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St.
Augustine
Record Lionhearted
Protector
A St. Augustine resident who began her historic preservation activism making postcards for a petition campaign is the winner of the first Miss Nina Hawkins Award for Historic Preservation. Theresa Segal, president of Save Our Bridge, Inc. was chosen from three finalists by an outside panel to receive The St. Augustine Record's award as a pacesetter for historic preservation in the 21st century. The award is named after Hawkins, a former editor at The Record from 1934-1953. She was a leader in the city's restoration effort for more than 40 years. Segal will receive $500 to be donated to the preservation project or program of her choice within St. Johns County. The Finalists included: William Adams, director of the St. Augustine Department of Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism, and Taryn Rodriguez-Boette, executive director of the St. Augustine Historical Society. The
Judges
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“We wanted judges from outside our community because of the importance of having a different perspective on the selection,” said Ronnie Hughes. “They accomplished that for us.” “Any of the three could have been the winner,” said Gaske. “What tipped it to her balance was that it was all volunteer work. When everyone else is out just trying to make a living and take care of a family she is doing this volunteer work too, for the love of St. Augustine’s heritage.” Segal holds two jobs at Graphics Ink and at Acquisitions Gallery where she is curating an exhibit of photography. In addition, she is completing a photographic documentary of rural Florida through a Jacksonville Community Foundation grant. Bridge debate beckoned Segal Five years ago, when the longstanding debate over the future of the Bridge of Lions was before the St. Augustine City Commission, Segal made her move. “I said to my husband, ‘Joe, I think it is time for me to get involved,’” Segal said. “I asked him if it was OK because I didn’'t know how much time would be involved.” Her husband Joe owns Joe Segal Sculpture. “I thought about just lending a hand,” she said. Theresa Segal, a native of St. Augustine and Flagler College graduate, was working in the city as a photographer and in graphic arts. She was well acquainted with the bridge because the office where she worked was on Anastasia Island and her grandparents’ home and now her parents’ home is in Davis Shores on the island. She has a photograph of her grandfather walking home across the bridge early in his banking career. During that 1996 commission meeting, Segal told the commission its decision could forever affect the perception of St. Augustine as a city that supports historic preservation. After she sat down, she said, author and historian David Nolan told her that her grandfather would have been proud for her stand on the subject. The commission voted to support restoration of the bridge. At the meeting, Segal met community preservation activists Nancy Sikes-Kline and Janis Versaggi Williams. Both were long time supporters of the bridge's preservation. She later went to Williams’ home where they stamped postcards of the Bridge of Lions to use in a petition drive. By 1998, Save Our Bridge, Inc. had been formed. It followed and built on the steps the Friends Of St. Augustine Architecture had taken when it formed in 1979 to advocate preservation of significant historic structures. It had made the bridge its primary focus. Segal rose to the top of the Save Our Bridge during its incorporation. Throughout the debate over the past five years, Segal has become a voice in Tallahassee and throughout the state on why the bridge should be saved. A key marker for the committee and Segal was when the Florida Department of Transportation, which owns the bridge, said it will support the rehabilitation of the bridge. Significant to the committee’s position in the debate is that it has been given consulting party status by the Federal Highway Administration. In granting the request in 1999, Mark Bartlett of the Federal Highway Administration said, “Your group has demonstrated its long term in and concern about this project.” This means it is one of the groups that will sign the Memorandum of Agreement. That document is part of the final decision process on whether the bridge will be restored or built anew. All parties to the debate are awaiting the final envriomental statement, which will be the base for the final decision. It includes documents and recommendations from the federal Highway Administation, the state transportation agency, the U. S. Coast Guard and a host of other groups related to transportation, historic preservation and overall environmental impact. Segal is as anxious as anyone else for the final action. While there has been no date set for the presentation, she is confident the rehabilitation option will be supported. “We look forward to the memorandum of agreement and to cutting the ribbon.” Segal said. “The bridge needs attention and to keep delaying that is not a responsible position.” Segal was nominated for the Miss Nina Hawkins award by Sikes-Kline, County Commissioner John Reardon and T. J. Tremmel. “Her steadfast dedication, patience and vision led her to be one of the rarest kind of preservationists - a true grass-roots leader,” said Sikes-Kline in the nomination letter. “The results of her seemingly unending efforts culminated in the decision by the Florida Department of Transportation to choose rehabilitation for the Bridge of Lions.” Sikes-Kline said Segal has been at the forefront of the organization from educating local, state and national leaders with telephone campaigns to gathering 7,000 names on a petition. Her comments were supported in the judges’ decision. “She continued to press on when the odds were against her,” said Perez. “She succeeded in mobilizing the community.” Thamm said Segals interest was long standing. “Her passion for preservation goes back to her grandfather,” she said. “I commend her because she took a stand that wasn’t easy to do.” “I am so honored to win this award and I appreciate the time it took Nancy, John and T.J. to do this (nomination),” Segal said. “There have been so many people involved. No part was more important than the other. It is like they have passed on the baton,” she said. |