Archaeology Week Celebrated in Port St. Joe Friday night at the Buffer Preserve!
The turnout was good and the program was very interesting on the Mystery, Intrigue and the shipwrecked Vamar! The FL Public Archaeology Network presents a program each year during Archaeology Weekend in Port St. Joe! Before it’s renaming to Vamar in 1933 the ship was named the Kilmarnock, the Chelsea, and the Eleanor Bolling. As the Eleanor Bolling or as the crew called her “Evermore Rolling”, Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN made significant upgrades to withstand Antarctic ice. She became the first metal-hulled vessel to be used in Antarctic waters.
In 2002, Vamar was nominated to become FL’s ninth Underwater Archaeological Preserve. The Vamar was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The wreck of the Vamar is approximately 3.7 miles off the shore of Mexico Beach.
Thanks to the FL Public Archaeology Network for presenting Archaeology Weekend!
All posts by Sandra Chafin
Fire Week at the Buffer Preserve!
It was Fire Week at the Buffer Preserve! A Burn Party!! Staff and Trainees from the Prescribed Fire Training Center helped and trained for four days this week. It was a wonderful experience with weather conditions cooperating and providing the right conditions to do the Rx burning. Others help the manager and staff of the Preserve with burns and training. Caitlin from ANERR and the South Gulf County Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteers from Tallahassee and St. George Island, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula and Bald Point State Park are some that assist. FL Forest Service personnel are an important component when the Buffer Preserve conducts a prescribed burn! Many thanks to all of the agencies who assist us