Who was Allen D. Nease?
Many schools throughout our country are named after the area or region they are situated in. In St. John’s County, we have Bartram Trail High School, Pine Island Academy, Tocoi Creek High School, Patriot Oaks Academy, and Ponte Vedra High School to name a few. This then begs the questions- “who was Allen D. Nease and why is our school named after him?”
Early Years
Allen Nease was born February 1st, 1913, in Duval County, Florida. According to Mr. Nease’s daughter, Allen Nease graduated from North Carolina State University, having majored in forestry.
Allen would return to Florida and would begin work as a Florida Forest Ranger under the US Forestry Service; his daughter stated. Mr. Nease would say himself; “I was appointed as the guinea pig for a state and federal experimental restoration program.”
Work in Forestry
Mr. Nease is cited as planting (or sponsoring the planting of) over 55 million pine trees in Florida through his work from 1936 until his death in 1984. This planting earned him the nickname “Pine Tree Johnny Appleseed.”
In a Florida Times-Union article, Mr. Nease is said to have had occasions of people working against him for his efforts in forestry and environmental protection. In his words, he was “shot at by firebugs.” The firebugs were an arsonist group active in Florida in the latter half of the 20th century. They were also notable for their burning of churches, cited in an article from 1991 by Newsweek.
Mr. Nease would also “have knives pulled on [him]” while trying to make an arrest. He gives the story as a farmer “stole my plough.” This farmer was later visited by “two federal men… for moonshining.” Mr. Nease states these men would be killed by the farmer, and it could’ve been him “had he opened the barn door [searching for the plough].”
Regardless, Allen Nease persevered and followed his passion for saving forests and the environment. In addition to his 55 million trees planted, he also “located and acquired the land for the construction of the St. Johns River College.” Furthermore, Mr. Nease “founded the St. Johns County fairgrounds.”
Memoriam
Mr. Nease has made many significant developments in Florida and St. Johns County. His legacy lives today, with local parks (Nease Beachfront Park), historical cites (the Nease House and land), and, most famously, Allen D. Nease High School, all named in his memory. Additionally, his founding of local colleges and the St. Johns County fairgrounds live on, as these places continue to see yearly visitors and more students.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/whos-burning-churches-201818 – Fireflies Group
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=220679 – Pine Tree Johnny Appleseed
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=220680 – Nease house and land info
https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2015/03/18/around-region-nease-park-jewel-vilanos-portfolio/16246052007/ – Conservation efforts from A. Nease
https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/nease-beachfront-park – first coast technical college and local park (Nease Beachfront Park in Vilano Beach).
