Firehouse museum the next to go?

[Bativac]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/28022602/detail.html

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The city of Jacksonville wants to spend $300,000 to repair the Jacksonville Fire Museum downtown because city officials said it's falling apart and is unsafe.

"What we are hoping to do is give that museum a good injection," Jacksonville Fire Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said.

City officials said the building has water and termite damage, but they would not allow the building operator to show Channel 4's Jim Piggott the problems.

"It has really suffered structural damage, the likes of which really endanger the facility," Francis said.

The museum has history itself. It used to be located on Bay Street and was moved to Metropolitan Park alongside Kids Campus, which is now gone.

The museum is used by mostly by school groups, though none were there Wednesday.

On average, the museum gets about five visitors a day.

Volunteers used to run the building, but now the Fire Department pays someone about $27,000 a year to oversee it.

"Considering the fact that the alternative, considering how it stands right now, will be to close it down and remove that educational component for the children of our community, we just felt this is worth an investment," Francis said.

"I never even heard of it until now," Jacksonville resident Angie Owens said of the museum.

"The money could be better spent elsewhere," Facebook user Wanda Sue wrote in the Channel 4 conversation room on News4Jax.com.

"This place is beautiful and should be preserved," a Facebook user named Melissa wrote.

When asked if taxpayers' money would be better spent on public safety rather than the museum, Francis said, "It is part of public safety. There are many components that fall in the realm of public safety, and the museum is one of them."

They tearing this down next? Sure, why not?

Doesn't look unstable from the outside. I guess I'm not an expert, though.

[Bativac]

[danno]

Nah, they wont tear it down.  Why?

It's not in Springfield!

[fsujax]

how would they let termite damage occur? that doesnt make any sense. Who has owned it all this time? wouldnt they have spent money years ago to repair any damage then? and regularly fumigate to prevent their return?

[urbaknight]

Where is this buliding located?

[thelakelander]

In what was formerly known as Kids Kampus.

[Bativac]

From the Jacksonville Fire Museum website:

Station No. 3 was destroyed during the great fire of Jacksonville on May 3rd, 1901.  Following the fire, a temporary shed was constructed on the old location while a new station was built for firefighters at 12 Catherine St.  Bricks salvaged from buildings destroyed by the great fire were used to build the north, south, and west walls of the new firehouse.  Ten months after the Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901, the new Fire Station 3 was opened.

This building - the building itself - is a physical link to Jacksonville 100+ years ago. I hope it can be saved but knowing Jacksonville, I won't get those hopes up.

I wonder if Alvin Brown has heard anything about this. I imagine not.

[Captain Zissou]

What we need is better marketing of historic and significant places.  The saddest part about this article is the number of visitors per day....5?

I'm sure there are places around downtown that get more than 5 unwanted visitors a day.  If a museum can't get more than 5 visitors a day, tear it down.  However, there is no reason we need to ever be in this situation.  Jacksonville needs to embrace and market its significant places.

[duvaldude08]

The article states its going to be repaired and saved. So why are we upset again??

[thelakelander]

Its pretty isolated.  If anything, they should consider moving it closer to the heart of downtown.  It will never be a high people generating attraction on its own but attendance would significantly increase if it were in a location with better foot traffic.

[Bativac]

The article states its going to be repaired and saved. So why are we upset again??

You know what, you're absolutely right, and I misread it. It does look like the city plans to spend the money.

[Timkin]

they should ..its a nice structure.. Its called historic preservation

[Noone]

Drove by the other day and a number of vehicles with the back hatches open so they must be removing the items. I agree with Lake. Its isolated. It will become part of flex space.

Firehouse Subs location for all the future special events that will be happening?

Thats wrong that they didn't allow Jim Piggott in to point out the damage. Maybe someone would notice and the estimate wouldn't be $300,000.

How about a demand from all the preservation groups. San Marco, Springfield, Riverside, Breaking Ground Contracting, Emily Lisska, Jerry Spinks, Wayne Wood, Kay, Stephen, And anyone else that wants to jump in on this true Public/Private Partnership.

Ken Amaro, Who's side are you on. Your turn to get the story. Its only taxpayer dollars.

Has anyone contacted councilman Gaffney?

[PeeJayEss]

How about a freaking sign so you actually know its there, or some kind of marketing?
Firehouse Subs should be willing to donate to its preservation.

Or relocate to the one on Riverside.

[Timkin]

How about a freaking sign so you actually know its there, or some kind of marketing?
Firehouse Subs should be willing to donate to its preservation.

Or relocate to the one on Riverside.

Well....after it is moved.. The land belongs to someone else. That is why FS#5 has to be moved.  But not a bad idea.