Print ArticleIn the first half of the 20th century, the area that is known as East Bay Street today, was almost wholly industrial- and maritime- related. With the railroad and wharves paralleling a block south, along the riverfront, many firms took advantage of Bay Street's easy access to the St. Johns River. The most important industry during this era was shipbuilding and repair. With the rise of free trade, deindustrialization, and a movement to clean up the downtown waterfront, many industries began to leave the area in the mid-20th century. Although a number of historic warehouses, factories and wharves were left and available for other uses, the majority have been demolished in the later half of the 20th century. With the push to cluster entertainment uses in this section of downtown and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission's (JEDC) desire to brand the corridor "The E-Town zone," Metro Jacksonville takes a look into the district's past.
Duval County Courthouse and Armory at the intersection of Forsyth and Market Streets
The former Groover-Steward Drug Company building will be in need of a new use when the Public Defender's office relocates to the new Duval County Courthouse complex in LaVilla.
Founded in 1900 by Flavius T. Christie and Frank C. Groover, the Christie-Groover Drug Company was for many years the largest wholesale drug firm in Florida. In 1905 Mr. Christie retired, and the following year the company was renamed the Groover-Stewart Drug Company, reflecting the addition of M. W. Stewart and H. E. Stewart to the partnership. In 1925 this four-story building was constructed for the company, to serve as warehouse and office space.www.jaxhistory.com/Jax Arch Herit/D-88.htm
Labeling The District
In recent years, the former maritime- and market-themed atmosphere of East Bay Street and the theatre district of East Forsyth Street have been replaced with a number of nighttime entertainment-oriented facilities. The desire to see a true entertainment district bloom in Downtown Jacksonville has led to the the JEDC attempting to brand the area as the "E-Town" zone. This action has resulted in several alternative names being suggested within Metro Jacksonville's discussion board. These names include:
- Actionville
- The Entertainment District
- Electrifying District
- E-Bay
- East Bay
- Court District
- Cowford Downs
- Bay Street District
- The Zone
- The District
- The Northbank
- Northbank Nightlife District
- Jumpin' Jax
- Bayside District
- The Core
- Bay and Market
- Market District
- The Spike
- Exchange District
- The Old/Historic Court District
- Bay Tree District
Vote For Your Favorite Name Here: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,12449.45/viewResults.html
Conclusion
The industrialized activities that took place along East Bay and the Northbank waterfront were every bit as organic as the activities that created NYC's Meatpacking District, Cleveland's Warehouse District, and San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. While my personal preference would be to let the budding entertainment area and it's "name" organically evolve, just like it has in many of its counterparts, hopefully this article will shed some light into the area's past and stimulate additional ideas for its future.
Historic images courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Article by Ennis Davis.
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