History of Time Period
The Spanish history of this area of Florida goes back 447 years. Panfilo de Narvaez, Spanish explorer, led his party into the Tallahassee area in 1528. They camped on the Wakulla River near St. Marks, built crude ships, and set forth on a fateful trip to Mexico. The entire sea-going party was lost in a storm; however, others reached Mexico by land and recorded the events of history.
In 1539, Hernando DeSoto came through this area in his search for gold spending the winter here on the shores of Lake Jackson. During that next 100 years the Spanish explorers in St. Augustine became familiar with the Apalachee region and began trade with the agriculturally efficient Indians here.
In 1639 the Spanish established a chain of missions to both Christianize the Indians and to protect them from the more warlike tribes to the north. For this protection the Indians supplied food to the Spanish. This trade arrangement was highly successful until Col. James Moore came through here destroying the missions, burning the villages, killing the braves and taking women and children as slaves. Thus the Apalachee area was deserted for more than 100 years.
Spanish Krewe Chief- Brick Rosenbaum
The Spanish Krewe of Springtime Tallahassee represents the 1528-1821 time period, the period which included the earliest exploration of Florida and the Tallahassee area. Brick Rosenbaum is this year’s Spanish Krewe Chief and will have the support of his wife Meri. The Rosenbaum’s are in their 8th year as members and have served together as Spanish Krewe Float Chairs and Libations Officers as well as working on numerous float projects. Meri has been Co-Chair for two Major Springtime Parties. They have also volunteered to work with the American Cancer Society on the Cattle Baron’s Ball for a several years.
Brick grew up in West Palm Beach and earned a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering in 1975 and a Masters of Engineering in Structural Engineering in 1976 from the University of Florida. He worked in Valdosta, Georgia for 17 years where he became a principal in a regional engineering firm. He met Meri when she moved to town after graduating from LSU as an Interior Designer. They married in 1990 and moved to Tallahassee in 1993. In 1997, Brick founded Rosenbaum Engineering, Inc., a structural and civil engineering firm that provides consulting engineering and design to local, state and regional public agencies and private clients. Meri is an artist who does custom stained glass pieces for local clients. Brick and Meri share four children, Kent and Aryn (twins, age 29), Springtime Belle Kirsten (age 17) and Brenn (age 13).