Dedication: Lift every voice and sing

Historic City News was in attendance this morning as faculty, staff, city and county officials and even a few former students gathered for the dedication ceremonies of the recently restored A. L. Lewis Archway Plaza commemorating the school’s former entryway and historic roots in St. Augustine.

Although the archway originally stood across the street and marked the entrance to what was then known as Florida Normal and Industrial Institute, this morning’s event took place at the Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park located at CR-214 (West King Street) near the intersection with Holmes Boulevard.

Dr. Harold Clarke, Vice President for the Office of Administration hosted a reception followed with an opportunity to view informational kiosks chronicling the story of Florida Memorial University.

Carolyn Fisher led the audience in singing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” accompanied by keyboard player Philip Brown.

Mayor Joe Boles presented a proclamation to the university on behalf of the City of St. Augustine during the opening ceremonies. City Manager John Regan, Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire and City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline also attended.

In attendance was 1963 graduate Gerald Eubanks; one of several former students of the college who still lives in St. Augustine. Eubanks presented a few historical reflections on the school when it was located in St. Augustine.

Flagler College President Dr. William Abare, introduced Florida Memorial University Dr. Henry Lewis, III, who delivered the President’s Address.

Architect Walter O’Kon, who has spoken about the design and construction of the arch at previous ceremonies, local historian David Nolan, and Greg White, chair of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency, were on hand, as well.

The dedication launches the school’s redevelopment of the hundreds of acres surrounding the archway, which Florida Memorial University still owns.

County commissioners Cyndi Stevenson, Mark Miner and Ron Sanchez attended, as did Parks and Recreation Director Troy Blevins, County Public Works Director Joe Stephenson and Assistant County Administrator Darrell Locklear.

U.S. Congressman John Mica’s district representative Patrick Kelly was one of about a hundred or so participants in the midday event.

Florida Memorial University traces its origins to 1879 and is the product of two institutional mergers combining Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida, and Florida Baptist Academy, founded 1892 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Both institutions served former slaves and their descendants, with a curriculum focused on industrial education, domestic arts, teacher education, and agricultural, mechanical and religious training.

In 1918, the institution relocated to St. Augustine where it remained for the next fifty years. From 1924 to 1940, the institution achieved numerous milestones, including construction of several new buildings and dormitories and a change of name to “Florida Normal and Industrial Institute”.

The archway, built by students in the 1930s, served as the entrance to campus until 1968 when the school moved to Miami, Florida. With the addition of graduate degree programs in education and business, the school was renamed Florida Memorial University in 2006.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer