Print ArticleThis photo oriented article is dedicated to the industrial heritage of Jacksonville's urban core and the remains of a once proud, glorious industrial era. Many of the ghosts of factories, power plants, and mills still remain to be explored and appreciated, even as they slowly return to nature. So enjoy!
During the mid-1950s, the southeast portion of the original ice plant was demolished for the construction of the Jacksonville Expressway (now I-95). To accommodate for the lost space, a 40,305 square foot concrete cold storage warehouse was added west of the original plant in 1954. In 1984, the site was taken over by Olcott Enterprises Freezing & Cold Storage. A year later, Olcott expanded the site with the addition of a 33,414 square foot cold storage warehouse just west of Ives Street. During the 1990's, most of the remaining original early 20th century structures were demolished to make room for the widening of the I-95 viaduct just north of I-10.
A Sanborn Map of the Atlantic Company during the 1960s.
The Atlantic Company's ice and cold storage plant sitting under the new Jacksonville Expressway viaduct. Photograph courtesy of Florida State Archives.
Until recently, the cold storage business was still alive and well at this historic industrial site. In 1994, Caribbean Shipping & Cold Storage, was founded with the $2 million acquisition of the 85,000 square foot industrial property. Mid and late 20th century additions made by the Atlantic Company and Olcott Enterprises provided Caribbean Cold Storage with more than 2.5 million cubic feet of freezer, cooler and dry space to consolidate freight. According to their website, Caribbean Shipping is the largest refrigerated transporter servicing the Caribbean market. However, the historic Dennis Street property is currently listed for sale for $2.4 million. However, adjacent to the warehouses recently utilized by Caribbean Cold Storage, lie the ruins of the Atlantic Ice and Coal Corporation's original ice house, a disappearing reminder of an era in Jacksonville before the days of expressways.
The original brick building that once contained parts of Atlantic Ice & Coal Corporation's freezing tanks and ammonia storage space remains today. Completely overlooked, the structure is nearly 120 years old and one of the few remaining buildings near downtown to survive the Great Fire of 1901.
The overgrown section of the site between Dennis Street and the ammonia storage building was the location of Atlantic's wood frame engine room.
As the company's cold storage business expanded, larger warehouses were constructed along Dennis Street, immediately west of the original ice manufacturing plant.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
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