Humanitarian's 1899 schoolhouse demolished to make way for 9B

[Timkin]

A similar mindset was used by the Jacksonville Expressway Authority to put what would eventually be , an Interstate Highway, and eventually two Interstates that connect to one another.  This ingenious moved resulted in the death ,as a School house, of PS #4. That was such an ingenious move, that since that time , no identifiable reuse has ever been determined for it. Another case of history making way for progress.. but at what cost..   There is no good reason that the interstate could not have run where the Acosta Bridge was and made the intersection at some point North of where it presently is.... This was such an ingenious move, that now , we are doing a multimillion dollar rennovation to the I-10 /95 mergers to somehow , fix the mess that has always been there , since day one. Not only does #4 suffer for that, it resulted in many other buildings coming down for the interchange....and maybe in a year or so, we will finally after 50 + years have a workable intersection....instead of the cluster-F@#$ of a mess that was there before.

Feel free to throw stones at me as well.  I love history and historic buildings, and I think this City has always lacked when it came to vision and caring and preserving our very few remaining Historic Landmarks of a century or more ago... #4 is 93 years old now.  I think the single thing that has saved it thus far is its protected landmark status , and an owner who was perseverant to keep it there.   A real shame the One Room School house is gone forever.

[RMHoward]

I think there is another branch of this forum to discuss the merits of various road projects. Having recently visited Charlotte, I didnt see any Japanese style mass transit going on there as we would be led to believe.   I think we should stick to history here.  One man's SIGNIFICANTLY HISTORICAL building has been another man's run of the mill feed store for how long?  I give up.  You guys are right.  I suggest all of you who are appalled by this should start a fund so that you can head off the next travesty to history.  Donate your funds or better yet, one of your  back yards for the next building move destination.  Also, budget for the roof change in 20 years, termite treatments every year, paint every 4-5 years, landscaping around it, etc. etc. Also budget for full time security for it.  Thats better than the rest of us paying for it via our tax dollars.  Now if it was the former home of say, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, US Grant, Patton, or the like, then count me and my tax dollars all in.  Until then, a 1 room school house, white or black dont cut it in my book.  Now go ahead and state again how stupid the road is instead of the merits of the building's historical significance.
Rick

[thelakelander]

At the end of the day its bigger than this old building, even though its demise is caused by a road project (so they are related).  Everything operates on a cause and effect basis.  Because our community is forced to spend so much of the general budget paying and maintaining sprawling road related issues, there's little money left over for quality of life projects like historic preservation, park maintenance and keeping libraries open.  

If any argument is to be made on saving taxpayer dollars, we need to focus on cutting down on the elephant in the room (the massive sprawl producers = roads) instead of the flies on the wall (little old school buildings in Bayard).  With that said, I'm in complete favor of all major future road projects being toll (including 9B).  At least in this scenario, they get partially funded by "user" fees.

[stjr]

Rick, a building doesn't have to be the site of an historic event or the home of a famous person in history to be of historical value.  Buildings that are used by the common man and represent the way of life of such people are instructive to all in showing and reminding us of how are society developed into its present being.  In the extreme, the Rockefellers went out of their way to see to the creation of Williamsburg for the sole purpose of demonstrating everyday life around the birth of our country. 

Do people not marvel at "everyday" historic artifacts such as factories, banks, gas stations, carriage houses, mills, farm houses, churches, stores, bridges, homes, hotels, automobiles, trains, planes, ships, clocks, furniture, art, books and letters, aqueducts, ruins of past civilizations, and ... yes, schools?  Of course, they do, as they attempt to contemplate and understand what our fore bearers endured and contributed to in building the world we live in.

One room school houses were an integral part of the beginning of education in this country and serve as stark and living examples of how education has been transformed and how fortunate students are to enjoy the amenities and technological advancements found in our schools today.  Maybe if more people in our society experienced similar examples of how we once lived, they would learn to live life more appreciatively and less materialistically than they do.

To stand in the midst of actual history and experience its presence and living spirit is beyond anything we can take from books, movies, or other media.  The destruction of each of these opportunities is equivalent to the extinction of a small part of the that which is a part of all of us.

[Mattius92]

Rick seems to be slightly confused, which is alright, but yes historical artifacts are cool to see and learn about. The schoolhouse should of been moved, and now we should complain to the city about the destruction of important historical artifacts.

Supporting Rick, the highway system is a very important system that only the US has. While the primary system has been built, any additions to the system need to be done wisely because they will promote growth good or bad.

[Timkin]

Will agree wholeheartedly with stjr's post. agree mostly with Mattius ..except in the part of "complaining to the City"   The  " City"  isnt listening.  The "City" has not listened for decades... otherwise we would not have the sprawling amounts of surface parking in downtown , alot of which are the Slabs or Foundations of Some really beautiful and timely pieces of architecture , forever gone.

As to the 9B addition... I know it is a given that it will proceed and concur with Lake, that it should probably be toll.   But do we need it at this point?? .. Again rather than expending the money to demolish a one room school building (probably not alot of cost ) to go to a landfill forever ...could it not have been moved somewhere so that possibly someone just might have wanted it for their backyard...  Maybe a long shot and pointless to ponder now , since it is gone.

In the future of roadways , developments , and new building practices, I would love to see this City's mindset when it comes to Older Structures , CHANGE.... meaning to see the very VERY little bit that remains , do just that.  Remain.    I suppose in the case of School 4 , FDOT could have, at will taken the building and property and demolished the building , seeing as their right of way is almost at the steps to the building now.   

It just seems a little ridiculous that a small wooden structure had to be destroyed , rather than spared...  But there is those of us who care about these and other "antiques" and those who , CLEARLY , do not .

[Mattius92]

FDOT doesn't care about history, they care about building roads, even if they are stupid.

Schoolhouse #4 is cool, but it needs work, lots of work. The question is, when?

[Timkin]

Well......for starters ....in TWO WEEKS , we will begin a massive cleanup again on the School premises....this is inside and out.. and I agree completely that it needs alot of work... for one to begin remedial work , in any event they would have to have access. SO...we are beginning that process by clearing out the destruction caused by vandals, the remains of the failed auditorium roof ( that of which is still inside parts of the school ) . Hey..its a start.  Its new owner is going to agressively market it.. I feel this can only help a potential investor or developer see through the ruins to what is actually there.


When will its renovation happen??  Im working on that as well.  Have been sending leads to the owner, since I met his agent there 2 weeks ago.  I am determined (and hope I will have a following on this ) to see #4 not only spared ,but back in use.  It is a given that it can never be a School again.. but there should be some viable purpose ,for which it could see re-use.   IMO the mindset for it in the past was always proposed for residential.  I think if that were going to work , we would not be discussing it now, and instead would be looking at a 93 year old building in use.

[Mattius92]

What about a Museum or a Library??

[Timkin]

Both are good ideas...what ever is identified as a reuse would have to be one that makes the investment and renovation costs bearable..

For now shes getting a cleanup inside and out.. and that is the first major step forward on her in 30 years.  I was denied access to the building prior to now.. and of course I do not want anyone getting hurt, helping clean it up.  Also ..the owner agrees to this , so long as the volunteer agrees to sign and adhere to, a hold harmless waiver.  

[Cliffs_Daughter]

I'm involved in the cleanup - Tim knows that already. I can't wait to step foot in the building - I've been curious for a long time about what's inside. But my thoughts really belong on the PS4 thread I think.

I'd like to know why a lot of people think a building is useless or unattractive unless or until it's removed from a major roadway system? I don't mean demolished. It's a part of the landscape, just like a large live oak, so treat it as such with special consideration. However, if it's going to collapse when a car races by then it should go.

[RMHoward]

Rick seems to be slightly confused, which is alright, but yes historical artifacts are cool to see and learn about. The schoolhouse should of been moved, and now we should complain to the city about the destruction of important historical artifacts.

Supporting Rick, the highway system is a very important system that only the US has. While the primary system has been built, any additions to the system need to be done wisely because they will promote growth good or bad.

Not confused at all Mattius, just practical.  Where do you draw the line at which old buildings governement has a responsibility to save?  The house i grew up in on the west side is now in shambles.  It has significant historical significance to my family.  I demand the city take some action to save this old home site. I demand satisfaction.    And if I  don't get it, i hope you will "complain to the city about the destruction of important historical artifacts".  

[Timkin]

Well then why do you not appeal to have it saved ?? 

[Timkin]

I'm involved in the cleanup - Tim knows that already. I can't wait to step foot in the building - I've been curious for a long time about what's inside. But my thoughts really belong on the PS4 thread I think.

I'd like to know why a lot of people think a building is useless or unattractive unless or until it's removed from a major roadway system? I don't mean demolished. It's a part of the landscape, just like a large live oak, so treat it as such with special consideration. However, if it's going to collapse when a car races by then it should go.

Thank you CD ..      Feel free to start that thread at your convenience.  Most likely will begin THIS weekend by mowing the property... It is in major need in many ways..

As to the inside... when one can see through the destruction of nearly 40 years of vandalism, and neglect .... It is still a rather beautiful building.. Amazingly alot of the architectural features are intact still .

Cannot wait to get rolling on it and cannot wait to see the finished product.