Print ArticleJohn Murray Forbes was a Boston Investor, who in 1868, purchased 500 acres known as "Dell's Bluff" and platted this land as a suburban neighborhood named Riverside.
John Murray Forbes was an American railroad magnate, merchant, philanthropist and abolitionist. He was president of both the Michigan Central railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the 1850s.
Forbes was an important figure in the building of America's railroad system. From March 28, 1846 through 1855, he was president of Michigan Central Railroad, and he was a director and president of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, he helped with the growth of the American Middle West.He supplied money and weapons to New Englanders to fight slavery in Kansas and in 1859 entertained John Brown. In 1860 he was an elector for Abraham Lincoln. Staunchly pro-Union, he is given credit for founding the New England Loyal Publication Society in early 1863. A delegate to the Republican conventions of 1876, 1880 and 1884, he eventually became displeased with the Republican party and worked successfully to get Democrat Grover Cleveland elected President.
"My next best operation as it now looks was the purchase just after the war of five hundred acres of land just south of and adjoining Jacksonville, then known as Yellow Bluff, and now called Riverside."
Reminiscences of John Murray Forbes By John Murray Forbes, Sarah Forbes Hughes
Images by Ennis Davis
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Beloki
May 06, 2009, 07:57:48 AMWouldn't it be great if you can connect this to Memorial Park and the riverwalk?
Keith-N-Jax
May 06, 2009, 08:22:10 AMSt. Vincents, my first job out of the military. One of or maybe the best location for a hospital. Not to mention how nice the grounds are and kept. My favorite hospital and grounds. It also doesnt hurt to be located along the riverfront.
heights unknown
May 06, 2009, 08:23:35 AMIt kinds of looks like a generic and austere riverwalk to me anyway. I always thought of it as a part of St. Vincents and not a park.
Heights Unknown
jaxlore
May 06, 2009, 09:06:37 AMdamn i didnt even know that was there, yep i wish the riverwalk wound all the way around!
fsujax
May 06, 2009, 09:17:12 AMI love the way the palm trees line the river. It looks great!
ChriswUfGator
May 06, 2009, 09:38:35 AMI walk through there every day for exercise. Nice view, very scenic.
will
May 06, 2009, 09:49:04 AMThe park is nice for the neighborhood, but I bet it's also quite a comfort to the sick or friends of the sick in the hospital itself. Looking out over a big, beautiful river has got to be good therapy for a troubled mind.
Deuce
May 06, 2009, 10:18:53 AMDidn't even know this thing existed. Ditto on connecting the Riverwalk.
Jason
May 06, 2009, 10:21:35 AMI've been run outta there more than a couple times back in the day because of the few great rails... The guards, for some strange reason, thought that my friends and I should get hurt skating off of the hospital property!
Looks a little different than it used to though. Have there been any recent renovations?
reednavy
May 06, 2009, 01:16:39 PMIt was interesting during the height of TS Fay last year. The water was at least 2 feet deep across the park and the winds created a tunnel affect. Any debris that was on top of a wave crest was thrown pretty fast through that entry way. It was really cool.
stjr
May 07, 2009, 12:46:50 AMHere are some old postcard pictures of the park!
thelakelander
May 07, 2009, 12:52:20 AMIs that old building (last postcard) still there or has it been replaced?
stjr
May 07, 2009, 01:02:10 AMPer the aerial below, it appears the structure has been "wrapped" by new outer structures and thus is no longer visible from the outside. My recollection of visits to St. Vincents are these rooms have been modernized on the inside as well. By the way, all three post cards look to be of the same building, just different times and perspectives. The middle one appears to be more recent and reflects an addition to the original building shown in the first and third cards.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st+vincents+jacksonville&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.885545,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=30.30692,-81.689068&spn=0.003209,0.004828&t=h&z=18