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Elvis Has Left The Building

He has not left Jacksonville….

Mae Boren Hoyt was the co-author to the famous pop-artist, Elvis Presley’s first RCA Singles hit, “Heartbreak Hotel”. It was in Jacksonville, Florida on the Westside, on Dellwood Avenue in 1955 that she and guitarist Tommy Durden put the tune together. Durden had seen a sad situation concerning love and heartbreak and got with Mae. The two put together the song.

Through a turn of events, I was interested in finding the home where the song was written. After a little research the house was found. On a stroll down Dellwood Avenue on that day, it was as I expected, a small 1,288 Sq Ft home, 3 beds and 2 baths. It sold February 28, 2022 for a whopping $298,812. Because of the high price, I wondered if the buyer knew that Elvis had been in the building?

On You Tube, there are several interviews with Mae and other artists; one being Elvis. It was obviously one of his first interviews, if not his first, and he told about his humble beginnings and thanked her for her support and willingness to “have his back”.

Mae Boren Axton was born February 9, 1914 in Texas. She died August 4, 1997. Her claim to fame was, while living in Jacksonville, she co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel with Tommy Durden . The day after the writing, she pitched it to Elvis. He liked it and it was the song that brought the two of them into the limelight launching both of their careers.

Before meeting Elvis, Mae met and married John T. Axton, a Navy officer. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he was stationed in 1949. Later, Axton became the first coach at Paxon High School and Mae, on occasion substituted as a teacher having her bachelors degree from University of Oklahoma. Mae also taught at DuPont and Lee High Schools. While she taught school, her focus was on music and writing. Over the years she would work with: Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton.

The success of Elvis music and launching both of their careers, Mae named her music Company “Dellwood Music”, it is believed, after the street on which she lived.

Jimmy Tennant, also called Jimmy Velvet, a friend of hers and one who lived in the same Jacksonville neighborhood met Elvis through Mae and had a life-long friendship with him. He spent time on American Bandstand and managed other singers, even having his own popular singles, “We Belong Together” and “Its Almost Tomorrow”. There is also a long list of other songs he has performed. In an interview with him, “Spa Guy” confirms a lot about Elvis and his time in Jacksonville, Florida and on Dellwood Avenue.

Elvis performed in Jacksonville August 10 and 11, 1956. His last performance was May 30, 1977 at the Jacksonville Coliseum. It was his 5th performance in Duval County and his last.

Elvis Presley died August 17, 1977. While Elvis has left the building, he is still in the hearts and minds of many of Jacksonville who went to see his last performance. The Times Union reported over 10,000 fans went. Were you there?

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Jimmy Velvet, Spa Guy, Wikipedia, JHS, Jimmy Velvet,

Category: History, People | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 19

The Human Billboard in Real Time

Hanging on the wall of the Family Medicine Doctor office on University Blvd. S. is an original copy of the inaugural Jaguars football game photo from 1995. On that day, September 3, Kivett Productions had the contract to gather together X number of people, provide specific seats for them, give them a packet with instructions and possible coupons, offers, etc. Then, at the given time and with “cue-card-holders” instruction have them flip their card to produce a huge human-type billboard. Even the cue-card-holder has a cue card! In this case, the Jaguars’ fans flip-cards and which when combined, reads, “Jacksonville Jaguars” and the photographer from the airplane in the sky went, “click”. This is the ultimate human billboard!

Kivett productions is said to the the world leader in this effort. They promote their card flip advertising and it is a performance in itself, indicating that they “design, print and distribute things related to it, engage the audience as “part of the event” and have participants move on “cue” to get a final results.

In this article photograph, you can clearly see the words”Jacksonville Jaguars” and here we are in the year 2023 with that photo hanging on the wall remaining a snapshot and iconic moment in time from 1995.

