Here's Wayne Wood's 12 favorite historical buildings in Jacksonville. What's yours?
12. Old St. Andrews
11. Florida Theatre
10. Marabanong
9. Laura Street Trio
8. Union Terminal
7. Klutho Apartments
6. Riverside Baptist Church
5. Epping Forest
4. Gulf Life Tower
3. Leon Cheek Mansion
2. Lucius T. Smith Residence (Wayne Wood's house)
1. St. James Building
View Slideshow: http://jacksonville.com/slideshow/2014-09-30/wayne-wood-s-top-12-historical-buildings-jacksonville#slide-1
Good list. I think he covered all the bases. Personally, I also like the Dyal-Upchurch building at Bay and Main streets.
I'd keep 11 of the 12 in some order. Gulf Life, while an excellent and uniquely constructed building, is less than 50 years old and doesn't interact particularly well at the pedestrian level, so I really can't call it historic or a favorite. I'd also be inclined to move the Trio higher on the list. My replacement for Gulf Life...I'd say Los Cedros in Ortega.
Honorable mention to Klutho's house, the old low-rise Bisbee building, the Herkimer block, St. Luke's Hospital, the Ransom Buffalow house...OK, I probably have too many honorable mentions to mention
12 would be pretty difficult to pin down for me. I'm fond of several on Wayne's list but I've explored the Northside's hoods and back streets enough to put together a decent list of structures on that side of the tracks as well.
Can't argue with Wood's list, but my top twelve would have to include the following personal favorites:
- 310 West Church Street Apartments/Ambassador Hotel
- Park Lane Apartments
- Basilica of Immaculate Conception
- Hotel Roosevelt
Quote from: thelakelander on October 01, 2014, 09:13:35 AM
12 would be pretty difficult to pin down for me. I'm fond of several on Wayne's list but I've explored the Northside's hoods and back streets enough to put together a decent list of structures on that side of the tracks as well.
Good point. Your photo essays have highlighted a lot of buildings I wasn't aware of.
Good call on the Park Lane and Basilica, Ken.
Some other favorites: the San Juline apartments in Riverside, the Panama Park School, and the old Ford plant
Get Mr. Woods to tell you how he got a fence around his property but he will protest any attempt you make to put a fence around your lot if it is within the RAP boundary.
In no order:
*Kingsley Plantation, including slave quarters, main house and associated buildings
*St. James Building
*Laura Street Trio
*Marabong
*Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
*Old St. Andrews
*Florida Theater
*South Jacksonville City Hall
*Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church (not sure it counts as "historic", since it was rebuilt not too long ago)
*The Atlantic National Bank Building and Annex
*My house
Love South Jacksonville City Hall and the Atlantic buildings.
This could easily also spin off a "What is the most underrated/most frequently overlooked historic building" discussion.
A few more great ones: the City Engineers' Building on Main by the Waterworks, the European Street/former Orange State Oil on King St., the Churchwell, the Delius House on the JU campus
Recent demolition I miss the most: the Lampru Court Apts. in Springfield
Quote from: JaxJerry on October 01, 2014, 12:59:12 PM
Get Mr. Woods to tell you how he got a fence around his property but he will protest any attempt you make to put a fence around your lot if it is within the RAP boundary.
Huh?!?
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 01, 2014, 02:33:44 PM
Love South Jacksonville City Hall and the Atlantic buildings.
This could easily also spin off a "What is the most underrated/most frequently overlooked historic building" discussion.
A few more great ones: the City Engineers' Building on Main by the Waterworks, the European Street/former Orange State Oil on King St., the Churchwell, the Delius House on the JU campus
Recent demolition I miss the most: the Lampru Court Apts. in Springfield
Was the European Street on
Park St. an Orange State Oil before it was a Cities Service?
Quote from: thelakelander on October 01, 2014, 09:13:35 AM
12 would be pretty difficult to pin down for me. I'm fond of several on Wayne's list but I've explored the Northside's hoods and back streets enough to put together a decent list of structures on that side of the tracks as well.
Yesterday I discovered the most 'delicious' matched set of shotgun houses I've ever seen. They are in a row on Oakley between Lafayette and Spearing Street's in the old east side Fairfield-Campbells Addition area.
Genovar's Hall?
Brewster Hospital?
Old First Baptist?
Bethel Baptist?
Karpeles?
Old South Jax Electric Plant?
Old St. Lukes?
Ford Motors?
Union Street Warehouse?
Can't forget about the Masonic Lodge on Broad Street.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2265314510_bz7QNch-600x1000.jpg)
The warehouse on Union Street is interesting. You'll find structures like this all over the Midwest but it's definitely unique for Florida. Looking at the historic image, the facade was altered at some point in the past:
(http://floridamemory.com/fpc/spottswood/sp02046.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1050229066_QwvAS-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/History/Union-Terminal-Warehouse/i-vNLkHqn/0/XL/DSCF3776-XL.jpg)
Anyway, I'm sure Union Street would make this guy's top 12 list in Jacksonville.
(http://cdn.bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Saw-Wallpaper-horror-movies-8767334-1600-1200-620x400.jpg)
I really like the warehouse too. And the Masonic Temple is one of the very best Prairie buildings in the city.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on October 01, 2014, 08:06:38 PM
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on October 01, 2014, 02:33:44 PM
Love South Jacksonville City Hall and the Atlantic buildings.
This could easily also spin off a "What is the most underrated/most frequently overlooked historic building" discussion.
A few more great ones: the City Engineers' Building on Main by the Waterworks, the European Street/former Orange State Oil on King St., the Churchwell, the Delius House on the JU campus
Recent demolition I miss the most: the Lampru Court Apts. in Springfield
Was the European Street on Park St. an Orange State Oil before it was a Cities Service?
1. My typo, sorry. I meant Park, of course.
2. According to Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, it was originally Orange State Oil. I did not realize it had been a Cities Service. Thanks for the info!
I feel weird bumping an old thread, but with Marabanong newly up for sale, it would be wonderful if MetroJax could get a tour and an update on its history before it's cloistered off again. I remember touring there once with my mother when I was a girl - must have been some garden club walkthrough in the 1970s, it was while its property still stretched to the river - and the beauty of the place is still etched in my mind.
Here's the Jacksonville.com article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-04-19/marabanong-colorful-victorian-mansion-jacksonville-now-sale
There are a few pictures on Zillow:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4749-River-Point-Rd-Jacksonville-FL-32207/44531311_zpid/ (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4749-River-Point-Rd-Jacksonville-FL-32207/44531311_zpid/)
Very nice place, a shame about the wine cellar no longer being part of the property though.
Isn't there a similar place somewhere near St. Augustine (at the Intracoastal Waterway) but built of concrete (and with Waterway access still there) ?
^Great idea. I'd *love* to see a Marabong tour.
If I owned that wine cellar at the base of the bluff I would be too curious to know if the tunnel still existed. Out would come the drill poking holes in walls :o
Quote from: Tacachale on April 24, 2017, 03:14:38 PM
^Great idea. I'd *love* to see a Marabong tour.
Freudian slip ? ;D
On this subject, can anyone give me a list of notable historic homes in Springfield that were either A. Home to someone important/famous B. Has architectural significance or C. Has a unique history or story? Also helpful if these homes are in good shape today. Thanks!
Quote from: UNFurbanist on April 27, 2017, 05:53:14 PM
On this subject, can anyone give me a list of notable historic homes in Springfield that were either A. Home to someone important/famous B. Has architectural significance or C. Has a unique history or story? Also helpful if these homes are in good shape today. Thanks!
You should check out Wayne Wood's book Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage (https://www.amazon.com/Jacksonville-s-Architectural-Heritage-Jacksonville-Commission/dp/0813009537). It's sold in a lot of local bookstores as well.
You can also find this book in the special collections department (4th floor) in the main public library downtown. It's a pretty great document.