Christmas decorations in rural areas brings such beauty. These trees were placed at the same home; one under a tent so the family could enjoy the season in rain or shine and a small tree at a dirt entrance off of Pickett Road in North Jacksonville.
Both trees had decoration on them and with the small tables and play toys, obviously the children will enjoy.
See you tomorrow,
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.
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.
See you tomorrow,
8705 Old Kings Road
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.
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)
See you tomorrow,
