Trenton in Gilchrist County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Trenton's Compass Rose
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, November 15, 2018
1. Trenton's Compass Rose Marker
The design is a very old one. Before the compass was available, early mariners depended on a wind chart called the windrose. Though not always reliable it was the best that could be done before the magnetic compass came into use in the late 13th century.
For many years, sailors continued to depend on the winds, as they didn't completely trust the magnetic compass. During this time the wind rose gradually evolved into the compass rose on nautical maps. The compass rose continued to be a useful decorative feature on charts and maps for the next few centuries. It's likely that quilters were inspired by the varied designs used to depict the compass rose over time.
The first known quilt to use the Mariner's Compass design was made in 1726 in England.
The Suwannee Valley Shops
Painted by Kathy Sausen, a local artist and owner of
Kathy's Mane Street Hair
this page online
FQT-T 1
Florida Quilt Trail
Trenton & The Tri County Area
February 15, 2013
Erected 2013 by Florida Quilt Trail, Trenton & the Tri County Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 29° 36.993′ N, 82° 49.114′ W. Marker is in Trenton, Florida, in Gilchrist County. It is on North Main Street (U.S. 129) south of Northwest 5th Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted directly on the southeast corner of the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe building (formerly the Trenton Coca Cola Bottling Plant). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 517 North Main Street, Trenton FL 32693, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Coca Cola Bottling Plant (a few steps from this marker); The Crystal Ice House (within shouting distance of this marker); John Franklin Beach, Sr. (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Veterans Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fanning Springs Bridge (approx. 7.3 miles away); The History of Fort Fanning (approx. 7.3 miles away); Steamboat "City of Hawkinsville"
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, November 15, 2018
2. Trenton's Compass Rose Marker (wide view; marker visible on building, at left)
More about this marker. Marker is a wood-framed and glass-covered poster, mounted on the building wall.
Also see . . .
1. wind rose. Before the development of the compass rose, a wind rose was included on maps in order to let the reader know which directions the 8 major winds (and sometimes 8 half winds and 16 quarter winds) blew within the plan view. No differentiation was made between cardinal directions and the winds which blew from those directions. North was depicted with a fleur de lis, while east was shown as a Christian cross to indicate the direction of Jerusalem from Europe. (Submitted on November 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Compass rose. The Classical 12-wind system continued to be taught in academic settings during the Medieval era, but seafarers in the Mediterranean came up with their own distinct 8-wind system. The mariners used names derived from the Mediterranean lingua franca—the Italian-tinged patois among Medieval sailors, composed principally of Ligurian, mixed with Venetian, Sicilian, Provenηal,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, November 15, 2018
3. Trenton's Compass Rose
(N) Tramontana (NE) Greco (or Bora) (E) Levante (SE) Scirocco (or Exaloc) (S) Ostro (or Mezzogiorno) (SW) Libeccio (or Garbino) (W) Ponente (NW) Maestro (or Mistral) (Submitted on November 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,157 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
