Monson Motor Lodge facts for kids

Monson House in the 1880s

Bay Street with Monson House, 1880s

Monson House after the 1914 fire

The Monson Motor Lodge was a hotel in St. Augustine, Florida. It stood at 32 Avenida Menendez. In 1964, this motel became famous for a major protest during the Civil Rights Movement. Before the motel, the same spot was home to the Monson House. This was a large boarding house from the 1800s.

The Original Monson House

The Monson House was first opened in the 1880s. Captain Anthony Vincent "Bossy" Monson and his wife, Florence Young, started it. This was around the time fancy hotels like the Ponce de Leon Hotel were making St. Augustine a popular tourist spot. Captain Monson was born in St. Augustine in 1854. His family had a long history in the area.

Location and Early Days

The first Monson House was right by the water at 24 Bay Street. This street is now called Avenida Menendez. It was located between the city's main plaza and Castillo de San Marcos, an old fort. In 1885, an advertisement said rooms cost $9 to $10 per week.

The Monson House also offered fun activities for visitors. Tourists could sail to the St. Augustine Lighthouse on Anastasia Island. Captain Monson had four yachts for these trips. These boats were named Mamie, Maria, Traveller, and Ocrenba. They were anchored near the club house.

Fires and Rebuilding

The first Monson House burned down in a fire in 1895. A second Monson House was then built at 26 Bay Street. This new building offered rooms for $1.50 to $2.00 per day. Weekly rates were $7.00 to $12.00. Guests could also enjoy hot and cold baths.

The hotel grew bigger in 1901 and again in 1912. By 1912, it could hold up to 75 guests. However, this wooden hotel was also destroyed. It burned in the Saint Augustine Fire of 1914. This big fire started at the Florida House. It destroyed many buildings from Saint George Street to the Bay. Four hotels, an opera house, and many homes were lost.

A new Monson Hotel was built with strong masonry. It opened on January 5, 1915. Captain Monson passed away later that year. His brother-in-law, Charles E Young Sr, took over as manager. The hotel was made even larger in 1916. It stayed a key part of St. Augustine's bay front until 1960. That year, it was torn down to make way for the Monson Motor Lodge.

The Monson Motor Lodge and Today

The Monson Motor Lodge was built in 1961. It was a modern hotel for its time. However, it was also torn down in 2003. Today, the Hilton Bayfront Hotel stands on the site. This Hilton hotel has 72 rooms in 19 smaller buildings. Before the Hilton was built, old foundations from St. Augustine's British period (1763–1784) were found.

Civil Rights Movement Protests

The Monson Motor Lodge became a very important place in 1964. This was during the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and segregation against African Americans.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Arrest

In the spring of 1964, Robert Hayling worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He invited college students to St. Augustine for spring break. They came to join civil rights activities. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader of the SCLC. On June 11, 1964, he was arrested on the steps of the Monson Motor Lodge restaurant.

From the St. Augustine Jail, Dr. King wrote a letter. He asked rabbis (Jewish religious leaders) to come to St. Augustine. He wanted them to join the movement. This led to the largest group arrest of rabbis in American history. It happened on June 18 at the Monson.

The Famous "Wade-In" Protest

On that same day, black and white activists protested at the Monson. They jumped into the Monson swimming pool. This was to challenge segregation rules. At that time, many public places, including pools, were separated by race. The hotel manager, James Brock, reacted strongly. He poured muriatic acid into the pool water. He wanted to force the "wade-in" protestors out.

Photographs of this event were seen around the world. They showed the acid being poured and a police officer arresting the young activists. These images became some of the most famous pictures of the Civil Rights Movement.

After the Protests

On June 30, Florida Governor Farris Bryant announced a new committee. This group would work to improve communication between different races in St. Augustine. National SCLC leaders left St. Augustine on July 1. The next day, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. This law made segregation illegal.

The Monson Motor Lodge and its pool were torn down in March 2003. This happened despite five years of protests to save it. Many felt it was an important landmark of the civil rights movement. Today, the steps of the Monson Motor Lodge are preserved. A plaque marks the spot where Dr. King was arrested. The last sign from the Monson is kept at the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum. This museum is in Dr. Robert Hayling's former dental office.

Images for kids

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  Monson House in the 1880s

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  Bay Street with Monson House, 1880s

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  Monson House after the 1914 fire