Orange Park: The First Coast's Overlooked Historic City
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3463967212_9WzxwJQ-M.jpg)
When one hears the name "Orange Park," congested Blanding Boulevard and post-WWII suburbia immediately enters the mind of many. However, a short trip off the beaten path of gridlocked arterials, Blanding and Park Avenue, reveals a scenic and peaceful community that dates back to the late 19th century.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-aug-orange-park-the-first-coasts-overlooked-historic-city
Thanks for the history. I didn't know that about Kingsley Ave.
Wonderful article and photos! I haven't been in that area in years--but definitely want to revisit this weekend! Thanks very much!
Great article. Born and raised in OP. Does that 1884 map shows the North tip of Fleming Island as being in Orange Park? I actually lived right there for a while as a kid, and while we were "Orange Park" we weren't in the town limits.
Picture 11, labeled Doctor Lake Road, should be Doctors Lake Drive. Cheers.
There is also an interesting group of mid-century homes on Fatio Lane in the Laurel Grove subdivision. They were designed as model homes by Robert C Broward, who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright.
River Road looks very nice - to think that I basically drove by for years and never thought to turn off of 17 in that direction...
So I went to Google Maps to look at these houses on Fatio lane and found one blurred out. Anyone know why the overlords at Google would do that?
http://goo.gl/maps/Wb10a
Quote from: acme54321 on August 20, 2014, 01:10:49 PM
So I went to Google Maps to look at these houses on Fatio lane and found one blurred out. Anyone know why the overlords at Google would do that?
http://goo.gl/maps/Wb10a
It could have come as a request from the home owner:
http://www.cnet.com/news/the-mystery-of-google-street-views-blurred-brooklyn-brownstone/
http://www.thegridto.com/city/local-news/whys-that-house-blurred-out-in-google-street-view/
Quote...clicking the "Report a Problem" link at the bottom-right corner of any spot in Street View brings up a page where you can ask that whatever's pictured be obscured. "When a user makes a request to have their house blurred," wrote a spokesperson in an email, "we will honour the request and blur the image—typically within 48 hours."
Yeah I looked it up after the post and say that you could do it. Good to know.
Quote from: acme54321 on August 20, 2014, 01:10:49 PM
So I went to Google Maps to look at these houses on Fatio lane and found one blurred out. Anyone know why the overlords at Google would do that?
http://goo.gl/maps/Wb10a
This has nothing to do with "overlords" and everything to do with peoples right to privacy. Computer algorithms attempt to automatically blur license plates and peoples faces but they don't get them all. For those they miss, and for homeowners who do not people looking at the street view of their home, Google offers the option of blurring out the image. So you would have to ask this question to this homeowner, because big bad Google just honors the requests, they don't ask why.
For those readers who didn't know this and that would like to do this, for whatever reason, here is how you may:
-Go to Google Maps and type in your address
-Bring up the street view of your property
-Look to the bottom right hand corner of the screen you should see an Icon Labeled: "report a problem."
-Click on "report a problem."
-You will get a page labeled "report inappropriate street view."
-Look for the words "Privacy Concerns" and click on them.
-If you want your house blurred, click on "my house." Then choose the option: "I have a picture of my house and would like it blurred."
-Adjust the image and show Google which part of the photo needs blurred.
-Type the verification code at the bottom of the page into the box provided and click submit.
-Check back in a few days to see if the image has been blurred.
I used to work off Kingsley Ave(nice to see the bike lanes). OP really has some nice areas. Thanks for the article
I wonder if John McCain has a connection to the 'blurred' home on Fatio Lane. If so, I suppose that the current homeowner wants some privacy in light of who once called this place home... Anything concrete on my guess?
Quote from: Gunnar on August 20, 2014, 12:47:41 PMRiver Road looks very nice - to think that I basically drove by for years and never thought to turn off of 17 in that direction...
I ran two races in four weeks on that road this past winter: the Resolution 10K and the River Day 8K. Pretty much the same course; one the reverse of the other. It is a pretty route along the river, but deceptively hilly.
Nice review. Historical narratives lend credence,insight. In my experience,"Orange Park" was....well......a good education.
As South Floridians Fleeing Evil South Florida/Miami in the late 70's,early 80's,Clay County/"Orange Park" was a Certified Draw.
Move Here!...not 'Jacksonville'....!
After all, JEA elect tric rates were astronomical,what the heck,doors swingin' wide open over there that Riverside place....et al.....
So my folks landed Wells Road-an apartment;"Spring Creek",a temp abode as we fanned out over Clay in pursuit of the Idylic Spot.Not even Orange Park....the emphasis was....Southerly.
