The Jacksonville Historical Society is in search of any information about a song that was sung on a PBS program “Your Town and Mine” in the 1960s. According to Cynthia Lynn Conner, 3rd graders at the Chapell School sung the song at school.
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It is believed to have some connection to Jacksonville University. Elizabeth Barrs Howard noted in Facebook comments that Margaret Vason Forester might know something as the host of the program. Her maiden name at that time was Margaret Bloom. The HS indicates that she donated this score sheet to the Historical Society.
‘Anyone out there know anything of this song about “Wonderful Jacksonville” sheet of music or the program? We would love to shed a little sunshine in the “land of sunshine”.
My cousin, David Paul is a licensed contractor and when asked about building a “Tiny Library” box did not hesitate. He built it with left over items he had in his wood and metal piles. After he was finished, I was able to pick it up while visiting our family reunion in Hampton, South Carolina. It has been on the corner of our Jacksonville Crystal Springs property since about 1997.It was built with fine wood and a metal roof. What a beauty. (Thanks, cousin!).
Since it was placed there using a braced 4 x 4, it has served the community well. When full, the library contains about 50 volumes depending on the size of the books. It has stayed full and has on occasion had a paper box placed under it with additional books. We discourage that due to rain and weather concerns.
The digital world has hit us all full force and now-a-days many readers have reading devices and apps on their phones and computers to read books. The hand held books seem to becoming a thing of the past. This makes me so sad.
My Father and Mother were lovers of books. They built a brick room off of the back of the house dedicated to just books. We call it our library even today. It probably has 2,500 volumes in that small home.
The “Little Library outside was completely empty when I rode past yesterday. For sure, those using it are not following the rule: “Take One. Leave One”. I’m still grappling on what to do with this situation. I’d like to put a sign on the glass that reads: “ Karen took five books. She did not leave any in return. Do not be like Karen”. ” Take One. Give One.”Your thoughts? 8-19-22
As I’ve been saying, there are many trees on our parent’s property. With that and trying to make changes, some have had to come down. While we’ve tried to get up most roots, some are in places that digging is not a good idea so we’ve had to improvise.
As you perhaps are ( or not?), you may see things on the side of the road and think…”I could do this or that with that piece”. If you’re like me, you heave-ho it onto the back of your truck or in the trunk of your car and off you go. That’s me.
I push, shove, grunt and groan to get whatever it is onto my truck bed, tie it down and off I go. When I get where I’m going, I figure out a way to use it. Such was the case for this slay bed that I found some months ago.
With the help of a friend, it is now a birdhouse slash tree trunk cover. I’m just waiting for a bird family. I already have lizards occupying it.
After selling the property in Nanville in 2022, which was part of the old Seymour and Maria Pickett land grant of 1812, I took a few pics of the items left inside of the small 3 br, 1 ba block house. Most items were household things including pots and pans, furniture, personal times including a bed, stove, and refrigerator.
But leaving behind a Weber Piano? Wow! There was no date on this item but in looking up the new versions, they cost upwards, $14,000. I could not get in close enough to look for a series number but I’m sure it had one.
The Weber Piano Company was one that manufactured pianos in New York City beginning in the 19th century. The company went out of business in 1985 and it was sold to Young Chang of South Korea and later sold again to Samsung Group.
The piano now sitting on the famous land grant property of the Pickett’s(now in a Nanville home) was a “Weber”, the lower end of the piano brand. The other photo provided shows an upper brand called the “Albert Weber.”
Albert Weber was born in Bavaria in 1929. At the age of 16 he emigrated to the United States holding his first job as an apprentice of Charles J. Holder, a piano builder.
Weber went on build his own piano company selling pianos in Manhattan, NY. Weber died in June of 1879. His piano brand lives on and yes, in Nanville.
I don’t know what will happen to the piano. I wonder if the builders will demolish the house with it inside? I’ll try to keep you posted.
Beginning in 1984, I began purchasing at least 7 pieces of the Seymour and Maria Pickett land grant dating back to 1808. In a matter of time, I had my own “Ville”; “Nanville”. At this time, it is still in existence with population, 29.
Mr. Pickett was at the right place at the right time. Land was being given alway in the 1800’s. According to Jean Mizell, writer of “The Pickett Family”, Seymour had a way of “petitioning” to the government and being awarded land grants. He had already received a grant in 1803 after his former wife had been lost in a shipwreck. Then he purchased land in Fernandina somewhere around 1804 and was living in East Florida . By the time Jacksonville became a town in 1821 he was again petitioning the government again, as the Indians were pillaging and burning down the countryside and he had been affected.
Specialty Tree on Pickettville- Nanville property-Ramey land(Sibbald Land Grant)
Somewhere around 1812, due to this loss at the hands of Indians he received 640 acres on Sibbald’s Tract in Duval County, Florida. He and his family settled there and it became what we know as Picketville. That brings us to Nanville, which is located near the crossroads of Old Kings Road and Lane Avenue.
In 1984, I decided to purchase an almost 3 acre piece of this beautiful, majestic land. It was full of oak trees, flora and fauna and was located south of Lane Avenue on Jacks Road. It was the beginning of Nanville which would grow to at least 9 parcels by 2022.
While Nanville is a small area, it is significant and part of the Sibbald Tract as well, with 7 small purchases bounded by Lane Avenue, McDuff, Interstate 10 and Old Kings Road. My neighbor on the Jacks Road property was Cecil Overton Pickett, also known as “Gator”. On his tomb stone it is written of him: “The last of a rare breed. A man of integrity whose word was his bond. He was loved and will forever be remembered”. He was born in June of 1926 and died November 9, 2005 at the age of 79. You can see his old Pickett house in the background.
In 2022, a portion of the property was sold to a land developer who is currently clearning the area, cutting the majestic trees and making way for a full neighbourhood of homes. The Picketville and Nanville area is certain to change as Jacks Road and Old Kings are making way to the loss of the old way of life which included barns, cows, livestock, farms and wagons, to the hustle and bustle of this new century with automobiles including the new electric ones, cell phones and security cameras. I do hope those people plant trees, flora and fauna and keep their dogs and cats. We need something of the old way of life. Oh, and I hope they trust God too. He will be needed going forward.
I still own parcels of the Sibbald land grant but none as beautiful as the land Gator Pickett and I managed on Jacks Road. Notice the tree tags which will bring a pretty penny to the buyer. The tag says, “Specialty”. Indeed.
The last time I did not put money in the meter, I was parked in front of my church and just knew no one would be checking “in front of a church” for goodness sake. But, low and behold, I got a $15 ticket of which I paid right away.
Today, I used my Visa card and plunked down $1.00 for 30 minutes. I knew my meeting would be longer but the meter would not allow me to add more minutes. Yes, I went forward with only 30 min. on the meter. I returned to NO TICKET, so yay.
This has been a fun journey getting ready for our daughter’s wedding. In December of 2021, her boyfriend came home with her to Jacksonville. She lives and works in Alabama where she met him but she wanted to get married in her hometown.
To make things special, he rented a horse and buggy in St. Augustine and invited the family to come along. It was a fun night with love in the air.
Derrick got on his knees and asked Kristie to marry him and that began some ten months of a lot of work at the family homestead. Details coming…..
