Exploring Ortega

[TREE4309]

Great neighborhood...I've lived here over 5 years now and I will admit that I do feel out of my demographic (I'm 30, not married, not wealthy), but I do love it here!

[aj_fresh]

I ran the Ortega River Run today and this was my first time down in this neighborhood. It's absolutely beautiful!!!

[Ernest Street]

I also enjoy Ortega, and had a chance today to see one of those "Craftsman style" houses Ock mentioned..AYE CARUMBA! It was literally made from scraps! It was a Tree House made by 13 year olds on the ground! Possibly stolen building supplies.It was 2 blocks from Roosevelt. I never knew they were hiding amongst the mansions. I love the lay-out of the Ortega Village and Stockton Park and frequently visit.

[ProjectMaximus]

Question about the Ortega Elementary School:

When it was built in 1923, was it originally intended to be a school?

[mtraininjax]

Ortega is a historic neighborhood known for its giant oak trees, waterfront mansions, and parks located just south of Riverside/Avondale.

Yet, this picture shows neighther Giant Oak Trees, a waterfront mansion or a park. Did I miss something here?

[mtraininjax]

Here is a nice photograph of the southern entrance to Ortega. This is the corner of Roosevelt Blvd. and Timuquana Road from September 7, 1954:

Actually, the service station up on the right of US 17 still stands there today. This photo is taken JUST NORTH of the US 17/Timaquana intersection. Ortega BLVD is off to the right vearing past the service station.

And, oh yeah, FYC rules baby!

[ProjectMaximus]

Ortega is a historic neighborhood known for its giant oak trees, waterfront mansions, and parks located just south of Riverside/Avondale.

Yet, this picture shows neighther Giant Oak Trees, a waterfront mansion or a park. Did I miss something here?

yeah, i think youre missing the whole article there, buddy.
bump for my question to all the historians (stjr? ock?)

Question about the Ortega Elementary School:

When it was built in 1923, was it originally intended to be a school?

[Traveller]

It sounds like it was a school from day one.  Whether that was the builder's original intent, however, I have no idea.

Desoto Park resides in the Ortega neighborhood (platted in 1909) of southwest Jacksonville. It was one of four circular parks created along Park Avenue (now Baltic Street) and named after New World explorers. The Ortega Elementary School opened across the street in 1923, and the park served as a school playground and neighborhood park.

http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=111

[Ocklawaha]

It was built as a school back in the early days of the community. The reason for the confusion is the many, makeovers it has gone through since it first opened. It is just one of many little treasures hidden in Ortega.
Fact is my childhood home is within a block of the school! Someone has just bought and restored this little craftsman bungalow - and I'd give my left nut to be able to talk them out of it. Guess it never matters how old one is, when a wonder mom and dad pass away, you find youself always looking for that connection again, and sometimes feeling quite alone. Don't know if buying that house would help or hurt, but it would be a direct connection... Besides the streetcar line ran through the front yard!

OCKLAWAHA

[train1812]

New thread...

Can anyone tell me when the CSX double-track bridge was built? It probably goes back to Atlantic Coast Line days.

Thanks,

Leo

[sandyshoes]

Say, Ock (Feb re: Milligan's) - I wish somebody would resurrect Milligan's.  Last time I had one it cost a whole quarter and was from the stand next to the Pic n' Save on Normandy in the early 1970s.  Those were the best lil' burgers, they were much thicker (like 6x thicker) than Krystals, and they were seasoned beef patties you could sink your teeth into.  Man...if I had a left nut (I'm female) I'd give it for a Milligan's Beefy Burger!

[Timkin]

If you like the Ortega Neighborhood , check out the 2 Story Stucco at the Corner of Angelo Place and Arapahoe  (1 block south of Yacht Club Rd. )  This home was my grandparents, purchased  in 1940 and I believe they were the second owners of the home.  My grandfather passed on in 1961, and my Grandmother in 1999.  At that time the house was in such deteriorated condition, it needed a bulldozer.  I located a prospective buyer for the house/property who got it for basicly the land value. He did an amazing job of not only saving the house ,but enhancing it.  It is one of the Ortega Neighborhood's OLDEST... looking around the neighborhood at everything around it now, that is obvious.

[sandyshoes]

Be sure and take a ride over there at night, about a month from now, to see their Christmas decorations and luminaria - I think they do theirs the same night RAP does theirs, so you could just ride out a little further.