USS Intrepid with Gemini III at recovery, 1965-Atlantic Ocean (NASA)
The USS intrepid ( CV-11) had visited Mayport on several occasions in the 1950’s and 1960s. It was a “renowned Essex-class aircraft carried commissioned in 1964”. It served in WWII, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.The ship was chosen to gather up “Mollie Brown”, the Gemini space craft capsule and did so with a successful recovery on March 25, 1965.
Intrepid ship
The ship was used to recover the capsule flown by Virgil “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young. It was the first mission where the crew would maneuvre the space craft and considered a “human spaceflight”. The mission lasted just short of fiver hours. The capsule landed in the Atlantic Ocean on March 3, 1965. It was brought to Mayport. The astronauts both became seasick and were picked up by helicopter and taken to the Intrepid for a complete physical check. They were found in “good condition”.
Capsule, Gemini III.(NASA. gov)
The ship was decommissioned in 1974 and since 1982 has been berthed in New York City as an air and space museum. In 1986 it was designated as a National Historic Landmark. As one of the headings on the museum website, if you visit you can “Let your imagination soar”. On the flight deck are propeller planes used in WWII, fighter jets used in Vietnam, and helicopters “that recovered NASA astronauts in 1964 right here on Jacksonville’s coast at Mayport.
Crew flown by helicopter to Intrepid (NASA)
To commemorate this important mission, the United States Mint designed gold-plated, sterling silver 1-inch medallions of which the crew carried into space to later give friends and family members.
Medallions by U. S. Mint (U.S. Mint)
At the museum there are educational resources, exhibitions, collections, a space shuttle pavilion, and many other historic preservations of importance.
Grissom and Young (NASA)
The Gemini III capsule is now at the Grissom Memorial State Park near Mitchell, Indiana which is Grissom’s hometown.
See you tomorrow,
Sources: Google AI Overview, U. S. Carriers . Net, Intrepid Museum, U. S Naval Institute, NASA.gov, Wikipedia, USCG, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.
My father, Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. worked as an administrator in the housing division of NAS Cecil Field for at least three decades beginning in the 1950’s until retiring. While he did not work across the street in the heavily guarded and quite secretive Yellow Water Weapons Storage area, he had occasion to get clearance to see their needs for furniture. As the area was being dismantled and it was a known fact that it was no longer to be used for weapons storage, he was able to talk about it freely. It was then and only then that he spoke of about interesting tales concerning his short visits. He told of the train he rode to various bunkers, talked about hearing soldiers shooting on a practice range, swimming in a huge pool, explained the heavily guarded bunkers, offices, gated entries, and shared information that only one who had seen it would know. It was so interesting to hear about a secretive site right there in our backyard on the westside of Jacksonville. All of those years he knew of it and not a word until it was being phased out and decommissioned in 1999.
It was George H. W. Bush administration that signed the paper work confirming the Cold War ending, and the very last remaining weapons at Yellow Water were taken by truck to Pantex Plant in Texas. The last of the nuclear weapons were removed from the Yellow Water Weapons storage area in Jacksonville, Florida in October of 1993.
Fast forward to the summer of 2022. The desire to see the bunkers and photograph the once important Yellow Water Storage facility was on my mind so I traveled to the area and seeing a Sheriff’s “No Trespassing” sign I turned away in disappointment. Over the next weeks, I asked a police officer friend if he knew anything about the site and surprisingly, he told me that he actually knew the man in charge and would reach out to him. From that, I met this person who set up a time in June of that year for my daughter and me to ride the land without hindrance. To make it easy, we all rode in the front seat of his truck. The ride took us to see a firing range, swimming pool, huge cinder block buildings, warehouses, left-over logs and rails from a once railroad detail and more. While most of the area was open by this time, this person had the key to every site on the land. It was just great.
I had seen online an area that I really wanted to see and photograph and that was the area where I thought was used to “launch missiles”. ( There was never such a place, by the way!). The driver told us that no missiles were ever launched from there nor set up for that purpose as it was strictly to “store” missiles. With that comment, I showed him on my phone what I was talking about having downloaded it from the Internet. He laughed and said he would take us to that very site and did.
Before taking us inside the building, he took us around back to a huge round cistern with an iron ladder. He encouraged us to climb up and look in. We did. It was a waterproof and sealed tank prepared to collect and store water. The reservoir was huge and still holding to the top. When we came down he took us inside the front area that had metal electric boxes, a couple of small rooms and panels with dozens of buttons, dials, pressure gauges, lamp tabs, and an actual red reset button. I thought we had gotten to see the launcher only to find out that it only launched water. It was the panel used to indicate water pressure, level, and water plant flow. One button could be pushed to send water in one direction while another button could divert the water elsewhere, close it off or keep it stable. We all have a good laugh.
Now, fast forward to 2026 when I posted on the Facebook Yellow Water site these photos only to read this from a contributor (Bob) that said he knew someone who patrolled the site and….
“came across a woman in this area one day who swore to him that this is where they launched the nuclear weapons. He said, “she was dead serious!” I confirmed to Bob that woman was me.
I now know, this was actually just the water treatment plant. launching water.
See you tomorrow,
Sources: Google AI Overview, The Florida Times Union, Facebook, Yellow Water Nuclear Weapons Facility at Cecil Field, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey
Michelle Cook’s father was a Navy veteran and stationed at Jacksonville’s Cecil Field Naval Air Station in the 1980’s. She began her career in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office being a part of the force until retiring as a 3-star Director. As Director of Patrol and Enforcement she worked with first responders, community relations, special events, collective bargaining, promoting laws and managing personnel.
The White House
In 2017, she went on to be the Chief of Police for the Atlantic Beach department handling a 6-million budget and lead to improve the crime rate as well and community morale.
In 2020, Sheriff Cook began a campaign for becoming the Clay County Sheriff and was sworn in on September 1 of that year. Her bio from the Clay County department states: “Sheriff Cook has built a reputation of being a firm, yet compassionate law enforcement leader whose integrity and genuine management style bring respect not only from her work family but also the community she serves.”
The 2006 theme for National Women’s History this year was “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”. Sheriff Cook has obviously done this and for her resilience, President Trump and the First Lady, Melania honored her along with others at The White House for their achievements.
When speaking at the White House and with a glance at President Trump, she said: “When you have a President (in the White House) saying that we will have law and order in our nation. That sets the tone. That sets the expectation.”
Sheriff Cook went on to say: “ It is an honor to serve my community with you (President Trump) at the top, sir”. In closing, she said: “God bless our first responders, God bless bless our military, God bless our President and God bless the United States of America”. Chants followed from the crowd.
It was a good day for Duval and Clay County, Florida,
See you tomorrow,
Sources: The White House, Claysheriff .com, National Sheriff’s Association, You Tube, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.
The Iwo Jima is known as a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship in the United States Navy. This week she navigated the waters from the Atlantic Ocean through a 500-foot wide entrance into the St. Johns River. That area provides direct access from the Atlantic Ocean into the naval base harbor allowing large ships and aircraft carriers to navigate in deep-water access gaining access to the Mayport naval base Mayport has a base on San Pablo Island in Jacksonville, Florida right on the Atlantic Ocean for some time. The Department of Defense controls its day-to-day operations as it serves both as a naval base and naval air station. It was established in 1932.
There was apparently no fan fare or welcoming committee to greet the 40,000 long ton ship to harbor however, several Facebook folks took photos and posted them online noting that the Iwo Jima was in port at Jacksonville.
A friend of mine, Ainsley gave me the opportunity to go with her on base to see the huge 843 foot long ship where we were able to walk alongside it, take photographs and wonder about its mission. Too, we talked to some of the marines living on the ship as they came and went during this stay on the St. Johns River. Busses accommodated them and their families to get on and off of the base. Some met with family and friends as they stayed in the east coast waters for less than a week.
The Iwo Jima came back into the news recently when it was used January 3, 2026 to “launch strikes in Venezuela resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cila Flores”. President Donald Trump subsequently posted an image of Maduro on Truth Social with the caption “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”
Sources: “According to initial reporting and later confirmed by General Dan Caine in a press conference, the president and first lady were taken into custody aboard the Iwo Jima, during Operation Absolute Resolve.”( USS Iwo Jima(LHSS-7)s Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation,January 12, 2026).
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
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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
Serving two tours in the Middle East is no small feat. On a day that the first woman mayor was sworn in at the Jacoby Center in Jacksonville, Florida, I met and talked with another woman trailblazer, Commander, Toshiko Moultrie of Duval County who did just that. She was a part of two tours; Operation Enduring Freedom and the war with Iraq while serving in the Army.
Toshiko Moultrie served in the U.S. Army (Photo: Ramey)
According to the Navy Military site, Operation Enduring Freedom “officially began 7 October 2001 with American and British bombing strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Initially, the Taliban was removed from power and al-Qaeda was seriously crippled, but forces continually dealt with a stubborn Taliban insurgency, infrastructure rebuilding and corruption among the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and Afghan Border Police.” This campaign was in “response to the September 11, 2002 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people” in New York City.
Not only did Moultrie serve in Afghanistan but she also served in Iraq. Based on information from several sources including Wikipedia, “The United States officially declared its combat role in Iraq over on 31 August 2010, although several thousand troops remained in the country until all American troops were withdrawn from Iraq by December 2011; meanwhile, American troops also engaged in combat with Iraqi insurgents. In June 2014, however, US forces returned to Iraq due to an escalation of instability in the region, and in June 2015, the number of American ground troops totaled 3,550. Between December 2011 and June 2014, Department of Defense officials estimated that there were 200 to 300 personnel based at the US embassy in Baghdad.
Moultrie was in the military from February 27, 1987 until her retirement on January 31, 2023.
Her service has not stopped even yet as she serves at her local American Legion post # 197. The American Legion is known for its service to veterans and their families. It provides assistance with rehabilitation, PTSD concerns, VA services, family relocations, housing and other military related needs. Post # 197 also partners with Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Mayo Clinic and other businesses willing to assist those in the military.
Honors to her and those who have been willing to serve.
From watch towers and double gates to electric fences, and serious surveillance, the Yellow Water Weapons Storage area was real. From 1952 until the closing of the weapons area of the Yellow Water compound in October of 1993, this was a seriously hush-hush place out Normandy boulevard in Duval County, Florida.
The area was so top secret that when weapons were moved along roads, those in cars would be asked to stop, get out of their autos and look the other way, wrote a blogger on a chat link. Yellow Water Storage facilities were decommissioned officially in 1993. Before that time, it was so top-secret that special clearance was necessary to travel on North side of Cecil Field base but no one would confirm or deny as to why.
Yellow Water Bunker with grass and trees covering and 3 foot walls. The doors were stolen.
As of today, the Sheriff’s Department has “No Trespassing” signs along the old entry points. There is a walking and biking trail that can be taken, which along the way, some of the old cement storage buildings can be seen but they have little or no signage to indicate their purposes although the word “warning” appears from time to time. While many barricades are broken in areas, the old fencing is a reminder that visitors not allowed back there-even as late as 2023.
This area is monitored by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Dept.
According to many who have worked onsite, there were nuclear weapons for aircraft carriers, F-18 bombers and P-3 Orion submarine hunters. The military has never confirmed or denied that this is true though. The closest this has been confirmed is by the updates of the repurposing of the area going forward. The epa.gov site says, “The official mission of NAS Cecil Field was to provide services for the operation and maintenance of naval weapons, aircrafts and other units of the operating forces.”
Anyone can go on the walking/riding trail out Normandy Blvd and see this storage area.
