ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla — Northeast Florida’s effort to land the state’s Black history museum hit a snag Friday.
A charter bus, full of supporters heading from St. Augustine to Tallahassee, caught fire on I-10.
The bus -- full of supporters heading from St. Augustine to Tallahassee – caught fire on I-10.
Before the sunrise Friday morning, New Mount Moriah Christian Ministry in West Augustine was a buzz with people. More than 50 St. Johns County residents gathered and boarded a charter bus bound for Tallahassee.
The mission: to bring the yet-to-be-built Florida Black History Museum to St. Augustine.
St. Augustine City Commissioner Cynthia Garris said, "We’re going to go to Tally and make a strong impact."
As of Monday, St. Johns County was ranked as the number one location for the Florida Black History Museum, by the task force designated to select a site. The proposed location is the former Florida Memorial College, an HBCU, on West King Street and Holmes Boulevard
St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said, "It’s such an exciting day. There’s so much community support. There is support for the museum from all four corners of the county."
Pastor Anthony Britton of New Mount Moriah Christian Ministry said before boarding the bus, "You can feel the energy. You can feel the spirit of St. Johns County."
The loaded bus took off into the darkness, but then about an hour later, it caught fire on I-10.
Greg White, the unofficial mayor of the West Augustine community, was on the bus. He said, "One of the tires blew out. We don't know exactly what happened, But we think the tire, or a a piece of it, blew up into the engine and it caused a fire."
The day's mission temporarily changed.
"It was a shock, initially," White -- who is a military veteran - told First Coast News. "And then we went into action. Getting everyone off the bus safely and in an orderly fashion."
Everyone got out. One person was treated for smoke inhalation. And the crowd persevered, based on "sheer will and energy that has built up over the last few weeks. We’re even more determined than we were before," White said.
Some people hitched rides with other St. Augustine residents who were driving their owns cars to Tallahassee. For the others, Baker County rescued them off the side of the road in a school bus, and then St. Johns County sent two county vans to pick up those people. A deputy quickly escorted them all the way to Tallahassee for the morning meeting.
The crowd showed up just in time for the county’s presentation before the task force committee. Ruth Hope told First Coast News that all 50+ people on the bus smelled of smoke.
White said the committee will "see our enthusiasm by us persevering."
In the midst of the presentations, one task force committee member paused to say, "what could have been a horrible tragedy, through the grace and mercy of God, you are all here safely." A round of applause and "Amens" erupted from the meeting room.
While the final landing place of the state’s Black history museum has not been determined, White said, as he boarded the bus Friday morning, "we’re bringing the package home!"