The framed item above is number 1,182 out of 1,500. Don’t you wonder where the other 1,499 are? The TIAA Bank Stadium can seat over 60,000 fans and can be expanded to 80,000 if needed so having one of the 1,500 posters is a definite collector’s item.

The 2023 Jaguars team is now in the playoffs for the Super Bowl. I wonder if promoters will hire Kivett Productions again for the playoff games? Super Bowl? Yours thoughts? 1/19/23

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Kivett Productions, You Tube

Category: Business, Sports | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 18

Old Fashioned Gardens

The Garden Club of Jacksonville

Ground Breaking, Photo: Garden Club, Jacksonville Historical Society

My Aunt Bette, was a garden club member. She fit right in. Bette Long was beautiful, gracious, loved people and philanthropic. For as long as I remember, she talked about her beloved Cherokee Rose kind of Garden Club. While it was located in neighbouring Orange Park, it had the same focus and drive as the Jacksonville Garden Club. It was there that she had her memorial service upon her home-going. For sure, she probably never actually potted a plant with her beautiful nail-painted hands but more than likely gave a ton of money to help the needy and further the cause.

Many times, she and her group would join the Garden girls at the Jacksonville Garden club for annual meetings and the like. With Aunt Bette, the more people the better. That is how I learned about the Downtown Jacksonville Garden Club which began its life on March 22, 1922.

First Garden club show.. 1922( Garden Club, JHS)

Yesterday, a group of about seventy five ladies gathered at the Riverside area Garden Club to hear interim archivist Emily Cottrell talk about how the Historical Society of Jacksonville archives its items. It seems that in July of 2020, the historical society came to the garden club to view hundreds of documents, photographs, scrapbooks and more that were in the possession of the club. By the end of that year, the garden club group had donated these items to the Historical Society and they were carried away by several trips to be archived and documented.

The speaker and archivist, Emily Cottrell a UNF graduate first volunteered at the Historical Society and now is a member of the staff in charge of this massive historical archive. As many of 10 scrapbooks, dozens and dozens of documents, booklets, brochures, and pages of different and various “circles” are now in her possession at the JHS to archive, decipher and digitize. With the help of Ethan and Tova, members and other volunteers, many have worked diligently to put items together by date, time and group.

The event yesterday was presented on a slide show and with a table display of some old and long-standing documents and photos. There was the first garden show and ribbon cutting event pictured. Also was shown, an old scrapbook of 1946 newspaper clippings dating back to the early 1900’s. Other projects shown was that of a 1963-64 “Garden for the Blind” where at least 25 students from the St. Augustine Deaf and Blind school were celebrated with a “sensory garden using the senses of touch, taste, smell, feel, and see, set up for them.

The Jacksonville Garden Club was founded by Ninah Cummer with a group of some 17 friends in 1922. It was a “small organization to further their garden research and to enhance city spaces. “

During Cottrell’s talk, she mentioned 2555 Gilmore Street as a place of service. After the event, I rode past to see what and where that was. It is the home of Central Riverside Elementary School which was built in 1916 so within it first few years, the Garden Club was helping beautify the school grounds.

There have been as many as 170 “circles” ( garden groups) over the years. Cottrell indicated there are 130 active groups at this time. Some of the names of circles over the years have been: Cherokee, Oleander, Avondale, Ingleside, Magnolia, River Oaks, Lantana, Red Bud and my favorite, “Old Fashioned Garden”.

Aunt Bette would be proud I went to the Garden Club of Jacksonville. I’m all about giving too but rarely put my hand in the dirt to plant either….Ha!

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Flora and Fauna, History | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 16

Imeson Airport and Lucky Lindy ( Charles Lindbergh)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

January 15

Surely The Two Met in Heaven

The famed evangelist, Billy Graham preached his first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Church in Palatka, just south of Jacksonville, Florida in 1937. Only the year before, in 1936, Ralph Eddins would be born in Billy Graham’s home state of North Carolina. Both Northcarolinians, Graham and Eddins would have a passion to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and “be the kind of man my child wants to see”. Graham, a generation before Eddins spent his entire life traveling the world, meeting the most famous, wealthy, prominent and distinctive people in the universe using his influence to spread God’s message of grace.

