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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A historic house in St. Augustine, Florida, has captured interest after a viral video revealed the unusual way it stays safe during hurricanes—a tethered anchor.
The Oldest Wooden School House, also known as the Genopoly House, has stood in Florida's oldest city since the early 18th century. In 1937 a huge chain and anchor was added to the building to secure it against hurricanes.
"The house first appears on tax records in 1716, though the exact construction date is uncertain," Susan Phillips, president and CEO of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, told Newsweek. "Juan Genopoly, a Minorcan immigrant, purchased the home in the 1780s after his family and others from the New Smyrna Beach plantation were granted permission by the governor to settle here."
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The Genopoly family, who were formerly indentured servants, raised four children in the home, creating a close-knit family life in the colonial town.
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The ground floor's main room, facing the street, doubled as a classroom, a staple of 18th-century Minorcan life. The home also featured a separate sitting room, a detached kitchen with a coquina chimney, and a yard where the family grew vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
In 1931, local businessman Walter B. Fraser purchased the property. He added the now-famous chain and anchor in 1937 to keep the building from shifting during severe storms.
"The house was still foundationless," Phillips explained. "Fraser hired an engineer to secure the building with a heavy chain in 1939 and opened it as a museum. That chain has withstood countless storms and continues to protect the Genopoly House today."
Though the house isn't inhabited anymore, it is a popular tourist attraction. When Hurricane Irma swept through in 2017, bringing tornadoes and high winds that damaged surrounding gardens and buildings, the chain held firm. "It protected the Genopoly House from being blown down," Phillips said.
The story of the home was recently shared on TikTok in a video that has been viewed over 1 million times. Many commenters were impressed by the home's practical addition. One commenter said: "I thought it was just thematic decor. It's actually purposeful. Cool!" Another wrote: "My wife has lived in St. Augustine her whole 31 years, and even she didn't know this."
Since the mid-1800s, Florida has been struck by more hurricanes than any other state, accounting for over 41 percent of the hurricanes impacting the U.S. The Atlantic hurricane season peaks from mid-August through October, with warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic contributing to storm development.
Against this backdrop, the Genopoly house has not only withstood time, but also represents the endurance of the town's historical sites despite extreme Florida weather.
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