early in life to study art and did not live in St Augustine, but I knew his younger brother, Willie, very well. ......

Willie Whistler studied medicine and during the war between the States was a surgeon in the Confederate Army.

There were four forts in various sections named after General Clinch.

And by the way, the town of Bayard, Florida, on the Florida East Coast Railway, was named for one of his sons, Bayard Clinch, and not for the statesman and cabinet officer, as is so often claimed.

I was named for Elizabeth Billing Gibbs, who lived in St. Augustine when I was born.

We lived in St Augustine when the war came on. My father took command of the fort here, and the Confederate flag which flew over it was made by the people of this city on the floor of our house. then father went to Virginia to join General Robert E Lee's Army of Virginia. He later became a Confederate Colonel. My mother followed to be near to him as possible in Virginia, and Julia and I were placed in school - a girl's seminary conducted by a Rev Mr Howard and his three daughters near Rome, Georgia.

We went to Quincy with a trunkful of Confederate money. We staid there during the Reconstruction period. Father and mother joined us there, and we journeyed to St. Augustine. Our house was still standing, but was entirely empty. It had been occupied by Federal officers during the occupation of the city, and had been looted of everything, furniture, clothing, all our keepsakes and heirlooms.

St Augustine used to be a gay place when the Ponce De Leon and the Alcazar were open during the winter season. Wealthy people, interesting, educated and traveled used to spend the winter here, but of course, now they go to West Palm Beach and Miami, and it seems dead.