Empire Point is located along the St. Johns River and was at once time part of the 385-acre Reuben Hogans land grant of 1808. There, along the river is a wine cellar, brick and beautiful. According to author Tim Gilmore, the bricks on the old cellar at the end of the 4615 Empire Point Road culdesac in the 4615 Empire Point Road once belonged to the original Perley Place homestead. On a website the Top Ten Real estate Deals, the story is written that Dr. Thomas F. Pearly purchased the land “overlooking the St. John’s River atop Empire Point”.
Grandson, Ramey standing in front of the Perley cellar at Empire Point
Not long after he built his home there, the Civil War broke out and he was called to duty as a Confederate colonel serving in the medical field. In 1868, after the war, Perley sold the property. At some point the house burned to the ground and all that was left was the tunnel which was connected to a brick vaulted wine cellar. Beneath the ground was found a granite corner stone bringing the history alive. If you visit the area today, to left of the refurbished wine cellar is the cornerstone dated about 1858. The property was purchased in 1993 and rebuilt the home with as much authentic care as possible.
Thomas F. Perley was appointed by Surgeon William A. Hammond to the position of Medical inspector. ( AMEDD Center of History and Heritage, Part V “ From the commencement of the rebellion to the present time”. Act.armey.mil)
According to Cera Web Design the wine cellar is “the only privately owned, pre-Civl War wine cellar in the United States” still standing.
Many contend the road is private but there is a sign at the end of the road honoring the Perley homestead.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Top Ten RealEstate Deals, Where Real Estate is Never Boring, 2024, Tim Gilmore, Empire Point: Perley Place and Wine Cellar, March 2, 2016, Cera Web Design, Perley Place, Build on History, Accessed online 4-23-24
Category: History, Military | Comments Off on Dr. Thomas Perley and Part of His Legacy
Lee Adams, as he was known, was a botanical artist, painting birds, fruit, flora and fauna. He is known for his opportunity to paint four large murals for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. His home was in Jacksonville, Florida where he attended West Riverside Elementary and graduated from high school in Duval County. For a time he and family lived in Mandarin as indicated in the 1940 census.
Early Years
For much of his life he painted birds, flora and fauna. His work is colourful and rich with detail to the intricacy of body parts including the beak, wings, legs and more. His paintings can be found in the St Vincent’s hospital, West Riverside, elementary school auditorium, the Beaches library, and a remarkable refurbished 12’ x 30’ mural of Ribault’s Landing on the fourth floor of the downtown Jacksonville library.
Lee Adams was the youngest of three children with two elder brothers, Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. and Alexander Hamilton Adams. His elder brother was a real estate developer turned politician. He was a member of the Florida Senate from 1956-1960, Florida State Secretary from 1961-1971 and the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1971-1975.
Adam’s father, Thomas Burton Adams and mother, Carolyn Sykes Hamilton Adams are buried in the same cemetery as he and Lee’s wife, Mimi.
Making the Past Come Alive
My grandson, Ramey and I spent a day following leads to the life of Lee Adams, as he was called. It was at Oaklawn Cemetery that we met Nicole Ruff, one of Oaklawn’s consultants. It was great discussing the life of Adams, his influence on Florida, life in Mandarin and artwork that is now world-wide. Her help in our finding his grave and realizing that his family also had a family plot.
Adam’s wife, Mimi, was known for her environmental passion and headed up the Jacksonville Air Pollution Control Board. She was the first chairperson of the board formed in 1968. The two of them were interested in environmental issues. The Avondale park in Duval County is named in their honor and there are some plaques in various parts of the city given for their work on the environment.
This entire week, time was spent visiting each place where his work can be seen and it was found highly insightful. At the Beaches library, the mural work is colorful and beachy. At West Riverside Elementary School, Data entry clerk, Jeanine Mann, a seeming authority on the history of the school, gave the tour of the auditorium where three large paintings sponsored by large corporations hung high and grandeur. One painting was themed of NASA and space, another of Florida and transportation, including airplanes, trains, with communication ties, and the third of the cowboy and cattle segment of the Sunshine State. In that auditorium is also where the music class with Mr. Warren is held. While we were viewing paintings, he could be heard literally, singing to the children’s they entered the class. He also has stories to tell of the history of the school built in 1911.
Researching this artist, the most favourite in our minds was finding that of the 12 x 30 colourful mural of “Ribault’s Landing”, celebrating Christian Huguenots landing along the St. John’s River and the first Protestant prayer “within the limits of the present-day United States”. This painting, now hangs on the South wall of the 4th floor in the downtown Jacksonville library. In May of 2021 the city of Jacksonville announced the mural would be “installed in the Florida Collection” area after having been revived from years of neglect.
