Jacksonville Architecture

Jacksonville
Historical
Society

Founded in 1929

The following is an overview of the the book and how it is organized:

Click on any topic or scroll down:
The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission –
The Inventory Project – Organization of This On-Line Book Prefixes for Sites by Neighborhood – Selection of Sites
Site Names – Sites Not Included – Priorities for Preservation
Photographs – Abbreviations

The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission

In response to an increased interest in the preservation of this city's cultural and historic resources, the Jacksonville Historical and Cultural Conservation Commission was created on January 26, 1971. A nine-member board was appointed by Mayor Hans Tanzler and confirmed by the City Council to serve on a volunteer basis. On January 10, 1978, the name was changed to the Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission, and the board increased to fifteen members. With the passage of the Historic Preservation Ordinance in 1990, the Landmarks Commission was replaced by a new seven-member body, the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission, which held its first meeting on April 30, 1991.

The Inventory Project

The original Historical and Cultural Conservation Commission's primary responsibility was to advise the Mayor, Council, and Planning Department on historical matters, including land-use planning, designation of significant sites, and construction, rehabilitation, and demolition of structures. To perform these duties, the early members of the Commission realized that a comprehensive inventory of historically and architecturally important sites in Duval County was necessary. In 1974 the Commission initiated a survey project, funded jointly by the Florida Bicentennial Commission, the City of Jacksonville, and the Florida Division of Archives, History & Records Management (DAHRM). A two-year study was conducted by DAHRM, coordinated by Diane Greer and assited by staff members Lynn S. Nidy, Brian Bowman, Dennis Downey, Doug Little, and Glenn Westfall. Although incomplete, this initial work became the foundation for subsequent research. A summary of the inventory study was published by DAHRM in July, 1980.

In order to compile a comprehensive document on significant sites in Duval County, the Commission began its own research in 1979. Staffed by volunteers from the Commission and by its first paid director, Steve Tool, this project was funded by a Community Development Block Grant. In 1984 Joel McEachin succeeded Steve Tool as director. Two years later, Steve Tool returned to this position and directed the completion of the research.

Today, many sites from the original DAHRM survey have been demolished. An even greater number of new sites have been added as the research has progressed. In the process of collecting this information, the Commission has accumulated extensive files and photographs relating to Jacksonville buildings, architects, and history. This collection itself has become an important resource tool for the community. One of the frequent functions of the Commission is to provide property owners with historic and architectural information about their buildings, in addition to advice on tax credits and technical assistance for restoration of historic structures.

This book is an outcome of survey work done by and for the Commission from 1974-1989. Hundreds of citizens throughout Duval County generously gave their time and knowledge to bring this to fruition.

Organization of This On-Line Book

The layout of this book is designed so that it may be used as a field guide as well as a reference source for the study of Duval County's historic landmarks. Grouped by neighborhoods, the sites are each designated by a number which corresponds to its location on a map at the beginning of each section. These numbers have a prefix which is different for each neighborhood, allowing easy cataloging and grouping for the various sites.

Prefixes for Sites by Neighborhood

D = Downtown
LV = LaVilla
BR = Brooklyn
RA = Riverside/ Avondale
SP = Springfield
FE = Fairfield/ East Jacksonville
SN = St. Nicholas
KB = Keystone Bluff
EP = Empire Point
OH = Oakhaven
CL = Clifton
OS = Oklahoma/ South Jacksonville
SM = San Marco
SJ = San Jose
MD = Mandarin
BY = Bayard
AR = Arlington
FG = Ft. George Island
MP = Mayport
JB = Jacksonville Beach
AB = Atlantic Beach
NB = Neptune Beach
PV = Palm Valley
OR = Ortega
WJ = West Jacksonville
BA = Baldwin
NJ = North Jacksonville

The order of sites within each neighborhood is generally alphabetical and numerical by address; but some liberties have been taken to capitalize on the natural relationships of certain buildings. To facilitate walking or driving tours, sites on streets that cross Main Street in Downtown and Springfield are listed from east to west.

The order of the various neighborhood sections loosely follows the chronological development of the city, beginning with the downtown section and expanding outward. Some variation has been necessary, however, since several neighborhoods emerged at the same time. Other exceptions have been made in order to group neighborhoods that are geographically connected.

Neighborhood descriptions begin each section and are immediately followed by endnotes. References for individual site descriptions can be viewed by clicking the "Credits" and then go to the Site Number. The use of abbreviations in the endnotes provides economy of space. A key to these abbreviations is found above.

Selection of Sites

Since Duval County contains tens of thousands of buildings, the process of selecting the most architecturally and historically significant sites has been admittedly arbitrary. A comprehensive study of this scope has never been attempted before in this county. The development of this inventory has been a process of discovery. Many buildings and types of buildings that were not considered important in the initial stages of research are now seen as significant. On the other hand, numerous sites originally selected have been omitted, as research has shown them to be relatively less important than others. Most unfortunately, one-fifth of the buildings selected for the initial inventory in 1976 have now been destroyed.

Generally, the criteria for listing a building on the National Register of Historic Places has been followed in the selection of sites for inclusion in this book.

Each of the sites has one or more of the following qualifications:

1. Buildings constructed prior to 1940 that are of outstanding historical or architectural significance.
2. Buildings that are not of the highest significance but that contain elements illustrating important architectural or historical trends in the development of Duval County.
3. Pre-1900 buildings that retain most of their original character.
4. Parks, monuments, structures, and other sites that are of outstanding historical value.
5. Buildings associated with significant persons.

Site Names The naming of a site can sometimes be a matter of controversy, especially in cases where several different names have been applied to a building over a period of time. This book follows the conventions used most frequently throughout the United States for naming historic buildings:

1. The original name or most significant historical name of a site is listed as its primary name; if the present name is different from the primary name but is well established, it is listed in parenthesis as a secondary name.

2. Residential sites are named simply by the current street address. Exceptions to this rule are made when one of the house's long-term owners was of historical, cultural, or civic prominence in this community, or when a house has been occupied by a single person or family throughout its existence.

Sites Not Included

The purpose of this book is not only to stimulate appreciation for the sites described herein, but also to encourage discovery and research of other buildings that may be significant. This book is only the first effort. As new evidence is uncovered, this information should be updated. The Landmarks Commission urges citizens to come forward with facts that may contribute to future additions to this inventory.

Archaeological sites, demolished buildings, and structures whose original fabric has been largely obscured by remodeling are not included in this inventory.

Several hundred other buildings not covered in this book have been studied by the Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission. Although current assessment of these structures does not place them in a high significance category, further research and future understanding of their importance may subsequently justify their designation as landmarks. This process should be ongoing.

Priorities for Preservation

The diversity of landmarks found in Duval County is remarkable. Similarly, the significance of these sites varies widely. In an effort to set goals and priorities for conserving our city's architectural heritage, the Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission has designated a preservation category for each site listed on this inventory. Each site description in this book includes a prioritization code, consisting of one to four stars, which reflects the following ranking scheme:

(Four stars) Great significance to the city and warrants the maximum preservation efforts. (All individual National Register sites are included in this category.)

(Three stars) Moderate significance to the city and great value to the immediate neighborhood – important for preservation if economically feasible. (All pre-1901 buildings of good design and condition are included in either the three or four-star categories.)

(Two stars) Moderate significance to the city and to the immediate neighborhood – should be preserved if economically feasible.

(One star) Interesting and of slight significance – preservation would be desirable.

Photographs

Most of the contemporary photographs in this book are the work of architectural photographers Judy Davis and David Vedas. Other pictures have been graciously loaned from various collections as identified beside the photographs.

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used throughout the endnotes and references:

B & Z – Building and Zoning Inspection Division of The City of Jacksonville, located in City Hall.

BAHS – Beaches Area Historical Society.

ca. – circa.

CD – City Directories of Jacksonville.

DAHRM – Division of Archives, History and Records Management, Department of State, in Tallahassee (now called Division of Historical Resources.)

ECK – Ellis, Curtis & Kooker – surveying company, whose archives contain many maps, deeds, and land records.

FHQ – Florida Historical Quarterly.

FPC – Florida Publishing Company.

FTU – Florida Times-Union (also Times-Union & Citizen) on microfilm at the Haydon Burns Public Library.

FTU/JJ – Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal combined edition, usually on Sundays and holidays.

Jax. – Jacksonville.

JBJ – Jacksonville Business Journal.

JHLC – JacksonvilleHistoricLandmarks Commission.

JHS – Jacksonville Historical Society.

JJ – Jacksonville Journal.

KBJ – KBJ Architects, formerly Kemp, Bunch & Jackson, successor firm to architect Roy Benjamin.

Met. – Florida Metropolis (also Evening Metropolis), forerunner of the Jacksonville Journal.

Mtge. – Mortgage.

MWA – Mandarin Weekly Advertiser.

n.d. – Not dated.

p. – page.

pp. – pages.

RAP – Riverside Avondale Preservation, Inc.

SJEP – San Jose Estates Preservation Society.

SPAR – Springfield Preservation and Restoration

Specs – Specifications.

SPR&P – Saxelbye, Powell, Roberts & Ponder, Inc., successor firm of architects Mulford Marsh and Harold Saxelbye.

T & T – Title & Trust Co. of Florida – repository of many important deed and title records for Duval County.

WPA – Works Progress Administration – a program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt which, among other things, employed writers and architects to document our nation's heritage.

Exceprts of this work may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes
with credit to Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage by Wayne W. Wood.
All Rights Reserved, Wayne W. Wood and Ó University Press of Florida.