Mission To cultivate an attractive and educational garden walk on the SPVCA grounds using plants...
Paperless Life
Ponte Vedra Life
South Ponte Vedra Civic Association
Suggestions?
This presentation is just a hint of this organization’s great history. We don’t have time tonight, but Amy Howard is putting it all together in a book. You can watch the progress and contribute to the story on her Ponte Vedra website. The link is on SPVCA’s website.
Suffice it to say, we have inherited quite a legacy. I will end by echoing my predecessor, Bruce Bullock. In a 1973 newsletter, he asked the members: “What would you like to see accomplished? Do you have any suggestions to make? Are you willing to contribute your time to explore it? Let us hear from you.
Please make all suggestions in writing so that they can be discussed at our board meetings.”
Parade of Firefighters
Let’s take a quick look at all of our volunteer firefighters. Click the picture to open a slideshow.
SPVCA 50th Anniversary History Presentation
A 10-minute overview compiled and presented by Amy Howard, treasurer and historian of the South Ponte Vedra Civic Association.
SPVA changed to SPVCA
Although we have focused tonight on the South Ponte Vedra Volunteer Fire Department, this organization was also very active on all of their original priorities: police protection, beach traffic, and environmental protection. Through it all, they kept a steady flow of fun times and parties. Most of us in here have many warm memories in this room thanks to volunteers who worked hard for us to have a good time. Those efforts made the South Ponte Vedra Association a true civic association. As the new fire station blossomed down the street, state representative Don Davis advised SPVA to focus on their status as a “civic association”. In July of 2006, the board voted to change the name to South Ponte Vedra Civic Association.
Burglars Blvd. is now a National Byway
After years of diligent teamwork, that old Burglars Blvd. was chosen as the northern end of the A1A Scenic & Historical Coastal Byway. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Transportation designated this corridor as one of America’s National Byways for its “breath-taking views and wildlife, including 50 endangered species”. The A1A Super Scenic Garage Sale is happening next month. That is a big fundraiser for us. Bring your donations and then come shopping.
Christmas party and BIG FIRE
I don’t have time to tell you all the fires and emergencies our volunteers tackled. But I will tell you this one. The year after the building was finished, SPVA piled into it for a Christmas party. They barely got started when a fire call came in from the north. It spread quickly and scorched 600 acres of Guana. SPVA and five other fire stations, with a total of 75 firefighters, spent eight hours putting it out just in time to save South Ponte Vedra houses. When the SPVA crew came in for breaks, the Christmas party food was still all there waiting for them.
1985 South Ponte Vedra Volunteer Fire Department
1984 South Ponte Vedra Volunteer Fire Department
SPVA held the first meeting in their own building
After five years of squeezing into people’s carports, SPVA was thrilled to attend their first meeting in their own building in June 1977. It was standing room only.
1976 South Ponte Vedra Volunteer Fire Department
SPVA received their first fire truck
The county fire coordinator found SPVA a used fire truck in Maryland for $2,500. He and his wife even drove to pick it up and bring it to South Ponte Vedra. But SPVA still had no garage for it. Luckily, Sawgrass Country Club agreed to protect it until SPVA had a proper facility.