The scene, painted by Lee Adams and refurbished by artist Jim Draper, represents the story of Huguenot, Jean Ribault, his crew and Timuquan Indians at the landing in Fort Caroline in 1562. It was the place where the French “knelt in prayer, beseeching God’s guidance and commending the natives to His care”. The marker on Fort George Island says, “This was the first protestant prayer in North America.”
First Protestant Prayer Marker, Fort George Island, Jacksonville, Fl. This marker was erected by the Jacksonville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, on March 11, 1938. The text on the marker reads as : ” Jean Ribaut and a party of Huguenots landed the morning of May1, 1562 on this island. Here they knelt in prayer, beseeching God’s guidance and commending the natives to his care. This was the first Protestant Prayer in North America.”
Incredible Surprises
According to the Florida Times Union story by John Carter, the large mural was found rolled up in the basement at Robert E. Lee High School. It was originally created in 1959 and hung at the downtown 2nd floor dining area in the Sears building on Bay Street, not too far from the Main street bridge. In 1981, the store relocated moving to Regency Square and the building was demolished making way for the Omni hotel. The art piece was rolled up and taken to Lee High school. Although it has been said the artwork was stored in a box which was even nailed shut, the rolled up artwork was nested by rats, roaches and took a toll on the beautiful oil work. It would need a full restoration.
In the newspaper article, Jim Draper, Pedestrian Gallery owner helped with the restoration promoted by City Council President Jim Overton. Through a turn of events, and special project of the school principal, Jane Condon, the painting was displayed at the LaVilla School of the Arts for a time.
According to The Daily Record, the Fort Caroline refurbished painting was “officially unveiled on the fourth floor of the library” on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in celebration of the 450th landing.
Lee Adams and his wife were killed in a tragic automobile accident on Roosevelt Blvd in 1971. We looked on Findagrave.com for the location of his internment but we had to search further. Soon, we found that he was buried at Oaklawn Cemetery along with family members.
Regarding Adams’ work
Finding Adams’ artwork is sketchy and quite expensive in most venues. On eBay, his art is going for $450. and up. On the “Invaluable” auction site, his “Parrots” piece is estimated between $800- $1,500. On Facebook Marketplace, there are two prints going for $50. I have purchased them along with World’s Fair tickets and the official guide. The paintings now hang on my wall. Pleasure.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources:
Wikipedia, The Daily Record, Family Search, Jacksonville Library, Oaklawn Cemetery, Florida Times Union, Oaklawn Cemetery, Personal visits. 2-29-24
If you visit the Community First Credit Union on State Road 13 in Mandarin, Florida, south of downtown Jacksonville, you will see a full wall dedicated to the life of abolitionist and author, Harriet Beecher Stowe. There is a photograph of her home and likeness and of the trees along the road on which she once lived in Florida.
Stowe and her husband, Calvin, owned property on a once dirt road, now called Mandarin Road in Mandarin, Florida for some 17 years beginning in 1867. It was complete with orange groves, large oak trees and sweeping moss. There, she and her family wintered from 1867-1884.
When talking to long-time folks in Mandarin you hear that she was an abolitionist who helped Black families, worked with children in the schools and advanced the Freedman’s Bureau. She was well-known in the area for having written the runaway best-seller, Uncle Tom’s Cabin in two volumes in 1852.
The book was such a hit that she was invited to Washington, DC to meet with President, Abraham Lincoln in 1862 where he is known to have said, “Why, Mrs. Stowe, right glad to see you. So, you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war”. In Stowe’s book, Men of Our Times, she wrote of Lincoln, “Lincoln was a strong man, but his strength was of a peculiar kind; it was not aggressive so much as passive, and among passive things it was like the strength not so much of a stone buttress as of a wire cable. It was strength swaying to every influence, yielding on this side and on that to popular needs, yet tenaciously and inflexibly bound to carry its great end. Probably by no other kind of strength could our national ship have been drawn safely through so dreadful a channel.”
It is said that she was at first critical of the President but after meeting and talking with him, she softened and found common ground. President Abraham Lincoln is best known for “preserving the Union, ending slavery and creating the possibility of civil and social freedom” for Blacks.
“Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in 1811 and died in 1896. Her anti-slavery book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an immediate bestseller and rumour has it that she was paid by the paddle boats of the time to sit on her Mandarin home on the St. Johns River and write so folks could see her from their excursion.
