With construction of a new Fishermen’s underway in Marathon, a coveted, historic treasure that’s long been part of the hospital is restored and breathing new life at its temporary home at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier.
The anchor, located near the entrance of Fishermen’s Community Hospital for decades, currently sits outside of the emergency room entrance at Mariners Hospital. Over the past year, Dr. Brian Magrane has taken time and utilized his talents to restore the piece of Keys history.
“The restoration is ongoing, as it will be forever. Rust blooms still occur and are treated as needed,” Magrane said. “The next year will be an experiment to monitor the anchor reactions to sun, shade and heat.”
Magrane began the work after crossing paths with Fishermens’ Candy Fincke during Bougainvillea Ball in 2019. Not only have they been working on restoring the anchor, but they’ve also been investigating who donated and where it exactly came from.
Following an article in late August regarding the anchor, Magrane said he heard from the salvor and gathered a fair amount of information. He’s also received help from a maritime archeologist from NOAA. From his research, Magrane wrote a narrative on its history on a sign that sits next to the anchor at Mariner’s.
The Spanish colonial artifact weighing over 1,200 pounds embodies Florida Keys history. It likely came from a vessel that was part of the 1733 fleet returning to Spain with silver and New World commodities. A hurricane caught the fleet, sweeping many of the ships into the reef. Nineteen vessels sank between Marathon and Elliot Key. One vessel, the San Ignacio, from which this anchor is believed to have originated, was ripped apart with few survivors.
Pounding waves separated the upper deck from the hull, leaving a long trail of artifacts. The San Ignacio wrecked 4 miles offshore of Marathon near Vaca Key. Capt. Marion Lloyd Winner salvaged this anchor in 1963 at the bequest of philanthropist Ruth Ivans for the opening of Fishermens Hospital.
When the new Fishermen’s Community Hospital is completed, the anchor will be returned to the property – once again signifying the hospital as an anchor of the Middle Keys.
“It is sad it has to leave, but that was the primary objective of the project — return it home to where it belongs,” Magrane said.
