Colonial Spanish Quarter site of Eagle project

Cathy DuPont reported to Historic City News that this spring, Danny Geores, a rising senior at Pedro Menendez High School, fulfilled his Eagle Scout service project by building a goat enclosure at the Colonial Spanish Quarter museum on historic St. George Street.

Danny first learned about the museum in February, the City of St. Augustine spokesman told us. “Geores and his Boy Scout troop spent a weekend helping the staff with their spring cleanup.”

Dana Ste. Claire, director of the Department of Heritage Tourism, recommended some possibilities for a final project.

“Originally, Mr. Ste. Claire suggested that I rebuild two chozas, but we had some trouble getting everything to fit into a reasonable timetable,” Geores said. “I wouldn’t have been able to finish, so I decided to rebuild the goat enclosure instead.”

For Danny, getting involved in Boy Scouts of America and the long and challenging task of becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest attainable rank in the program, is a family tradition of sorts. “When I was a Cub Scout my mom was the pack leader, and now she’s our troop leader; my two older brothers are also Eagle Scouts,” Geores said.

Before beginning construction, Geores was required to submit a thorough and detailed project proposal to the museum, his scout leader, a unit committee, and a district representative. After his proposal was approved, Danny, along with approximately twenty other volunteers, worked for six days on the project.

One the museum’s top priorities is maintaining historical authenticity when undertaking new construction. “It wasn’t easy,” Danny said. “We tried to reuse as much wood as possible, but a lot of pieces had decayed over the years and were just unusable. We were able, however, to salvage original hinges and nails; we made it work.”

“There are numerous opportunities for volunteers to participate, and plenty of projects that need to be done,” according to Brad Taylor; a member of the museum staff who is currently building a shelter to house the goats inside of the enclosure.

Taylor believes that Geores’ project is a valuable contribution to the visitor experience at the Colonial Spanish Quarter.

Taylor explained that, in the past, groups from the community have not been very involved in the city’s only living-history museum — but that it is a new direction they would like to take.

“St. Augustine’s history belongs to everybody in the world I suppose, but especially to the people of St. Augustine. If we can get the people of the community more involved in what we do here, then they can feel an ownership and a pride in the history,” Taylor said. “I think that’s a door that’s needed to be opened a little bit wider for a long time.”