Stowe and her family helped organize Church of Our Savior Episcopal in Mandarin. She was raised by Calvinist, Lyman Beecher who spent his time as a preacher. She was married to Calvin Stowe, a professor and Biblical scholar who sought to enhance the public education in the United States. He became Stowe’s literary agent when her book became a world-wide success and was very involved with the Church or Our Savior growth.
In a letter to her brother, Charles Stowe wrote of her plans mentioning her reasoning for finding a place in Florida and her involvement with the church.
“My plan of going to Florida, as it lies in my mind, is not in any sense a mere worldly enterprise. I have for many years had a longing to be more immediately doing Christ’s work on earth. My heart is with that poor people whose cause in words I have tried to plead, and who now, ignorant and docile, are just in that formative stage in which whoever seizes has them.”
“Corrupt politicians are already beginning to speculate on them as possible capital for their schemes, and to fill their poor heads with all sorts of vagaries. Florida is the State into which they have, more than anywhere else, been pouring. Emigration is positively and decidedly setting that way; but as yet it is mere worldly emigration, with the hope of making money, nothing more.”
“The Episcopal Church is, however, undertaking, under direction of the future Bishop of Florida, a wide-embracing scheme of Christian activity for the whole State. In this work I desire to be associated, and my plan is to locate at some salient point on the St. John’s River, where I can form the nucleus of a Christian neighborhood, whose influence shall be felt far beyond its own limits.”
It was well-known Stowe also wanted to help her 4th son, Frederick who was troubled with drinking problems. She felt he could find worth and value working the grove of Mandarin. There, she felt he could find a place he could work and escape his worries. He managed the citrus farm for a while but after a time, he left going to San Francisco. She never saw him again.
Stowe and her family spent some 17 years in Mandarin and became well-known in the community. Even today, people are celebrating her life at the Museum and in remembering a life well lived.
See you Tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Mr. Lincolnswhitehouse . Org, Mandarin Museum, Google Search Q and A, Emmett Looman article, Exploring Florida, Wikipedia, Personal visits to Mandarin.
He was a Colonel in the United States Air Force and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He was a fighter pilot, test pilot and astronaut.
On January 20th, David Scott sat with his wife and daughter, at the front section of the Florida Times Union Center listening to the co-founder of Apple Computers, Steve Wozniak. We were in the room when his name was announced and he was asked to stand. The crowd went wild as he waved to the elite group.
Scott was the 7th person to walk on the moon according to NASA. His first flight was as a pilot along with Neil Armstrong on Gemini 8. He was one of a few who flew into space on several missions and was commander of Apollo 15.
After the speaker’s forum was over and Apple founder, Wozniak had left the stage, I told my daughter I’d meet her at the entrance of the building. I wanted to get a few photos and possibly meet Scott. As quickly as possible, I weaved through the out-going crown and stood beside the Astronaut, now 91 years old. A man had already gotten Scott’s attention and basically took over a great amount of his time. There was a line waiting to talk to Scott and then his wife and daughter began to encourage him to go into the aisle. While I did not shake his hand, we met eyes and I was able to get a few photos. To my surprise, my daughter was behind me clicking away as well.
We both followed he and his family out of the room and as he turned to go left, and as he turned to look right for passage, my daughter, Kristie Cross reached out and he shook her hand and gave her a kind greeting. “Just the simple shaking of the hand of the man who drove the first rover on the moon is enough to bring about a surreal feeling”. She said.
It was another good day in Jacksonville, Florida. Jan. 2024
It was the first time after the sale that I had visited the old home place of my Father’s parents in South Carolina. So many of my childhood memories are still there. The precious home-going service of my cousin, Judy, in Ridgeland, SC had been held not too far from my Father’s childhood home so I decided to just ride on over to see what had happened to it since the sale only last year. It was an approximate 52 acre farm with a large old wooden home and many out-buildings. The lane was important to all family members as it was a place we all walked and talked thereby catching up with the family news all of our lives. The old sugar cane mill, Papa’s blacksmith shop, the chicken coop and more was along that grassy lane so we spent a good many hours looking, walking and talking along that way for as long as it was owned by the family. It was a Century Farm so many family members walked many a mile along that family land over the years.
Driving by, the old wooden 6 bedroom shotgun house could now be fully seen from the road; something not done for many years due to the overgrown shrubs and trees. The old fence at the front was gone and there was a big fire going in the front by one of the huge old oak trees. Upon careful stares, chainsaws and other lawn equipment could be seen laying spaced out on the grounds. It was obvious to see someone was there and quite busy. I pulled in behind a big white truck.
