HISTORY OF THE GROVE:

Kingsland Addition The area in which the Grove is located was developed between 1887 and 1930 as a North City residential area, and includes both Victorian and early 20th century homes, the later ones showing the influence of the bungalow style.  Many of the later homes use some form of locally produced coquina concrete block popular in St. Augustine construction in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

MAIN HOUSE:

Kingsland Addition was once within the colonial perimeter known as Mily y Quinientos [The Fifteen Hundred].  Juan Triay, a Minorcan, was the first to secure a land grant here from Governor Jose Coppinger in 1807.  Part of the grant eventually passed to Captain John Masters, who has involved in the capture of the Seminole Chief Osceola.  In 1875 Masters conveyed most of the former Triay Grant to Henry P. Kingsland, a banker from New York City.  Kingsland began subdividing his property shortly after its purchase, and in 1887 the land was officially platted.  By the 1920’s and 1930’s Grove Avenue was the home of several families of cigar makers, and two cigar manufacturing establishments.

For many years this was the home of Francis H. Rogero [also referred to as F. Herbert Rogero in several City Directories], a long-term employee of the Standard Oil Company in St. Augustine. The Rogero Family built the home in 1924, the last of the Rogero sons was actually born in the master bedroom in 1920 or thereabout.  The home was purchased in the Mid 50s by the Beaudoin Family. Mr. Beaudoin, was the manager of the St. Augustine Coca Cola Bottling Company in the early 1920’s and later secretary-treasurer of same.  The 1930 City Directory lists him as owning a billiard parlor at Malaga north of Oveido, and by 1934 he served as steward of the C. F. Hamblen Club, Inc.  Mr.  Prime Beaudoin (his son) is presently the owner of Beaudoin Photography Studios on Castillo Drive.   Mr.  Prime Beaudoin was a considered the “only photographer” in St. Augustine for many years, taking pictures of some of the oldest local families weddings, family portraits and baby pictures.  The home next to 23 Grove, also a rental at this time was his first darkroom.

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