Arborists, historians, environmentalists and maritime archaeologists are working toward a happy ending to what had been a community controversy.
Thousands of pounds of Florida Live Oak tree trunks were transported to the Port of Miami in May for shipment to Malaga, Spain.
The oak is now being used to build a full-sized replica of the 18th century Spanish brig Galveztown, which once was the flagship of famed Spanish General Bernardo de Galvez. The Spaniard is known for his defeat of British forces in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida during the American Revolution.
The shipment was handled by local arborist Eddie Conlon, owner of Tree Medic, who said he is pleased that the wood will be recycled for historic use.
The new Galveztown is being built with century-old (or maybe older) wood from trees cut down on Flagler College campus last year to make way for the school's new student center.
Recycling the oaks may help bridge history and perhaps vindicate environmentalists and tree lovers who fought to save the oak trees on the college campus.
The 25 trunks of Florida live oak, weighing approximately 13.5 tons, are being used for the ribs and other parts of the replica brig that is under construction at the Malaga shipyard Astilleros Nereo.
The project is a partnership between the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and the Spanish boat builder. It is endorsed by a number of prominent historical and archaeological organizations worldwide.
"The partnership between LAMP Boatworks and Astilleros Nereo represents a great opportunity to mutually support each other's maritime heritage preservation goals through a project that is important to the history of both our nations," said Sam Turner, LAMP director of archaeology.
In conjunction with the project, Turner and Susan R. Parker, executive director of the St. Augustine Historical Society, made presentations at a symposium, "The Influence of Spain in the American States" on May 8 at the invitation of the University of Malaga. They were among several speakers from the U.S., including Dennis Conrad of the Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C.; Antonio Garcia Lozsada of Central Connecticut University; and Thomas Denegre III of the Madrid Council, Navy League of the U.S.
Turner's presentation outlined the activities of Juan Ponce de Leon in Florida and his attempted settlement in southwest Florida.
Sister city contribution
In addition to the oak shipped from St. Johns County, white oak from St. Augustine's sister city, Aviles, Spain, is also being used for pieces of the ship's master couple, known in Spanish as the cuaderna maestra. It is the largest frame, or rib, in the ship's skeleton and sits vertically on top of the keel. Both Turner and Brendan Burke, project archaeologist/logistics director for LAMP, helped cut, shape, place and fasten the pieces to form the frame. The completed frame was lifted into place using a crane and temporarily fastened with clamps and supporting timbers.
Locals, businessmen, officials, representatives of the Spanish navy, marines, army and air force personnel and politicians from around the Province of Andalucia, in which Malaga is located, joined in celebration, which included the ceremonial raising of the Spanish and the U.S. flags.
"Local Napoleonic-era re-enactors fired musket volleys and a reproduction cannon, and a wreath was placed by officials to honor Galvez's aid to the patriot cause during our Revolution," according to Burke said.
When the project is completed, estimated to be in 2010, the new Galveztown will serve as a floating museum and should dock in St. Augustine to pick up a ship's boat that will be built here by LAMP Boatworks, a new lighthouse entity under the direction of LAMP and composed of local volunteers.
Once funds are raised, mainly by donations, the LAMP volunteers will build two yawls, 14 and 16 feet long. The yawls will then be used as workmen's boats, transports and perhaps even as a tug for the Galveztown. The brig is expected to sail to all the coastal cities that the original Galveztown visited.
According to Burke, "The Galveztown project is seen by Spain's Andaluz Federation of Maritime and River Culture and the Astilleros Nereo as not only a way to rekindle the memory of Malaga's greatest native son, Bernardo de Galvez, but also as a vehicle for building and enhancing Spanish-American relations, Burke said.
"It's going to be quite an exciting, historic sight when the Galveztown arrives in St. Augustine."
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us