Mandarin Neighborhood Tour

[Metro Jacksonville]

Mandarin Neighborhood Tour



Mandarin is the southernmost community in Duval County.  When the first post office was opened in 1765, the community was called St. Anthony.  In 1783 Florida was returned to Spain and St. Anthony was renamed  San Antonio.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/935

[billy]

Anyone remember the Ponderosa Barbeque on State Road 13?

[deathstar]

One of the only sides of town that is like another world to me, yet directly across the river. I enjoy these photo tours, thanks Ennis.

[jbirch82]

Excellent article, but did we really call them Indians? I don't want this to come off the wrong way, but I think we should probably change that. Once again though, excellent article 

[Keith-N-Jax]

Mandarin has a nice thick tree canopy. Can cause trouble during storms though.

[uptowngirl]

Thank you for another great picture tour. I love this part of town, unfortunately I only found it after I had lived here for over two years! I would ahve seriously considered purchasing here...

[halimeade]

Thank you for posting these wonderful pictures of the parts of Mandarin that AREN'T San Jose Blvd. I think many Jax locals think of Mandarin only as a ridiculously crowded road from Julington Creek Plantation to I-295, but never get to see the beautiful oak covered roads and neighborhoods east of S.R. 13. I grew up on the quiet backroads, within walking distance of many of the sites pictured above, and seeing them makes me homesick, but in a good way : )

[trey11]

dont forget about the mandrian train from the 1950's-60's

[hiddentrack]

For anyone looking to see more of Mandarin up close, there is a 'Holiday Trolley Tour of Lights' scheduled for the evening of December 14th, leaving from the Mandarin Community Club. More info at http://mandarincommunityclub.com/copyof3/

[stjr]

The essence of Old Mandarin is along Mandarin Road from Scott Mill Rd. to the corner of Brady Rd. at the general store.  Most of the original homes were along the river and few remain, replaced with mansions as land values rose.  Such was the fate of Harriet Beecher Stowe's home.  As seen in a picture at the Mandarin Museum in Walter Jones Park, there was originally a private boardwalk along the river connecting many of the homes.

Also worth mentioning are Mandarin Cemetery (graves to the early 1800's) on Mandarin Road near the intersection with Loretto Rd. and the Mandarin Arts Festival, now 40 years old or so, held on Easter weekend every year under the auspices of the Community Club.

Loretto was actually a separate "village" from Mandarin and has some of its own significantly old houses, including a couple on back roads.  I believe there is another old cemetery behind the historic church.  See more in the book, "Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage".

In addition to Walter Jones Park/County Dock, previously reviewed by MJ, there is also Mandarin Park and Boat Ramp on the southern end of Mandarin Road, shortly before it rejoins San Jose near the county line.

Mandarin has also been the home to several notable Jacksonville artists including, I believe, C. Ford Riley.

For a little fun, I searched the New York Times archives for early mentions of Mandarin.  I found the first mention of Mandarin in the New York Times in this 1873 article:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9802E3D6163BEF34BC4F52DFB5668388669FDE

Here is an 1878 reference to mandarin oranges, "esteemed by those who have eaten them":
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9903EFD6153EE73BBC4151DFB4678383669FDE
  Although their source is not given, Manadarin is supposedly the first place in North America such oranges where grown, hence its name.

While Mandarin is not specifically mentioned (Green Cove Springs made it), this is a detailed description of the landscape and environs along President Chester Arthur's 1883 vacation by train to Jacksonville (where he made his only speech of the trip after travelling by road from Callahan!) followed by boat down the St. Johns River to Sanford:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=980CE2D91530E433A25750C1A9629C94629FD7CF

Here is a Jacksonville dispatch describing the great freeze in this area and about Florida destroying much of the citrus including Mandarin.  No doubt, one of several freezes that ultimately ended the commercial growth of citrus in Mandarin for good:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9403E1DF1330E533A25754C0A9659C94679FD7CF

And upon the 1896 death of Harriet Beecher Stowe, this extensive rememberance and biography, complete with mention of her Mandarin, Florida estate:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C00EFDE1638E033A25751C0A9619C94679ED7CF

After Stowe's death, locals raised money for a stain glass memorial window (which was made by Tiffany studios - yes that Tiffany) for the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, also on the river on Mandarin Rd.  Unfortunately, the window was damaged beyond repair when the eye of Hurricane Dora crossed in the Mandarin area in 1964.  The historic church was rebuilt after the hurricane in the same manner as the original.  I suspect this 1914 story resulted in the only Mandarin, Florida dateline ever in the NY Times:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E06E7D91E39E633A25757C0A9629C946596D6CF

[Jason]

Great finds!  Thanks for taking the time.

[BridgeTroll]

The french chef in this one is hilarious!!

While Mandarin is not specifically mentioned (Green Cove Springs made it), this is a detailed description of the landscape and environs along President Chester Arthur's 1883 vacation by train to Jacksonville (where he made his only speech of the trip after travelling by road from Callahan!) followed by boat down the St. Johns River to Sanford:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=980CE2D91530E433A25750C1A9629C94629FD7CF

[conch]

oh yes, and don't forget the turkey roost!

[stjr]

dont forget about the mandrian train from the 1950's-60's

This wonderful link is to photos, video, and memories of the Mandarin Train:
http://www.flarr.com/mandarin_train.htm

[mtraininjax]

Mandarin is the southernmost community in Duval County

Bayard may have some contention with that statement. Original Mandarin was at the Pinch a Penny store, former Post Office of Mandarin, as Mandarin was very small in 1980s. Anyone remember Harem's Bar-B-Q, right along 13? Man did those guys make some money off that old shack!

Mandarin Super was the site of the "old train", Mandaring Road and 13 intersection. Loretto used to have more horses than cars. I remember the Cavenaugh estate with pond and stables just west of our Hermitage subdivision,  the fun we had in the old lake, swimming there. Such fun. Parties down Mandarin Road, ice storms, being without power for 26 hours straight, oh the fun!

Satsumas along the river during the winter was worth it!