In the Sunshine State on this day in 1565 from the Diary of Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, Chaplain to Pedro Menendez’s expedition to Florida...

At three o’clock on Saturday, the 25th of the month, the General came to our vessel to visit it and to bring artillery for the entrance into Florida. He brought two battering rams and two versos [small cannon]; and their powder and balls; and two lombards. After he had armed the vessel he made a speech setting out what we had to do on arriving at the port where the French would be. Not to be too long in this (which would be interesting to record according to the pros and cons that were expressed) the firm resolution of the General was that, despite the 2,000 Frenchmen being in port, we had to enter by defeating them in combat. I replied to him and charged it to his conscience that he look to the 1,000 souls that he had brought that he might give a good account of them. From this we passed to other things, which being lengthy, I will leave until we see each other, our Lord and His Blessed Mother being pleased. This same day, Saturday, the argument being over, the General called me and said these words to me: “They have told me that thou hast here a relative of thine.” I said to him: “Yes, lord.”--”Well if I had known it when I chose captains I would have taken care of him, but I did not know of it until on his part, Diego de Amaya told me of it and now I have provided him the office of Sergeant of the Flagship with Captain Mexica, who is a principal knight. He will have that until something better offers itself.” I asked him for his hands that I might kiss them, and called the Lord Valverde that he might see him and give him thanks and entrust the General with the disposition of his person; for the Lord Valverde, Sergeant and Officer of the King, however established, would profit much from this. If he does well and gives a good account of himself, it is a post from which to rise to captain, which I will see done if I do not die before.

Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, Laudonniere and Fort Caroline.

In 1866 The Florida Freedman’s Bureau Homestead Office opened today. More than 3,000 homesteads, more than in any other southern state, were awarded to Florida freedmen. Each homestead averaged 80 acres.

In 1894 Professor R. F. Massey signed a contract for the construction of a new building at the corner of Monroe and Main Streets in Jacksonville. This building would become the cornerstone of Massey College, which was founded in this year.

In 1983 Tropical Storm Barry struck Florida near Melbourne and continued across Florida. It exited near Tampa, crossed the Gulf of Mexico, gained hurricane strength, and hit near Brownsville, Texas, on the 28th.

In 1992 Today Florida was reeling under the devastation created by Hurricane Andrew. The storm was now about 250 miles southeast of New Orleans and moving west. Its winds, which had diminished to 125 mph, were building again to 145 mph. Landfall was expected later today near Iberia, Louisiana.