This presentation was narrated by President Christine Rich at the 50th anniversary celebration of the South Ponte Vedra (Civic) Association.
In their 50 years, members of the SPVA put an end to dune driving, turtle soup, and septic tanks. They fought fires and wrestled with opposition and status quo. They researched existing laws and built convincing cases that won amendments to preserve the beach and estuary. They brought water lines, Turtle Patrol, a fun clubhouse, and community fellowship.
Today, the SPVCA continues its impact through community outreach and a full calendar of activities. We look forward to carrying our founders’ energy and spirit into the future.
If you have something to contribute to this story, please follow the pelican at the end of this page.
When Steve and I [Chris Rich] first moved here in 1997, I took my dog for a walk on South Ponte Vedra Beach. Shortly afterward, a local woman warned me that was a no-no. She said this particular beach was a dangerous place for a woman by herself, even with a dog. Why would she say that?
Early in 1972, Dick Oldenburg and Larry Picus dropped off letters in all SPV mail boxes. They wanted to discuss burglaries and other problems. [Ed Olsen read this scathing letter to the 50th Anniversary audience.]
Rick and Larry were not alone. Over the next few months, twenty-three people formed the South Ponte Vedra Association. They said their first priorities were (1) law enforcement, (2) beach traffic, and (3) environmental protection. President Larry Picus said, "We do not want to be the forgotten people anymore." The members got busy confronting the crime problem.
On SPVA's first birthday, founder Larry Picus handed the president's baton to Bruce Bullock. Bruce inherited 141 members with dues at $25 for a homeowner and $10 for a lot-owner.
The little group of "forgotten people" had meetings at Guana dam and at members' houses. They invited local authorities as special guests. They sent petitions and delegations to county commission hearings. Their presence at a county budget meeting allowed the sheriff to provide an ATV and deputy to patrol the road and beach. SPVA kept pestering their neighbors to join. President Larry said South Ponte Vedra residents rose in one year from "the unknown to the well-known".
Inna Heilman wrote in her 1991 book, "Today we take for granted that we have a fire station. The fact is that South Ponte Vedra only has a fire station thanks to the SOUTH PONTE VEDRA ASSOCIATION! We addressed the need long before the County realized its obligation."
SPVA member Emory Torrey was installing monitored fire alarms on his new house when he learned there was no fire service to call if the alarm goes off. He wrote to County Commissioner Herbie Wiles that he never dreamed such an affluent area would lack such a basic necessity. He offered his services to help rectify the situation.
The county commission held a public hearing. South Ponte Vedra residents said that their wood-frame houses will burn up before the nearest fire department can reach them. Commissioner Wiles proposed a tax increase to support volunteer fire departments. North Ponte Vedra residents argued they already paid for their own support and shouldn't have to pay for new communities who aren't as organized. SPVA president Bruce Bullock said, "We now have good fire protection as long as we don't have a fire."
The fire protection tax bill put a few more dollars in the county fire fund, but SPVA couldn't access it unless they already had a fire department. 125 members pledged their financial support. They elected Emory Torrey as Chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee and gave him a $750 budget to start.
When Emory had looked for somewhere to put a fire station with a tiny budget, he contacted SWD, the company that owned Guana. He asked very nicely if SPVA could lease a patch of land for a fire station. SWD offered a patch of land with water service for one dollar per year, and they sent SPVA a check for $1,000 to help with the fire department. The Usinas cleared the land for free and let SPVA borrow their heavy equipment.
More money came in thanks to letters and phone calls made by the fundraising committee, including our own Lea Lent. A Vilano resident donated a needlepoint pillow, which got raffled off. They raised $8,000 in six months.
SPVA president Bruce Bullock also asked the communities south of South Ponte Vedra for help. They contributed money, labor, and volunteer firefighters. One of those good Vilano neighbors was Bill Long. He just joined SPVCA and is here tonight. Thank you for your help back then, Bill. One year after Emory wrote the county about the lack of fire protection, he joined all the volunteers and contributors at the ground-breaking ceremony for the South Ponte Vedra Fire Department.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let's take a quick look at all of our volunteer firefighters. Click the picture to open a slideshow.
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."
We’ll need to fly south to finish the story.