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The Journalist in Me

Sometimes I think I missed my calling. While in graduate school we were told to get an interview in a place that if we could choose to work, we would seek employment. My choice was the Florida Times Union. In my mind…If I could have any job in the world, it would be a reporter/writer/photographer for the Florida Times Union. I made an appointment with an editor and sat in her office for about an hour at 1 Riverside Avenue( now demolished-2022) discussing the possibilities.

I never pursued that job and for almost 40 years loved being a teacher, administrator and for a few years, adjunct professor at UNF teaching a teacher’s course. Looking back, I was so happy in the education field. On the side and in my free time, I spent hours photographing, writing and publishing stories. That continues to this day. There has always been a journalist inside of me even as a youngster.

Having an interest in writing causes one to save stories, old documents and collect memorabilia related to writing. My files are many and it is a constant thing to keep up with what has been collected such as unique items, pens, pencils, letters, documents, photos, old newspapers and the like. There are five things that are especially unique that I’ve saved over the years: 1. Two authentic bound huge newsprint books from the early 1920 Florida times Union years. 2. A collection of vintage, old and rare ink pens. 3. Unique historical items, letters, documents, related to America and her people including Presidents, Royalty and Rosa Parks; a personal favorite. 4. Literally thousands of photographs. 5. Jacksonville stuff in general.

There is no way of knowing how differently my life would be if I had gone the path of a newspaper girl but I am grateful that I got the life of both.

Still, I wonder what life I would have had as a full time reporter? In the meantime, I’ll see you tomorrow as I report from the sidelines.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: About, History, People, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 13

Yard Art…Such as a Jet Fuel Tank

This past month, I took a trip to Marietta which is in West Duval County to see the area where Jacksonville founder Isaiah David Hart, sometime after 1822, had a large plantation. I found the hugely wooded area and imagined all kinds of scenarios of how and where Hart may have lived but I had no idea I’d find a jet fuel tank out there with other yard art.

While driving up and down the densely populated trees, I found huge ones of every kind including tall pines, large oaks and even Florida palms. The interesting find that day was that of a jet fuel tank set up in the yard of long time Westside resident Guy Lachapelle. That, was some serious history! How in the world did it get there and from where?

There is really a simple answer. Lachapelle is, as listed on his linked page, an “expert total” in “selective dismantling and demolition since 1979”. Fuel tank removal would be one of the things he might do.

While being inquisitive, I saw Guy in his yard and was able to ask him a few questions and get permission to photograph in the area. Wearing blue jeans, an open collar shirt, and in country fashion, he told me how he was in the business of demolition. He explained that one of his jobs was on Normandy Blvd. some years ago and part of the job was to remove a jet fuel tank. Thinking it was unique, he used his large equipment, brought it home and leaned it artistically in his front yard. Boom! Yard art!

On Normandy Blvd there was the home of Cecil Field Naval Air base which operated from 1941-1999. It is now called Cecil Commerce. Lacapelle did not say he got the tank from the base but it made sense that it certainly could have come from there with the base once serving as “one of four naval air stations to be designated as Master Jet Bases specifically used for the operation of carrier-based jet aircraft”.

Cecil Field Entrance-Unknown Photo credit

His wife came out about the time I was leaving and when I mentioned the yard art, she said looking around with a smile, “Sometimes there is just too much yard art”.

Other items in their yard were dated old rusty trucks and a Seaboard Coastline train car sitting on actual tracks. HA! I wonder what Isaiah Hart would say?

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Wikipedia, Google Search, Lachapelle, Ramey

Category: History, Military, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 8

New Years Shoot-Out in Nanville

On 5:53 PM January 1, 2023, a call was received on the cell phone from a “No Caller ID”. Not being sure who it was, no answer was made. After the cell phone ping, listening to the message was immediate. The “No Caller ID” was from a Jacksonville police officer about a break-in report in what he knew as the Biltmore area. Over time, he would learn this was also referred to as “Nanville”. Nanville is bound by Old Kings Road, Lane Avenue, Commonwealth and Edgewood Avenue. It was established somewhere around 1984.

The break-in occurred between December 29- December 31 and the thief got away with all of the lights in the house. In other words, the robber stripped the entire house of electrical wiring and more than likely rolled it all away inside of a yellow top, also known as a recycle bin. The police were called and a police report was made regarding the “Nanville theft”.

The property at 5345 was once a very nice home and owned back in-the-day by the Driggers family. As recent as last year, their names were still carved on the wooden towel rack in the bathroom and was only removed due to a remodel.

The premises had been vacant for over 6 months and listed on multiple MLS realtor sites. The hope was to sell it quickly during this buyer’s market 2022 but up to this point, no takers.

Now, with no electricity wiring, it would be even harder to unload. The house listing was dropped in price due to the electrical wire issue and right away investors were willing to take a look at the opportunity.

The insulation and theft mess from stripping out wires from the ceiling had not been cleaned so when a call came in to view the property on Saturday morning, January 7th at 10:00 AM, a trip with a broom, mop and trash bags to the vacant house was made.

After the clean up, and about 8:31 AM shots rang out in the neighbourhood. “Pow”, “Pow” “Pow” went the Jacksonville officers pistol with shouts… It sounded like “Police! “Police!” There was a skirmish and a small dog rounded the above-ground pool at the end of the road as several officers took off running after the suspect on foot. There were four police cars, #3515, #2749, #1014 and a fourth moving too fast to see the number but all, located on the West end of the neighbourhood with one speeding toward 5345, while another went west on that same road.

Neighbors began to come out of their homes watching all of this commotion. A young mother apparently feared with her children by her side and ran back in to safety. To my knowledge, they did not catch the thief.

After getting my own self to safety, my girls got this text:

“I’ve been in a police shoot-out in Nanville but I’m okay. Just letting you know.”

If you ever want to get a quick call-back from a family member just tell them you’ve been in a shoot-out. They will call right away. Oh, and if they catch the scrapper, I’ll let you know. 1-8-22

See you tomorrow,

Category: History, Holidays, Neighborhoods, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 7

The Tombs of Founder Isaiah D. Hart

So, yesterday and based on author, Tim Gilmore’s 2015 article about Jacksonville founder, Isaiah D. Hart’s “Tomb Tower”, my grandson and I set out to find where Hart was first buried before being moved to Evergreen Cemetery. Truly, it was a little scary as there were drifters and obviously noticeable people both White and Black, on some type of substance in the area. It was early in the morning and as many as 10 homeless were in and about the carcass of what is left of history where the old 1966 Heart of Jacksonville Motel once thrived. Some were sleeping beneath the walls of the old block building and others gathered in a small group talking. Some were literally “out of it” and others actually showed friendly to my 9 year old grand and myself. They saw us with cameras and for once I did not click when I saw them, out of respect I suppose.

At the borders of “Laura Street between State and Orange Streets”, the place remains a morass of “social rot and desperation” as described by Gilmore on 9/26/2015. So, man’s life without God has not changed. It is a reminder, I told my grandson that “we all need a Savior to save us from ourselves. “

It’s hard to envision but it was there the 35 foot tall “Old Hart Monument” as described in the 1992 Jacksonville Historical Society journal once stood. By the photograph in the journal, it appears brick and was fenced.

After spending time on this old motel block near Confederate Park, we drove to Evergreen Cemetery where we saw the now approximate 12 x 30 x 60 inch flat tomb where Hart and his family were moved. It says “ The Family Tomb of Isaiah David Hart The Founder of Jacksonville”.

Speaking of life without God. Hart owned slaves and was constantly working in an effort to make money. It is said that he became “respectable” after founding Jacksonville. I hope that meant he found Christ because while there is still a tomb no matter its location, he’s not there. ( If you know what I mean).

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Jacksonville Historical Society Journal, Jaxpsychogeo.com, personal visit.

Category: Government, History, Random Posts, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 2

Is Isaiah D. Hart, “Uncle What’s His Name?’

Isaiah David Hart is the Founder of Jacksonville, Florida with no known photo.

Sisters Pat and Marien formerly of Jacksonville, Florida used to talk about “Uncle What’s His Name”. It seems there was the photograph in a fancy frame of an unknown man on the wall of a prominent relative of the family for which no one knew his name. It apparently hung on the wall for many years to the point that it became funny to relatives and friends alike, as they walked towards, by and around this unknown soul. They called him “Uncle What’s His Name”.

Sometimes I wonder about Isaiah David Hart, the founder of Jacksonville who married Nancy Nelson in Duval County in 1818 according to the records. Could his mug be on the wall of some family member and they not know he’s the actual founder of Jacksonville, Florida? There is no known photograph of him and many historians like myself have tried endlessly to find one. And, why is there no photo?

Isaiah D. Hart was a prominent man who held not only a great deal of power but held high offices in Jacksonville and Florida. His father’s family was from Pennsylvania and he died in St. Johns County. His Mother was from Loudoun County, Virginia. Both are buried in Jacksonville’s Old Cemetery. Hart’s Mother birthed four children according to Find A Grave but some say twelve children. There are no family photos among many youngins’ and their families?

According to Find A Grave, Hart himself had 7 children but I don’t see Julia listed so even that history is sketchy. Those listed are: Oscar B. Hart, Ossian B. Hart, Laura C. Hart Farrar, Lodiska Hart Beers, Isaiah David Hart, Daniel William Hart and Nancy Hart. Of those 7 children only one has a photo on the grave listings and that is of Ossian who became the 10th Governor of Florida in 1845. Was Isaiah or any of his siblings at this inaugural event and if so where are the photos?

Isaiah David Hart wore many hats…He was a planter, ranch owner, plantation owner, slave trader (not to his credit), Deputy U. S. Marshall in East Florida, Clerk of County Court in Duval, Commissioner of piolatage, railroad investor, 1939 member of the Whig Territorial senate and one of the founders of the Whig party. His children held different and various jobs in the city of Jacksonville and Ossian was the 10th Governor of Florida. Where in the world are the photos of this man, surely someone has at least one?

Could there be a photograph of Isaiah David Hart on the wall of some family member with them all calling him “Uncle What’s His Name”? I certainly wonder…..If you solve this, I’m in need of this photo. Please contact me…..

UPDATE: In Dena Snodgrass’ article in the JHS, Volume V “Papers”, she writes…”Listed among his belongings were a clock and a watch at $100. each; a portrait of himself at $25….” SO, there was a portrait of him at some point. I wonder on whose wall it can be found as “Uncle What’s His Name”?

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Florida Memory, Wikipedia, COJ., Jacksonville Historical Society Papers, Vol. V, Photos- Cracker Barrel Restaurant- 1-2-23

Category: Government, People, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 31

It’s Okay To Cry. God Hears…

She was just sobbing, and not just sobbing. Her face was buried in her hands and though I could not hear her weep, I knew she was in a serious cry. I could see the moisture being wiped away from her eyes and her beautiful black face was agonizing. I wish I had known her well enough to ask if I could come to her and let her tell me. Tell me what though? Obviously she had lost a loved one and she was writhing in pain from this loss.

Today, I visited Evergreen Cemetery, the burial grounds of over 80, some say 90,000 souls. The trip was in an effort to get a birthdate for a story I’m working on. I knew the office had a vault that kept detailed records of internments so I was in hopes I could get a date settled in my mind and in addition, I could photograph the grave. After going to the office, getting info about the grave area, I found the grave for which I came. A map was given me and the area was found quickly and in a short time, I was headed to check out other parts of this beautiful area. It is a cemetery but a beautiful one.

After visiting several areas, I started out of the North gate rather than go back through the entire cemetery when I realized the North gate was locked; probably due to it being New Years Eve.

This caused me to round the back behind the mausoleum and there I saw this beautiful Black woman, probably in her 30’s sitting in front of a full area of graves rocking back and forth with her phone in her lap and hands on her face. She was crying and not a mere whimper. I mean she was grieving, crying and in pure lament.

I rolled down my window and asked if I could help her. She nodded, “no”. Then I said, But are you okay?” With a tearful cry, she moaned, “yes” and the full length of her fingers stretched across her eyes. I said “Precious, I’m so very sorry”. “ I just so sorry for your loss”. “I will pray for you and may God bless and be with you”.

Worrying I might be overstepping, I slowly drove away. I wanted to do more. I wanted to say more but was it right for me to even say anything? As I was photographing the front of the cemetery, I saw her car leave the gravesite. I reached out my hands and fingers toward her and prayed in the Name of Jesus for His power and work to take place in her precious life. He knows. He heard her.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Faith, People, Random Posts | Comments Off

December 27

Jacksonville’s Photographic History

DaVinci’s theory of the camera was documented in his sketch books along with other famous inventions. Some 270 drawings of the camera idea were in his sketchbooks.

One of the oldest camera photos of all time his of a view from a window in Le Gras, France in 1826. The portrait is now in public domain. One of the first documented photos in the United States of America was a self portrait of Robert Cornelias in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1839. This photo is also in public domain.

Just as an aside of information, the first uploaded photograph was by the founder of the internet, Tim Berners Lee on July 18, 1992.

It appears that the first President of the United States to be photographed was that of John Quincy Adams in 1843 in his Massachusetts’ home. This was taken only 4 year after the daguerreotype method was invented. There have been only 3 photographs of him known and one was reported by the Associated Press as being found in an antique shop which was believed to be taken in 1843 as his diary entry said on August 1, 1843, The photos themselves, however, he deemed “hideous” and “too true to the original.”) This is also the photo known to be found in an antique shop and bought for .50 cents. The photo below was believed to be taken around the same time.

Interestingly, it was John Quincy Adams to whom a letter for Jacksonville’s territorial request was sent but the petition denied. In August of 1822 however, Duval County was established and William Duval placed a ferry crossing the St. Johns River which led to the town charter for Jacksonville in 1832. I guess that photo found had not even been taken at that time.

Cooley photographed in the South as well

Based on documentation at the Library of Congress, photographs in Jacksonville, Florida seem to appear first in 1864 when photographer, Sam A. Cooley from the 10th Army Corps was in town to photograph the Civil War situation.

Noted film actor, Robert Vignola was a part of film history in a photograph documented in Jacksonville and in acting as well. According to the JHS, he came to Jacksonville in 1908.

Through the years, Jacksonville has had many historic photographs documenting the lives of its people, places and things. Are you a photographer? Do you have any interesting photos to share?

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Library of Congress, Wikipedia, Wikicommons, Jacksonville Historical Society, Florida Memory

Category: Art, People, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 9

Lures in Jacksonville, Florida

May 27th, 2021, I was looking for a large water-type tank and dropped in at 2148 Ellis Road N.to ask because they had several in their corner lot. I was met by an orange cat who did not move and was totally unconcerned at my visit.

To my surprise, as I walked inside the old tin facility, several ladies inside were making fishing lures! The shop was in a metal building and the entire time I was there, the ladies spoke with me, tried to figure out if they could assist my request but did not for a moment stop their work of making bait-tackle.

They were dipping some type of plastic in a warm machine which created the form of long candles and then the warm form went into a liquid, probably water to cool it. The set were then hung out to dry and moved to another location. It was a consistent process and I watched them time and time again as each set of lures were made and handled for packaging.

The company was called Soft Plastics of Florida. It is listed as a “mold maker”, established in 2003 and incorporated in Florida. To be such a small place and quite unkempt, it reported an annual revenue of $484,000 according to Manta. Wow.

I rode past today on the way home and the gate was locked with a for sale sign nearby.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Random Posts, Sports | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 21

Scrap Metal From Some 60 Years Collecting

If you’ve been following along, you know that our family has spent from January of 2022 until the November wedding preparing the property for over 100 guests. Twenty benches were built by Buddy, our family friend to accommodate as many as 120 people. We expected about 100.

From start to finish and yes, even until the last day and since, we have found scrap metal pieces on the property. It began with the demolition of the barn which had been built in the 1960’s and filled often with “stuff”. From there to the pole barn, the camper, the burn piles to the general junk areas, scrap was removed and either hauled to the road ( 23 loads at the most recent count) or given to scrappers literally coming and hauling away pounds and pounds of scrap.

One scrapper hauled away at least 15 heavy galvanized car jacks along with tubs, basins, an auto transmission and more.

In the night of the wedding, we were folding the white curtains we had placed as a back drop on the barn and attached to the fold was a piece of scrap metal hanging by a thread. We all had to laugh.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Family, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 10

The Storm After the Wedding

Thankfully, the weather was beautiful before, during and after the November 5, wedding. It was so grand that everyone sat out in the open air at the tables and rocked and rolled with the band until about 10:00 pm.

Fast forward only a few days and we’ve now removed the 20 x 40 tent, secured anything that might blow away or fall and stacked the chairs. (Although, I think I’ve stacked them too high and strong winds might take them down. We shall see?)

A now designated hurricane named “Nicole” is on the way up the middle of Florida and expected to skirt the west side of Jacksonville. I’ll keep you posted as to what happened to the chairs.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Family, Random Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT