The North Florida Land Trust announced Tuesday it expects to take over a Spanish-American War Fort off Fort Caroline Road in November.
But the organization must first come up with $21,000 dollars over the next month.
The Land Trust is close to being able to afford the $400,000 price tag for the privately owned piece of history, and officers are confident they’ll hit that goal.
So confident, the trust has announced Nov. 3 as the date it will take over the Jacksonville property. If the money wasn't raised, the landowner intended to develop the site.
In a news release Tuesday, Land Trust Director Jim McCarthy thanked the city, the Delores Barr Weaver Fund and an anonymous donor for making the purchase possible.
“We are very grateful for the support of our larger donors and to all those who gave to save the fort, including the 10, 50 and 100 dollar donors,” McCarthy said. “It is just wonderful that our children and future generations will be able to see and touch a part of our history more than 118 years old.”
The trust plans to clean up the fort before turning it over to the National Park Service.
Reporter Ryan Benk can be reached at rbenk@wjct.org, at (904) 358 6319 or on Twitter @RyanMichaelBenk
