Florida's Largest Trolley System: Jacksonville Traction Co.

[Metro Jacksonville]

Florida's Largest Trolley System: Jacksonville Traction Co.



  Let's take a walk back in time and visit Jacksonville's past. We once had the Jacksonville Traction System, which included operations on the Ortega Traction System and South Jacksonville Municipal Railways. With nealy 60 miles of track, this was by far the largest Streetcar system in Florida (first major system abandoned). Tampa/St. Petersburg (the longest lived), Miami/Coral Gables (Coral Gables used Interurban Cars), and finally Pensacola, rounded out the BIG FOUR systems in the State. There were many others, including small lines in St. Augustine, Palatka and Fernandina Beach, and many more.  Welcome Aboard  our trip down memory lane!

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/406

[Jason]

What a fantastic historical tour.  It makes me proud to know that this city has such a vibrant history.  I get all excited when I think about this city being the greatest in the state once more!

[RG]

I think a streetcar line from downtown down Main Street to around 20th Street would be a good, logical first start.  From there, it could later branch out further and additional lines could be run into Riverside.  This would be consistent with the historic character of the neighborhoods also and would enjoy wide support among the preservation groups within Springfield and Riverside.

[Big Surprise]

Could we please have a trolly/train/bus/jetney system to connect up one function to another, one venue to another, one part of town to another;  not just for the few (those 4 who ride on) but for the majority.
   Think about it, $4/gallon, more pollution, more asphalt parking lots fuming in the sun, more drivers
fuming in the sun - think about it.

[patrick]

This is a magnificent article; many thanks to Mr. Mann for sharing his expertise.  You really feel his passion for the subject.  Not to impose, but would it be possible for him to expand on the "tease" with which he closes his article and flesh out his suggestion as to how we could actually best utilize commuter rail and light rail here in Jacksonville with more details?  I would like to know more.

[spuwho]

Hey Ock,

I found 11 acres of property belonging to the "Jax Traction Company" in 1947. It had a spur off of the St Johns Railroad Terminal Co.

Its the home of Stanton Prep today.

Any ideas what this property was used for?

[thelakelander]

^Ock mentions in his streetcar book that this was the site of Mason Park. A trolley (amusement) park for blacks.

The North Jacksonville Street Railway, Town and Improvement Company was promoted by R. R. Robinson to be built, owned and operated by the black citizens of Jacksonville, Florida, to link the northwestern part of the city with downtown. Organized by several prominent members of Jacksonville's black community, it was known as "The Colored Man's Railroad." The company received a franchise from the City Council on July 1, 1902, to build the line from Bay Street north on Clay to State and out the Kings Road to the city limits along what is now Myrtle Avenue, and returning via Moncrief Road to downtown through Hansontown. In May 1903, the Council granted an addition to the franchise allowing a line east on State to Washington to Jessie, terminating at Talleyrand Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood. The franchise was good for thirty years, with the city having an option to buy. The original line opened on Saturday, August 22, 1903, with hundreds of Jacksonville's black population lining up for a ride on "their" streetcars, operated with black motormen and conductors. The official opening was on August 24, with music and refreshment at Mason's Park (owned by the road) and speeches by several dignitaries, including Mayor George M. Nolan and former Mayor Duncan U. Fletcher.

The directors were R. R. Robinson, H. Mason, F. C. Eleves, Walter P. Mucklow, George E. Ross and Frank P. McDermott. A majority of the board wanted the company to be a closely held corporation, but Robinson disagreed: he wanted the shares to be freely available to the general public. The city franchise required that the lines be completed within a year of the amended ordinance, but money problems delayed the extension to Oakland. In August 1904 the Council granted an extension to May 1, 1905. Robinson then incorporated the Atlantic & Pacific Street Railway and Securities Company in New Jersey to take over the North Jacksonville and complete the lines. He offered shares at one dollar to get as many local citizens to invest as possible, giving them an interest in the success of the line. This effort failed and the company was eventually sold to Telfair Stockton and his associates, thus passing out of control of the black community. Stockton built the authorized extensions, bringing the road to 6.4 miles with seven cars. Stockton, a former state legislator and prominent developer, had no particular interest in running a street railway and soon sold the property to the Jacksonville Electric Company (later re-named Jacksonville Traction Company). The black community relied heavily on the former North Jacksonville lines, and they were among the last routes to be abandoned, in December 1936.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Jacksonville_Street_Railway,_Town_and_Improvement_Company