Anna Marcotte – A Woman of Determination, Perseverance, and Industry!
“…In the 1890’s, when hotel life in St. Augustine was at its height, Mrs. Anna M. Marcotte edited a newspaper published under the titles “St. Augustine News” and the “Tatler”, which devoted its columns to describing the charms of the city and the activities of the well-heeled winter visitors. Published only during the winter season, it sold for 10 cents a copy or $1 for the year. Mrs. Marcotte also maintained a register of winter visitors in her office in the Alcazar Hotel, much appreciated by the northerners who could thus locate their friends staying in town.

Born in Williamsport, Pa in 1843, she married two military captains, frequently having to defend herself against attacks of Sioux Indians during troubled and dangerous times in the U.S. Proving that she could handle a rifle with as much skill and courage as any soldier possessed, Anna Marcotte was the first white woman who ever crossed the plains to where the city of Fargo now stands.

Finding her way to St. Augustine in 1886, she became closely associated with civic matters and by 1981 (and for 17 years thereafter) she created the Tatler, which at once leaped into popularity. Her individuality was stamped on every page, giving freely of her own means in aid of any worthy cause. Everyone who knew her acknowledged their appreciation of her willing heart and strong hand. How many women throughout ANY era could be summed up by the following: “The chief traits of this woman may be summed up as force of character, strong will, sound common sense, quickness of perception, and withal, a kindliness of manner and disposition, in all of which she has few equals and no superior among her sex.”

She was secretary of the Humane Society; she organized the first Republican Women’s Club in St. Augustine as far back as 1896, when McKinley was candidate for president. Mrs. Marcotte was V.P. of a civic club (1903) which had both men and women in its membership. This club took a stand for matters of improvement in the ‘Old City’, one of which St. Augustine still enjoys…the planting of grass, palms, and flowers in the plaza, which was greatly beautified trough its efforts.

An excerpt from the ‘Tatler’ during the Gilded Age of St. Augustine:

“Filling the stomachs of northern ‘strangers’ was a serious enough task for St. Augustine’s innkeepers, but filling the holiday time of the idle rich was an equally important challenge. If Henry Flagler’s guests became bored with hotel food, he’d hire boats to ferry them across North River to North Beach. There they’d swim and picnic on oysters roasted by the Usina or the Capo families. Served with oysters were chicken perlo, Minorcan clam chowder, corn-dodgers, and steamed corn-on-the-cob…all for only 25 cents a person.”

Published in the St. Augustine Record, October 1934
“Mrs. Marcotte is in New York with relatives and will be 92 years old Monday October 22. She…still enjoys playing bridge, but owing to failing eyes can only read headlines in newspapers, but is interested in having news read to her and keeping up with everything that is going on with items written in The Record.”

We dedicate our “Tower room hideaway” to Anna Marcotte!