Graham was an 18-year-old college student “with knocking knees and four borrowed sermons” who preached at the Bostwick Baptist Church to about 40 congregants on Easter Sunday weekend in April of 1937.

YOUNG BILLY GRAHAM WITH TWO OF HIS TEACHERS, JOHN MINDER LEFT AND CECIL UNDERWOOD EASTER SUNDAY 1937. AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH BOSTWICK PALATKA, FLORIDA.(BGA photo).

Ralph Eddins was not yet one year old but God had a plan for him just as he did for Graham. Billy Graham would go on and preach to millions world-wide and often referred to his first opportunity to share the Gospel at Bostwick. Eddins would go forward, end up in Florida, marry Helen, have three children and impact the lives of many far and wide in his own time and place. He would end up in his son, David Eddin’s church at Bostwick just as Graham began there.

Ralph Eddins had his home-going service at Bostwick Baptist Church where his eldest son is now pastor. The Senior Eddins, for almost six decades would proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ telling in serious fashion about God’s grace, forgiveness, mercy and eternal promises. His son, David also, following in his Father’s footsteps is now at Bostwick Baptist proclaiming that same hopeful message. At his Father’s “celebration”, the young Eddins spoke of his Dad’s love of God’s Word and his determination to share it. He spoke about his Dad’s gifts of carpentry and matter-of-fact attitude and how he woke up every day happy with “heaven on his mind”.

Jason, David, Helen, Ralph, Joyce(Photo: Sharon Greenbarg)

David’s son, Nathan also spoke and having been called into the ministry himself, was influenced by his Grandad’s diligence in living out the Gospel of Jesus. He too reminisced about his grandfather being a man of his word, being of strong opinion and never wavering.

From the Bostwick pulpit at his home-going, his daughter told how her Father was “dogmatic, outspoken and opinionated” while always faithful to his calling. Tommy Brown, long time friend and a pastor from North Carolina spoke as well and told of Eddins’ influence on his life.

Eddins was honored with a church full of those who came to celebrate his new life in heaven. There was grieving but not for him. His youngest son, Jason wept for his loss but said he was confident of his excitement waking in heaven. Eddins’ decades of service through the years would be continued by family and friends as eternity was on the mind of all who came to celebrate his life.

As Pastor Tommy Brown put it, “Well done though good and faithful servant”. At Billy Graham’s funeral, the same was said of him. Surely the two met in heaven and indeed with Jesus.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Churches, Faith, Uncategorized | 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 12

Cecil Field, “Number Please” and a Hangar full of Furniture

My Father, Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. worked at Jacksonville’s Cecil Field his whole career. He worked in the public works area at both NAS Jax and Cecil . Working longer at Cecil there was a long-lasting friendship of staff developed with his leadership. He was a kind man and honest to the core.

Cecil opened 1941-closed 1999- Photo Credit: unknown

When we were growing up, the base, located on Normandy Blvd. near our home, was a place we frequented often. My Mother, a stay-home Mom and with a family with only one car would sometimes take my Dad to work giving us a car for the day. That would mean she would have to take him to work and pick him up at the end of his work schedule. We would all pile in the car before day break to take him, go shopping, run around and do car things and then return at the close of the day to pick up Daddy.

In the morning we could stay dressed in our pj’s or play-clothes but if my Dad wanted us to check out his digs, we had to dress the part and put on Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Ugh! We all, the three of us, hated that, but the perk was, we got to go see Daddy at work, see the airplanes and meet all of these people who hugged and petted us. We liked that just fine. Who doesn’t like the bosses kids and we were well behaved. Daddy was kind-hearted but we were expected to mind our manners and we did.

