I was born in Jacksonville back in the 50's, and my family goes back into Jacksonville history at least 3 generations, and the family goes back in the North Florida area at least another 2 generations before that. That in itself is a rarity, as most people I meet seem to have moved to Florida in their lifetime, or in their parents. To add a nail in the coffin (so to speak) my wife's family goes back at least 3 generations in the Jacksonville Beaches areas as well.
I was raised on the northside of town, in Highlands, back when the houses were still new, I recall going to sleep each night (pre-air conditioning of course) to the sound of the train whistle every night about my bedtime, as it traveled north along the tracks that ran along beside Main Street. And to the amazement of my children, I recall when they not only built the McDonald's on the corner of Main and Tallulah Ave, but when they first counted their burgers in the thousands being sold (lol).
Almost every Sunday, after church, (North Jacksonville Baptist, when it was on Pearl Street) we would occasionally eat at the Imeson Airport Restaurant, and then go to the observation deck at the airport to watch the airplanes (propeller driven) land and takeoff.
On one very special occasion, mt grandparents went on a trip to Hawaii, I can recall it was a time when people would dress up to fly, as if they were dressing to go to church. As the aircraft was being loaded, we got to go aboard and look around, and even visited the cockpit (unheard of these days). The stewardesses, finally called out, to all visitors to depart the plane if they were not going to Hawaii on the flight. Needless to say it was a time when you could leave your windows open and doors unlocked. Not so much a simpler time, but a more trustfull one. And one that I miss at times.
Papa Jeff......
PS. And for those that might not know it, the football field at the Gator Bowl used to run east to west instead of north to south, as it does now.
