NewsLine staff
Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick’s retired badge now rests in The Old Jail, a new addition to the “From Past to Present: A Legacy of Leadership” exhibit. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) display, which highlights the leadership timeline from The Old Jail’s first leader, Sheriff Charles Joseph Perry, to the current Sheriff, was updated during a badge pinning ceremony on Friday, Nov. 14, at the historic landmark.
The Old Jail, located at 167 San Marco Avenue, served as the St. Johns County Jail from 1891 to 1953.
Sheriff Hardwick’s wife, Kendell Hardwick, performed the ceremonial pinning, removing the retired badge and placing a new one on her husband’s uniform.
Hardwick expressed the honor he felt being included in the exhibit, which helps Old Town Trolley Tours, the attraction’s owner and operator, continue its mission as The Nation’s Storyteller®.
“Having my badge displayed here at The Old Jail is quite powerful,” said Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick. He emphasized his deep connection to the area: “St. Augustine is my hometown – I was raised on these streets, educated in these schools, and it’s where I met and married my high school sweetheart. It’s where Kendell and I chose to settle down and raise our children. It’s such a part of my own history, so to have my story included along with these other fine law enforcement officers is truly an honor”.
The exhibit is the result of an “amazing partnership” with the SJSO, according to Edwin “Ed” Swift IV, Vice President of Historic Tours of America®, which owns Old Town Trolley Tours.
“Hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents come to The Old Jail to hear about this historic building,” Swift noted. “Now, thanks to Sheriff Hardwick, they’ll get to see a true piece of law enforcement history. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is the oldest in the state of Florida, and we’re proud to help tell its story”.
The exhibit begins with Sheriff C.J. Perry, who, along with his family, resided at The Old Jail, which is “an integral part of the attraction’s story”. The building itself was designed and built by the P.J. Pauley Jail Building and Manufacturing Company, which also designed the infamous Alcatraz. Henry Flagler financed its construction.
Old Town Trolley Tours offers guided educational tours of the landmark and operates a nighttime ghost experience called Ghosts and Gravestones. The tour company is a full-service operator that offers hop-on/hop-off transportation, live narrated tours, and access to over 100 points of interest in the St. Augustine area.