During my Father’s time at Cecil Field, it was the largest Naval Air and military base in terms of land area with over 22,000 acres. He worked there from the mid 1940’s until his retirement around 1975. During that time, he managed public works including the telephone and communication office and in addition worked to provide furniture for Navy members and their families.

We visited the furniture storeroom on occasion as well as the office where the phone lines were pulled in and out using an old phone switch, later called a phone jack. This, dating back to 1884 evolved over the years but was used into the 1960’s with ladies saying “number please” and making connections. That was always an intriguing visit.

Cecil Field was a full fledged Naval base and we spent much time on and off of the property as my Dad served well.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Family, History, Military, Transportation | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 11

The Cemetery and Battle of Blight

Since a visit to the Old City Cemetery on East Union Street, I realize there is a focus by the government of Jacksonville to improve the cemeteries in the city where rot and decay resides. There is though more than one battle of blight where the dead are concerned.

Trying to research the history of the oldest downtown cemetery has piqued my interest and now comes an online map shared by Kelsi Hasden about the whereabouts of another old cemetery near downtown Jacksonville. After looking up St Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery on the City Council agenda, I see it’s one of the Black cemeteries getting distinction of being another of the old burial cites and will receive monies provided to improve it. I wanted a closer look. By its name, It was probably a plant by Bethel Baptist from downtown Jacksonville in the 1880’s. Bethel and First Baptist began together in 1838, and was the first Baptist church in the city. Both Black and White members worshipped together.

This morning, I set out to find this southside church and cemetery. The cemetery was once under the care of St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church at some point was enclosed with fencing such that unless you know it’s a cemetery, its just a place of broken cement and where roaming feral cats and the possible homeless frequent. While there, I saw broken stones when peeking through the fence and multiple cats as well as a homeless bag-pack. I did not open it.

Using the map provided on the January 5th blog of “The Jaxson” write-up, I was able to go right to the location and photograph the remains of the remains. While looking through the view-finder on my camera I saw a tabby cat, grey Russian blue type and a solid black cat. Living beside an apartment complex and frequenting the dumpster area seemed like a good thing for them. They all appeared full and healthy but ran when I reached towards my camera to zoom closer.

The grounds are completely grown up with wood rot, tree growth and thick brush. Beneath all of that were broken tombstones, cement slabs and obvious lack of care for the dead. The two stones that I found intact were difficult to read but I was happy to see the cross boldly engraved at the top.

Florida Memory. com offers a document of the founding of this church to be 1880, located on “San Diego Road, 1/2 mile from Kings Avenue, South Jacksonville, Duval County.”

At that time this was a white building which was moved to the present site, and remodelled in 1917. It does not say from where it was moved unless it was closer to the cemetery? The present church is slate blue. The pastor is Carl C. Patterson according to the sign out front.

The pastor at the time was J. C. Christopher serving from 1880-1885. It looks as though the city of Jacksonville will allocate funds in order to help get the graveyard cleaned up which will allow respect to be paid to the interments. There appears to be both military and civilian graves in the area. This will be no small job but kudos to the City Council for approving this project. Its current address is 2602 San Diego Road so there is a lot more than a cemetery clean up. There is the history to ponder.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Cemeteries, Churches, Faith, History | LEAVE A COMMENT

January 10

Granny Lee- Pioneer and Possum

When I think of “Granny Lee” as most everyone in the neighborhood called her, my mind goes to a true pioneer woman; gardening, blue berries, hard work and possum for supper. Even though she was no actual relation to me, while growing up, I visited her most every day, especially in the summer. She had a hitching’ post for my horse and on occasion helped me wash him down. Smokey, actually my brother Pat’s horse, was my prime mode of transportation from the age of 7 until my teen years when my parents bought me a used English racer.

At Granny’s, my bike was parked in the same spot of where Smokey would stand. I enjoyed my bike but it was Smokey that I used the most, even as a teen. Smokey had a “B-line” to Granny’s log cabin, which was to turn left on Crystal Springs and at a fast pace, ride through the crowded pine tree field near the blueberry patch she managed and kept.

