JAX CURIOSITIES:  FORT ST. NICHOLAS

(Source of picture: Florida State Archives)

A Spanish fort used to guard the Southside area, and its soldiers may have looked out on a view similar to this one.  The picture comes from an old postcard that dates from the early 1900s.  The card shows the St. Johns River, but it isn't the portion that was in Jacksonville at that time.  However, the picture still gives an idea of how the St. Johns probably appeared before the city was founded.

A SOUTHSIDE STRONGHOLD -- Gridiron warriors now battle on a field close to where a Spanish fort once stood.  Over 200 years ago, a small Spanish stronghold, Fort San Nicholas, was situated just west of the athletic field of present-day Bishop Kenny High School. (The school is located on Atlantic Boulevard in South Jacksonville.) 

The Spanish built the fort sometime around 1740.  It was destroyed & reconstructed at least twice.  At one time, a triangular excavation enclosed a stronghold that measured about 100 feet square.  Located outside of the fort were barracks & officers quarters. 

THE FORT'S PURPOSE -- Throughout its history, the stronghold served the Spanish authorities in various ways.  These included the following:  (1) the defense of the Cowford (Jacksonville) crossing;  (2) the protection of settlers & missionaries from Indians; (3) the preservation of Spanish interests in Florida against the British & Americans; and (4) the prevention of smugglers from using the St. Johns River. 

Other concerns also worried the Spanish.  By 1800, the area had become a haven for troublemakers.  These included (1) bandits, (2) ruffians, (3) criminals who had fled the United States, (4) slave catchers chasing bondsmen who had escaped from the Southern states, and (5) individuals who wanted to wrest Florida from Spain's control.  Spanish officials hoped that Fort San Nicholas would help control these undesirables. 

Why was the stronghold located on the Southbank?  This location offered a better view of the river to the east than a spot on the Northbank would have.  During the 1790s, however, only ten soldiers occupied the fort. 

A DESCRIPTION -- The largest & strongest version of the fort came in about 1813.  The Spanish had to rebuild the fort after Americans destroyed it.  This new structure featured a square, outer wall that stood nine feet high and was made of sawed timber.  The tops of the logs were sharpened into points. 

The fort ran 100 feet down each side, and the moat measured 14 feet wide and seven feet deep.  Inside the stockade, houses were erected for the commander, his sergeants, & others.  The builders removed all of the trees within one mile of the fortification.  This enabled the fort's defenders to more easily fire at attackers. 

A HAS-BEEN -- Although Fort St. Nicholas was larger and stronger, it soon lost its importance.  It wasn't really needed after Florida became an American possession in 1819.  Within several years, a farmer had dug out the fort's remains & planted a field there. 

All but forgotten, Fort St. Nicholas finally made headlines again in 1917.  The Merrill-Stevens Shipyard was building a ship slip just west of today's Bishop Kenney athletic field; this slip was to be used to construct ships during World War I.  To their surprise, the workmen unearthed cannon balls, belt buckles, military buttons, & other items.  These artifacts offered a glimpse into the time when the Spanish ruled Florida.

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