History – Page 5 – Jacksonville Blogger

Jacksonville and “The Ship of Gold”

Jacksonville’s involvement with “The Ship of Gold” tells a story of respect, love, fear, betrayal, riches and more. Life magazine called it “the greatest treasure ever found” but did the treasure show the greatest or bring out the poverty in most all connected? After researching the story and finding the boat in Northeast Florida, the real question is, which is the “Ship of Gold?: The SS Central America?, The Arctic Discoverer?, or the man who hauled a great bit of the gold away and then disappeared? I’d say, all three.

Contemporary painting of Central America ship

My grandsons are nine, four and four. Knowing the ship was so near, it was a must-see, so we, their mother and me, did. Our nearby travels took us less than twenty minutes to see the Arctic Discoverer. It’s basically, just down the road. It’s an approximately 65 year old deserted boat along a dock in Green Cove Springs, Florida. We all totally enjoyed the trip. With Gary Kinder’s book in hand, we basically knew the story start to finish except for the details of what Thompson will now do.

Over 30 years ago, the 180 foot ship was called the A.T. Cameron. It was then sold and renamed the Arctic Ranger when an investor seeking to help Thompson’s exploration bought and repurposed it. He brought it to Jacksonville, and Green Cove Springs, had it painted light sky blue and white and for a “nominal” fee, rented it to Thompson for his exploration. Thompson and his crew took it to sea to find gold and lots of it. Along with it, they took a, what many called a “miraculous” 12,000 pound underwater robot named Nemo that could be deployed remotely. The trip was orchestrated by a young Tommy Thompson, an engineer who had a passion and drive to hunt down and find the sunken ship, SS Central America.

September 1857 the Central America ship carrying some 600 passengers was returning from the California Gold Rush when it sunk off of the coast of South Carolina due to a hurricane. Over 20 tons of gold, other treasures and some 400 lives were lost.

In 1985, Tommy Thompson, with his company, Recovery Limited Partnership, set out with a group of 141 investors to discover and find the Central America . The plan was to recover the treasures lost. He and his team used “Nemo”, the underwater vessel along with other recovery equipment to find and explore the bottom of the sea where it sunk. Using special computer equipment and savvy methods for capturing such , including robotics and far-advance oceanography tricks to the trade, the team not only found the Central America but was able to bring up a great amount of items from the wreckage including luggage, documents, the ship’s bell and millions of dollars of gold coins and gold bars.

By 1989, the crew discover the shipwreck bringing great attention to this disaster. After this incredible find, over 35 insurance companies sued Thompson saying their policies gave them rights to the gold. Through years of litigation, and continual protection of the shipwreck site, Thompson and his company were rewarded 92 percent of the recovered gold with the remainder to pay insurance companies. Within two years, Thompson sold his companies’ portion of the gold to California Gold Group for $52 million

Investors cried foul and said that Thompson never returned their investment money thus there were further lawsuits against Thompson. High profiled businessmen sued him including The Dispatch Printing Company, directors of the Columbus Exploration group and Donald Fanta, an investor along with nine technicians who helped with the discovery.

The Arctic Discover in 2023- Photo- Ramey

In March of 2012 Thompson filed for bankruptcy but the filing was dismissed. It was then that Tommy Thompson did not show up in the next court session which prompted an arrest order. Thompson and his girlfriend Alison Anterkeier disappeared and for at least two years their whereabouts were unknown. According to The Columbus Dispatch, the resident going by the name of Susan Owens was actually Alison, the manager of the motor lodge, Virginia said. She moved there after being a no-show for a court date. This information came out in federal papers in June of 2015.

It was in January of 2015 also that, Thompson and Anterkeier were found in a Hilton hotel in Boca Raton. Those involved in the case said they had been paying cash for their living expenses. They were arrested and jailed. Thompson’s girlfriend, Alison spent a month in jail and then released.

In 2018, Thompson said he did not know where the gold was. That same year, the judge ruled that what artifacts were available could be sold and the $19.4 million in damages could go to the plaintiffs.

Thompson has remained in jail since the arrest and being unwilling to tell where the gold is to this day. He is being held in a federal detention center in Milan, Michigan according to news organizations . When searching his name under “inmate”, there is no release date listed.

Did Thompson bury the gold in Boca? Green Cover or even Jacksonville? If you read the court transcripts you might find out. Some say he’s given hints. If you find the gold, it would be yet another “great treasure find” pertaining to the “Ship of Gold”. The Arctic Discoverer is at present docked just outside of Duval County city limits.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Scripture for the day: “Thou Shalt Not Steal”. Also

Exodus 20:16 — “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.”

There is probably more to this story that we don’t know.

Sources: Columbus Dispatch, Ship of Gold, Gary Kinder, Coinworld, Odyssey Marine, Recovery Limited, Wikipedia, Personal visit.1/27/23

Category: History, People, Transportation, Travel | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 22

Elvis Has Left The Building

He has not left Jacksonville….

Mae Boren Hoyt was the co-author to the famous pop-artist, Elvis Presley’s first RCA Singles hit, “Heartbreak Hotel”. It was in Jacksonville, Florida on the Westside, on Dellwood Avenue in 1955 that she and guitarist Tommy Durden put the tune together. Durden had seen a sad situation concerning love and heartbreak and got with Mae. The two put together the song.

Through a turn of events, I was interested in finding the home where the song was written. After a little research the house was found. On a stroll down Dellwood Avenue on that day, it was as I expected, a small 1,288 Sq Ft home, 3 beds and 2 baths. It sold February 28, 2022 for a whopping $298,812. Because of the high price, I wondered if the buyer knew that Elvis had been in the building?

On You Tube, there are several interviews with Mae and other artists; one being Elvis. It was obviously one of his first interviews, if not his first, and he told about his humble beginnings and thanked her for her support and willingness to “have his back”.

Mae Boren Axton was born February 9, 1914 in Texas. She died August 4, 1997. Her claim to fame was, while living in Jacksonville, she co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel with Tommy Durden . The day after the writing, she pitched it to Elvis. He liked it and it was the song that brought the two of them into the limelight launching both of their careers.

Before meeting Elvis, Mae met and married John T. Axton, a Navy officer. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he was stationed in 1949. Later, Axton became the first coach at Paxon High School and Mae, on occasion substituted as a teacher having her bachelors degree from University of Oklahoma. Mae also taught at DuPont and Lee High Schools. While she taught school, her focus was on music and writing. Over the years she would work with: Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton.

The success of Elvis music and launching both of their careers, Mae named her music Company “Dellwood Music”, it is believed, after the street on which she lived.

Jimmy Tennant, also called Jimmy Velvet, a friend of hers and one who lived in the same Jacksonville neighborhood met Elvis through Mae and had a life-long friendship with him. He spent time on American Bandstand and managed other singers, even having his own popular singles, “We Belong Together” and “Its Almost Tomorrow”. There is also a long list of other songs he has performed. In an interview with him, “Spa Guy” confirms a lot about Elvis and his time in Jacksonville, Florida and on Dellwood Avenue.

Elvis performed in Jacksonville August 10 and 11, 1956. His last performance was May 30, 1977 at the Jacksonville Coliseum. It was his 5th performance in Duval County and his last.

Elvis Presley died August 17, 1977. While Elvis has left the building, he is still in the hearts and minds of many of Jacksonville who went to see his last performance. The Times Union reported over 10,000 fans went. Were you there?

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Jimmy Velvet, Spa Guy, Wikipedia, JHS, Jimmy Velvet,

Category: History, People | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 18

Old Fashioned Gardens

The Garden Club of Jacksonville

Ground Breaking, Photo: Garden Club, Jacksonville Historical Society

My Aunt Bette, was a garden club member. She fit right in. Bette Long was beautiful, gracious, loved people and philanthropic. For as long as I remember, she talked about her beloved Cherokee Rose kind of Garden Club. While it was located in neighbouring Orange Park, it had the same focus and drive as the Jacksonville Garden Club. It was there that she had her memorial service upon her home-going. For sure, she probably never actually potted a plant with her beautiful nail-painted hands but more than likely gave a ton of money to help the needy and further the cause.

Many times, she and her group would join the Garden girls at the Jacksonville Garden club for annual meetings and the like. With Aunt Bette, the more people the better. That is how I learned about the Downtown Jacksonville Garden Club which began its life on March 22, 1922.

First Garden club show.. 1922( Garden Club, JHS)

Yesterday, a group of about seventy five ladies gathered at the Riverside area Garden Club to hear interim archivist Emily Cottrell talk about how the Historical Society of Jacksonville archives its items. It seems that in July of 2020, the historical society came to the garden club to view hundreds of documents, photographs, scrapbooks and more that were in the possession of the club. By the end of that year, the garden club group had donated these items to the Historical Society and they were carried away by several trips to be archived and documented.

The speaker and archivist, Emily Cottrell a UNF graduate first volunteered at the Historical Society and now is a member of the staff in charge of this massive historical archive. As many of 10 scrapbooks, dozens and dozens of documents, booklets, brochures, and pages of different and various “circles” are now in her possession at the JHS to archive, decipher and digitize. With the help of Ethan and Tova, members and other volunteers, many have worked diligently to put items together by date, time and group.

The event yesterday was presented on a slide show and with a table display of some old and long-standing documents and photos. There was the first garden show and ribbon cutting event pictured. Also was shown, an old scrapbook of 1946 newspaper clippings dating back to the early 1900’s. Other projects shown was that of a 1963-64 “Garden for the Blind” where at least 25 students from the St. Augustine Deaf and Blind school were celebrated with a “sensory garden using the senses of touch, taste, smell, feel, and see, set up for them.

The Jacksonville Garden Club was founded by Ninah Cummer with a group of some 17 friends in 1922. It was a “small organization to further their garden research and to enhance city spaces. “

During Cottrell’s talk, she mentioned 2555 Gilmore Street as a place of service. After the event, I rode past to see what and where that was. It is the home of Central Riverside Elementary School which was built in 1916 so within it first few years, the Garden Club was helping beautify the school grounds.

There have been as many as 170 “circles” ( garden groups) over the years. Cottrell indicated there are 130 active groups at this time. Some of the names of circles over the years have been: Cherokee, Oleander, Avondale, Ingleside, Magnolia, River Oaks, Lantana, Red Bud and my favorite, “Old Fashioned Garden”.

Aunt Bette would be proud I went to the Garden Club of Jacksonville. I’m all about giving too but rarely put my hand in the dirt to plant either….Ha!

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Flora and Fauna, History | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 13

Yard Art…Such as a Jet Fuel Tank

This past month, I took a trip to Marietta which is in West Duval County to see the area where Jacksonville founder Isaiah David Hart, sometime after 1822, had a large plantation. I found the hugely wooded area and imagined all kinds of scenarios of how and where Hart may have lived but I had no idea I’d find a jet fuel tank out there with other yard art.

While driving up and down the densely populated trees, I found huge ones of every kind including tall pines, large oaks and even Florida palms. The interesting find that day was that of a jet fuel tank set up in the yard of long time Westside resident Guy Lachapelle. That, was some serious history! How in the world did it get there and from where?

There is really a simple answer. Lachapelle is, as listed on his linked page, an “expert total” in “selective dismantling and demolition since 1979”. Fuel tank removal would be one of the things he might do.

While being inquisitive, I saw Guy in his yard and was able to ask him a few questions and get permission to photograph in the area. Wearing blue jeans, an open collar shirt, and in country fashion, he told me how he was in the business of demolition. He explained that one of his jobs was on Normandy Blvd. some years ago and part of the job was to remove a jet fuel tank. Thinking it was unique, he used his large equipment, brought it home and leaned it artistically in his front yard. Boom! Yard art!

On Normandy Blvd there was the home of Cecil Field Naval Air base which operated from 1941-1999. It is now called Cecil Commerce. Lacapelle did not say he got the tank from the base but it made sense that it certainly could have come from there with the base once serving as “one of four naval air stations to be designated as Master Jet Bases specifically used for the operation of carrier-based jet aircraft”.

Cecil Field Entrance-Unknown Photo credit

His wife came out about the time I was leaving and when I mentioned the yard art, she said looking around with a smile, “Sometimes there is just too much yard art”.

Other items in their yard were dated old rusty trucks and a Seaboard Coastline train car sitting on actual tracks. HA! I wonder what Isaiah Hart would say?

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Wikipedia, Google Search, Lachapelle, Ramey

Category: History, Military, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 12

Cecil Field, “Number Please” and a Hangar full of Furniture

My Father, Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. worked at Jacksonville’s Cecil Field his whole career. He worked in the public works area at both NAS Jax and Cecil . Working longer at Cecil there was a long-lasting friendship of staff developed with his leadership. He was a kind man and honest to the core.

Cecil opened 1941-closed 1999- Photo Credit: unknown

When we were growing up, the base, located on Normandy Blvd. near our home, was a place we frequented often. My Mother, a stay-home Mom and with a family with only one car would sometimes take my Dad to work giving us a car for the day. That would mean she would have to take him to work and pick him up at the end of his work schedule. We would all pile in the car before day break to take him, go shopping, run around and do car things and then return at the close of the day to pick up Daddy.

In the morning we could stay dressed in our pj’s or play-clothes but if my Dad wanted us to check out his digs, we had to dress the part and put on Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Ugh! We all, the three of us, hated that, but the perk was, we got to go see Daddy at work, see the airplanes and meet all of these people who hugged and petted us. We liked that just fine. Who doesn’t like the bosses kids and we were well behaved. Daddy was kind-hearted but we were expected to mind our manners and we did.

During my Father’s time at Cecil Field, it was the largest Naval Air and military base in terms of land area with over 22,000 acres. He worked there from the mid 1940’s until his retirement around 1975. During that time, he managed public works including the telephone and communication office and in addition worked to provide furniture for Navy members and their families.

We visited the furniture storeroom on occasion as well as the office where the phone lines were pulled in and out using an old phone switch, later called a phone jack. This, dating back to 1884 evolved over the years but was used into the 1960’s with ladies saying “number please” and making connections. That was always an intriguing visit.

Cecil Field was a full fledged Naval base and we spent much time on and off of the property as my Dad served well.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Family, History, Military, Transportation | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 11

The Cemetery and Battle of Blight

Since a visit to the Old City Cemetery on East Union Street, I realize there is a focus by the government of Jacksonville to improve the cemeteries in the city where rot and decay resides. There is though more than one battle of blight where the dead are concerned.

Trying to research the history of the oldest downtown cemetery has piqued my interest and now comes an online map shared by Kelsi Hasden about the whereabouts of another old cemetery near downtown Jacksonville. After looking up St Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery on the City Council agenda, I see it’s one of the Black cemeteries getting distinction of being another of the old burial cites and will receive monies provided to improve it. I wanted a closer look. By its name, It was probably a plant by Bethel Baptist from downtown Jacksonville in the 1880’s. Bethel and First Baptist began together in 1838, and was the first Baptist church in the city. Both Black and White members worshipped together.

This morning, I set out to find this southside church and cemetery. The cemetery was once under the care of St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church at some point was enclosed with fencing such that unless you know it’s a cemetery, its just a place of broken cement and where roaming feral cats and the possible homeless frequent. While there, I saw broken stones when peeking through the fence and multiple cats as well as a homeless bag-pack. I did not open it.

Using the map provided on the January 5th blog of “The Jaxson” write-up, I was able to go right to the location and photograph the remains of the remains. While looking through the view-finder on my camera I saw a tabby cat, grey Russian blue type and a solid black cat. Living beside an apartment complex and frequenting the dumpster area seemed like a good thing for them. They all appeared full and healthy but ran when I reached towards my camera to zoom closer.

The grounds are completely grown up with wood rot, tree growth and thick brush. Beneath all of that were broken tombstones, cement slabs and obvious lack of care for the dead. The two stones that I found intact were difficult to read but I was happy to see the cross boldly engraved at the top.

Florida Memory. com offers a document of the founding of this church to be 1880, located on “San Diego Road, 1/2 mile from Kings Avenue, South Jacksonville, Duval County.”

At that time this was a white building which was moved to the present site, and remodelled in 1917. It does not say from where it was moved unless it was closer to the cemetery? The present church is slate blue. The pastor is Carl C. Patterson according to the sign out front.

The pastor at the time was J. C. Christopher serving from 1880-1885. It looks as though the city of Jacksonville will allocate funds in order to help get the graveyard cleaned up which will allow respect to be paid to the interments. There appears to be both military and civilian graves in the area. This will be no small job but kudos to the City Council for approving this project. Its current address is 2602 San Diego Road so there is a lot more than a cemetery clean up. There is the history to ponder.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Cemeteries, Churches, Faith, History | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 9

Iron Corn Cobs, Shucks, Broken Fencing and Eroding Tomb Stones at Jacksonville’s Oldest Cemetery

The Old Jacksonville City Cemetery on east Union Street has iron corn cobs and the shuck itself as fence posts. In actuality, they had to have once been so beautiful and even today are unique by any measure.The tops of some look just like a piece of corn with the shuck peeled back; even now, a piece of art. The iron fence posts are in some cases sturdy while others are failing. There are full fences around areas, partial fencing about others and fencing that is completely dilapidated to point they have been roped off with orange taping.

