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Author Topic: Lost Jacksonville  (Read 59995 times)

Metro Jacksonville

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Lost Jacksonville
« on: January 29, 2009, 05:00:00 AM »
Lost Jacksonville



A century ago, Jacksonville was the center of a highly progressive architectural community.  Over time, we have become a conservative community with little regard for the importance of architecture in our urban landscape.  Here is a collection of images showcasing several significant structures that no longer exist in the downtown area.  A few came down in fires; others were replaced by larger structures.  Most were simply torn down and replaced with parking garages and surface lots.  Hopefully, one day reminders showing what we have lost will provoke our community to work harder to save what's left.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/992
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civil42806

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2009, 05:26:09 AM »
Great Photos.  But I wonder if most people in the city really consider themselves part of jacksonville.  My family has been here for a long time and have an mayor in the family line. I have worked downtown and lived in jax on an off for the past 50 years but still sort of consider myself a westsider.  One of the odd things is the chant that has started at jags games "Duuuuuvaaaaalll".  Almost as if the city itself is an afterthought.  Just throwing that out.
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BridgeTroll

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2009, 07:11:51 AM »
Love those historical photos... pic number 58 is centered on a theater.  The building on the far left is a "French Novelty Shop".  Hmmm.... :o
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In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

jbm32206

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2009, 07:41:02 AM »
Good article, I just wished that each photo had the listing of what and where. It's really neat to see a glimpse of how it looked back then
« Last Edit: January 29, 2009, 07:45:01 AM by jbm32206 »
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heights unknown

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2009, 08:04:34 AM »
If you've really been a part of Jacksonville and have lived here or even was born here, by seeing these pics and remembering most of what was from looking at these pics, it's clear that Jax could have been much much more; poor planning and failed planning on the part of our City Leaders past and present.

I think most of the buildings and developments in these pics would have been torn down anyway but we could have kept a good majority of them.  It's nice to really know who you are and where you've been, not dwelling on the past, but seeing all of this really tells you what Jax really is, was, but never lived up to its full potential!

Heights Unknown
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thelakelander

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2009, 08:07:33 AM »
jbm32206, I'll go through it later today and add the name and location of buildings I know.  I'll also update information on names/locations revealed by other forum members.
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jbm32206

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2009, 08:22:19 AM »
Thanks....as it would be really great to know that info. I appreciate your hard work!
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jbm32206

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2009, 08:25:38 AM »
I don't know if most of the buildings would've been taken down....not when you look at most major cities, where they've worked all along at preserving their history and historic buildings. Jax has failed miserably with that and has shown little to no effort in keeping these old buildings and restoring them.

I'm from Philly, and I'll tell you...I'm proud that they kept so many of them, that they're still functional to this day
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lindab

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2009, 08:49:55 AM »
Great photos and a good reminder. Something like urban renewal fever took over in Jacksonville and many of these buildings, which had decayed a bit, were demolished for new and shiny. I read a book by an planner living in Norfolk, VA who said that their entire historic district was demolished that way.
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riverside planner

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2009, 09:09:23 AM »
BridgeTroll, French Novelty was a ladies clothing store that was quite popular through the 1980s.  It was not the least bit tawdry.
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BridgeTroll

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2009, 09:25:49 AM »
 :D  Thank you... It surely shows how meanings change over time.... :)
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In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

BridgeTroll

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2009, 09:28:20 AM »
Here is some history of this Jacksonville based business...

http://www.frenchnovelty.com/c/AboutUs/About+Us.html

Our Company

Our company is a family owned business, started by the current owner's grandfather, in 1911, with a store in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The first store specialized in fine handmade blouses, linens, and ready-to-wear garments. When the second store opened in the 1920's, also in downtown Jacksonville, it was named French Novelty, since many of the items carried were imported from France, which was considered to be the fashion capital of the world. Of course, "novelty" stood for new. The Mizrahi family still operates three French Novelty stores serving Jacksonville, North Florida and South Georgia for over 97 years with a reputation for unique, quality fashions, incredible values, and excellent customer service.

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In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

copperfiend

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2009, 10:02:11 AM »
There is a building that every time I see a photo of it, I get sick thinking about it being torn down. I believe it is the old Post Office.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2009, 10:06:31 AM by copperfiend »
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Johnny

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2009, 10:26:55 AM »
Very disturbing... Some of those buildings are amazing. I wonder which were destroyed to build something new and which were just destroyed due to government incompetence. I can somewhat understand an owner from a time thinking he could build a nicer structure as it's not historical at the time and you have to keep with the Joneses, but city officials causing destruction is really unfortunate.
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Ocklawaha

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Re: Lost Jacksonville
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2009, 10:30:55 AM »
MOVING HISTORY?

Photo 60, Maybe the best shot I've seen of a Jacksonville Traction Company open-air streetcar. Today of course Tampa and several other cities have ONE. We had a fleet of them, and there is some very slim chance that at least one or two are built into a chicken coop, storage shed, or your own Florida Room. I anyone on these boards hear of metal in the walls, or roof, or down at so and so's is an old bus thing... SEND ME A PM!

Photo 61 , A good shot of the largest class of the Jacksonville streetcars. He is pointed to the right side o the photo - down the hill. (wonder if this is where the cursed blue bricks were?) These were called "Stone and Webster TURTLEBACKS" (Stone and Webster was a Boston Based streetcar and utility management company). Bigger then the current JTA buses, quiet and powerful - note the hill he is going DOWN! Dallas has 5. Some MAYBE with Jacksonville roots, but only one restored. The ride quality is superior to the Pearle Thomas (todays Thomas Bus) cars in New Orleans, and should be a DON'T MISS ride in DALLAS for all Jacksonville residents who visit.

BTW! JTA? MIKE? SCOTT? JAMES? MIKE? FDOT? JHS? HELLO...

Dallas has 5. Spell that FIVE turtlebacks. They need funds to help restore one more to their fleet.

Uh? THEY NEED FUNDS! WE NEED ONE OF OUR TYPE STREETCARS! HELLO!
(and YES I have talked with them and they are interested in some horse trading...shipyard assembly? Donations? Mr. Weaver... Where ARE YOU? Teal Blue streetcars would be historic BECAUSE our streetcar system allowed school children to "paint" streetcars in a coloring book... The favorite designs were put on the streets... who's to say we DIDN'T have a Teal Blue Streetcar.

Ah Shucks, A DESIRE NAMED STREETCAR.

OCKLAWAHA
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