History
Historic real estate, commercial property, for sale, in St. Augustine, Florida
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History Historic real estate, commercial property, for sale, in St. Augustine, Florida |
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 A History Remembered By most accounts, the construction date of the building on the site of 46 Spanish falls between 1821-1845. The lot appears to have been vacant when Florida was transferred from Spanish to British rule in 1764. The Minorcan colonists who fled Turnbull settlement at New Smyrna in 1777 where given sanctuary and permission to settle in the north part of St. Augustine. Known as the "Street of the Minoricans." Spanish Street became the home for Antonio Reo (sometimes spelled Reyo or Riso). The wooden dwelling covered with palm thatch, build and owned by Reo, occupied the King's property. The structure was reported to have been in bad condition by 1788 and listed as a house of palm on the 1800 tax roll. |
| The 1793 census
indicates Pedro Antonio Rico, now a 45 year old widower, occupied the house
with his sister and her husband (Juan and Jose Manusy). Ownership
of the property went next to a Minorcan farmer and fisherman, Juan Triay.
His son, Francisco Triay married in 1803 and was permitted to build a house
on the Spanish Street property prior to 1815. Francisco inherited
the property and house when his father died.
The Triay family held the property and what may well be the existent building until after the Civil War. The house and property were sold on August 1, 1867 to the Capo family, only to be sold the next day to Judge John G. Long for the price of $300. Judge Long, who served on the Republican National committee and appointed Consult General in Cairo, sold the property two months later for $600 to Dr. Oliver Bronson. It's uncertain if the escalated price reflects repairs, an addition of a rear wing, or just shrewd real estate practices. Dr. Bronson would head the Buckingham Smith Memorial Association to benefit the black people of St. Augustine. Three years later (1870) the house sold for $750 to J. D. O'Hern. The widow, Mary O'Hern and children held the house until 1900, operating the property as a boarding house for a time. A year earlier, the 1899 City Directory list William Lucas as the occupant and possible renter of the house, in what was becoming a black residential neighborhood. Lucas, a black carpenter, purchased the property for $600 and added a two story rear addition before his death in 1917. Lucas' wife
Rebecca lived in the house for another 10 years then rented the house to
other black families. In 1946, William Luca Jr. sold the property
to Raymond F. Sabate, who continued to use the house for rental until his
death in 1952. The house operated as a retail shop and residence
for Lillian Hohneker (later Lillian Lally) from 1957-71. Through
the 70's, Attorney David Parker also used the property for retail and residence
but the use changed to Law offices in the 80's.
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