Ezra and Idell’s log cabin, Photo- Ramey

Idell Virginia Highsmith Lee was born in Waycross, Georgia on December 23, 1906. According to Find a Grave, her father, James Carswell Highsmith married Minnie Slatery. Find a Grave has her having one sibling however, her grandson said there were two brothers, Benjamin and Hope and a sister Lillamay. Granny married Ezra Marmaduke Lee on April 19, 1923 at the age of 17 in Duval County, Florida. Her husband and brother are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. Her parents are buried at Oaklawn Cemetery on San Jose Blvd. Granny and Ezra had one son, James. He had as many as 6 children. Her property, far more than 18 acres was located on the west side of Duval County. I remember James as a happy, jovial person who would gather with a ton of folks to play guitars out by Granny’s wooden home. I feel that I play guitar today because of my interest in their yard-jams back-in-the-day. James was quite an entertainer back then.

While I never met her husband, Ezra, I heard a great deal about him for her love for him was strong. After 39 years of marriage he died on July 25th, 1962. Together he and Idell established a nice homestead with a great many acres of land, so she was comfortable in her life going forward. She also owned an “uptown house” on Marquett Avenue as her great granddaughter, Melissa Lynn called it, which has been her home for over 33 years. She says that Granny preferred the country and loved that old log cabin opposed to an “uptown” house.

Linda Lee and Idell, Photo- Linda(Grandson Stephen’s wife)

When visiting Granny on her property, she always had a spring and fall garden. She was a hard worker and had a “can do” attitude. With grandchildren living next to her, she spent a lot of her time caring for them as well. One thing odd about her, was her taste and raised in the country in Georgia there should be no surprise. There are times she would have possum in the refrigerator and I saw with my own eyes her skin one using boiling water and a knife. Now, that’s not a sight for the squeamish. I never ate anything out of her refrigerator that I didn’t ask what it was. ‘ Just sayin’.

Granny was a Christian and behaved like one. As a young person, she talked to me about Jesus and for years attended Blair Road Baptist Church, now called Promise Land. In her older years, when her car sat on blocks in the front yard, she rode their neighbourhood bus to and from church.

Somewhere around 1990 as she was needing help getting around, she moved in with her eldest grandson Stephen Lee, Sr. and his wife, Linda in Lake City, Florida. When she died in August of 1996 she was buried next to her beloved Ezra at Evergreen Cemetery. I visited there last week and researched to see she had a December 23rd birthday which is not on her tomb stone.

If you ride by her old property on Crystal Springs Road in Jacksonville, Florida, there is now a subdivision with $300,00 homes sitting where the old log cabin once stood. There are many memories there for me. I will forever remember Granny Lee and look forward to meeting her again one day in glory.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Missy Lynn, Stephen Lee, Sr., Find a Grave, Evergreen Cemetery

Category: People | 1 Comment

January 9

Iron Corn Cobs, Shucks, Broken Fencing and Eroding Tomb Stones at Jacksonville’s Oldest Cemetery

The Old Jacksonville City Cemetery on east Union Street has iron corn cobs and the shuck itself as fence posts. In actuality, they had to have once been so beautiful and even today are unique by any measure.The tops of some look just like a piece of corn with the shuck peeled back; even now, a piece of art. The iron fence posts are in some cases sturdy while others are failing. There are full fences around areas, partial fencing about others and fencing that is completely dilapidated to point they have been roped off with orange taping.

The wording on a great many of the tombstones is unreadable. There are broken tombs and evidence of grave-robber thieves in their mischief. Who would dare disturb the dead I wondered as I walked through the yard?

