Taylor Hardwick's, Iconic Skinner stores
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/656699886_kmDXV-O.jpg)
Created by the architectural firm of Hardwick & Lee, the Skinner's Milk Houses were thoughtfully designed and visually interesting structures that would eventually become an iconic presence throughout the greater Jacksonville area.
Jonathan Lux explores The Skinner's Milk Houses for Metro Jacksonville complete with a list of locations where these iconic and historic Jacksonville landmarks can still be found.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-sep-taylor-hardwicks-iconic-skinner-stores
Wasn't there one on Parental Home Road?
I remember buying milk from these stores with my parents as a child. I loved the structures. Later in life, I remember a few of these stores (Merril Road being the most known) as being the known place to score beer under age. Fond memories of my youth. Thanks MJ.
I think it's the Bowden Road (#12), if that is the NW corner of Bowden Road and Parental Home Road.
My childhood doc's office, my high school, the library I went to (second only to San Marco) and my late Uncle's insurance company office in Riverside were all designed by Mr. Hardwick.
QuoteTaylor .... he is getting on in years and has had the bitter experience of seeing so much of his work destroyed by the redevelopment dynamiters.
I guess what goes around comes around.
Hardwick's designs are the shag carpet of Architecture if you ask me. The buildings that were lost to build his gimmicky designs were far better, IMO. The old Courthouse that was demolished to build the "Brady Bunch" Public Library, circa 1965, being at the top of such a list.
If Jax isn't going to lift a finger to save Klutho's work, then I sure as hell can't see saving Hardwick's.
Quote from: billy on September 21, 2009, 04:38:40 PM
I think it's the Bowden Road (#12), if that is the NW corner of Bowden Road and Parental Home Road.
Yes, but sadly the coffee shop didn't make it. Before that it was a "Hurry Cab" office. Now it's just sitting there being iconic. :(
Where St. John's Ave and Herschel Streets come together there is a drive-up florists that looks like it might have been one of the Skinners dairy stores. It's in front of the Goal Post Sandwich shop.
I can remember my mother being upset that Skinners was discontinuing home delivery and that she would have to drive somewhere to get milk. An outrage!
Quote from: billy on September 21, 2009, 04:38:40 PM
I think it's the Bowden Road (#12), if that is the NW corner of Bowden Road and Parental Home Road.
Yes, this is correct. We use to stop there for milk or ice cream on the way back from the beach or Patti's restaurant as this was the best route from the Lakewood/San Jose areas to that part of Beach Blvd. and points east. This outlet was directly across Bowden from the actual Skinners Dairy (now an office park/housing).
Below is Google Street View and Map:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bowden+road,+jacksonville,+fl&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.946584,78.662109&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=30.264189,-81.592673&panoid=EBwyE5DN07JiBKeEZLP2Mw&cbp=11,351.91,,0,5&ll=30.264189,-81.592672&spn=0.000709,0.002401&z=19
Wasn't there one at Blanding/Shirley? They were all drive-thru right. Perhaps, I need to go read the article before posting :)
Right on. I definitely recognize the one on St Johns/Herschel I think it is a flower shop at present. Wow, brings back tons of memories. Was I able to get beer there in the 80's?
There was one on at Stockton St and Ernest in Riverside...it is still there today.
I remember the one on Ricker Rd. I grew up on Proxima, so either mom would drive there or we could walk to get something. They are cool little buildings, I'll give them that.
I remember the one on Ricker. I haven't been by there in quite some time.
Is the one located at Pearl and Tallulah one of the addresses listed above?
What funky cute little places they are!
How much enclosed floor area in one those suckers?
You are a Jackson villain!
Quote from: stephendare on September 24, 2009, 02:37:24 PM
We had one down the block from our childhood home at the beaches. My papa and I were the only males in a house that also featured four women who entertained most of the church at the house on non church nights.
Going to Skinners to pick up milk and cigarettes was generally a sign that my grandfather needed a brief escape from all the estrogen and scripture. I always tagged along, because it was usually a great opportunity to get a yoohoo while we were at it.
The Skinner itself was a repository of all gossip, political and otherwise at the beaches, and its employees functioned as town criers.
A true piece of Americana (specific to Jax). Did you get the honey bun or moon pie to go with the YooHoo? That's what my pop allowed me to purchase. Good memories.
Im many ways, a form of smore I suppose. :)
Sweet (no pun intended).
Quote from: DavidWilliams on September 24, 2009, 07:46:37 PM
Im many ways, a form of smore I suppose. :)
'smore or less ;D
Quote from: fsujax on September 24, 2009, 11:11:26 AM
There was one on at Stockton St and Ernest in Riverside...it is still there today.
yes, but it was built in the mid 1980's in the second (bland, forgetable) style.
