Tolomato Cemetery

Saint Augustine, Florida

February 24th, 2022

The Tolomato Cemetery is the oldest European-founded city in the United States and has been used as a cemetery from the 18th century until 1884. During the first Spanish period, before 1763, this site was occupied by the Christian Indian village of Tolomato. This village was then abandoned when Great Britain acquired Florida. In 1777 Father Pedro Camps, pastor of the Minorcan colonist, who had come to St. Augustine after the failure of Andrew Turnbull's settlement at New Smyrna, obtained permission from Governor Patrick Tonyn to establish this cemetery for his parishioners. 

Tolomato Cemetery Informational Link

Artifact #1

This memorial is in sacred memory of Mary Carmen Benet, erected by the husband and father the last of a once happy family.

Artifact #2

Here lies a vital plaque to commemorate citizens in past Saint Augustine. It strikingly is hidden behind a memorial of a well-known reverend. It states, "Unknown St. Augustine citizens reinterred from the site of the 16th-century parish church of Nuestra Señora De Los Remedios." 

Exterior #1

Exterior #2

In conversation #1

This is the Tolomato River. It is located on Florida's East coast just north of St. Augustine, where it meets the St. Augustine Inlet and the Matanzas River. I chose this because the Tolomato Cemetery is linked to the Tolomato Indians and this river. The initial Indian group was composed of Guale Indians coming from Georgia. The term Tolomato derives from the Tolomato River where they lived. 

Tolomato River

In conversation #2

On behalf of white settlers who wanted to grow cotton on the Indians' land, the federal government forced them to vacate their homelands and walk hundreds of miles to a specific land area designated "Indian Territory." The Indians owned valuable land, and the white settlers yearned to make fortunes by growing cotton. They resorted to violence to take the lands desired from their indigenous neighbors. I chose to use this heartbreaking story because it reminds me of all the unmarked and walked-over graves of the indigenous in Saint Augustine. I had the same feeling and reaction when I learned about the trail of tears and the unmarked and walked over graves; deeply saddened and was slightly offended. 

Trail of Tears 

Creative component 

This is a digital art piece that my friend Felix and I created together. We traded this drawing back and forth, depicting a native with a snake and wolf stemming from a deep conversation about our culture and ethnicity. 

Literary component 

My literary component comes from the collection of poems, Lukao, written by Craig Santos Perez. "In Chamorro birthing practices, a pattera (Midwife) and a surahana (healer) guided the pregnant mother. They offered amot (medicine) and lasa (massage). Family provided food, such as fresh chicken soup and eggs. Most families paid in meat and produce from their farms. After delivery, the was cleaned and massaged with coconut oil. The apuya' (umbilical cord) and pares (placenta) were buried beneath or near the house because Chamorros believe that doing so would keep children close to home throughout their lives. "(pg.21). The excerpt I choose to discuss is one of the sections Craig Santos Perez decided to strike through. The idea of strike through is the indication of deletion of error or obsolete information. This is seen in the collection of poems, Guam's history re-written through colonized lenses, becoming obsolete. This is imperative to my past conversation piece about the trail of tears. The action of colonization has taken away so many lives, cultures, and experiences. 

The Gonzalez-Alvarez House (The Oldest House Complex)

Saint Augustine, Florida

February 17th, 2022

The Gonzalez-Alvarez House, also known as a part of the Oldest House Complex, is Florida's oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling. This house has been a national landmark and a museum since 1893. This complex is owned by the St. Augustine Historical Society, including Florida's Oldest House, two museums, a changing exhibition gallery, an ornamental garden, and a museum store. 

The Oldest House Complex Informational Link

Artifact #1

This artifact was Richard Twine's Camera, an 1886 Rochester Optical Co. Glass Plate Camera. Richard Twine was a professional photographer who captured scenes of Lincolnville, St. Augustine's Historic Black neighborhood in the 1920s. His career may have been short-lived, but he managed to immortalize the residents' diversity, pride, and grandeur, commemorating and celebrating their black heritage and lives. 

Artifact #2

These life-size statues are found in the Gardens of the Oldest House. The Gardens of the Oldest House has seen many seasons, so each statute represents "spring," "summer," "fall," and "winter." These statues were features in the formal planting of the 1890s after Dr. and Mrs. Charles P. Carver; then, the house owners brought them here from the 1893 Columbian exposition in Chicago. 

Exterior #1

This image was taken of one of the side gardens found inside the Oldest House Complex. A typical Spanish colonial residence was a one-story rectangular-shaped building. These homes had either loggia (an open-side room) or a porch. The main entrance was through either the loggia or patio, which opened into a walled garden in the rear. During the British occupation of saint Augustine, British settlers expanded porches and moved entrances from the walled gardens to the fronts of the houses facing the streets. 

