Any Guess Where This Picture Was Taken

[904Scars]

The problem is the date... 1948.  To confirm the date of the photo it might be possible to date the motorcycles parked out front...

Yes but back then a new plate was reissued every year (no sticker) so if the plate on the courier bike reads 1948 than the picture dates 1948 unless he's riding around with an expired plate. True the bikes could be older being that it is a repair shop, they are Harleys but they don't break right away, haha!

[LTTurner]

I have a copy of a 1946 Telfair Stockton map of downtown Jax that shows a lot a small companies in the 100 block of E Adams, including a loan company, barber, laundry, shoe store, beauty shop, and a couple of restaurants.

[thelakelander]

1946 and 1950 at 1067 W Forsyth St

The last location was between Stuart and Johnson St so that would have been near the Union Station. Right across the street was an ACL train yard, making that an unlikely location for the picture since there are buildings reflected in the window.

Several of the listings showed the same people as owners. The last one was a K.W. von Katz.

Going to check the Sanborn Maps online and see what I can see based on the other locations

Here is an image of that area in 1960:

[stjr]

Lake, enlarging your picture, I see a short row of one story buildings just to the left of the larger white structure to the far right of the picture and directly across from the West Bay Post Office.  The face of the West Bay PO looks like a good match for one of the buildings in the window reflection as I speculated previously.  The "other" building in the reflection may be the shadowed building directly across the street which appears to match the two story building in the reflection in character and height.  Of course, from 1948 to 1960, some other buildings may be been demolished.  None of this is conclusive of course, but it is reasonably consistent with my speculation.

This proved a most interesting query. Went to the library at lunchtime

According to the city directories:
1923 Harley Davidson sales at 8 Newnan St
1927 and 1930 at 913-15 Main St
1936 at 633-35 W Forsyth St
1940 at 1125 W Forsyth St
1946 and 1950 at 1067 W Forsyth St

The last location was between Stuart and Johnson St so that would have been near the Union Station. Right across the street was an ACL train yard, making that an unlikely location for the picture since there are buildings reflected in the window.

Several of the listings showed the same people as owners. The last one was a K.W. von Katz.

Going to check the Sanborn Maps online and see what I can see based on the other locations.

JB, did you look up any data on a motorcycle courier, delivery, and/or mail service?

[jbroadglide]

Well stjr, funny you should mention that. Just a half a block east from the Harley shop and right across the street from whats labeled Railway Express Agency was a building labeled Post Office Garage at 1105 Forsyth St W. The REA office was across the tracks on the south side of Forsyth St.

[jbroadglide]

And I forgot to mention. In the Sanborn map dated 1949, the business at 1067-1069 Forsyth St W is labeled as Motorcycle Sales and Service..so it wasn't just a repair shop.
I did check with Adamecs and this is not their store. They said they were not the first Harley dealer in Jacksonville.

[stjr]

JB, the building I am referring to would have to be on West Bay Street.  Maybe you could eventually check what was there opposite or nearly opposite the West Bay PO Annex building in 1948.  Forsyth would be too far over to reflect the PO.

[904Scars]

Though it's starting to look like the building no longer exist, it's still pretty cool to see all of this Jacksonville knowledge and deductive reasoning come together. As far as the courier service cart, it could have very well been the shops motorcycle, as many repair and service shops back in the day had their own mobile mechanic. That last picture posted of all the buildings near the station is quite promising, maybe with a bit more digging now that we have a possible general location we can find more photos.

[jbroadglide]

JB, the building I am referring to would have to be on West Bay Street.  Maybe you could eventually check what was there opposite or nearly opposite the West Bay PO Annex building in 1948.  Forsyth would be too far over to reflect the PO.

This is from Sanborn maps page 43A. I have highlighted the REA, The Post Office garage and the Motorcycle sales. Nothing on Bay St. Between Forsyth and Bay were tracks for FEC and ACL. Of course on the west side of Bay was Union Station.

[jbroadglide]

Okay here is one more look at the same area but from a different angle. looking north this time.


Could the picture be in front of the PO Garage and the reflection be the REA Building?

[Cliffs_Daughter]

jb = would you humor me in posting a map of the Forsyth/Jefferson corner? I've just got a strong feeling about it.

[jbroadglide]

jb = would you humor me in posting a map of the Forsyth/Jefferson corner? I've just got a strong feeling about it.

Here ya go

[Cliffs_Daughter]

Thanks - is there a larger format I can get? If it's something I can get thru the portal?

[jbroadglide]

I hate to give up on this picture but frankly I am at a dead end. With so little to go on this picture could be most anywhere. If anyone has any further ideas or places to check out, let me know.

[904Scars]

I agree, it would be nearly impossible to figure out an exact spot unless another photo of the same location was found and it was marked. Very cool photo though and being the big motorcycle fan it really drew my interest! I always skim through the old Jax photos so maybe I'll find another picture to reference.

Speaking of motorcycles... August 6th "First Fridays In Five Points" we are throwing a motorcycle and car show at Wolfgang Boutique. 5pm-10pm - 1036 Park Street