It was on September 8 of 1565 that America’s oldest city came into existence. St. Augustine, Florida was established long before the pilgrims, the war of independence or the statute of liberty. The city is an often overlooked testament to the long and diverse history of the United States.
The city changed hands a number of times during its lifetime. The Spanish established a military fort on the site in 1672 and for almost a century, it was considered a Spanish town. In 1763, the British captured the city (after sacking it twice in the past) and kept it until 1784. One of the articles of the Treaty of Paris (1783) which ended the American Revolutionary War was that the city be returned to Spanish control. By that time Spanish influence had declined around the globe and St. Augustine never fully returned to its Spanish roots.
Henry Flagler came to St. Augustine in 1883 and left a permanent mark on the city. Many of the buildings were constructed under his direction still stand today including the Lightner Museum and Flagler College. Other old buildings in the city include the Governor’s home built in 1713, the basilica of St. Augustine built in 1797 and the oldest building in the town, a Spanish style domestic dwelling built in 1706. The city is a mix of colonial, Spanish revival, Victorian and modern architecture.
Eyeglasses are a common feature on the faces of many people around the world. We are accustomed to waiting an hour from start to finish for a pair of glasses that correct our vision and are often taken for granted as is much technology of our era.
The invention of eyeglasses is open to debate and there are a few different theories as to how they originated. Before the invention of eyeglasses other methods had to be used to improve vision. In fact, Roman playwright Seneca is believed to have used globes filled with water to help him read and the Roman Emperor Nero watched gladiator fights through a gemstone. There are several theories but it is generally accepted that eyeglasses were developed in Italy between 1280 and 1300. Some of the possible inventors include Roger Bacon in 1262, Salvino D’Armante in 1284, and Monk Fra Giordano da Rivalto gave a sermon in which he claimed to have met the inventor in 1285.
Initially eyeglasses just helped with farsightedness but when Johannes Kepler explained how concave and convex lenses worked in 1604 they were developed to correct nearsightedness too. In 1784 Benjamin Franklin grew tired of switching eyeglasses so he developed the bifocal which meant he could wear one pair of glasses to correct both near and farsightedness. Sunglasses were developed in 1929 by Sam Foster who convinced an Atlantic City store to carry his FosterGrant brand and they became an instant success. Movie stars were often seen in his glasses and he is due credit for creating the first eye protection from ultraviolet rays.
The eyeglasses of today are quite different than their predecessors and are not as necessary as they were in previous years. The development of contact lenses and laser eye surgery made many think that eyeglasses were an endangered species but they have made a big comeback. Better materials like spring hinges and better quality frames make eyeglasses much easier and more comfortable to wear. Many people choose to wear eyeglasses as a fashion accessory or think it makes them look intelligent but ultimately they are worn to correct vision which keeps them popular for millions of people.
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