Neighborhoods: Brentwood

[thelakelander]

The Jaxson takes a stroll through the historic Brentwood neighborhood in Jacksonville's Urban Core.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/neighborhoods-brentwood/

[Charles Hunter]

Another great article about one of Jacksonville's neighborhoods.
I have questions and comments.

The picture on the first page shows the "intersection of Golfair and Boulevard in 1928."
1.  I assume "Golfair" relates to the municipal golf course to the west. When did the golf course open?
2.  Current maps refer to it as "Boulevard Street" - was "Street" always part of the name, or did it start out as just "Boulevard" and referred to as "the Boulevard"?

3.  Didn't Mayor Jake Godbold grow up in the Brentwood "projects"?

4.  Although that was the name it had when Andrew Jackson High School's twin was built, Robert E Lee is now Riverside High School.

[thelakelander]

1. Yes, Golfair Boulevard is named after the golf course and the fairgrounds that were located next door. Brentwood Golf Course opened in 1923 and was designed by famed golf course architect Donald Ross. I debated writing more about it in this article but decided against it since it is/was in neighboring Moncrief. Here is a link about the history of the golf course:

https://www.brentwoodgolfcourse.com/the-course





https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/walkable-jacksonville-moncrief/

2. I'm not sure. I'll dig and see what I can find.

3. Great catch! He did. I'll add a blurb.

4. Very true!

[sandyshoes]

Why do they want to tear down Brentwood Elementary?  Looks like a beautiful building, and unless it's dangerous to go inside, why tear it down?  (Oh, wait...Jacksonville needs some more Green Space?)  Would love to see a pictorial of this school before it's cancelled.   

[Steve]

Also of note - Jackson, Lee (now Riverside) Julia Landon Middle School (built as Julia Landon High School) are actually triplets I believe. I think they were built identically.

(side note and unrelated to Brentwood). This sort of shows an interesting dynamic in Jacksonville. In 1927 3 high schools opened
- One was named for the City's namesake, who has a rough past particularly with Native Americans
- One was named for the leader of the Confederate Army
- One was named for a Woman, which was a pretty progressive thing at the time (backstory is Julia Landon was a teacher and her family owned the land that the school now sits on.

Back to Brentwood - you mentioned that Woodbine was going to be widened. Is the idea that Woodbine and 30th Street would have been a cut through connecting Main and Brentwood Ave?

[Snaketoz]

I grew up in Brentwood.  I think Boulevard was always called just that, but was Boulevard St.  When I was a child on Woodbine was a place to buy fresh chickens-they would kill and dress the chickens for you, Flamingo grocery, which was owned by Setzer's, and next to it, Brentwood Sundries.  At Boulevard and Golfair was Starbucks store, Jessie's Barber Shop, and a dry cleaners.  Across from Brentwood Baptist on Pearl and Woodbine was City Drugs and a barber shop owned by Mrs. Alford.  She cut my hair for many years.  Across from the Brentwood Theater was the Polar Bear ice cream stand.  Jake Godbold owned Gateway Chemicals at Golfair and Davis, and next to it was Silverfront grocery.  Thanks for the great trip down memory lane Ennis!

[fsu813]

During the school renaming debate, it boggled my mind how relatively notable people wanted to change the name of Andrew Jackson High to Springfield High, completely ignoring the Brentwood High option, the neighborhood, it's identity and history. There is still A LOT of educating to do about our local geography and history.

[thelakelander]

Also of note - Jackson, Lee (now Riverside) Julia Landon Middle School (built as Julia Landon High School) are actually triplets I believe. I think they were built identically.

(side note and unrelated to Brentwood). This sort of shows an interesting dynamic in Jacksonville. In 1927 3 high schools opened
- One was named for the City's namesake, who has a rough past particularly with Native Americans
- One was named for the leader of the Confederate Army
- One was named for a Woman, which was a pretty progressive thing at the time (backstory is Julia Landon was a teacher and her family owned the land that the school now sits on.

Back to Brentwood - you mentioned that Woodbine was going to be widened. Is the idea that Woodbine and 30th Street would have been a cut through connecting Main and Brentwood Ave?

In 1930, Woodbine was a streetcar line and major connection to what would become Norwood. As time went on, Golfair replaced Woodbine in importance.

[Snaketoz]

During the school renaming debate, it boggled my mind how relatively notable people wanted to change the name of Andrew Jackson High to Springfield High, completely ignoring the Brentwood High option, the neighborhood, it's identity and history. There is still A LOT of educating to do about our local geography and history.

Although I lived in Brentwood, it always seemed to us that Jackson was more like Springfield.  We didn't think of anything east of Pearl as Brentwood.  I guess it was on Main and Main ran through the heart of Springfield.  Our main street was always Pearl and Golfair.

[MusicMan]

I recently listed and sold a house at Pearl and Alder St, the heart of Brentwood.  It was tough.  Lots of lookers but few had any funds. Also lots of debris and yard trash continually deposited on the lot. The house was spectacular, 11 ft ceilings and some of the finest hardwood floors I've ever seen, considering the home never had central air.

[Snaketoz]

I recently listed and sold a house at Pearl and Alder St, the heart of Brentwood.  It was tough.  Lots of lookers but few had any funds. Also lots of debris and yard trash continually deposited on the lot. The house was spectacular, 11 ft ceilings and some of the finest hardwood floors I've ever seen, considering the home never had central air.

Did the house have a large wrap around porch?  If so, when I was 12 I had a Journal paper route and was bitten by a dog at that house.  People would never pay me either. 35 cents per week subscription and they stiffed me constantly.

[MusicMan]

It has a large porch yes, but not wrap around. Also a large front terrace. Its a huge 2 story bungalow, 3100 sq ft.  On the corner.  It also has an amazing huge brick fireplace, 11 feet tall, floor to ceiling.