Light Up Night a 19-year success story

Historic City News reporters watched as the City of St Augustine remembered a little of its own history last night when Mayor Joe Boles invited two former mayors to launch this year’s holiday lighting — one who lead the city during its 400th anniversary in 1965, and another who flipped-the-switch the very first year of the Nights of Lights in 1994.

Former Mayor John Bailey, Sr. assisted first by officially lighting the City Christmas tree. Bailey served as St Augustine’s Mayor from 1965-1967 which coincided with St Augustine’s 400th anniversary. Boles indicated that as our community draws closer to the commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the city’s founding, it is fitting to honor one who was so instrumental in the city’s quadricentennial commemoration.

Then, to “light the city,” former Mayor Greg Baker repeated the role he played 19 years ago as the first person to turn the switch that launches the Nights of Lights. Baker, who served as mayor from 1992-1995, was at the city’s helm when the decision was made to develop the Nights of Lights and appropriately was the one to preside over the inaugural season.

“It would be near impossible to find two members of our community who have contributed anymore in their professional and personal lives or have better served the city during their terms of office,” Boles told reporters. “Both of these public servants have never hesitated to give of their time for our city, and I am delighted they accepted the invitation to give us a little more of their time for Light-Up! Night.”