Walking past the blazing fire, I went to the double wide, where my Aunt Urbanna once lived, left of the old home place, and knocked on the door as I yelled, “Anyone home?”. I didn’t want to be shot traipsing on my own Grandfather’s land so I thought I should announce my intentions right away. These are country woods so stragglers may not be welcome depending on who bought the property. I didn’t know.
Walking past the front windows, the pitter patter of little feet tromping on the wood-front porch could be heard and when the boy opened the door the approximately aged 5 year old said, when I asked if Mom and Dad was here, “I don’t know where he is but my dads’s out there working”.
Being anxious to get back to Jacksonville and I hadn’t really had plans to stop but It could not be helped. I just could not just drive on by without getting one last look at the home before leaving the area, the land and the lane. The lane was a treasured spot to all family members so I went out there first to find his dad.
Actually, a lot had already changed in less than a years time of the place being sold. The large fire in the front yard had a huge oak trunk about 5 feet long and was roaring so whoever bought the land would use that method to clear the lot. So many of the gardenias, milkweed and red ink plant had been trimmed producing beautiful flowers again. The old fence where Pat and Rose, Papa’s mules so often stood was gone and the gate leaning. Along the lane, the out-buildings were caved in. Now, that hardy planed timber will be some good fire wood. I’m happy to say, my cousin, Charlotte allowed us to take a few items from the property and one treasure was to take with me a 10 foot old wooden barn door which will be used on my Dad’s Dad’s property very soon.
Walking along the land, I took a handful of photos with my cell phone and all along the way yelled, “Anyone here. Anyone here?” After a good walk down the land, I went on back to my car and drove past the land and acreage once filled with corn, tobacco, green beans, squash and more. I hugged one tree on the property left for my Dad which I’ll leave for my own children. My Dad moved to Jacksonville, Fl after WWII but still had roots in SC where his portion is still a Century Farm.
It was a good day on the family farm in Hampton, South Carolina.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
2-3-2024
Category: Family, History | Comments Off on Papa’s House After it Sold
Did a Woman Answer Her Phone on the First Row of the Symphony Hall During the Concert? GASP! Yes! Today, a friend and I went to the Jacoby Center Concert Hall to hear the magnificent Jacksonville Symphony. In a deep voice from an announcer cell phones were to be turned off and no flash photography taken. We had the very first two seats on the center-front row right there in the front. How did that happen? Talking about some of the best seats in the house. We were right there! Literally, we had “front row seats”.
The concert began in usual fashion with the lights being brought down a bit, the announcer giving the 5 minute start alert and then everyone was seated and ready. The orchestra members were in place and the Conductor came out with a round of applause. Excitement was certainly in the air.
After the conductor told a bit about the pieces to ne heard, the music began and before long a cell phone on the front aisle went off. I noticed the woman fumbling in her purse to find it, I thought to turn it off but “NO”, she answered it. In the middle of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068, the woman began speaking to a person on the cell phone! Thankfully, the call was short but not without the front-seated violinist raising his eyebrows twice as he stroked his bow onto his violin.
Gasp! She answered the call. I’m still flabbergasted.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Category: Art, History, Things to Do, Visit This | Comments Off on Cell Phone Rings at the Symphony and She Answers! (From the Front Row)!
The Jacksonville Symphony performed today in the Jacoby Symphony Hall where the majority of the over concerts are held by the group. Upcoming performances are listed on their website and include those such as Mozart, Vivaldi & Handel, Florida Blue Classical Series, The King, Queen & Prince of Rock and Roll, Brass, Organ & Percussion and more.
The Jacoby Symphony Hall opened in 1997 at the Performing Arts building. It was fashioned after the Wiener Musikverein in Vienna. It was designed by KBJ Architects, Rothman, Rothman and Heineman architects. According to the group’s website the hall is in the shape of a shoebox seating 1,800 people. Dressed in all black, the beautiful music performed was stunning for all to hear.
The organ used in the symphony is a Bryan Concert Organ. The JS had this organ rebuilt and installed in the new concert hall. It was originally constructed in 1914 and was known as the Casavant Opus 553. After being rebuilt is has 6,215 pipes weighing 20 tons. It was named in honor of the Bryan family, long standing Jacksonville Symphony lovers.
The Symphony roots date back to 1949. According to Wikipedia, it is “one of the longest-standing orchestras”. While the Jacoby Symphony Hall is greatly used, the group also performs in schools, senior citizen centers while also appearing on NPR and Performance Today.
