St. Augustine Archaeological Assoc.(SAAA) Monthly Meeting

Fish Island is located on Anastasia Island just south of the Rt 312 Bridge. It was the home and citrus plantation of Jesse Fish in the 1700s. Today it remains the home of numerous species of wild life as well as the archaeological remains of the Jesse Fish Plantation. It was slated to be developed into 170 single home development. Then along came FRIENDS OF FISH ISLAND.

The talk will be given by Phil Eschbach and Susan Hill.

Phil Eschbach is a 9th generation Floridian, whose ancestry includes Jesse Fish. Following a 40- year career as a commercial photographer, in his retirement, he has directed his attention to historical and genealogical research. Mr. Eschbach is the author of a published book on East Florida pioneers, entitled, “Pioneers of Florida, 1776-1860”, which provides historical information on Jesse Fish, as well as, evidence that members of his family were also buried on Fish Island. Most recently, as a member of the Friends of Fish Island, Mr. Eschbach has been active in advocating for the preservation of Fish Island at the local and State level.

Susan Hill’s experience in health care, education, research, and advocacy spans 30 years as a faculty member in the University of Florida College of Medicine and Consultant to the UF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, until her retirement in in 2016. Recently, she has put her skill set back to work in a new way, advocating for the preservation of Fish Island, as a member of the Friends of Fish Island grassroots effort. Together with her husband, Jon Hodgin, she co-authored a sourced manuscript, “Fish Island’s Historical Past: A Citizen’s Perspective on What We Stand to Lose”, used to inform and advocate at the local and State level, and forming the basis for Fish Island’s successful nomination to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Florida’s 2019 11 to Save list of Florida’s most threatened historic properties.