April 11

Fairfield Elementary # 9

1910

515 Victoria Street

Originally called East Jacksonville Grammar School the school was built in 1910.  It is located at 515 Victoria Street at the west end of the Matthews Bridge.  The architects, Mark and Sheftall  took on this school as their first project l and would build as many as 50 schools in Florida.   

Fairfield Elementary School # 9 ( Ramey Collection)

The school closed in 1971 and reopened as Fairfield Correctional Institute. At some point it was used by the Urban League where a Head Start program was enacted.  School number 9 was purchased by a private owner in 2015.  

In 2018 it was used for parking cars.In 2020 there was a post on the Fairfield School Facebook page offeringFl-Ga parking:  “Plenty of room. Perfect for RVs. Private lot”. Tailgating welcome?”

IF you visit today, it appears closed and has Sheriff’s signs in the windows.

See you tomorrow,

Nan 

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March 31

Ortega Elementary School # 16 – 100 Years

4010 Baltic Street

1923

Josef de Ortega, the Judge Advocate for East Florida when John Houston McIntosh purchased Don Juan McQueen’s plantation would be proud.  His namesake celebrated, with great fanfare, a huge 100 year birthday in 2023.

Ortega Elementary School, located on Baltic Street,  began as a simple white frame building along the northwest corner of Longfellow and Arapahoe Streets in the fall of 1923.  That building, with area street names such as Harvard, Baltic, Princeton and various Indian names like Mohegan, Appalachee, Pawnee and more, would serve the school for many years.  The Works Progress Administration offered assistance for schools and in 1935 a new auditorium was built.

  The junior high school grew rapidly and in 1950, two wings were added with classrooms and bathrooms. In the fall of 1987 portable classrooms expanded the campus. It was used for elementary school children.  In 1995, the enrolment was at 350 K-5. Enrollment remains steady for the K-5 school is at and is called a “Museum Magnet”. 

Dale Chambliss, 1964-1970 student talks with Martha King, class of 1942.

Kathy Dagenais Hanberry (2nd left) spent spent 14 years working at Ortega School . Cindy Thompson, (center-blue top) former principal 1995-2005. Jennifer Brawn (3rd left-tan dress), former principal at the school.

Former students of Ortega…

Former students of Ortega…

Melody Brunson, Debbie Atlee, Sharon Caruso share time together as their children attended the school.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Duval Public Schools, Florida Memory, Personal visit to school.

If you believe you are a copyright owner or can help with information regarding this article, including to clarify rights or information issues, please contact me. We are willing to remove any item from public view if there is any concern regarding ownership. 

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