Print Article
More Jacksonville videos by flurbex at: http://www.flurbex.com/sites/
A Brief History of Florida Machine & Foundry
While current city records indicate Florida Machine and Foundry's West Church Street facility dating back to 1953, its history actually begins in the early 20th century, paralleling the development of several major businesses in the vicinity of downtown’s railroad terminal.
The foundry was originally known as the Florida Machine Works and was established by E.C. Dearborn and R.W. Limbaugh in 1899. A short time after the Great Fire of 1901, Franklin Glazier Russell, Sr. of Howell, Maine relocated to Jacksonville and became the sole proprietor of the Florida Machine Works, which was located near the Acosta Bridge at 40 Riverside Avenue.
In 1912, Russell purchased the West Church Street site to eventually relocate his business from the downtown waterfront. With the help of his son, Franklin Russell, Jr, the foundry opened in 1924. For the next sixty plus years the foundry would buzz with activity employing hundreds of Jaxons, including Mitch Raikes, the founder of Larry's Giant Subs. However, by the 1990s, the foundry was no more. For a brief period in the late 1990's the site was occupied by National Wire Southeast. Some of the industrial complex's oldest buildings are being demolished in preparation of converting a portion of the property into a scrap yard.
The Machine Shop
Fronting West Church Street, and completed in 1924, the machine shop was the only building constructed of brick.
Dawkins Building Supply Company Building
Now demolished, this warehouse dated back to 1924 as well. Between 1924 and 1929, it was occupied by DeWitt C. Dawkin's Dawkins Building Supply Company. In 1929, Dawkins relocated to the intersection of West Beaver Street and Myrtle Avenue. Still in operation today, the company is now known as the Big D building center.
Steel Fabrication Plant
The steel fabrication plant was added during the 1950s. It's in the process of being put into use again.
The remains of a Seaboard Air Line Railroad rail siding inside the fabrication plant.
The Foundry
The foundry was the life valve of the industrial complex. Constructed in 1924, it is in the process of being demolished.
Article by Ennis Davis. Photographs by Daniel Herbin
Share this article
RSS
urbanlibertarian
February 21, 2012, 10:12:31 AMFor those who are curious like me, this is located at 1375 W Church St 32204 which is west of Myrtle Ave and south of Beaver St.
Tacachale
February 21, 2012, 02:31:39 PMNice article. What are the plans for this area?
Ajax
February 21, 2012, 06:28:17 PMGreat pictures and info - thanks for sharing this!
choosing2disappear
February 22, 2012, 12:52:07 AMHardwick & Lee (Taylor Hardwick) did the offices of Florida Machine and Foundry, twice. The first office building was done in the mid/late 50's, then around the time when the Haydon Burns was going up, they build a twin (but more modern looking) building beside it and then connected the pair together with a curiously shaped concrete entranceway.
Was quite well preserved in '08 when I was there. Instantly recognizable as a T.H. project. I have pics, somewhere..........
thelakelander
February 22, 2012, 06:31:42 AMThanks. I was wondering who did the design of the office building. Last time I went by, it appeared that it was being renovated.
choosing2disappear
February 22, 2012, 06:37:22 PMSure, but Jax's primary renovation tool continues to be a wrecking ball, right?
thelakelander
February 22, 2012, 07:26:02 PM^Of course. The majority of the foundry has already been demolished. However, the new owners do appear to be reusing the office, the steel fab plant, and machine shop buildings....or at least the backhoe hasn't hit their walls yet.
Rumblefish
February 23, 2012, 01:18:27 PMwnettles
February 27, 2012, 08:25:40 PMWonder just how much more of Jacksonville's history will get the wrecking ball renovation treatment? It's a shame to see such useful structures being demolished, but, what can one do? I restore antique tractors and have an appreciation for the technology of the age. The simpler machines seem to be much more reliable and efficient than today's grotesquely overly complicated and cheaply made replacements.
choosing2disappear
March 21, 2012, 11:20:44 AMClueless. Nothing changes. 100 years in the future Jville will still be the city that did the least, with the most. See ya.
Kaiser Soze
March 21, 2012, 01:53:04 PMchoosing2disappear
March 21, 2012, 02:51:02 PMperhaps.
thelakelander
May 11, 2012, 07:34:06 PMA new life for the remaining foundry buildings (1924 brick machine shop, offices, and steel fabrication plant). The property is serving as a steel recycling yard for Main Metal Recycling.
thelakelander
May 19, 2012, 10:04:10 AMCame across this while looking for another site in the Florida State Archives collection.
Overstreet
July 24, 2012, 08:16:55 AMWrecking ball.