("Spring Creek" Wells Road apartments,a spectacular example of Not Being Down There Any More,just outside The Door- a remnant tributary of McCoys Creek,would eventually,and quite literally,end up being plowed over a few years after our departure-another excellent re-location decision!....The Creek,just north of Wells Road,about in line with the then new OP Mall consigned to Culvert.A matter of DEP records-Florida Department Of Environmental Protection- 8) 8) 8))
We witnessed the push for Coal Fire Power Plant in Clay,heartily endorsed by the Radical Clay County Chamber of Commerce,countered by a "Keep Clay Green" organization "NO JEA IN CLAY" campaign.
Some years later, a plane circled over the Clay Fairgrounds,banner streaming....."Have You Read The Grand Jury Report?"- reference to finding that Clay was "INEPT" in dealing with "Mushrooming" Growth Impacts.A common theme at the time was that OP was Insulated from greater county happenings.
Somewhere in all of this,I was encouraged by some to run for County Commission. A room full of about 60 folk-gathered by a person,State Farm agent,would ended up running for office. (The State Farm Agents- Joe Carlicci et al connected to Brannon Chaffe/Beltway always curious.... 8) )
My folks ended up purchasing a place on Black Creek, "Midleburg",and eventually,having instigated the State Conservation Lands purchase of Jennings State Forest and weathering the Brannon / Chaffee Sector Plan/Lake Asbury Sector Plan (1....& 2... 8) ),happily moved out of Clay just as we did Evil S Fluck.
We left behind many happy (if not fully aware) fellow residents....and no doubt a slew of newcomers,which,after all,have always defined The Most Important Citizen In Clay County.
I returned for brief visits before the County Commission: Legal Standing Outer Beltway Route,and accommodated certain re-route "Victory". Certain dismissals,complete reorganization,furious political maneuvers resulted in total transformation of the State Of Florida Department Of Community Affairs (DCA) to this day.
As a young Miami Punk serving on a County SR 21/Blanding Citizens Advisory Committee I faced certain threats from Blanding Corridor land owners.I collaborated with then JTA board member Anne Grimes regard Clay /Blanding commute to Jax,related Blanding Blvd. local government growth management decisions,in a wonderful meeting at her place in Riverside/Avondale she pronounced the entire concept ridiculous.(She eventually left the area for Colorado...)
Crowning event,although lost in comparative battle ground narrative,was the Delaney era- a curious "Overpass" proposal linking Duval lands,via I-295 Overpass on in to "Orange Park",which,after all,like "Middleburg" has been hard to define either by Metes & Bounds,or otherwise.
At one I-295 Overpass conference,a local approached me,noted the local government was notably disturbed at my appearances.
I always look forward to visits to The Grainnery- Nelson Helmuth. His Dad was killed in a Clay auto accident I recall.
The Grainery,Wells Road,is literally next door to the Clay Chamber Of Commerce.
Bernie,Normandy Blvd. Wine Store resides in Interior Orange Park- migh aspire to reside a bit closer to work,heart.
I had a stint as a land title abstractor-Duval Title Of Clay County and spent countless hours at the Clay Courthouse.
I knew some of the folks that hammered Wells Road through Orange Groves- a peripatetic event of the 70's- after all,"Orange Park" was a top Growth Area as defined by a National magazine article of that era.
Eventually,a Clay Records office employee would kindly warn me that,if I didn't want to end up in the River with cement boots,I best refrain from my private county records research....... 8)
Overall, I would say "Orange Park" is great."Orange Park" powerfully defines sense of place. Even if not deserved.
Family should have purchased on the north bank of Doctor's Inlet. Might still be there.
Or better yet- RAP area.
Great, great piece on my hometown. It was an absolutely idyllic place to grow up in the 1970s and I still find it that way when I visit, even with all of the growth and resulting traffic.
John Louis Meeks Jr., Park Avenue / US 17 *is* Main Street but it has been overwhelmed with all of the growth in and around Orange Park so the vestiges of that status are few. In fact, it is because the town was so small (and wasn't the county seat) that our version of Main Street was so easily overwhelmed. Periodically travel all of the east-west side streets of Park Avenue once you cross Doctor's Lake from the south or I-295 from the north and that "old town" will very clearly open itself up to you.
Thanks, Ennis, for a job well done.
My parents purchased a home on River Road in July 1960 in which my Mom still resides. OP was wonderful, one light at Kingsley and U.S. 17, a flashing light at Stiles except during school hours at OP Elementary. The mid 70's brought uncontrolled trolled growth to the unincorporated areas of OP. Fortunately, within the town limits of OP there was some zoning unlike on Blanding so all the big box retail is out of the town limits.
I lived in Hawaii, Southern California, Washington, D.C. And Houston but always love coming back to River Road, it is unchanged and what "Old Florida" was before the awful theme parks and uncontrolled growth. Still love Avondale, Ortega and Riverside as well.