July 4th Special on Amelia Island

August 3rd, 2011

July 4 parade – Fernandina Beach

 

The July 4th holiday yielded lots of activity on Fernandina Beach including an event with specialty vehicles, games and live band at Central Park during the early hours.  In the evening, a traditional parade with police, fireman, military and citizens was held.  Later the same day, a free concert was held down by the waterfront and fireworks followed at 9:30 pm.  It was fairly crowded on the Island with lot’s of folks enjoying the shops, restaurants, Fort Clinch (with reenac tments) and lot’s of local activities.  We were full at the Williams House and in fact July in total was one of our busier months this year.  We also had a small wedding on the Holiday weekend which we will cover later in  another blog.

military vehicles at central park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band entertains at central park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color guard begins parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool cars in the parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motor scooter mama's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pirate ship ends the parade with a bang

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Cinnamon at the Williams House

July 4th, 2011

 

Relaxing by big tree

Hi-my name is Cinnamon.

I’m the resident cat at the Amelia Island Williams House.  Byron and Deborah own the Williams House and they live here all the time.  They don’t let me come inside because they say some guests may be allergic to me, but that’s OK cause its usually nice weather here in Florida.  There are three houses here so I have some really cool or warm places to nap depending on the time of year. Usually you can find me along one of the porches.  They have a courtyard with a fish pond and that is my favorite drinking fountain.  I watch the fish, but don’t think I could catch them.  I love being at the Williams House because they have people coming here to stay all the time and that means I get lots of petting and scratching and sometimes the guest will feed me or give me treats.   There are squirrels here and I hear Deborah complaining about them eating the bird seed in the feeder.  I tried to chase them up the huge oak tree in the courtyard, but I got stuck and it took me awhile to get back down.  So now I just watch them.

Byron is a softy and keeps kitty treats by their front door.  If I run fast enough and get to the door before him he will toss me a couple.   Each morning I wait for them to get up and fix breakfast.  Sometimes I get to sample breakfast casserole, but I’ve noticed if there are lots of people here I have to eat dry cat food. Deborah gave me some wet food one day and I’ve been hooked on it ever since.  Of course I also need my milk after the main course!

The Williams House is really fun. They do special events like weddings. Sometime I like to walk down the sidewalk with the girl in the white dress. Byron is always waiting for her with some other people. They say a bunch of words, then everybody claps. They get on this pretty white carriage and go for a ride with Boomer, the carriage horse. He is really big and I try to stay out of the way for fear he’ll step on me.  He eats even  more than me! Deborah makes really good food for the party afterwards. My favorite  is shrimp. After everyone eats and dances awhile they cut this really big cake and pass it out to the guests.  Byron let me taste it once and now it’s one of my favorties.

Well, I see a car pulling up, so I must go see if some tender loving care can be had from the new arrivals.  Oh they look real friendly.  Now if they just have some treats………

My official portrait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon on back ledge

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exploring Fort Clinch with Family

July 4th, 2011

Byron's brother Gary at entrance to Fort Clinch

 

Byron’s brother Gary visited recently from Raleigh, NC and we had the opportunity to introduce him to one of our favorite local attractions, Fort Clinch, an historical Florida State Park.  Started as part of the United States coastal defense system before the civil war, it never really saw action although Union soldiers occupied the fort during the war.  It was worked on again as part of the 1930′s WPA projects as were many of these early forts.  Since then it has been worked on with volunteers and donations and is largely intact and complete.  It is usually manned by at least one soldier in period uniform who will gladly enlighten you on what life was like in the fort during the 1860′s.  On the first weekend of each month in the summer, reenactments are staged with larger numbers of soldiers joining the historic setting.  There are numerous tunnel like alley ways to and from various parts of the fort, cannons atop the walls, gun turrets, a dry moat, powder rooms, officer and enlisted quarters, jail, kitchen and blacksmith shop.  The fort is about four miles from the current Fernandina Beach historic district and sits at the northern most point of Amelia Island.  There is beach access and a fishing pier within the park as well.  Views north to the south end of Cumberland Island are available from atop the river side walls.  We always encourage guests at the Williams House to find time to visit this little piece of history and try to imagine what life was like on Amelia Island in the 1800′s.

