Living in Springfield

[Bill Hoff]

Well, what is that area called? Around Evergreen Cemetery, I mean. The area roughly from Andrew Jackson High going north up to North Shore Elementary, along Main street.

Not sure. The neighborhood "welcome" sign going north on Main, just past 20th Street, says Metro North. But, I think that's a bit of revisionist branding as well.

[thelakelander]

Well, what is that area called? Around Evergreen Cemetery, I mean. The area roughly from Andrew Jackson High going north up to North Shore Elementary, along Main street.

The neighborhood is Longbranch.

Along with Brentwood, Panama Park, Tallulah and North Shore, Longbranch is a part of an area known as Metro North. The neighborhood of Longbranch was platted in the late 1800s by James Jaquelin Daniel.  Col. J.J. Daniel was an early philanthropist, city leader and president of the Jacksonville Cemetery Association. Under Daniel's leadership, the cemetery association would establish the nearby Evergreen Cemetery in 1880.

During Longbranch's early years, development was dominated by a mix sparsely located single-family residences and isolated industrial uses. After the Great Fire of 1901, the area saw an influx in residential growth, as Jacksonville's population increased dramatically in the early 20th century. Like several early suburbs, Longbranch also benefited from the presence of the Jacksonville Traction Company.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-apr-urban-neighborhoods-longbranch

[strider]

SPAR Council has a tendency to be somewhat isolationist for some reason and tries to keep information private and to block out all that is not Historic Springfield.  It is a bad policy but one they and their most stanch supporters have embraced for decades. It is also at least part of the reason the community's revitalization stumbles more often than not. I believe the fates of all the communities that make up the Main Street corridor are linked together and what happens in one area will effect the health of the others. 

The area between 12th street and 20th street has been called New Springfield by most during the 16 years I've been here. It is also my understanding that initially it was thought that the Historic District should be from 1st to 20th and perhaps it should have been that way.  It contains many great houses, most of which have the potential to rival the best in Springfield and even Avondale as they were built during the same time frame. 

The area on the map that is called Northshore/ Talulah is often broken down further.  For instance, Northshore is considered by most to be only the area from Pearl street to the Trout river west, north of Tallulah.  The area south of Tallulah is often called Northview.  Part of that area is also called Pearl Court - I'm sure what the original developer named it - the area that is a Boulevard on Pearl.  While many may feel some of that area is not very nice, there are sections that back up to the river and creeks and are as beautiful as any other river side area in Jacksonville.

What a loss the May Mann Jennings Park is as it could easily be connected to the Greenway (the correct name for the trail?) - I also know some who run and bike between Downtown and the Trout River so I would imagine the park would get used more than some would think.

While I know that what once connected those communities was street car, in today's world, the car keeps them even closer and more dependent upon each other for true success.  Just an average Joe's opinion, of course.

[JaxUnicorn]

This is a very cool thing!!  I had no idea there was this much land available as a park so close.  I remember driving through this area one day and noticing all the woods and thinking it was quite peaceful, right next to Evergreen Cemetary.  I'm not really sure what "neighborhood" this is in since it seems to be in an unmarked area right between LongBranch and Panama Park. 

Anyway, here's the land associated with the park according to the Property Appraiser's office.  There is also a building on the land somewhere....a roughly 3,500 sq ft "Municipal Building".  The address is listed as 5301 Buffalo Avenue.

[IrvAdams]

Well, what is that area called? Around Evergreen Cemetery, I mean. The area roughly from Andrew Jackson High going north up to North Shore Elementary, along Main street.

The neighborhood is Longbranch.

Along with Brentwood, Panama Park, Tallulah and North Shore, Longbranch is a part of an area known as Metro North. The neighborhood of Longbranch was platted in the late 1800s by James Jaquelin Daniel.  Col. J.J. Daniel was an early philanthropist, city leader and president of the Jacksonville Cemetery Association. Under Daniel's leadership, the cemetery association would establish the nearby Evergreen Cemetery in 1880.

During Longbranch's early years, development was dominated by a mix sparsely located single-family residences and isolated industrial uses. After the Great Fire of 1901, the area saw an influx in residential growth, as Jacksonville's population increased dramatically in the early 20th century. Like several early suburbs, Longbranch also benefited from the presence of the Jacksonville Traction Company.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-apr-urban-neighborhoods-longbranch

Supercool link and story, Lake. I grew up in Panama Park and even then (more years back than I care to think about) no one could have told you that these parks were there. And now I see that there is (or was) a Cemetery Park also.

[thelakelander]

Here's an aerial of Mary Mann Jennings Park in 1952. Any idea of where structures in the park may have been located?

I'd like to get some pics but other than a footbridge to an island that doesn't exist anymore, I don't see anything significant.

[Debbie Thompson]

While May Mann Jennings Park may not be in what is now known as Historic Springfield, it definitely has a Springfield connection.  May Mann Jennings lived in what is now the Springfield Historic District.  She was the president of the Springfield Improvement Association on two separate occasions.  When I was president of SIA, I wanted the club and community to get involved in restoring the much neglected and forgotten park dedicated to that amazing woman and former president of the club.  Didn't happen, unfortunately, but I still think May Mann Jennings deserves to have her park restored.

May Mann Jennings was an influential and powerful woman of her time. Jennings was the First Lady of the former governor of Florida, William S, Jennings, from 1901 to 1905. Not only were she and organizer for The County's Federation of Women's Clubs and the president of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs as well. Jennings used her power and influence to motivate the network of women's clubs in order to fight for pressing issues such as environmental conservation stock fence laws, state parks, women's suffrage, education reforms and improvement in welfare, such as child welfare and compulsory education. Other issues she concerned herself with were the State Library of Florida and the reservations for the Seminoles, the Native Americans of Florida.

After her husband died, Jennings's work continued as she became the co-founder of the Florida Chapter of the League of Women Voters. She helped campaigned by speaking about things such as prohibition, better treatment of children and prisoners. She also crusaded for improvements in public welfare, education reforms and funding, the historic preservation and the beautification of the highways. She also was involved in campaign drives with her women's groups that lobbied legislators and other organizations for their assistance. 

Jennings was also able to help acquire 1,800 acres of unprotected land and turn it into the Royal Palm State Park, which is now known as part of the Everglades National Park. Jennings is also known to some as the "Mother of Florida Forestry," because of her great efforts and promotion in acquiring the legislative act that helped create an important environmental organization known as the "Florida State Board of Forestry", which is now known as the "Division of Forestry." Her extensive work as a conservationist and activist didn't go unnoticed; she has been well recognized for her efforts. Jennings was a very well educated woman who graduated as valedictorian of her class, and learned from assisting her father in his campaign for Florida State Senate.

[DDC]

Anyway, here's the land associated with the park according to the Property Appraiser's office.  There is also a building on the land somewhere....a roughly 3,500 sq ft "Municipal Building".  The address is listed as 5301 Buffalo Avenue.

I went over there yesterday and drove around and got out and walked round a bit. The Building up there is right at the intersection of Evergreen and Buffalo. It is a JEA lift station.  There is a cleared area with the standard city park rules listed. Looks to be 1-2 acres and backs up to Longbranch Creek.

I noticed a foot path right in the first curve of Evergreen after you come off of Buffalo. It is across from the JEA concrete pole marked 5000. It went over a small ditch with some plywood thrown down to cross it. After getting over it I started to find shopping carts, chairs, some clothes and off about 100' I could see a blue tarp so I was pretty sure I was coming up on a homeless camp. Being alone and no protection with me I decided not to go any farther.

I really would like to explore that park and try and find the ruins if their is anything left of them.

[JaxUnicorn]

Anyway, here's the land associated with the park according to the Property Appraiser's office.  There is also a building on the land somewhere....a roughly 3,500 sq ft "Municipal Building".  The address is listed as 5301 Buffalo Avenue.

I went over there yesterday and drove around and got out and walked round a bit. The Building up there is right at the intersection of Evergreen and Buffalo. It is a JEA lift station.  There is a cleared area with the standard city park rules listed. Looks to be 1-2 acres and backs up to Longbranch Creek.

I noticed a foot path right in the first curve of Evergreen after you come off of Buffalo. It is across from the JEA concrete pole marked 5000. It went over a small ditch with some plywood thrown down to cross it. After getting over it I started to find shopping carts, chairs, some clothes and off about 100' I could see a blue tarp so I was pretty sure I was coming up on a homeless camp. Being alone and no protection with me I decided not to go any farther.

I really would like to explore that park and try and find the ruins if their is anything left of them.

I'd LOVE to go exploring in the area and have not because I don't want to tempt fate going alone.  Let me know when you wanna go and we'll go!  Even though I have protection I'd prefer to have someone else with me.