Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1899 — Oldest House in America. [ARTICLE]

Oldest House in America.

The oldest house in America Is in St Augustine, Fla. It was built In 1564 by the monks of the order of St Francis and the whole of the solid structure is composed of coquina, a combination of sea shells and mortar, which is almost indestructible. When Francis Drake sacked and burned the town this was the only house left in the trail of destruction. It has been purchased by the well-known antiquarian, J. W. Henderson, who will make it his winter residence.