c1911 Post Office – Amelia Island

A favorite of mine to photograph – the interior of our c1911 post office here on Amelia Island. For the most part it’s survived its 115 year plus history pretty much intact. I’m told that this is exactly the same way this door has looked since 1911. Amazing.

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Beautiful quartersawn oak – excellent casework and attention to detail. Can you imagine replicating this today?

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris

The Pippi Longstocking House – Amelia Island, Florida

Located in what is known as Old Town (Fernandina Beach) overlooking the Amelia River on the northwest side of Amelia Island. Originally built around 1870 for a harbor pilot Captain Bell and the second owner was also a river captain in 1901. Located on a high bluff at 212 Estrada Street, it overlooks the former Spanish fort San Carlos (c1811).

It’s a lovely house that’s been restored and maintained throughout the decades. It stood in as Pippi Longstocking’s house in the late 1980s movie “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking”… “The house was altered and remodeled through the years. When movie producers came calling in 1987, it was its original weathered white with hunter green shutters. The house stood in for Villa Villekulla, the fictional home of Pippi, a character in a series of books written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. The young girl lives alone in a small Swedish village sharing the house with her monkey and horse. She befriends the two children living next door, Tommy and Annika Settergren, and they have many adventures together.”

Today it is a private residence and is not open for tours. It’s a very easy to photograph house because of the large open area in front of the house (actually Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park).

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The “Pippi Longstocking House” on Amelia Island. Built c1870

If you find yourself near Amelia Island it is well worth the visit (don’t miss the 40 block Historic District of Fernandina Beach while you’re at it).

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Pippi says “hi”! Actress Tami Erin

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my camera and photography shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com

Chris

Tropical Storm Force Winds – Irma

Here’s a small sample of what it was like here in extreme Northeast Florida on the morning of  September 11, 2017 as TS Irma (downgraded from hurricane at that time) made its way northward across the north central part of the state well west of Amelia Island. 

The winds were east-southeasterly at about 40 mph sustained with gusts into the 60-70 mph range when this video was taken at 8 AM. The oak in the video is about 60 feet tall and nearly 80 feet across. It held up nicely in the relentless winds. Check out the 20 foot tall flagpole – it did well too.

The flooding in the street was from the heavy rainfall and blocked storm drains and not from storm surge. Once the drains were cleared the water was gone.

A big shout out goes to the fearless linemen from Illinois that worked to restore our power… which was out for only 61 hours! Considering how much damage there was that was a remarkably short period of time. At one point in the repair work near our neighborhood, dozens of linemen were using five power company bucket trucks to string new wires and set new poles. Thank you!!!

Chris

Irma Damage

Almost everywhere in Florida was affected by Hurricane Irma – some more directly than others and of course some suffered a complete loss of their homes, businesses, cars and lives. The difficult journey of recovering from the damage and destruction will be a long one and some will just give up and go.

Our corner of Northeast Florida (our little island) for the most part did pretty well considering where we are located. Closer to home, our neighborhood had damage but the homes came through. We lost our power for 61 hours – a small time really compared to what others will see.

These pictures are from around 8 AM or so on Monday morning (9-11-2017) – the winds were still gusting into the high 60 mph range with some gusts to near 90 mph in the predawn hours.

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Neighbors house avoids getting damaged from a rather large oak branch.

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Directly behind our house on another street. This was about a 60 foot oak that blew down and missed the house completely.

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Just outside the neighborhood at the beach. Just after the highest water was receding.

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At the beach. Only a few poles came down.

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Some damage along the beach road (above and below).

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By the afternoon on Monday, the strongest onshore winds were past but the ocean was still very rough.

The best to all that are suffering through their recoveries from Harvey and Irma.

Chris and Carol

Our Silly Old Cat!

Zoe, our 18 year old Siamese cat decides to check out something she’s never seen before.

A rather large puddle in front of our house created by the heavy rains from the passage (well west of us) of Hurricane Irma. Zoe ran out from the garage and down the driveway (with winds around 35 mph with gusts to around 55 mph or so) to get a closer look at this “new found thing” (and a drink!).

What we don’t see is that as soon as I moved the camera away, she proceeded to JUMP into the puddle and swim around!!! I couldn’t believe what I saw and of course she was out in a flash – soaked and meowing her head off! No damage done and now she knows that she can’t walk on water.

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The street flooded only because the drains were blocked by leaves that had been ripped off the oak trees by the gusty winds. As soon as a neighbor cleared the drains (shortly after this shot) the street was back to normal and Zoe’s swimming hole was gone.

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An appropriate “possessed” cat pic of Zoe. Wanting me to turn on the faucet.

This was on Monday morning (9-11-2017) and she’s gone down the driveway everyday since to check on her puddle! Silly old cat!

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris