Visit This – Jacksonville Blogger

The First Protestant Prayer, Fort Caroline Monument and Lee Adams

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

Photos: Wikipedia, US. Senate .gov, Ramey

Category: Animals, Art, History, Mandarin, Parks, People, Visit This | Comments Off

January 19

Cell Phone Rings at the Symphony and She Answers! (From the Front Row)!

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

January 19

The Jacksonville Symphony

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!

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, History, Visit This | Comments Off

July 15

Friends of the Public Library

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”.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Books/Documents, History, Visit This | Comments Off

May 2

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley is such a great friend! You can take him anywhere and it makes you so happy to do so. Flat Stanley, the book was written by Jeff Brown and published in 1964. It’s interesting to note that until Flat Stanley became a classroom star, Brown did not publish any further works until some 2 decades later, he published a series of books and by mention from Wikipedia had sold over a million copies by 2003.

In the first edition published by Harper and Row(1964-1985), the story tells about the adventures of Stanley as he is pressed flat by a bulletin board. He does the best that he can being flat by traveling and having great fun.

Flat Stanley in London-2009 ( Ramey Collection).

Teachers far and wide have had their students create Flat Stanley’s and have gone on field trips, had them go on trips and take their Flat Stanley and more.

My Flat Stanley has been many places including Buckingham Palace where I’ll take him again during the coronation.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Art, Books/Documents, Things to Do, Travel, Visit This, World Wide | LEAVE A COMMENT

April 15

Mandarin’s Miss Aggie Award

Today at the Mandarin post office, a group with the annual Miss Aggie Day event celebrated the life of Susan Ford, one of the Mandarin Historical Society members and lover of all things Mandarin.

Karen Roumillat, Susan Ford, Sandy Arpen

Agnes Jones was the postmistress in Mandarin for many years (1928-1963). She was known to give of herself to many in Mandarin, those with need and those who simply needed a kind word. An award was set up which is given every year in May. Susan Ford was honoured.

Susan has recently published, with the cooperation of the Historical Society a book called “Images of America: Mandarin which is a photolog of many facets of Mandarin, Florida.

Once, Mandarin was a sleepy, country area made up of hard working people living the wooded, life. Today, it is growing in leaps and bounds such that many in the community are saying “enough!”.

Susan Ford has loved Mandarin for many years and said that putting this book together was simply a “labor of love”.

Karen Roumillat, Susan Ford, Sandy Arpen

I was able to catch up with Susan for the first time in many years. Pleasure.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Mandarin Newsline, Sandy Arpen, Mandarin Historical Society Facebook. Personal visit to the Mandarin Post Office.

This information including Ramey photos may be used with credit to Ramey Collection. Photos may be 3rd party for which may be secured by copyrighted owner.

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

Category: Mandarin, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

March 18

The Karpeles Manuscript Library in Jacksonville

It has closed. After 30 years in Jacksonville, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum clicked the lock and will no longer service the Jacksonville area. Karpeles manuscript library was begun by David Karpeles’. He had a love for old documents and began a collection which ended up being placed in about a dozen libraries in the United States.

Karpeles closing week. Grandson and I visited to find a metal detector scanning premises.

Jacksonville’s library was housed in the old 1921 building built by Marsh and Saxelbye once was used for First Church of Christ in Springfield. David Karpeles died in January of 2022. The Jacksonville location closed in January of 2023 as will others around the country while Karpeles’ daughter, Cheryl Alleman, and her brother, Mark Karpeles downsize and reorganize. It has been reported they will go from 15 manuscript libraries to 10 over time.

Manuscripts laying on the stage the week of closing.

For thirty years, Jacksonvillians and guests could visit and find rare and authentic documents such as the first printing of the Ten Commandments from the Gutenberg Bible (c 1455), the famous E=MC2 formula by Einstein, the original manuscript of Roget’s Thesaurus, the sheet music of the Wedding March, Abraham Lincoln’s signature of 1861, the Apollo Translunar trajectory plotting America’s space flight and more. Through the years manuscripts were transferred from one library to another rotating the authentic pieces so many could view them in glass cases.

10 Commandments first printed by Gutenburg Press

Taxation without Representation document

The library opened in Jacksonville in 1992 and closed its doors here in January of 2023. I am told there is a small library nearby that can be visited. It is being touted as “the smallest walk-in-museum in the United States” and is located in the Nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine.

Mini Museum in St. Augustine, Florida-Opened 2023

You should check it out. I’m going to….

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Location:

St Augustine location for Karpeles Mini Museum-

St George’s Row- Unit L

106 St. George St.

St Augustine, Fl 32084

9:am-10:00 pm daily

FREE

Old location of the Jacksonville Karpeles-101 West 1st Street ( formerly 1116 North Laura Street)

Category: Buildings, History, Random Posts, Things to Do, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

March 17

The Underground Money-Keepers of Jacksonville

The most secure depository in the world is said to be that of Fort Knox. It is operated by the United States Department of Treasury. It seems to me and I’m no security expert, that the original three banks of downtown Jacksonville could have given Fort Knox a “run for the money” in terms of security back-in-the-day.