The Jacksonville Symphony is known to have a great many listeners exceeding some 200,000 in which many are young people. The concert today lasted one hour from start to finish and the music was from Bach to Mozart and beyond. Today, I wore all black but according to their own acknowledgement, wearing “diamonds or denim” suits you just fine. The major request is that “shoes and shirt” is work at all times.
The hall was named in honor of Robert E. Jacoby, a philanthropist of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida. To order tickets to the Jacksonville Symphony, visit http:/ /jaxsymphony .org. You won’t be sorry and, take a friend or the whole family! Hey, get a whole group going!
In the Basement of Bethel Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida classes were held in 1892. Sarah A. Blocker was the instructor with the Reverend Matthew Gilbert and others involved in the programs.
Sarah A. Blocker, Public Domain, Library of Congress
The school was effectively born in 1897 when members of the Bethlehem Baptist Association began the Florida Baptist Institute in Like Oak, Florida. At some point, the association under the leadership of Matthew Gilbert took a part of the group to Jacksonville developing the Normal the Florida Baptist Academy. Classes were held in the basement at Bethel in Jacksonville, Fl.
Bethel Baptist, Jacksonville, Fl (Ramey)
From 1896 until about 1940 Nathan Collier presided as President of the school. There is also a Collier-Blocker Junior College in Palatka.
Of the many teachers at the school over the years, Rosamond Johnson, a Jacksonville native and composer taught and during that time composed the music bearing the name “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”. From that poem his brother, James Weldon Johnson composed music and has been named by many the “Negro National Anthem”.
Rosamond Johnson, Public Domain, Library of Congress
There have been many students to come out of this school including Eartha White, Howard Thurman, Harry Moore, and more.
According to records, the school relocated to St. Augustine and occupied the “Old Hansen Plantation”, a 400 acre land area. In 1918, it was renamed the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute and in 1942, it merged with the Live Oak school which effectively closed its doors. Again, the name was reworked being named Florida Normal Industrial and Memorial College in St. Augustine and yet again, by 1968 a new campus opened with the name of Florida Memorial College moving to Dale County. In 2004, the name was amended to be Florida Memorial University.
Sarah A. Blocker was principal of Normal, Florida Baptist College in the 1900’s in Jacksonville, Florida.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Wikipedia, Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, New York Public Library, UNF collections, Library of Congress.
Category: History, People, Schools | Comments Off on Principal Blocker of Jacksonville
Ricki is a volunteer at the “Friends of the Public Library” store. She counts and adds up the cost of books purchased at the facility located on University Blvd.
The last time I went to the store she checked me out. Today, she recognized me with a “You’re back” attitude and helped me again today.
Thousands and thousands of book are stored there. Some are donated from private owners and others are weeded out of the Public Library System. If you’ve never been to a “Friends of the Public Library” sale, it’s a must. Throughout the year, there are book sales at different and various libraries and then there is this great place where hours are set on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
This is a must-go place. If you’re a member which costs $20 a year, you get BOGO on all store items all year long. It’s definitely worth it! Then there are the book sales where you can get full bags for low prices and if you’re a member, a BOGO. Go to their website at FJPL . Org or drop by 3435 University Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida and get you some deals! If you go, say hi to my new friend “Ricki”.
Jacksonville has had its share of politicians. Noble A. Hull settled in Jacksonville, Florida in the latter 1860’s and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. In his 50’s he served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of Florida and as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Noble A. Hull
Hull was born on March 11, 1827 according to Find A Grave. He was born in Little York Georgia on a plantation and attended schools in the nearby area. By 1845 he was buying and selling general store items and developing a business sense.
During that time Columbia County was growing and out of the growth came Suwannee County where in 1858 Hull became the first sheriff. He later served in the Florida House of Representatives during the Civil war years of 1860-1861. During this time period he married Eleanor C. Sturdivant and they had had one daughter. It was his time during the Civil War that brought Noble to Jacksonville, Florida. He served as captain of Company H, the first Florida calvary.
After the Civl War Hull became lieutenant governor of Florida in 1877 and was elected to the U. S. House of Representative in 1879. This election was not without conflict as his opponent contested the election and according to Wikipedia “succeeded him in 1881”.
Following his term in Congress, Noble served as assistant postmaster in Jacksonville, Florida and clerk of court from 1888-1900.
Democrat, Noble A. Hull died in Jacksonville, Florida on January 28, 1907. He is buried next to his wife, Eleanor in Evergreen Cemetery off of Main Street.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Findagrave, Wikipedia, Photo: Bill Price FB grab.
Category: Government, History, Military | Comments Off on Noble Hull, Politician Dies in Jacksonville, Florida
