After selling the property in Nanville in 2022, which was part of the old Seymour and Maria Pickett land grant of 1812, I took a few pics of the items left inside of the small 3 br, 1 ba block house. Most items were household things including pots and pans, furniture, personal times including a bed, stove, and refrigerator.
But leaving behind a Weber Piano? Wow! There was no date on this item but in looking up the new versions, they cost upwards, $14,000. I could not get in close enough to look for a series number but I’m sure it had one.
The Weber Piano Company was one that manufactured pianos in New York City beginning in the 19th century. The company went out of business in 1985 and it was sold to Young Chang of South Korea and later sold again to Samsung Group.
The piano now sitting on the famous land grant property of the Pickett’s(now in a Nanville home) was a “Weber”, the lower end of the piano brand. The other photo provided shows an upper brand called the “Albert Weber.”
Albert Weber was born in Bavaria in 1929. At the age of 16 he emigrated to the United States holding his first job as an apprentice of Charles J. Holder, a piano builder.
Weber went on build his own piano company selling pianos in Manhattan, NY. Weber died in June of 1879. His piano brand lives on and yes, in Nanville.
I don’t know what will happen to the piano. I wonder if the builders will demolish the house with it inside? I’ll try to keep you posted.
After my Father passed away, we were at the home place cleaning and straightening when a wild looking schnauzer-type dog ran up. She was dirty, matted and frightened. We could not catch her, yet she wanted to be caught. There was no petting her, though she wanted to be stroked. It took a couple of days to lure her to us. We fed her and when I left the first day, gave food to a neighbor to keep her fed until we could figure out what to do with her. I had 3 cats. I did not need another animal.
For the next few visits I determined to wash her and offer her to someone on Facebook. I felt that someone had dropped her off on the long, Crystal Springs Road so giving her a new family would be great. After I listed her photo on Facebook, a woman claimed her and gave me a tongue lashing about offering her to a general audience without trying to find her owner. That actually never crossed my mind as It was obvious (in my mind) she had been dumped.
This woman contacted the police and told them that I had her dog and would not release her. Through a turn of events, a police woman called and we met at a vet on St. Augustine Road in my city where the dog could be checked for a chip. There was no chip thus the puppy did not belong to her as she indicated her puppy had a chip. The police officer released the dog to me and I’ve had her since 2015. It is believed she was about 6 then making her about 13 now. She’s beginning to show signs of age, plus she’s blind and deaf. Her life is often a bit challenging.
I have an outdoor Russian Blue male cat who cannot be trusted around Puppy. Just last week, after cutting Puppy’s hair , she stepped off of the front porch to shake and stretch. Hardly before she got down the walkway, the large and very strong cat rolled her before I could get to her causing wounds and hurt feelings. Poor Puppy.
She has been lost twice and thankfully, both times she made way to the safe arms of a good Samaritan. The first time was about a year ago when she went out to piddle. Somehow, she got turned around and ended up through a long patch of woods to the neighborhood next door. A family kept her a week and finally turned her into the animals shelter where they posted her photo and I found her and quickly got her home. At that time, I realized she cannot go outside alone at all.
The most recent loss was when I went to Augusta to spend time with family and left her with a caregiver. She somehow got out and ended up a quarter of a mile from home where at 7 AM she was found in the middle of a busy road, lost and confused.
Even being out of town, I took to the internet posting her photo on multiple sites. When that happens, animal lovers unite and if an animal can be found, it is… Such was the case. By midnight, when I received a call from the vet in Mandarin, I learned she had been found and was sleeping “curled up” and safe. She is now in her own bed…happy and safe.
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.
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.
The last time I did not put money in the meter, I was parked in front of my church and just knew no one would be checking “in front of a church” for goodness sake. But, low and behold, I got a $15 ticket of which I paid right away.
Today, I used my Visa card and plunked down $1.00 for 30 minutes. I knew my meeting would be longer but the meter would not allow me to add more minutes. Yes, I went forward with only 30 min. on the meter. I returned to NO TICKET, so yay.
During my young years, we spent a lot of time with my grandparents, Lula and Clifford Long, who lived on Fitzgerald Street between what is now Interstate 10 and Beaver Street. My grandfather, Clifford Long came to Jacksonville to get a job which prompted the entire family to come here and make Duval County home. We all have loved Jacksonville and do to this day.
Papa worked on the Liberty ships which were located on the St. Johns River. My grandmother was a stay-at-home Mom. They lived on Aberdeen Street in the Riverside area most of their early time here in Jacksonville later moving to the Lackawanna area sometime in the late 1940’s.
Both Clifford and Lula were members of the First Baptist Church, a life-changing experience for both of them but mostly for my grandfather according to his own testimony. They could be found in the Hobson Auditorium on Sunday morning, nights and Wednesday, also attending other events which strengthened their faith in Christ.
I am a member of First Baptist because my grandparents were once there. When I returned from college, I went to First and over time, joined.
Grandparents have great influence on their family members. I’m thankful for mine. You?
( I had to just smile when I loaded the photo of my grandparents. Such love is there…)
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.
NAS – circa-1945,Photo Old Fl
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.
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.
8701 Old Kings Road
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)
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.
Google Books, Kenneth Jr.
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.
Emily Mehaffey
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)
Eelbeck Mill, Photo- Mehaffey
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).
Who knew there was a plant such as a Tamatillo and it may be a relative of the “tomato”. Ha! As I cleaned out a plant area at my parents home today, I saw these beautiful bulbs. I’ve never seen them before so I had to take the time, go get my cell phone and take a pic.
After researching and trying to figure it out, it seems it is a Tomatillos. The “bonnie plants” site says it is a “distant cousin” of the beloved tomato.
It is native to Central America and can be gathered, sold and eaten( and we have them right here in Jacksonville, Florida)! I’ll keep you posted. I did not break any off so I’ll report back if it is similar to a tomato after it ripens and I take a bite. I like red beefsteak so I’ll let you know how this turns out. Tomato, Toma’to or Tamatillo?
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.