The wording on a great many of the tombstones is unreadable. There are broken tombs and evidence of grave-robber thieves in their mischief. Who would dare disturb the dead I wondered as I walked through the yard?

In a few areas the piles of debris and old plastic flowers discarded in a mountain of trash and dirt appear weathered and old. Some say the city keeps the cemetery and that the police patrol it. There is little evidence of it being kept except for perhaps the cutting of grass. Cemeteries are supposed to visited and kept by the families, flowers laid upon graves on special occasions but it does not appear so here. There is hardly any evidence of tear drops being spilled.

Much of the cemetery hosts the bodies of some of Jacksonville’s oldest resident dating back to the mid 1800’s. I did not look at every grave today but just taking an overview found a variety of dates such as: 1811- 1879 1822-1871, 1825-1884, 1816-1878. The plaques at the front of the cemetery indicate City Cemetery was established in 1852. Pleasant Gold, author of History of Duval County says there were possible graves interred there before that date. It was designated an historic landmark of Jacksonville, as it should be. A new-looking sign at the entrance says “Old City Cemetery Restorations” to be completed Spring of 2023. Walking about there are areas cordoned off with yellow and orange taping. Restoration here is long overdue and being the cities oldest interment the sooner the better. While I’m not much for government intrusion, in this case, there is definitely a need.

Every soul is important and there are some notable names having been buried in the Old City Cemetery such as:

At least thirteen “Hart” interments including Daniel C. Hart, Elizabeth Streetman Hart, William Hart, William L. B. Hart, Solome H. Hart, Oscar Hart, Henry Hart and Carol Jean Hart.

Of note, the parents of Jacksonville’s founder, Isaiah Hart, William Hart and Elizabeth Streetman Hart which are listed in the Hart family Bible as having been buried here.

Also, Oscar Hart , the Jacksonville’s founder’s son was disavowed by his father Isaiah David Hart. Oscar was a mover and shaker in his own right. Maybe he was too much like his father? In 1835, he was a private in the Florida Militia climbing in rank to a Lieutenant. In 1846 he was Clerk of Court in Duval County, Married Virginia Crews with no known children. He became an attorney, Adjutant General, Commissioner of Deeds in Jackson County, a private Confederate soldier in 1863, Attorney at Law in Duval in 1870. He is mentioned in the Hart family Bible. Others buried here include…

Steamboat Captain Captain Jacob Brock (July 5, 1810- September 22, 1876).

Brigadier General of the Confederate States Army, Joseph Finnegan( November 17, 1814- October 29, 1885).

Edwin Martin-Editor of the Times Union newspaper.

Clara White, (July 4, 1845- July 21, 1920) A Black woman, together with her adopted daughter Eartha serving as humanitarians and philanthropists. In 1900, she was teaching and living at 804 Pippin Street in Jacksonville.

Eartha M. White, Born, Nov. 8, 1876- Eartha was adopted by Clara White and together they served the Black community. She died on Jan. 18, 1974.

Transcriber of the Christmas song, Silent Night, Holy Night from German to English and the second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.

The 15th Governor of Florida, Francis P. Fleming ( September 28, 1841- December 20, 1908).

Names such as the L’Engle, Bowden, Martin, and more have been buried in Old Jacksonville Cemetery. Louisa Burritt and her three children along with Judge John Locke Doggett and while there is no grave stone, it is believed Napolean B. Broward, a river pilot and 19th Governor of Florida may have a grave there. ( Pleasant Gold refers to this in History of Duval County, Florida). There are also 6 other “Broward” graves in the Old Cemetery.

“Infant Thomas”- ( September 22, 1923-September 22, 1923-) “Created and maintained by Billy Walker on Findagrave offers some info . There is no photo of the grave but a death certificate instead with the cause death being “stillborn”. Heartbreak yet the graveyard is unkept.

Over the years various groups have taken on projects there including reworking the covered deck area and adding names and plaques to different projects. “Find a Grave” has many listings by “Cousins by the Dozens” and other.

In 1854, it is believed that one year old Ally started the Scarlett Fever epidemic and is buried there.

