USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 23, No. 32
ICONIC PENSACOLA August 9, 2023
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
ARCHITECTURE, MARKETS & LANDMARKS
By Nicole Willis, Destiny Herbert & Molly Callahan
P
ensacola has always been known for its white sand beaches, its low-key coastal vibe and its naval and maritime history. While these aspects of Pensacola are deserving of acclaim, the city is also host to an eclectic variety quirky landmarks, unique attractions, historical architecture and creative small businesses that reveal our personality as a community and offer cultural touchstones that a create an ever evolving tapestry of life in our beloved little town. We’ve searched high and low to bring you some of the iconic sights and experiences that make Pensacola such an interesting and fun place to call home. As a continuation from last week, here are more iconic spots in Pensacola.
Architecture Pensacola’s most prominent architecture is displayed on buildings and structures throughout Historic Downtown Pensacola. Comprised of 30 different properties, Historic Pensacola spans across eight-and-a-half acres which feature some of the most unique buildings in Pensacola. The architectural styles of the structures range from French Creole, Greek Revival and Folk Victorian to Mediterranean, Classical and Renaissance Revival. The structures feature a variety of different architectural styles. More than 150,000 historic artifacts are located in the buildings of Historic Pensacola. A selection of 12 of the 30 buildings that make up Historic Pensacola are open to the public, and some offer tours. In certain locations, visitors can meet and interact with history interpreters to enhance their touring experience. One of the structures included in Historic Pensacola is the Old Christ Church. This church, true to its name, is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Pensacola. Built in 1832, the architecture of the Old Christ Church contains elements of NormanGothic, which is a style transitioning from Roman-Classical to Gothic. While the architect and builder of
the church are both unknown, it was built to be an Episcopal church. It now serves as a popular venue for events and weddings. Tours of the church are open Tuesday through Saturday and include the exploration of other historic sites as well. Included in the tour is another significant building in Historic Pensacola called the Lear/Rocheblave House. This house was built in 1890 for John and Kate Lear, but they never lived in it. Instead, the house was inhabited by Captain Benito Rocheblave for many years and wwhas been a museum house since 1988. The architecture is Folk Victorian, two-story and with Queen Anne design elements. The interior of the house reflects the Pensacola of the 1920s. Also featured in the Tuesday through Saturday tours, is the Dorr House. Clara Barkley Dorr had the Dorr House built in 1871 for her and her five children during an economic boom in Pensacola. This Victorian era home has Greek or Classical Revival features, and the architect and builder are unknown. The Historic Pensacola Preservation Board purchased the house in 1975. The Barkley House was built around 1835. George Barkley first purchased the lot in 1825, and the Barkley House is the oldest surviving high-house in the city. It is now a popular event and wedding venue due to its beautiful grounds and great view. The Pensacola Museum of History (formerly the Pensacola City Hall) is a three-story building of Mediterranean Revival architecture built in 1907. The museum has both permanent and changing galleries. Two of the most popular permanent exhibits are The City of Five Flags, artifacts telling the history of Pensacola and Trader Jon’s, memorabilia of Martin “Trader Jon” Weissman. Another important property is The Quina House at 204 S Alcaniz Street, which may have been built as early as 1810, but the earliest documentation is 1821, making it the oldest structure in Pensacola that is still located on its original site. The building is a Spanish structure, oneand-a-half stories tall and was built
from local pine, cypress and oak. Being one of the oldest settlements in the United States, Pensacola has many more notable historic structures. These buildings have weathered hurricanes and stood the test of time, leaving their mark on Pensacola’s history. Find out more about Historic Pensacola and the available tours at historicpensacola.org.
