On February 20, Jason Wittkopp wrote on his “Jacksonville Florida History/Collecting” page,  “You’ll never know what’s out there if you don’t go”.  On Tuesday, February 24, 2026  my daughter and I were deep in the two story, 40,000 square foot , crammed with everything imaginable warehouse off of 18th and Myrtle when a guy was high on a ladder pulling and pushing different metal signs.   He offered to get down so we could pass but there was no reason as we could simple go the next aisle.  Knowing I was going to write about the warehouse, I asked him if I could take a photo.

Then I asked him his first name and if he worked there .  As soon as he  said his name and turned to answer “My name is Jason.  No,I don’t work here.  I’m a Jacksonville collector”. I said “Whittkopp?”, “Jason Wittkopp”.. I knew exactly who he was. How fun!  I happen to be a member of his collectibles site.

Jason was born in Portsmith, Va and moved to Jacksonville when he was 5.  He says he’s been collecting since he was young but began a serious go of it in his 40’s.  He’s now 51 and even while working a full time job he takes at least a one day a week and in addition online time, collects treasures.  I was interested to know where he kept all of his findings and he said “Unfortunately for my wife, at my home”, although he said he did have another place as well.   He said that while she was not a collector she understood about his love to collect and keep his finds. 

One thing that I love that he got was a very large Greenleaf and Crosby(now Jacobs Jewelers)  mantle clock.  Greenleaf and Crosby was founded in 1868 in Jacksonville by Damon Greenleaf and J. H. Crosby, Jr.  They are recognised as the oldest jeweller in the city. They operated as a family-owned business for over 40 years. In 1901 a Seth Thomas clock was located at the corner of Bay Street and later moved to the corner of Laura and Adams where it now stands. It is often called the Jacobs Jewelers clock. In 1930, V.E. Jacobs acquired the business and it was renamed Jacobs Jewellers. The store closed in 2023 and the building will now house residents.

With over 9,000 members to his Jacksonville Florida History/collecting  Facebook site, he has a lot to offer.  Other finds that Jacob share with his followers are those such as baseball ticket stubs, signs, bottles, phonebooks, luggage tags, jugs, mugs, ceramic souvenir items, photographs and more.   Check his site out. It won’t disappoint.   He also offers items on eBay so there’s that.

Oh, and I’ll be out and about soon because as Jason says, “You’ll never know what’s out there if you don’t go”

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Facebook, Jacksonville Florida History/Collecting, Google Search, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.