History Uncovered

[riverside_mail]

While walking my mail route today, I noticed JEA had dug a hole in the intersection of Myra and Osceola. After getting a closer look, I was excited to see this:






After doing some research, I have found out that this is what remains of the streetcar line that ran to Murray Hill.

This got me to do some thinking on a few things. Knowing where the streetcar lines used to run, it now makes sense of the odd placement of older commercial buildings within the residential sections of Riverside. The buildings at Stockton and College, Oak and Osceola, and Oak and Barrs were all on the streetcar lines. TOD, early 20th century style!

Secondly, I have a theory on something. Ock, test me out on this. I have noticed that in the middle of the 2300 block of Myra and also at the intersection of College and Acosta in front of the 3 story apt. buildings, the roads in those places inexplicably widen out. Would this have been done to double track the streetcar line as in a passing siding or would there be another explanation? I am convinced that the old streetcar lines are somehow responsible for this.

[Ron Mexico]

Streetcars a la New Orleans would be really cool if we could bring them back.  There was the tracks they found over in San Marco as well.  It would be great if we could just bring them back to what they used to look like and use the original routes.

Be a lot better than the Skyway, but don't get me started on that thing.

[fsujax]

It would be great if we could get the streetcars back. Call you City Council person and insist that the city bring back the streetcars!

[Ron Mexico]

If only it was that easy.  I think we need to flush the toilet at the City Council if we want real projects to be considered.

[mtraininjax]

It would be great if we could get the streetcars back. Call you City Council person and insist that the city bring back the streetcars!

Good luck with that if its Corrigan, he only comes out nowadays to judge BBQ contests. Warren Jones is a different matter, good guy, can help, if help is available.

But why would a streetcar run along Myra to Murray Hill, when it gets stopped at the railroad tracks on an east/west line? Myra and Osceola aren't even major thoroughfare streets. I can see this on Post/College, even McDuff, although in the rebuilding of McDuff, no rail line was found to exist between Post and I-10.

[Ocklawaha]

Secondly, I have a theory on something. Ock, test me out on this. I have noticed that in the middle of the 2300 block of Myra and also at the intersection of College and Acosta in front of the 3 story apt. buildings, the roads in those places inexplicably widen out. Would this have been done to double track the streetcar line as in a passing siding or would there be another explanation? I am convinced that the old streetcar lines are somehow responsible for this.

Generally you are right, where the wide roads or sweeping curves are chances are you'll find the tracks. Wider road = 2 tracks. Sweeping curve (Edison) = tracks. Corduroy roads (Oak near the Publix) = rotting railroad ties underneath.

The Murray Hill Route seems to have been tied to the Myrtle Avenue Subway. In the old maps it went west on Bay, South on Myrtle, jogged over on Forrest, College, Edison, South on Dellwood to Stockton, to Myra, to ? (Acosta?) to College over the Atlantic Coast Line to a point just feet from the railroad on the west side green space to Edgewood, Jog on Edgewood on Double track two blocks through the shopping district.

Seems to for this reason: When I was in my teens the trackage in the street was still exposed somewhere around Dellwood and Edison, and there was massive switch work allowing for travel in what I recall as being any direction. Edison was the McDuff - Lackawanna line. Yes MTrain, Mc Duff from Edison to the property line of the old Seaboard shops, hence west alongside the little street for 3 or 4 blocks.

Happy Hunting, this rain may expose pieces all over town.

OCKLAWAHA