Quarter masters office at Ft. Clinch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bunk bed's in officer's room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of ocean from gun port

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soldier explains gun turret workings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cannon aimed along fort perimeter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tunnel leading to gun turret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammunition storage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary climbs to the turret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Byron rests by the cannon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of fishing pier and beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumberland Island view

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Cinnamon Enjoys May Weddings at Amelia Island Williams House

June 22nd, 2011

Bride Kinsee in rose garden

 

Cinnamon, our resident cat at the Williams House loves outdoor weddings, especially those with food that includes shrimp or fish. Our May weddings provided  food to his liking.  We began May with Bayne and Kinsee who  set a Williams House record with eight groomsman and bridesmaids in attendance.  Byron performed the ceremony and Deborah provided all the food on a day that began with some showers but turned into a beautiful afternoon for a wedding. Amelia Island Carriages with Boomer pulling a beautiful white carriage delivered the bride to the ceremony on the front lawn of the Williams House to meet her groom.  The reception followed in our beautiful flower lined courtyard underneath the shade of the old oak tree. Guest enjoyed a wonderful fare and wedding cake decorated with dark blue trim that matched bridesmaids and table center pieces.

Boomer takes bride and groom for a ride

 

Eight beautiful Bridesmaids and handsome groomsmen

 

Friends and family enjoy reception

 

Bride and groom cutting cake

Cinnamon enjoys the event

 

Jennifer and Dad enter rose garden

 

Our next wedding was for Jennifer and Jeremy. They chose to be married by a friend in the Williams House rose garden  with about thirty family and friends followed by a larger reception.  The reception was catered by Kelley’s Courtyard Cafe, who’s owner is a  friend of the bride and groom.  The weather was again beautiful as was the bride.

 

Jennifer and Jeremy recite vows

 

 

Cinnamon awaits food

 

 

Now a married couple

 

 

Family portrait in courtyard

 

 

Wonderful food awaits guests

 

 

Bride and groom cut wedding cake

 

Our final wedding couple for May was Mark and Kathryn from South Carolina.  This was a “Just the Two of You” wedding that grew to a few family and friends.  Byron performed the ceremony in the parlor followed by a champagne toast.

Mark and Kathryn marry in the parlor

 

 

Family and friends celebrate with bride and groom

 

 

Champagne toast awaits

 

 

Bride and groom kiss on hall stairs

 

 

Guests toast bride and groom

 

 

Bride and groom share champagne

 

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Experiencing an Amelia Island River Cruise

May 18th, 2011

Deborah, Sue and Bob ready for departure

We recently had friends visiting from North Carolina and arranged for a river cruise to treat them to local views and history. We’ve been several times and are always impressed by learning something new on each trip, and on this particular visit, we were fortunate to get a very close up view of the wild horses, which histroically we have only seen from a distance. It was a strange day in that fires burning in the okefenokee swamp had created a smoke haze for the early part of the trip, giving the views a nostalgic old fashioned feeling.

These cruises are popular with Williams House guests since you get to see shrimp boats, Fort Clinch from the river, Old Town and the Pippi  Longstocking house, beaches, marshes, the port, the paper mill, Cumberland Island, wild horses, flying manta rays, dolphins, and in our case the Dungeness ruins.   In addition there is a history lesson on from the early days of the island to the present made interesting by your hosts on the tour.  It’s a liesurely tour with great views.  There are three cruises daily  including morning, mid day and sunset. 

Shrimp boats

 

Smoke from the fires blocks the sky

 

Captain's or Pippi Longstocking house from river

 

Fort Clinch

 

Dunes on Cumberland Island

 

Tree on Cumberland Island shoreline

 

Cumberland Island marshes

 

Horses walk the beach on Cumberland Island

 

Stallion leads the group

 

Returning to Fernandina

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Williams House Guests Continue Setting Record

May 8th, 2011

Goffs and Williams on top porch

 

We always love to see guests return to the Williams House and the Goffs and Williams returned for Shimp Fest this year to establish a new record for guest continuity.  It is the sixteenth year they have returned and stayed at the Williams House for this event.   Same rooms each year….if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  And, of course already slated to be back next year in the same rooms for the 17th time! They are of course the dream guest for every innkeeper that hopes to create loyalty and enjoy the return of familiar faces and friends.  They even share wine with us when we have a moment to sit and catch up.  We also enjoy seeing their “treaure finds” from days searching the shrimp festival for that perfect item or piece of art.  We look forward to next year already!

another pose

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Williams House Weddings on Amelia Island

May 8th, 2011

Damon and Janine on Williams House porch

 

We have had two weddings recently at the Williams House with great weather for both.  First were Damon and Janine who were married on the front porch, followed by Jeffrey andTammy who were married in the back courtyard.  Both were small and intimate with Byron performing the ceremony and Deborah as official photographer and wedding coordinator.  Spring is a great time to get married on Amelia Island with flowers of many varieties blooming and generally great temperatures and sunny skies ( it is Florida after all).  We enjoyed both couples and feel priveleged to participate in their special day.  We hope for much happiness and many years of enjoyment as they start life together.

family portrait

 

Bride and groom on Williams House stair

 

Posing by stained glass windows

 

Byron officiates for Jeffrey and Tammy

 

Bride and groom by Koi pond

 

Wedding couple under 500 yr old live oak

 

Another view

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Amelia Island Shrimp Festival – 2011

May 8th, 2011

Shrimp fest visitors explore the arts

The highlight of each Spring season is the Eight Flags Shrimp Festival held the first weekend of May in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.  More than 300 artists, craftsmen, potters, jewelers, and antique dealers showcase their offerings in booths set up in the center of town.  The variety is amazing, with a little something for every taste.  Speaking of taste, all the food vendors are non-profit groups and they offer more varieties of shrimp than mentioned by Bubba in the Forrest Gump movie. Boiled, fried, pies, twisters, cajun to name a few.  Also available are funnel cakes and Byron’s new favorite this year, New Orlean’s style Biegnets (that’s doughnuts to most of us)!  The weather this year was delightful with high’s in the upper 70′s and not very humid.  Crowds seemed large and lots of visitors were carrying off treasures.  There was plenty of music, a fun center for kids and many familiar faces among the artist’s that return each year.  This year we had a full house but also managed to have a small wedding in the midst of the festival…a new first for Williams House!  As usual parking was a bit crazy with all streets fully engaged and every possible empty lot suddenly producing income as a parking garage.  Pirates roamed the streets and we often saw guests returning from the festivities for a bit of rest and relaxation before resuming their quest for the perfect piece of art.  One interesting addition this year was a psychic reader near the entrance. 

Beautiful lamps

Art and artist

Shrimp pies are popular

Wood as art

Sculpture as art

Creatures of the sea are plentiful

Yard art was also on hand

Bonsai plants

pirates patrol the streets

Shipswheel for sale

Birdhouses

Art work

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2011 Amelia Island Shrimp Festival Parade

May 4th, 2011

Honor guard starts the parade

floats of all types participate

Stage coach at shrimp festival parade

One of our favorite times on Amelia Island and the largest festival is the Shrimp Festival, held the first weekend of May each year.  Festivities begin with a parade on Thursday evening and it is the longest of the year at over and hour.  Many residents, businesses and associations participate and awards are given for the best float linking in the parade theme.  It is truly a family affair with many children participating and many more lining the streets to get glimpses of all the fun floats and characters from pirates to Disney type costumes.  Of course pirates abound and the parade closes with the pirate ship firing loud and smokey guns and cannon.  Candy and beads are given out to spectators and everyone vies for the most collected and greatest variety.  This is our sixth year of attending and viewing from the Williams House and this was the first year threatened by rain.  But, rain came just before the parade, stopped for the hour plus of the parade and resumed again soon thereafter.    Once again the parade was dry and fun!  Enjoy the attached pictures.

old fire engine

 

Williams House guests enjoy parade from porches

 

Shrimps abound

 

Characters welcome

 

Another shrimp float

 

This shrimp rocks

 

Dancing in the street

 

Kids enjoy parade

 

Another fun float

 

Beware of pirates

 

Pirates must have a ship

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Amelia Island Sunsets

April 12th, 2011

Fernandina Beach Marina

 

We are fortunate on Amelia Island to have both sunrise and sunset opportunities to enjoy nature’s beauty.  A recent walk down Ash street to the harbor led to the attached photos of a nice sunset at the Marina.  Whether its boats, buildings or people framing them with a setting sun highlights the golden tones of an evening.  We hope you enjoy these and come and enjoy them personally at the Williams House.

Ships at sunset

 

Sun highlights piers and boats

 

It could be a painting

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