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Fred W. Hoyt
Frederick Willis Hoyt, builder of the 1905 Hoyt House, was a prosperous merchant in Fernandina Beach before the turn of the 20th century. Fred W. was born June 3, 1856, in Meredith, New Hampshire, and moved to this area with his parents, Charles and Mary Hoyt, shortly after the Civil War, around 1870. He was 14 years old. His father opened a grocery store with his partner W. A. Sanborn.
Not only were they purveyors of all manner of goods, they also were early adopters of the latest technology. Sanborn & Hoyt erected the first Telephone between their store and Reid's Mill at Old Town in April, 1881. Fred married his wife Kate Amelia Taylor, of Cheraw, South Carolina, on July 26, 1882, in Jacksonville, Florida. The were the proud parents of their first son, Charles Arny, in 1883. They had two more sons, Fred Willis Jr., born in 1887, and Ralph Wadleigh, born in 1889. The picture to the right shows Mr. Hoyt and his youngest son, circa 1920, taken on the porch. Fred W. Hoyt & Co. Grocers & Ship Chandlers provided a myriad of essential supplies to the shrimp fishermen on Amelia Island. His store was located on the northeast corner of Centre & 2nd Streets, now occupied by "The Pineapple Patch". The building was then known as the Chandlery Building, which can still be seen on the door facing 2nd street.
Mr. W. O. Jeffreys joined Fred Hoyt as a partner in this new business. Jeffreys worked for the Transit Railroad for a number of years before joining Fred in the venture. Fred Hoyt introduced the idea of delivering goods to city customers rather than having customers pick them us, so that local orders for groceries, crockery, and tin ware could be more efficiently and effectively fulfilled. For the benefit of their sea-faring customers, Hoyt offered the "Captains Headquarters", which was a large cool room on the second floor outfitted specifically for the use of Ship Masters, including such items as daily newspapers and writing materials. This was unique to Hoyt & Co. and created a great attraction for the new business. According to the March 17, 1891, Florida Mirror, "The office of Fred W. Hoyt & Co. might appropriately be styled the Maritime Exchange of Fernandina. What isn't known there about the shipping of this port isn't worth while trying to learn elsewhere. There are on file in that office the New York Herald and Maritime Register, and a complete record is kept of every vessel entering the port....Besides doing a regular ship chandlery business, this firm charters numerous vessels, and it being an old-established house and having advertised liberally, is one of the best known in shipping circles in the Southern States."
He was an active member of both civic and religious organizations, and was recognized for his home mission work in Amelia City during the period 1911-1916. He was elected President pro tem of the Fernandina City Council. According to the March 5, 1881 edition of the Fernandina Express, "...we will be pardoned for making special mention of the services of only one councilman, Fred W. Hoyt. This young gentleman entered with spirit into the duties of the office as soon as elected, and has been the life of the council throughout. It is as yet too early to discuss candidates, but it is to be hoped that Mr. Hoyt will be re-elected."
A memorial window dedicated to Fred and Kate Hoyt still exists in the First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina. Hoyt was a Deacon of the church, and in 1905 (the year this house was built) contributed $2,200 for a pipe organ to be installed in the Church--The Carnegie Family of Cumberland Island paid for the other half. Kate Hoyt died on October 14, 1924. Fred Hoyt died in Jacksonville, October 28, 1928. You can learn more about Fred W. Hoyt and his contributions to Florida, Amelia Island, and Fernandina Beach at the following website
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The establishment of Sanborn & Hoyt was a
wholesale grocers and ship chandlers, offering a large stock of lumber and
naval stores, provisions, crockery, hardware, dry goods, and furniture "at
bottom prices." 
The new store opened for
business in April 1882, and "judging by the activity about the
establishment during a visit of a Fernandina Express representative on
that day the business must have fully justified the expectations of the
proprietors" according to a contemporary report. An entry in the March,
1882 edition of the Fernandina Express mentions that "they are now loading
the schooner Earnest T. Lee in New York with their goods." The
arrival of this ship was temporarily delayed by "adverse winds", which
momentarily postponed the grand opening of the new store.
Having built a successful
mercantile and ship supply business with a widely admired reputation, Fred took the next steps in his
entrepreneurial career, and was a founding partner of the First National
Bank of Fernandina. The bank was granted a charter to commence operations
on April 25, 1891, issued by then Comptroller of the Currency, Mr E. S.
Lacy. Fred Hoyt was President. The capital stock, initially valued at
$50,000, was quickly subscribed by interested investors. Drafts from $50
to $100 were available for a service charge of 25 cents. At right is a
copy of an advertisement from August 18, 1910.
Of
course, as a prosperous citizen of Fernandina, Fred Hoyt was the proud
owner of a gasoline powered automobile. He sported a grand
Maxwell-Briscoe, and is registered as holding Chauffer Certificate No.
461, List of Automobiles Registered in the State of Florida, published by
the Secretary of State's 1908 Official Report.