Quote from: copperfiend on September 24, 2009, 12:17:12 PM
I remember the one on Ricker. I haven't been by there in quite some time.
it was an empty roofless shell in 2004. I'ts gone now, either, bulldozed or build into a new, larger structure.
Quote from: sheclown on September 24, 2009, 02:07:48 PM
Is the one located at Pearl and Tallulah one of the addresses listed above?
What funky cute little places they are!
yes. it's #7
Quote from: stephendare on September 25, 2009, 12:59:32 PM
Wow. I guess they tore the one at jax beach down and put in some stupid shell station.
no, it still stands. Caddyshack. Golf lessons. That one i nicknamed "the drag queen" due to the unsympathetic modifications.
Quote from: billy on September 24, 2009, 02:10:44 PM
How much enclosed floor area in one those suckers?
enough room for a walk in cooler (still present at #6, the florist) one employee, and a cash register.
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stephendare
September 21, 2009, 04:29:45 PM
I dont remember there being on on Parental Home....maybe the one on Ricker Road.
Jonathan is not only a brilliant local painter with a couple of shows at the museum under his belt, but he is also very fond of Taylor. Its possible that there were a few that Taylor missed as he is getting on in years and has had the bitter experience of seeing so much of his work destroyed by the redevelopment dynamiters.
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no, none were missed. a few points: Firstly, 2 stores were moved, and thus existed at two different locations, at differnt points in time (#5, & #14). Ironically both of these were later demoilshed (again).
Also, the list of store locations, did not come from Taylor, as Taylor reffered me to Cody Skinner (former VP, died last month, at 94). His memory, was soild, with a few missing locations, which were rediscovered in 2004. There are no missing stores. There ARE as many as two dozen stores build in the second style that folks very often misremeber as being of the Hardwick style. Last Original store was build in Mandarin in 1985. (it was actually somewhat elongated however, but I digress. Still counts.).
now they make the mini moon pies, also great in the microwave, but not as good as the old fashioned ones. I think they are skimping on the marshmallow fluff ingredients - don't quite puff up like they used to.
Was there one in the 8000 block of Old Kings Road S. back in the 70s?
Quote from: YellowBluffRoad on October 10, 2009, 11:14:18 AM
Was there one in the 8000 block of Old Kings Road S. back in the 70s?
Based on my memory only, I think you are correct.
Maybe someone should write a letter to the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission requesting the Commission look into considering the remaining Skinner Dairies as locally-designated landmarks.
Great story. I moved here 4 years ago and have often thought it would be cool to catalogue all of the dairies. My husband grew up here and remembers driving through for milk with his Mom while his Dad was serving in Vietnam.
The milk store at the point between Herschel St. and St. Johns Ave. was at a major crossroads for the community. Across the street on the St Johns Ave. side was the iconic Pennyburger's. This was the gathering point for the R.E. Lee high school crowd. Sort of an imitation Krystal, same menu.
On the other side, Herschel St., is/was Fishweir Elementary school.
I would go to the milk store for a chocolate mild and a honey bun. Now there was a major sugar high!!!
Quote from: RMHoward on October 14, 2009, 07:47:01 PM
Great story. I moved here 4 years ago and have often thought it would be cool to catalogue all of the dairies. My husband grew up here and remembers driving through for milk with his Mom while his Dad was serving in Vietnam.
I did that in 2003-04. Later did an update of their condition with a new inventory in 2008.
Quote from: stjr on October 10, 2009, 11:47:38 AM
Quote from: YellowBluffRoad on October 10, 2009, 11:14:18 AM
Was there one in the 8000 block of Old Kings Road S. back in the 70s?
Based on my memory only, I think you are correct.
yes. #14 (relocated from springfield). while it is technically still on old kings rd today, the only thing visible is the original sign post.
Quote from: stephendare on September 21, 2009, 04:29:45 PM
I dont remember there being on on Parental Home....maybe the one on Ricker Road.
Corner of Parental Home/ Bowden..the last time it was used was a drive through Coffee place...did not last long though
Theres one still in Avondale on St Johns Ave...Think its a Florist Shop now,but definitely was the Skinner's Dairy shape like the rest :)
I remember that, during the 1990s, Skinner Dairy experimented with selling their milk in glass bottles. I dropped by their Ortega location to capitalize on their nostalgia. It's too bad that it didn't take off. Native Sun, however, sells organic milk in glass bottles today... Pretty cool, eh?
I was recently on Anastasia Island across the Bridge of Lions from St. Augustine and saw #18 still standing. It may be boarded up. It's next to Osteen's Restaurant.
O'Steens owns that one and they use it for the deep freeze and storage. They keep it painted and looking good...I do a lot of wandering around while I wait for my shrimp to-go...