People – Page 6 – Jacksonville Blogger

Mother

Geneva Kathryn Long Vaughan was born October 20th, 1924. She was born on the South Carolina home place and grew up in that tiny Estill town which is considered the Deep South. She was a twin with Geneer Long Thompson and her older brother and sister, Dennis and Dorris were twins as well. Too, their grandfathers on the Long side were twins and their brothers were twins so there were 2 sets of twins in both of those Long families. These twins have been known in the area as the “Famous Long Twins”.

My Mother was the older of the two twins. The two were completely focussed on being together and spending their lives devoted. Even into their adult years dressed alike and stayed close in their relationship.

Geneva, my Mom died at the young age of 49 of a brain tumor. What a tragedy to our family at any age but 49 was just too early to be taken. As a young person in Estill, she worked in the local drug store owned by her Aunt and Uncle. She graduated from Estill High School and attended Nixville Baptist Church. Her father was a farmer and her mother a housewife.

Somewhere around 1943, she met my Father, Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. at the Sandy Run Baptist Church. They had a Baptist Association meeting and my Father was serving as a seater. He seated my Mother and her sister to a bench on the front row. This caused a great deal of fuss and from there, they began to get to know one another.

World War II was raging and my Father was drafted into the Army where he went abroad. Times were hard and through a turn of events, my mother’s dad needed work and found it in Jacksonville, Florida at the shipyards. The family moved to Duval County while my Father was over seas in the war.

When the war ended, he came home by way of Florida’s Camp Blanding where my mother met him. They were married in December of that same year and have lived in Jacksonville, Florida until their deaths. In 1974 and 2015 respectively.

My Mother was, in my eyes a beauty. She had big and full brown hair, sky blue eyes and a wide and happy smile. Her voice and actions were sweet. She was a nurse, not certified but sweetified to be one and spent her working days helping others feel better. Mama was kind-hearted and tender.

She went to be with the Lord on this day. She is still miss her.

See you tomorrow,

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August 27

“I’ve Got A Little Extra Time”

So, I did not even think about the gas gauge. It never occurred to me on this trip to Augusta that I needed petro, again. I filled up before I left Jacksonville so in my mind, I’m good to go.

This morning as I left Columbia County on “E”. I didn’t realize it until the car made that dastardly sound of rapid “ding. ding. ding”. It was then that I panicked. First of all, although I know that particular area sort-of-kinda, Wayne, the brother-in-law sent me a different way because of area construction. That way, I have almost no idea how far it is to anything. If you know anything about Georgia’s countryside, you know the blocks are actually “country blocks”…. Long and far.

With the radio, and AC off and anything else that I thought might use more gas, I headed to where I thought was a gas station. With knots in my stomach and a prayer, off I went headlong in that direction. “Whew”, I said as I pulled into the empty parking lot of the gas station. It was then I realized it was Sunday and not open at that time!

I saw a young man there hoping to go in as well and ask him where the nearest station was. He said, “Oh, a couple of miles. Why?” I explained that I was in a pickle. Right away, he said…”Don’t worry. Follow me. I’ve got a little extra time”.

So I did. I followed him right into the station and he waved me off to go do whatever he was going to do. People can me nice. His mama did a good job.

See you tomorrow,

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August 23

Go Vote

Today, August 23, 2022 there was a chance to change or solidify the way you feel about this great country. If you really care about America, you’ll vote in one of the primaries. Polls open at 7:00a.m., closing at 7:00 p.m. If you’re still in line at 7:00 you’ll still have opportunity to vote. So, go vote.

In recent months those in Jacksonville received new voting cards which included your basic information and a precinct location in which you can go cast your ballot. Here are requirements as provided on the My Florida website:

Florida driver’s license
Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
United States passport
Debit or credit card
Military identification
Student identification
Retirement center identification
Neighborhood association identification
Public assistance identification
Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot. As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record. 8-23-22

I voted in the early voting opportunity. I hope you voted too and vote to make and keep America great.

See you tomorrow,

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August 20

Down in Wonderful Jacksonville

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.

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”.

See you tomorrow,

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July 29

“Nanville” of Picketville

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.

Left- Gator Pickett’s-Right-Ramey Rental(Both vacant)

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.

See you tomorrow,

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July 26

The Career

My father, Alec P. Vaughan, worked at the naval air station NAS and at Cecil during his career. Daddy began his Army career in South Carolina where he signed up and then spent time in World War II. After the war was over and victory won, he returned to Jacksonville, Florida to marry my Mother, Geneva Long who was already in the city.

She met him at Camp Blanding where he was honorably discharched. They were married at the Riverside Baptist Church and began their lives together living in the Riverside area and later purchasing a house on Lowell Avenue in Jacksonville.

He would go on and work a civil service job at NAS and Cecil throughout his career. Daddy was hard-working not only at the workplace but he came home to complete various projects to make our lives easier. My Mom was a stay at-home Mom with a tender heart and fun leanings. We never lacked for something to do and were always on the move.

See you tomorrow,

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July 25

Cows Are “Long” Gone…

8705 Old Kings Road

Raising Cattle in Florida. Florida Memory.com

Old Kings Road travels long North and South all of the way from Georgia to below St. Augustine. It has been less than a long and winding road but instead a long, fairly straight and meaningful path for so many including my own family.

On our trips to see family in Hampton, South Carolina, we often took the Kings Road through Georgia and then over to South Carolina so I feel as if I know some of the road’s ins-and outs.

Recently, I was traveling Old Kings Road and saw an old but fancy farm house so I dropped by to photograph it and then later find out some of its history.

The house is vacant as of the summer of 2022 but the land to the left is being used as a car, truck and dumpster park. I asked a guy walking across the street for permission to photograph the house. He told me he knew nothing about the old house but to click away; he was only there to get his parked 18 wheeler.

And so, with his permission, I parked and photographed the home that I later found out was built on 13 acres and constructed in 1901. The owners at that time appear to be Charles Henry Long (September 3, 1907- May 16, 1971)and Lavaughn Riggs Long(1910-1995). The two married on June 7, 1925. They had 2 children: Charles Jr. who died at 18 in service to his country and Eva Bernice who was born in 1929.

The Long’s were cattle buyers and had a meat processing farm often called an abattoir or slaughterhouse. Meat was processed for human consumption.It has been written that they also provided food for the Jacksonville Zoo animals on occasion.

The meat processing barn and other out-buildings including the fences for keeping livestock are not in view but you might can imagine a life of cattle and livestock. There was also, on Beaver Street, a meat processing house for packing and distribution.While I’m not sure of its owner, it is still located there and is known as being owned by a demolition business. It looked abandoned except for a newer model car in the yard in 2022.

Over the years, the property was used by others including businesses associated with the American Forest, Famous Historic Trees, Johnny Appleseed, Florida LLC and Leaf Me Along, Llc. As mentioned, it is most recently used as a parking facility for large trucks and equipment.

Meeting a driver gave me opportunity to photograph the place. I can imagine already the fine events held in the sun room or at the pool out back. It must have been a beauty back-in-tha’-day. One thing for sure, someone will have to take care of the hundreds and hundreds of wasp nests hanging on the old stucco siding which was probably put there when remodeled in 1920.

Oh, and my Mother’s maiden name is Long. I could be kin to these folks.. (More research needed here). Ha!

(Sources: S. Strickland of Call Box, Google Books, T. Gilmore, Florida Memory, Ramey Collection)

See you tomorrow,

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July 25

Eelbeck Sells to Martha White

Emily Carolyn Mehaffey was a long time First Baptist Church of Jacksonville member and director of youth and adults over her 40 some years at the church. She worked in various places in the fellowship including church training, the ladies department, with young people and as a director in the Women’s Department under the leadership of Miss Guinell Freeman. In her young adult career, she worked at the Eelbeck warehouse on Beaver Street in Jacksonville, Florida. Later, she became a real estate agent with fine skills of order, and detail. Mehaffey had a lot of satisfied home buyers.

Emily was born October 30, 1918 in Eelbeck, Chattahoochee County, Georgia and died in Duval County on August 21, 2012. She was buried in Columbus, Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and many of her siblings including Clifford, E. L, Hubert, William, Madeline and Lucile.