In a few areas the piles of debris and old plastic flowers discarded in a mountain of trash and dirt appear weathered and old. Some say the city keeps the cemetery and that the police patrol it. There is little evidence of it being kept except for perhaps the cutting of grass. Cemeteries are supposed to visited and kept by the families, flowers laid upon graves on special occasions but it does not appear so here. There is hardly any evidence of tear drops being spilled.

Much of the cemetery hosts the bodies of some of Jacksonville’s oldest resident dating back to the mid 1800’s. I did not look at every grave today but just taking an overview found a variety of dates such as: 1811- 1879 1822-1871, 1825-1884, 1816-1878. The plaques at the front of the cemetery indicate City Cemetery was established in 1852. Pleasant Gold, author of History of Duval County says there were possible graves interred there before that date. It was designated an historic landmark of Jacksonville, as it should be. A new-looking sign at the entrance says “Old City Cemetery Restorations” to be completed Spring of 2023. Walking about there are areas cordoned off with yellow and orange taping. Restoration here is long overdue and being the cities oldest interment the sooner the better. While I’m not much for government intrusion, in this case, there is definitely a need.

Every soul is important and there are some notable names having been buried in the Old City Cemetery such as:

At least thirteen “Hart” interments including Daniel C. Hart, Elizabeth Streetman Hart, William Hart, William L. B. Hart, Solome H. Hart, Oscar Hart, Henry Hart and Carol Jean Hart.

Of note, the parents of Jacksonville’s founder, Isaiah Hart, William Hart and Elizabeth Streetman Hart which are listed in the Hart family Bible as having been buried here.

Also, Oscar Hart , the Jacksonville’s founder’s son was disavowed by his father Isaiah David Hart. Oscar was a mover and shaker in his own right. Maybe he was too much like his father? In 1835, he was a private in the Florida Militia climbing in rank to a Lieutenant. In 1846 he was Clerk of Court in Duval County, Married Virginia Crews with no known children. He became an attorney, Adjutant General, Commissioner of Deeds in Jackson County, a private Confederate soldier in 1863, Attorney at Law in Duval in 1870. He is mentioned in the Hart family Bible. Others buried here include…

Steamboat Captain Captain Jacob Brock (July 5, 1810- September 22, 1876).

Brigadier General of the Confederate States Army, Joseph Finnegan( November 17, 1814- October 29, 1885).

Edwin Martin-Editor of the Times Union newspaper.

Clara White, (July 4, 1845- July 21, 1920) A Black woman, together with her adopted daughter Eartha serving as humanitarians and philanthropists. In 1900, she was teaching and living at 804 Pippin Street in Jacksonville.

Eartha M. White, Born, Nov. 8, 1876- Eartha was adopted by Clara White and together they served the Black community. She died on Jan. 18, 1974.

Transcriber of the Christmas song, Silent Night, Holy Night from German to English and the second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.

The 15th Governor of Florida, Francis P. Fleming ( September 28, 1841- December 20, 1908).

Names such as the L’Engle, Bowden, Martin, and more have been buried in Old Jacksonville Cemetery. Louisa Burritt and her three children along with Judge John Locke Doggett and while there is no grave stone, it is believed Napolean B. Broward, a river pilot and 19th Governor of Florida may have a grave there. ( Pleasant Gold refers to this in History of Duval County, Florida). There are also 6 other “Broward” graves in the Old Cemetery.

“Infant Thomas”- ( September 22, 1923-September 22, 1923-) “Created and maintained by Billy Walker on Findagrave offers some info . There is no photo of the grave but a death certificate instead with the cause death being “stillborn”. Heartbreak yet the graveyard is unkept.

Over the years various groups have taken on projects there including reworking the covered deck area and adding names and plaques to different projects. “Find a Grave” has many listings by “Cousins by the Dozens” and other.

In 1854, it is believed that one year old Ally started the Scarlett Fever epidemic and is buried there.

Maybe an epidemic of restoration could occur in the spring as noted on the restoration sign. There is so much more…

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Cemeteries, History, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT