Daughters of the American Revolution win council backing to restore Edgewater’s historic wishing well

The Edgewater City Council unanimously authorized staff to work with the Jane Sheldon chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on restoring the artesian well at Kennedy Boat Ramp and pursuing state and national historic designation.

The Daughters’ centennial chair, Sandra Shope, and chapter treasurer Jennifer Fox presented the project and said the group wants to remove a small central fill, install a watertight basin and a period-style bucket fountain, provide electrical and plumbing for a water feature, remove a palm tree to open the site and install a bronze interpretive plaque on coquina stone. “We would like to undertake the renovation of Edgewater’s Flow Well as our historic preservation project in celebration and commemoration of our centennial,” Jennifer Fox said.

City planning staff (Ryan) told the council the restoration team will need to complete the Florida master site file and historic-structure form before applying for the National Register of Historic Places. Ryan described the permitting and documentation steps and said staff will coordinate required forms and site records with DAR.

Councilmembers praised the proposal as low-impact, historically important and a positive volunteer–city partnership. Councilmember Dava said she was “excited to see the end result.” The council then approved the staff recommendation to collaborate with DAR and proceed with the designation process.

Next steps: staff will work with DAR to complete the Florida master site file and historic structure form; if those items are approved, the group will proceed with a National Register application and coordinate a dedication, which the presenters suggested scheduling in early September.