Markets Captain Giuseppe “Joe” Patti and his family have cemented themselves in Pensacola history through their service to the people and restaurateurs of the Gulf Coast. With a legacy as lengthy and rich as the fisherman’s life, the Joe Patti Seafood Company has set a standard for their products and services that honors Joe Patti’s own values of perfectionism and integrity. Joe Patti was born in Riposto, Sicily in 1901 and found his way from New York to Pensacola, where his journey to veneration began when he worked his way up from a humble snapper fisher to the captain of his own boat. He was a simple yet stern man that believed in equity, reason, independence, and honest, hard work. He applied those beliefs to the founding of his company, which started 90 years ago from the front porch of his home on DeVilliers Street. It was here that he and his wife, Anna Patane-Patti, would sell the fish and shrimp that he caught from his boat to their neighbors. The couple then opened a shop on the same street that they lived on, and the rest was history, as his six sons and daughters carried the torch of his legacy into the future of fishing, shrimp grading, vending, distribution and wholesale retail. Over the years, their shop moved from De Villiers Street to a more suitable location on B Street just off the bay in downtown Pensacola. Since then, the market has expanded immensely, now offering not just freshly caught and fileted fish, shrimp and shellfish, but also sushi, baked bread, ice cream, artisan deli meats, wines, cheeses, coffee and more. The market itself is a spectacle for the senses with stunningly fresh tuna and shrimp being crowd favorites.
Visitors can rarely find Joe Patti’s without a parking lot full of cars and a queue that reaches beyond the front entrance. The quality of its seafood and the lively character of the staff all contribute to the success of this world-renowned fish market. The Patti family has brought an irreplaceable presence with them to Pensacola and continues to go above and beyond in their service to the community. If you haven’t already given Joe Patti’s a visit, be sure to stop in this summer and see for yourself what all the commotion is about. For more information, visit joepattis.com.
Landmarks This small railroad trestle bridge on 17th Avenue in Pensacola has served as a popular canvas for everchanging graffiti for generations. The 17th Avenue railroad trestle bridge, more commonly known as the Pensacola Graffiti Bridge, was constructed in 1888 as railroad overpass, but the first coat of graffiti paint was not applied until at least 1935. Before then, it was just a regular old bridge, but because of years of graffiti done by countless artists, it now stands among Pensacola’s most iconic landmarks. Under normal circumstances, graffiti is considered vandalism, but the Graffiti Bridge welcomes it. The bridge functions as a public art space that allows for anyone to use its surface for self-expression. One of the most interesting aspects of the bridge is that the art on its surface is always changing, depending on recent political movements, the events in individuals’ lives and current issues in society. The Graffiti Bridge is an open canvas for anyone, artist or not, to declare their love, express their opinion, or voice their support for an individual or a movement in whatever way they please. There are no rules when it comes to painting the bridge. Anyone can leave a mark at any time of day. The only rule is that all art will soon be covered by someone else’s art. Over the years, the Graffiti Bridge has played a significant part in powerful movements. In June of
2020, local protesters gathered at the Graffiti Bridge to voice their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. These protesters also covered the bridge in portraits that honored people who were victims of police brutality like George Floyd. Not only is the bridge a space for protesting, but its surface is an open space for voicing calls for change through art. On April 20 of 2022, the bridge was decked out in green when a group ventured out to express their desire for cannabis to be legalized in Florida. Aside from politics, the bridge can be a space to raise awareness for other movements. In September of 2015, the bridge was painted entirely in gold in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. A portion of the text that was spray painted on the bridge reads: “Kids get cancer too.” Though this bridge takeover was more color focused than art focused, it still delivered an impact. One can almost guarantee that the bridge will be painted for holidays. Quite recently, the bridge was decorated for Memorial Day, depicting the well-known image of American soldiers raising the flag, along with the words “All gave some, some gave all.” This tribute to fallen American soldiers is one of many holiday-themed art takeovers the bridge has hosted. The bridge is often used to celebrate milestones, birthdays, anniversaries and birth announcements, as well as honor loved ones who have passed. The Pensacola Graffiti Bridge acts as a public drawing board, allowing for new artworks daily, sometimes smaller individual works, and sometimes the whole bridge is covered in a uniform theme. Each layer of spray paint carries the emotions of a different space in time, giving a deeper meaning to the iconic landmark. As long as the Graffiti Bridge stands, the expressive art of so many people will live on, locked beneath layers of paint. ■
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