It was her parents who built the Eelbeck Grits and Pancake company in Columbus, Georgia. The name Eelbeck was derived from the homeplace of Henry J. Eelbeck, the postmaster, who married Sarah Cook whose father owned the property. Over the years, it became a milling business and called “Eelbeck”. Mr. Cliff Mehaffey leased the property and Eelbeck Milling became a house-hold name.

Note: “Jacksonville” on the Eelbeck packaging. Courtesy of Jason Wittkopp

“The mill is a large wooden structure which age has blackened but notimpaired its sturdy longleaf pine timbers and weather-boarding. The lumber was cut on the site which once had many beautiful bodies of original timber. Every beam and every board in it was dressed on both sides by hand. This was done mostly by slave labor. Every piece of it appears today as sound as it was theday it was put in place. Inside the mill are parts of the original equipment, such as the meal bins and elevator. The former are made of solid pieces of long leaf, pine twenty inches wide, which gives an idea of the size of the timberonce foresting the section.”( Chattahoochee Cty GaArchives, 1922)

The actual plant site was sold to Fort Benning Military Reservation. The family moved to Jacksonville and the Eelbeck name continued on with warehouses on Beaver Street in Duval County. Emily worked in the office on Beaver Street before retiring and taking up the real estate business.

The Beaver Street warehouse in Jacksonville, Florida for Eelbeck Grits, and pancakes.(Photo 2022)

Until 1941, the site was filled with all of the workings to make grist but that year, it was absorbed by Fort Benning. Military Reservation. The Eelbeck Mills complex was dismantled in 1943.

Eventually, Eelbeck sold to Martha White, an American brand of flour, cornmeal and mixes. It was established in 1899 in Nashville, Tenn.

Andrew L. wrote on Emily Mehaffey’s “Find a Grave listing”, “You are loved and missed by your First Baptist Family.” We can all make a difference. Right?

See you tomorrow,

Sources, Find a Grave, Sarah Cowie, H. G. Mehaffey, photo, Chattahoochee County GaArchives History-Eelbeck 1933, N. K. Rogers, Google Books, Kenneth, Jr.,J.M. Land, Jason Whittkopp Collection (photo).

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July 24

Jacksonville: City of Pleasant Memories

The Treaty Oak

Ha! I had to laugh when I came across this advertisement from Jacksonville’s past. The name on it was “Frank B. Winschell, Tourist and Convention Bureau, Hemming Park, Jacksonville 2, Florida.”

The ad highlights the following:

[A young seedling at the time of William the Conqueror…A 400 year old monarch when Columbus first touched our shores. The 800 year old Treaty Oak is just one of the nationally recognised attractions in and around Jacksonville. A “must” for the discerning visitor. Jacksonville… City of History. Rick in mementoes of a colourful and exciting past. Send for your FREE copy of “City of Pleasant Memories”.]

( I wish I had a copy of the free brochure. Don’t you?)

In looking up Mr. Winschell, it seems he was heavily involved in the Florida Historical society rubbing elbows with such Jacksonville history superstars as Miss Dena Snodgrass, Albert Manucy, Dr. Merritt, Mark F. Boyd and others. Certainly, Miss Snodgrass kept him in line. I spoke with her once at length and realised right away that she was a take-charge kind of person. More on her later….

The great Treaty Oak was being highlighted as a “ nationally recognised attraction… a must for the discerning visitor.”

You can go see this massive tree too at 1123 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, Florida. The massive tree is located in the Jessie Ball duPont Park, where it has been sitting for over 2 centuries, opens at 7am and closes at sun down.(Note: The City purchased the property somewhere between 1964-1971 and name it in honour of Jessie duPont, a wealthy Jacksonville philanthropist). The tree is believed to be at least 250 years old. (Winschell has it at over 800 years old?).

Over the years the city and interested groups have done various things to keep it alive and well in our fair city. In 1995 there was a major enhancement of the park including shoring up the tree.

The Treaty Oak is so big that you and your immediate family cannot hold hands and complete the circle. Go see it. You’ll have more pleasant memories of Jacksonville.

See you tomorrow,

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December 23

We Planned for a Wedding

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…..

See you tomorrow,

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