In participation with the Annual St. Augustine History Festival
On Saturday, May 13, the City of St. Augustine’s Historic Preservation Division will be participating in the annual St. Augustine History Festival by offering a window workshop and Historic Water Works Open House.
From 9:00am to 1:00pm, the public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the Historic St. Augustine Water Works Building, located at 184 San Marco Avenue. Attendees will be able to see the preservation efforts that brought this historic building back to life.
Then, from 9:30am until 12:00pm, in the main room of the Historic Water Works Building, Julie Courtney, the City’s Historic Preservation Officer, will offer welcoming remarks and Doug Romaine, Historic Preservation Advisor for Austin Historical, will lead a window restoration workshop. This workshop is an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of historic windows by a preservation expert, including the benefits of historic windows, energy efficiency facts and options, maintenance and restoration techniques, how to be hurricane ready with historic windows, and will include time to ask questions.
These events are free and open to the public. While reservations are not required, window workshop attendees are asked to RSVP to let us know you plan to attend: windowworkshop.eventbrite.com
For a complete schedule and more information about the St. Augustine History Festival check out their website. For more information about the workshop and open house, check out the City's dedicated web page.
Historic Water Works Building
The building was completed in 1898 as the first St. Augustine Waterworks Pumping Station and a rare example of a brick masonry structure in St. Augustine. Following its decommissioning in 1927, the building was adapted to a community center, which served the St. Augustine Art Association, the Little Theatre, and Camp Fire Girls from 1928 until 1964. From 1964 until 2005, the building housed the St. Augustine Garden Club. In 2013, the building was designated as a Local Historical Landmark, and in 2014, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beginning in 2015, preservation efforts by the City removed non-historic additions and alterations, and resulted in the restoration of original finishes and features. Grant funds from the Florida Division of Historical Resources contributed to the effort, along with countless hours of dedicated work by architects, construction crews, craftspeople, and City staff, and the building was reopened. In 2022, the St. Johns Cultural Council signed a lease to become the new tenants and breathe fresh life and activity into the building that they market as The Waterworks.
Doug Romaine, Historic Preservation Advisor for Austin Historical
A lifetime of serving people in nonprofits has equipped Doug with exceptional customer care. Growing up in a historic home led Doug to Austin Historical. Doug’s training as craftsman and expertise as a Historic Preservation Advisor will guide you calmly through the process until you arrive at the destination of wonderfully restored windows. Doug has traveled throughout the state of Florida and beyond to offer expertise and care for historic restoration.
St. Augustine History Festival
The St. Augustine History Festival was created and conceived by UFHSA (University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, Inc.) for the purpose of generating excitement about the history of America’s oldest city. From May 10 – 14, 2023, the festival will showcase every era of St. Augustine’s long and storied past through the 30 Special Events and Historic Venues.
Questions may be directed to the City of St. Augustine Historic Preservation Division via email or Julie Courtney, City of St. Augustine Historic Preservation Officer, at 904.209.4283.