Back-in-the-day, Cecil Field was the largest land area for military acreage anywhere near Florida. Within miles, three military bases were ready to have use of the weapons should they be needed: Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Cecil Field; all in and around Jacksonville, Florida area.
Per the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, Naval Air Station Cecil Field has been closed now since September 30 1999. The Naval Air Station has been repurposed and called Cecil Field Commerce but the weapons area across the street has been left abandoned although there has been some activity indicating of late as reports that new things are coming.
Twenty-four-seven motion detectors, double door metal enclosures and grass and trees growing atop igloo-shaped cement bunkers once disguised the whereabouts even now covered building from drones, planes or even balloon surveillance.
The inside of one of the many bunkers at the former Yellow Water Nuclear Storage Area
In years past, the compound had available, a firing range which is now under water and overgrown by trees, small bridges connecting one side of small tributaries to others, a huge swimming pool, larger than an Olympic sized pool and exercise equipment for those in the military to stay in shape. It also had its own fencing, water treatment plants, cisterns and large water tanks for fresh water.
Bridge over a small water way.Oversized swimming pool at the former Yellow Water Weapons Storage area.
The compound began in 1952 and had an official end day of October 1, 1993. It was abandoned by 1999 while Cecil Commerce Center began a new life of its own with businesses including air craft and continual use of flight towers. Military installations are still present on base as they continue to use some of the buildings such as Army Aviation Support Facility #1, and the Florida Army National Guard.
Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. who worked as a Civil Service Administrator in the 1970’s had occasion to go across to the weapons area with special clearance for that occasion only. He talked about riding a train while on the North side of Normandy Blvd. Those who know the property, say the tracks have been pulled up but indicate there once was a train system there at a back entrance way.
Former entrance to the Cecil Field Naval Air Base
Over the years, urban explorers have gone into the facilities, trashing them, spray painting walls and floors and leaving messages indicating they have been there. Bats, rodents, and wild life of almost every kind have taken over the once heavily guarded secret compound dedicated to keeping the Nation safe and ready to defend should there be a need during the Cold War.
Online, there are a variety of “Abandoned” videos and stories about the now defunct storage areas. Before seeing any of these current discoveries, Jacksonvillians did not even know the Yellow Water Weapons Area was across the street from the Cecil Field Naval Air Base all of these years.
Yes, I thought these were nuclear buttons. NO! Water tank operation system.
I purchased a set of “Leatherneck” magazines which in the 1983 edition mentions the Yellow Water surveillance, ammunition, bunkers and more so “Leatherneck” outed this unit back in the mid 1980’s.
Just like the Navy, I did not confirm or deny what the authors of this magazine wrote in that piece. I cannot confirm or deny what is written here even if I may have seen it with my own eyes.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Appreciation to all who assisted in this research and information, Leatherneck Magazine, Navy.mil, Googe, Call Box( Florida Times Union), AbandonedFl, epa.gov, personal experience.
I can neither confirm or deny the existence of the places discussed in the article.
When the, what was thought and was, a Chinese balloon, drifted across the United States beginning sometime about January 28th, 2023, the trajectory was unclear. By Wednesday of the next week, we thought it could come Jacksonville way. The Weather Authority trajectory indicated it would go across the Carolina’s which was a little above Duval County but who knew?
NORAD trajectory- Ramey Collection
The powers that be decided not to shoot it down over civilian spaces so they waited for it to travel over the Atlantic Ocean. The huge weather-type balloon, they say the size of three busses began being noticed somewhere in Alaska. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defence Command, Brigadier General Pat Ryder said on Thursday, February 2, 2023, “The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-attitude surveillance balloon that is flying over the continental United States”.
They indicated it was not a “military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time” according to General Glen VanHerck.
According to ABC News, a correspondent said the balloon was the size of “three busses and complete with a technology bay”. It seemed to be without power when looking at it on television newscasts and seemed to drift with the jet stream moving eastward. I thought it was possibly coming our way. Who knew?
The balloon was said to enter the United States airspace in Alaska near the Aleutian Islands news reports posted. As it floated eastward, and the Weather Channel posted a possible trajectory, I thought we may have a balloon in our sky in the coming days.