 

Exterior #2

This house exhibits both Spanish and British colonial architectural details and styles. A visit to this house reveals a record of life in saint Augustine for over 400 years, throughout the British, Spanish, and American occupations of Saint Augustine. 

In conversation #1

This is Jericho es-Sultan or Tel Jericho, a UNESCO-nominated archeological site. This site lies in an oasis in the Jordan Valley north of the Dead Sea in Israel. Due to its old age, I connected the Gonzalez-Alvarez House to this image and this city. Hence, Tel Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world. 

Ancient Jericho (Tell Sultan)

In conversation #2

This is the Etruscan Gold Book. I chose this book because it is the world's oldest book, using 82 carat gold in six sheets of pages with text and illustrations of a horse-rider, a male horse with deer horns with a griffin.

The Etruscan Golden Book

Creative component 

Literature component 

The literature I chose to correspond with this site is poetry from Habitat Threshold. "We do not know which to fear more, the terror of change or uncertainty..." This line reminds me of how important conservation and preservation are to the city of Saint Augustine—keeping the oldest and wealthiest parts of the city's history alive and well. The constant thoughts of what-ifs and how's badgering their minds with uncertainty.  

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

St. Augustine, FL

February 10, 2022

Dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America, St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine was institutionalized as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This shrine comprises exhibits showing the early life of Greeks in America. The museum is open to all the public and those of faith and can be found on St. George Street. 

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine Informational Link

 

Artifact #1

All three vestments were gifted to the St. Photios shrine by Archbishop Iakovos, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, and Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, and the estate of Bishop John of Amorion. These vestments are all referred to as Pontifical vestments or Episcopal vestments, which are the liturgical vestments worn by Bishops in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches. The fully vested Greek Orthodox Bishop is an imposing figure. The symbolism attached to each article of clothing is from the Old Testament; when worn, the Bishop is considered an icon or image of Jesus Christ. The style was developed in 321 A.D.-1453 A.D. during the Byzantine Empire's rule. The order in which the vestments should be worn is Tunic (sticharion), Stole (epitrachelion), Maniples (epimanikia), Genual (epigonation), Imperial Robe (sakkos), Small Omoforion, Cross, Engolpion, Mitre (Crown), Staff, and then Candlesticks. 

                                                                         

Artifact #2

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed is a Christian statement of faith. The letters of this Creed were created by Flagler College students, conveying its powerful and inspiring message. This creed and prayer is dedicated to the Greek Orthodox religion, with the idea that there is one God who exist in three persons. 

Exterior #1

The entrance into the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is found on St. George Street. Despite how busy and chaotic St. George can become, this shrine is a tranquil and independent area secluded from all the multitudes of people traveling through.

 

Exterior #2

Built-in 1749 and restored in 1979, the Case Avero House serves as a museum today. The museum tells of the Greek settler's sacrifices and stories through the well-preserved artifacts, treasures, and written word. The Casa Avero house is a sacred house of worship, and services are still performed today. 

 In conversation image #1

This is the Naxian Sphinx of Delphi. It was initially dedicated to the oracle of Delphi by the state of Naxos in 560 BCE and can be found in the Delphi Archaeological Museum in Greece. This statue depicts a mythical creature with a woman's head, the chest and wings composed of the impressive feathers of a prey bird turned upward, and the body of a lioness. I chose this as my in-conversation piece because we saw a shrine to the Greek Orthodox religion when we went to this site—hearing the terms Greek and faith made me think of Greek history with idols or gods. This specific statue served as a guardian within the sanctuary of the Naxos islanders, as a reminder of Naxian power and influence. 

The Naxian Sphinx

                                                               

In conversation image #2

This is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, found in Athens today.  It was built several centuries ago, starting in 174 BCE and finished by Roman emperor Hadrian in 131 CE. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is one of the largest temples built in the ancient world. As per the last conversation image, I immediately thought of Greek gods upon hearing the terms Greek and religion. This is where I wanted to find something that related to but wasn't the everyday use of gods; hence I chose the Temple of Olympian Zeus. As the site we visited was built to commemorate and honor its history and people, this temple was created to honor the chief of the gods. 

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Creative Component 

Literature Component 

My choice of literature for this site is One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII by Pablo Neruda. "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don't know any other way to love..." I chose this section of the poem because the Orthodox believe in the fullness of divine love. This divine love is found through those who believe in God, demonstrated through the Lord's sacrifice and resurrection, unconditional.