The Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901

[rjp2008]

The fire this, the fire that...everything with the fire....

At some point, Jax has to stop dwelling on it so much. Leave it in history, where it belongs. Move on. To it's credit, the city has. But sadly, it seems like it's still clung to as "we should've been this kind of city but the fire ripped us off" Yes, it was terrible. It's a growing city now, has some direction, I just think the fire needs to be left in the past where it belongs. Move the city forward.

[JeffreyS]

I don't find many people who even know much about it much less dwell on it.

[Dan B]

The fact is, the Fire pushed Jacksonville to become a modern city. Prior to the fire, it was predominantly wooden structures, and many of the streets were still unpaved.

Honestly, in a sort of back handed way, the fire may have been the best thing to ever happen to Jax!

[ac]

^
I'd agree, if we hadn't systematically destroyed many of the buildings that cropped up in the wake of the fire only to leave empty lots.

We've set ourselves back in the intervening century.

[billy]

Didn't Klutho come here because of the fire?

[Dan B]

Yup.

[thelakelander]

Yes. Most of Jax's well known architects from that era came because of the fire.  I agree with Dan B.  Although it was disaster, the fire was one of the better things to happen to Jacksonville.  The city that came out of its ashes was something that was and still is unique to the Southeastern US.

[stjr]

Yes. Most of Jax's well known architects from that era came because of the fire.  I agree with Dan B.  Although it was disaster, the fire was one of the better things to happen to Jacksonville.  The city that came out of its ashes was something that was and still is unique to the Southeastern US.

Lake, maybe another "fire" would move us into the next century?  Since we are tearing down all our historic buildings anyway, we won't be sacrificing much.     We aren't doing too well on our own, are we?  See the thread I started yesterday about Top 10 things to do to make downtown boom again:  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6638.0.html .  Feel free to add your ideas.

[Ocklawaha]

Interesting side note from an Unreconstructed Seccish Confederate... I think we've had enough fires.

During the War of Yankee Aggression, Jacksonville was invaded by the Union Fleet and Army in 1862, and thereafter three more times. The first invasion wasn't complete until an incredible fire fight between Confederate Battery's on St. Johns Bluff and the Fort at Yellow Bluff (National Park Site today). The Yankees over ran both sites, and built a signal tower at Yellow Bluff and Hemming Plaza. The City was burned to the ground by wild troops from NEW YORK, who started their fires in the churches. When they left town, the people tried to rebuild only to be burned out again, each invasion heavy with NEW YORK soldiers, in fact we were burned out three times. The Confederate Line finally pulled back to about 15 miles of earthworks west of town (also a park today).

We were then hit by the Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886, and a national depression in the 1890's. Finally on a roll, the City was booming by 1901, ironically with a huge influx of former (mostly) New York Soldiers, who loved the area so much they came back and invested. When the Great Fire Hit, perhaps the first and greatest aid we got was from the CITY OF NEW YORK. They donated nearly a million dollars, and a great deal of love for Jacksonville. History is stranger then fiction.

OCKLAWAHA
DEO VINDICE Y'ALL!

[stjr]

Finally on a roll, the City was booming by 1901, ironically with a huge influx of former (mostly) New York Soldiers, who loved the area so much they came back and invested. When the Great Fire Hit, perhaps the first and greatest aid we got was from the CITY OF NEW YORK. They donated nearly a million dollars, and a great deal of love for Jacksonville. History is stranger then fiction.[/color][/b]

A million dollars in 1901?  Wow.  Did we do anything to honor their generosity?  A monument, historic marker, thank you note?  Anything?  Maybe we should have made NYC our first "sister city".  Think of all the spin off benefits that would have given us as their "little sister".  Winter home for all those New Yorkers and their pro-sports teams, recipient of traveling exhibits from their museums, rub-offs of their cultural, architectural, and financial acumen, etc.  You know, "Wall Street of the South"!  Maybe even a left over subway car or two! 

[mtraininjax]

Since we are tearing down all our historic buildings anyway, we won't be sacrificing much.

Is the Park View Inn gone yet? 

What others are we tearing down in 2009?

[Lunican]

TO REBUILD JACKSONVILLE; Plan for an Organization to Provide Permanent Relief. Corporation Suggested Which Will Furnish Ready Money Necessary to Reconstruct the Burned District.

May 26, 1901, Wednesday

While the work of relieving the immediate necessities of the Jacksonville (Fla.) fire sufferers has been in progress it has been thought by many of those engaged that a plan should be devised that would give permanent relief and that would not be simply a matter of sending so much food to be eaten or so much money to be spent on living alone.

Full Article:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9505EFDA1F38E733A25755C2A9639C946097D6CF

[Lunican]

FOR JACKSONVILLE, $36,769; This City's Contribution to the Fire Sufferers in Three Days. Articles Mostly Needed Are Bedding, Furniture, and Money -- Big Grocery Houses Not Burned.

May 9, 1901, Wednesday

Additional subscriptions to aid the Jacksonville fire sufferers continued coming in to the Joint Relief Committee of the Merchants' Association and the Chamber of Commerce all day yesterday. When the books were closed for the day, at 5 o'clock, $4,176.50 had been taken in, the total subscription for the three days thus far being $36.769.

Full Article:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F01EFDD1139E733A2575AC0A9639C946097D6CF

[Lunican]

It appears that the NY Times covered this story extensively and led the way in raising funds for the rebuilding of Jacksonville. No wonder so many New York architects came down to help rebuild.

[Lunican]

Along with money, New York also sent relief trains and steamships.

NEW YORK'S RELIEF FOR JACKSONVILLE; Over $59,000 Already Subscribed for Homeless Fire Sufferers. THE ACTION OF MERCHANTS Joint Committee of Their Association and the Chamber of Commerce -- Transportation Companies' Generous Response.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F00E2D61730E033A25754C0A9639C946097D6CF