Chase Doak Photograph of Chinese Balloon
On Wednesday, February 1st, a freelance Montana photographer Chase Doak photographed the balloon and his photo went viral and is now used on Wikipedia. ( That had to be exciting for him). He was a freelance photographer at the right place, at the right time and just did his thing….
Chase Doak Profile-Linked In
Tomorrow I’ll post a basic timeline of the event and no, the balloon did not come across Jacksonville way or to Jacksonville Beach . It ended up in the Atlantic Ocean though, up the way near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was shot down on Saturday, February 4th by a F22 Raptor fighter jet. The United States Military began recovery following that event.
It did not come here but, it was still too close for comfort.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: ABC News, NOAA, RORAD, The Pentagon, Helen Cooper, Pentagon correspondent, Edward Wong, correspondent, Breitbart, Google, Personal viewing of news reports…
Known as Jacksonville Municipal Airport, it was a working flight center from 1927-1968. Growing up, we called it “Imeson Airport” named after Thomas Cole Imeson, the first President of Southeast Airmail Association and a city commissioner.
Imeson Airport, Florida Memory photo
For many years we rode past it after it was closed. I never remember actually being on the property until this year when a friend and I set out to find what was left. She said she picked up her cousin from Atlanta there once and literally waited on the tarmac for the plane to land where she met her outside when she walked out of the plane. That was about in the mid 1960s she said.
Imeson Airport- Florida Memory photo
At some point, Imeson was a big deal and later deemed as an Army Air Force facility. According to reports, it was located off of North Main Street, began with a grass runway, by 1934 had a sandy, sodded, surfaced” and a gravel-type runway. The airport grew to over 600 acres and 5 hangars with asphalt runways by 1941. When Imeson died in March of 1948, the JMA was renamed in his honor.
Imeson Airport Postcard
On the day the Jacksonville Municipal Airport opened, the famous Charles Lindbergh came that October 11, 1927 along with his airplane, “Spirit of St. Louis”. Charles Lindbergh had just breaking news of his trans-Atlantic solo flight and was being celebrated world-wide. News reports were about the tremendous crowd of some 150,000 at the Duval County airport on that day.
Charles Lindbergh and Spirit of St. Louis visit Jax 1927- Fl Memory photo
Many famous people have flown in or out at Imeson Such as Richard Nixon, Martin Luther King, The Beatles( 1964), John F. Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, his mother. Amelia Earhart was in Jacksonville on March 1, 1936 as reported in the Times-Union but it does not mention if she rode in a car, train, or flight.
There were rails to be ridden and the train line was an important part of Jacksonville’s transportation at that time.
Train track on Imeson property. Photo-Ramey
As history notes, Eastern Air Services, now Eastern Airlines was the first passenger airline. Over the years Imeson Airport served flights for personal, military, World War II flights, Army Air Corps, and more. Following the war, with less need for military services and with the sight of a new airport on the rise, the base was closed in 1946. Over the years it was used by other needs concerning flight including the Air Force, Air National Guard’, Fighter groups and more. By 1970 it becomes Webb International Inc. and made into a commerce center.
Imeson area 2023-Photo- Ramey
As recent as 2022, at least 1.2 million square feet of industrial space at Imeson Park South was under review by the City of Jacksonville so things out there continue to change.
Looking at the area today, there is no evidence of an airport unless a large cemented area was possibly used for runway access. There are some very large cement pilings but other than that, it is definitely an industrial complex of large business buildings.The East end of Imeson Blvd was reportedly resurfaced from part of the runway to the road where people now drive. We flew down it today, so-to-speak.
The area of buildings off of Main Street-Photo-Ramey
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Google, Wikipedia, Bizjournal, Times-Union, Florida Memory, USDT, Personal Visit
Category: Military, Transportation, Travel | Comments Off on Imeson Airport and Lucky Lindy ( Charles Lindbergh)
