For some time now I’ve been noticing a train logo flag with the name “Rail Yard District”. I rode the neighborhood and turns out it’s west of downtown in the Beaver Street, near the train depot and convention centre area. It includes such addresses as:
The old Farmers Market 1810 West Beaver Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32209
Eco Relics, a salvage store living in a former rail depot.-106 Stockton Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32204
Shot gun houses east of the viaduct on the North side of Beaver Street.
The actual “rail yard”.
The old viaduct and rail yard with trains n’ all, east of the Farmers Market on west Beaver Street.
There are some 75-100 businesses in this area and although much of the area has been neglected since the 1970’s, its making a come back with new business and opportunity.
Visiting 1810 Beaver Street was a treat while growing up. Our small family lived on Lowell Avenue only a couple of miles from the market. We spent many a day there, picking up fruit, tasting the samples provided and walking away with greens and corn for a Sunday dinner.
Farmers Market photo
The Farmers Market is one of the oldest markets in Florida. It began in 1938. From dawn to dusk you can find vendors of all kinds selling produce, including honey, corn, onions, greens, watermelons, oranges, apples, berries, squash, a variety of beans, sugar cane, and more. On Apple Maps, it indicates the hours to be 7am-5pm. This is a big man’s delight and a dieters haven. In 2019, the Jacksonville Farmers Market won the “Jax Best” seal so congrats and with that it touts having over a million visitors each year.
1938-ish. Fl Memory
It’s located in the Rail Yard District on West Beaver Street. Back-in-the-day, one of my best friend’s family, the Napoli’s had a bay. We spent a lot of time helping set up things, shine the produce and sit and wait for customers. Well, mostly we played. Ha! Fun times though, for sure.
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.
