Urban Neighborhoods: Durkeeville
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/493694573_QV74n-M.jpg)
Officially part of the Mid-Westside, Durkeeville grew up as as an African-American streetcar suburb around the first decade of the 20th century. Despite its setbacks, Durkeeville still remains one of Jacksonville’s most intact and pedestrian-friendly working class neighborhoods.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1038
Another great article - particularly good conclusion. Metro Jax continues to layout concrete evidence of how rail will help the urban core. I think the resistance to rail/a better mass transit plan is slowly being chipped away by articles like this.
Stanton c/o 99......represent.
'02
It looks like this area has some nice urban fabric with a lot of potential. Let's get the rail going!!!
I agree, another great article. I love the unique architecture in many of the residential photos. Unfortunately many of the homes look like they need some TLC, as I guess is the case for most of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. I"m wondering when can we stop talking about the benefits of rail and actually start reaping them? I hope rail does eventually come to Jacksonville. When it does, however, there will need to be some serious neighborhood discussions about how to embrace it. For example, a community like Durkeeville, should continue to keep it's unique building character and history, while still coming up with ways to improve it that do not include demolition. Neighborhoods are going to need to be allowed to set some guidelines on what kind of new development they want. In my opinion, Jacksonville sucks in this area. City Hall makes all of the decisions and rarely is public input sought. Will Jacksonville continue to just rubber stamp APPROVED to every new cookie cutter development or will they allow input so unique areas around downtown don't just become suburb look-a-likes with crappy strip malls and unimaginative homes. New development should be required to fit into its surroundings, but at the same time move neighborhoods forward in terms of economic growth.
I seriously want to know, and I don't mean to offend by asking but does the name Durkeeville originate from old racist slang? (Darkeeville?)
Stanton c/o 86......hip to be square!
Quote from: Bewler on April 10, 2009, 02:57:06 PM
I seriously want to know, and I don't mean to offend by asking but does the name Durkeeville originate from old racist slang? (Darkeeville?)
Durkeeville was founded by Joseph Henry Durkee. He was a Union Army captain and pallbearer at President Lincoln's funeral who settled in Jacksonville after the Civil War.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 10, 2009, 03:13:55 PM
Durkeeville was founded by Joseph Henry Durkee. He was a Union Army captain and pallbearer at President Lincoln's funeral who settled in Jacksonville after the Civil War.
Ok thank you. I've tried looking it up before but to no avail.
I know this is the south and all but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I have a friend from out of town who would heard the name before and would always laugh about it and say "your town is so racist". Thank God I can prove him wrong.
Stanton c/o 95. :)
'05 here
Darkeeville? "Oh, darky how my heart grows weary...." (from the song, "Suwanee River)."
Heights Unknown
Best pictorial of a neighborhood yet! Fantastic stuff! Thanks!
Where did you get the information that Stanton and EWC were hit by the 1901 Fire?? I have never heard or read that ANYWHERE....
^FYI, their original locations were downtown.
Stanton: http://www.stantoncollegeprep.org/central/?q=node/21
Edward Waters College: http://www.ewc.edu/home/about-us/history
Can you imagine what a blowtorch would be lit up in Durkeeville if that streetcar subway is used to connect Riverside and down Bay to The Terminal? Now from the junction of Bay and Myrtle, run that line right back where it was historically - right up Myrtle and into the heart of Durkeeville.
Perhaps: Union Station - Bay Street to Myrtle to 8TH to Shand's to Main to Water to Union Station.
With a new Courthouse down the road (somewhere) another loop back could be done on Pearl or Davis all the way to Bay, again all of these lines already have track under the pavement... Waiting for the next streetcar, Silent since December 1936.
OCKLAWAHA
No mention of its impact, but I would think the construction of I-95, based on the map, didn't do any favors for this neighborhood. It would be interesting to see an article or study one day on how Jax's expressways changed the city on both sides of the river. This may be one of the greatest pieces of social engineering ever imposed on the City and could show just how important transit modes and routes are to determining our future.
Raines C/O 96' but it's all good :)
I lived a great part of my childhood in Durkeeville for a lil' while (87' to 95')
Outstanding job with the article Lake; That's stating the obvious. :)
Stanton has again been named as one of the top high schools in the country.
http://www.news4jax.com/education/21918999/detail.html
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QuoteI found the bungalow duplex buildings in the story about Durkeeville. The picture is the 7th one in the write up. It shows 3 of the bungalows. They are on Moncrief Rd. east of Stanton Prep. School. They start at 13th and Moncrief.
chas1445.
Thanks for the picture!
I would have loved to see more pics from the old durkeeville. That why I could see what it looked like back then. but those Durkeeville Projects were the worse. I was so glad when they tore those things down and built the oaks. Those were one of the worse projects we had here.
Not to be disrespectful but it is nice to see african american men without their "pantsontheground"...
Quote from: thelakelander on April 10, 2009, 03:13:55 PM
Quote from: Bewler on April 10, 2009, 02:57:06 PM
I seriously want to know, and I don't mean to offend by asking but does the name Durkeeville originate from old racist slang? (Darkeeville?)
What about Eugene Durkee, inventor of the Durkee famous Sauce?
Durkeeville was founded by Joseph Henry Durkee. He was a Union Army captain and pallbearer at President Lincoln's funeral who settled in Jacksonville after the Civil War.