Maybe an epidemic of restoration could occur in the spring as noted on the restoration sign. There is so much more…

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Cemeteries, History, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 8

New Years Shoot-Out in Nanville

On 5:53 PM January 1, 2023, a call was received on the cell phone from a “No Caller ID”. Not being sure who it was, no answer was made. After the cell phone ping, listening to the message was immediate. The “No Caller ID” was from a Jacksonville police officer about a break-in report in what he knew as the Biltmore area. Over time, he would learn this was also referred to as “Nanville”. Nanville is bound by Old Kings Road, Lane Avenue, Commonwealth and Edgewood Avenue. It was established somewhere around 1984.

The break-in occurred between December 29- December 31 and the thief got away with all of the lights in the house. In other words, the robber stripped the entire house of electrical wiring and more than likely rolled it all away inside of a yellow top, also known as a recycle bin. The police were called and a police report was made regarding the “Nanville theft”.

The property at 5345 was once a very nice home and owned back in-the-day by the Driggers family. As recent as last year, their names were still carved on the wooden towel rack in the bathroom and was only removed due to a remodel.

The premises had been vacant for over 6 months and listed on multiple MLS realtor sites. The hope was to sell it quickly during this buyer’s market 2022 but up to this point, no takers.

Now, with no electricity wiring, it would be even harder to unload. The house listing was dropped in price due to the electrical wire issue and right away investors were willing to take a look at the opportunity.

The insulation and theft mess from stripping out wires from the ceiling had not been cleaned so when a call came in to view the property on Saturday morning, January 7th at 10:00 AM, a trip with a broom, mop and trash bags to the vacant house was made.

After the clean up, and about 8:31 AM shots rang out in the neighbourhood. “Pow”, “Pow” “Pow” went the Jacksonville officers pistol with shouts… It sounded like “Police! “Police!” There was a skirmish and a small dog rounded the above-ground pool at the end of the road as several officers took off running after the suspect on foot. There were four police cars, #3515, #2749, #1014 and a fourth moving too fast to see the number but all, located on the West end of the neighbourhood with one speeding toward 5345, while another went west on that same road.

Neighbors began to come out of their homes watching all of this commotion. A young mother apparently feared with her children by her side and ran back in to safety. To my knowledge, they did not catch the thief.

After getting my own self to safety, my girls got this text:

“I’ve been in a police shoot-out in Nanville but I’m okay. Just letting you know.”

If you ever want to get a quick call-back from a family member just tell them you’ve been in a shoot-out. They will call right away. Oh, and if they catch the scrapper, I’ll let you know. 1-8-22

See you tomorrow,

Category: History, Holidays, Neighborhoods, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 7

The Tombs of Founder Isaiah D. Hart

So, yesterday and based on author, Tim Gilmore’s 2015 article about Jacksonville founder, Isaiah D. Hart’s “Tomb Tower”, my grandson and I set out to find where Hart was first buried before being moved to Evergreen Cemetery. Truly, it was a little scary as there were drifters and obviously noticeable people both White and Black, on some type of substance in the area. It was early in the morning and as many as 10 homeless were in and about the carcass of what is left of history where the old 1966 Heart of Jacksonville Motel once thrived. Some were sleeping beneath the walls of the old block building and others gathered in a small group talking. Some were literally “out of it” and others actually showed friendly to my 9 year old grand and myself. They saw us with cameras and for once I did not click when I saw them, out of respect I suppose.

At the borders of “Laura Street between State and Orange Streets”, the place remains a morass of “social rot and desperation” as described by Gilmore on 9/26/2015. So, man’s life without God has not changed. It is a reminder, I told my grandson that “we all need a Savior to save us from ourselves. “

It’s hard to envision but it was there the 35 foot tall “Old Hart Monument” as described in the 1992 Jacksonville Historical Society journal once stood. By the photograph in the journal, it appears brick and was fenced.

After spending time on this old motel block near Confederate Park, we drove to Evergreen Cemetery where we saw the now approximate 12 x 30 x 60 inch flat tomb where Hart and his family were moved. It says “ The Family Tomb of Isaiah David Hart The Founder of Jacksonville”.

Speaking of life without God. Hart owned slaves and was constantly working in an effort to make money. It is said that he became “respectable” after founding Jacksonville. I hope that meant he found Christ because while there is still a tomb no matter its location, he’s not there. ( If you know what I mean).

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Jacksonville Historical Society Journal, Jaxpsychogeo.com, personal visit.

Category: Government, History, Random Posts, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT