Quote(https://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/4704319643_hfZzG8N-800x1000.jpg)
Did you know that the State and Union corridor between Downtown and Springfield was a working-class African-American neighborhood before being wiped off the map by urban renewal and four lane one-way streets?
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/vintage-photos-hansontown/
Another fascinating look at lost history. I remember riding by the shotgun homes with my parents in the early to mid-1960s.
When were State and Union converted to a one-way pair? Again, going back to the early 1960s, riding in the back seat of my Dad's car, they were one-way then.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 11, 2022, 10:13:32 AM
Another fascinating look at lost history. I remember riding by the shotgun homes with my parents in the early to mid-1960s.
I have the exact same memories! We would visit family up north and, always, upon return, my dad would exit the Jax Experessway (now I-95) down Union to make our first stop back in town, his Downtown P.O. box in the Federal building (in what is now the State Attorney's offices). As such, we would drive by the shotgun houses, our first full impression of the City upon return.
We also had a housekeeper that lived for a while in Blodgett that we, at least once or twice, visited. I don't think the units had A/C which still wasn't universal in the early 60's (my elementary school wasn't air conditioned then either) so most people, as I recall, had screened doors to allow the breezes through. I do remember that living there was no picnic, a real eye opener for a little kid from a middle class neighborhood. A good lesson in broadening one's view of the world.
Thanks Lakelander for the thread and photos, and also Ennis for the photos; brought back very vivid and reflective memories of the Neighborhood I grew up in, LAVILLA. We lived in one of those two story wooden houses back in the mid-60's; however, back then they were in super shape. The insides were delicately furnished (at least ours) and wall papered in each room. Ashley Street was "abuzz" with activity and you could hear the music blaring from all of the bars, taverns and nightclubs from where we lived on Duval Street. We lived at 817 West Duval Street, and it is an empty lot now a part of some type of business (and fenced in). Great photos. Thanks again.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on February 11, 2022, 01:00:25 PM
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 11, 2022, 10:13:32 AM
Another fascinating look at lost history. I remember riding by the shotgun homes with my parents in the early to mid-1960s.
I have the exact same memories! We would visit family up north and, always, upon return, my dad would exit the Jax Experessway (now I-95) down Union to make our first stop back in town, his Downtown P.O. box in the Federal building (in what is now the State Attorney's offices). As such, we would drive by the shotgun houses, our first full impression of the City upon return.
We also had a housekeeper that lived for a while in Blodgett that we, at least once or twice, visited. I don't think the units had A/C which still wasn't universal in the early 60's (my elementary school wasn't air conditioned then either) so most people, as I recall, had screened doors to allow the breezes through. I do remember that living there was no picnic, a real eye opener for a little kid from a middle class neighborhood. A good lesson in broadening one's view of the world.
LOL...as I remember, that large room we rented (me and my Mom) at 817 West Duval Street had no air conditioning at all. We had an electric fan for the summer (with the windows up), and a kerosene heater for heat in the winter; but you know what? The weather was not as strange as it is now. And the summers yielded cool breezes through those windows that were up, and we really didn't even think about air conditioning until my Mother took me shopping downtown (which wasn't far away; you could see the skyscrapers from my house). Memories.
Those Pearl and Union St pictures are hard to fathom with the way it looks today.