Diebold vault workers (Sass Collection-Diebold via Jacksonville Blogger)

There are, at this moment still, in 2023, huge vaults under banks in downtown Jacksonville. If you take the Gary Sass tour you can see at least two and actually walk inside of one of them. Don’t close the door because if they can’t open some of the safes that have been there since 1877, they may not have the combination or key to the huge circular tumblers that open the vault. On the tour you can walk under the city streets , in tunnels prepared for vault use in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by Jacksonville bankers.

Early Banks in Jacksonville (Florida Memory via Jacksonville Blogger)

It has been suggested that the vaults were so big, they were put in the ground first and the banks built on top of them. For years they were used to store three of the biggest banks in Florida’s money. When the downtown Jacksonville boom burst, the vaults were left unoccupied and unused.

The Barnett Bank of Jacksonville opened on the corner of Forsyth and Main in 1877. It would become the largest commercial bank in Florida with an excess of 600 offices and over $40 billion in deposits. The buildings with vaults beneath them still stand.

The Atlantic National Bank began in 1903. Banking efforts have changed hands over the years and today it is called Wells Fargo.

The Florida National Bank opened in 1905 which would become the 2nd largest bank in Florida at some point. All of those banks used the vaults for transferring money.

Through the years there have been many changes. There was the Great Fire of Jacksonville, Indian ‘wars, the Civil War, but one thing that has not changed is the huge vaults that once provided safe storage for the millions and millions and million of dollars, certificates and actual gold stashed in them for safety. Of course, there is no money there(that we know of) but the vaults are safe.

The tour begins by going underground and walking through several tunnels. The tunnels, for the most part look like office walls and walkways until you realize you’re under Forsyth Street, and then Julia Street and you look to see how the path goes down.

When you get to the end, you walk through a door to see a huge Diebold vault. This company was known for it’s security of money, valuables, records and more late in the 1880’s. It’s truly an “ah ha” moment when you see the huge gold-bronze looking safe. It makes you want see more, turn its tumblers and close the door. In the vault area, are old lock boxes that individuals would rent, some that are still closed and no one knows the combinations or have keys to the century old relics. If confederate money is in there, there is no value anyhow. Right?

Underground safes-Deposit boxes (Ramey Collection).

You’re encouraged to take the tour. It’s worth the go-

See you tomorrow,

Nan

To schedule a tour: AdLib Luxury Tours

(904)827-1845

gary@adlibtours.com

Category: Buildings, Business, Finances, History, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT

March 13

One of the Last Remaining Fuel Tanks of NASA

So, If you’ve never seen a NASA external fuel tank up close simply drive across the Shands Bridge and look ashore on the far right side. You don’t even have to get out of your car. You will see a yuge, yes….huge orange capsule-looking thing. That, my friend, is a NASA fuel tank AND…. If you visit it, you can get in a geocache…. YUP. There is one there at the end of the fuel tank. SO! ( If you don’t know what geocaching is…google it. It’s basically treasure hunting from your phone).

NASA fuel tank in Green Cove Springs, Fl

It is rare to see a fuel tank because when they go into space, they tend to burn up when they re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. In addition, they don’t use these any more…

According to reports from Roadside America, the tank is “longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall and built in the 1970’s.” The most Angeles Times says that it is 153.8 feet in length and “taller than a 15 story building”. So, if you want to see something as long as Lady Liberty is tall, this is your stop and it’s free in Green Cove Springs, Florida, just over the county line.

Notice the fuel tank is still on the original trailer…

When I was at Kennedy Space Shuttle back-in-the-day, I saw this item on display. My understanding is that after the space shuttle era ended in 2011, they had this as a museum artifact. Some time around 2013, it was loaded on a barge, trailer and all, and carried to this Green Cove Springs boat yard. It’s still there.

I don’t know of another fuel tank that you could see except for that of the one at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. This one is a free look. You have to pay to see the one in CA. Take your pick, ya’ll.

The day I was there a Dad was field tripping with a family member. (Permission granted to take pic.)

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources, RoadSide America, California Science Center, NASA

See it here- 3939 Reynolds Blvd, Green Cove Springs, Fl ( I don’t know how long it will be here. It’s been here at least since about 2013 but…who knows?)

Cost:- FREE

Category: Near Jax, Transportation, Travel, Visit This | Comments Off

March 12

Geocaching or Treasure Hunting From Your Phone

We found a geocache in the log box of the NASA shuttle fuel tank…

Many of you like to treasure hunt. Geocaching is the new treasure hunting event. In a nutshell, you create an account with Geocaching or another app that offers treasure hunting by phone and you follow treasure hunters in your area who put out different treasures. Some offer free stuff, others simply allow you to find the treasure and login by writing your geocache name. Generally, a pen or pencil is left at the geocache site with a login paper in a secure, box or container.

We wrote our geocache name inside the geocache paper left inside the container…(We left a bracelet).

It’s really a lot of fun. Recently, we visited the external fuel tank from NASA just outside of Duval County City limits in Green Cove Springs. While we were there looking, we happened upon a geocache in a box at the foot of the external tank. While we did not look it up, we did sign the log in the box and logged in to confirm we were there.

You need a geocache account and name to login your visit…

You can do this too. Some geocache apps are free while others cost to be a member. Google geocache and go from there. It’s really neat and definitely an adventure every time you try to find the treasures. Geocaching is world-wide now so you can go to most any town, state or country and find different geocaches.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Geocache . com or other apps that provide the same service. Some are free. Others are paid subscription.

Category: Family, Things to Do, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT