Lost Jacksonville: Sugar Hill

[sheclown]

I'll pm you

[chas1445]

If you scroll down from the top to the 23 picture where Davis street cross the S-Line tracks (Seaboard Railroad) and look to the rear of the two story white house on the right side, you will see a two story brick building with a tall smoke stack (chimney).  That building is the south side of Davis Street Junior High School.  Later Isiach Blocker.  I graduated from the school in the class of 1950.  That is my old neighborhood.  As Davis Street cross the Seaboard Railroad tracks, on the left side, 13Th street will end, or begin according to how you want to look at it.  The sand on the right side was there, it was the sidewalk.

[Betty Red]

This really brough back so many memories.  I lived in the Blodgette Home from 1952 until 1965 (1st grade thru 12th).  It was a great place to live and play. People took pride in their homes.  Our yard (though tiny compared to todays standards) was very neat and well manicured.  I played softball in the 60's.  We could beat every team except Simon Johnson (I want a rematch).  Those girls were tuff! I would swim almost every day during the summer at the pool. I learned a lot about God, family, friendship, honesty and being the best that you can be.  I attended Elder Shermans church on 4th street.  I reminder Daylight Grocery, Bottom Dollar, Louis Ritz, Joe Ritz (not sure of spelling) Al's sundries on 3rd and Davis, Tip Top, and many more.  I feel blessed to have lived there!

[BridgeTroll]

Welcome Betty!  We would love to hear more!

[Casterlow]

Great article. My grandparents moved from Yukon, Florida and lived on Davis (next to Huff Funeral Home) before moving to 1410 Louisiana Street. My parents were born in the old Brewster Hospital. I edited a pictorial history of Black Life in Jacksonville in 1996 with Arcadia Press. Book has been out of print for years. Ocasionally you can find a copy on Amazon.

[BridgeTroll]

Great article. My grandparents moved from Yukon, Florida and lived on Davis (next to Huff Funeral Home) before moving to 1410 Louisiana Street. My parents were born in the old Brewster Hospital. I edited a pictorial history of Black Life in Jacksonville in 1996 with Arcadia Press. Book has been out of print for years. Ocasionally you can find a copy on Amazon.

Is this the book?  Cool pix in the link...

http://www.amazon.com/African-American-Life-Jacksonville-Black-America/dp/0752408836#reader_0752408836

[Tacachale]

There certainly were performances at the Ritz and it was the "main venue of African-American performance in Lavilla" after it was built in 1929, according to Peter Dunbaugh Smith's excellent thesis paper on LaVilla. It's true Ray Charles didn't spend much time in Jacksonville, however he did live here in 1945-46 and it's where he got his start as a professional musician. At the age of 15, he joined the local black musicians' union in the Clara White Mission, which he called the start of his professional career. He may even have played at the Ritz, though once he was established his top gig was at the Two Spot on Moncrief. The Ritz owners weren't absentees, and were heavily involved in the local music scene in the theater's heyday. The Ritz suffered as the neighborhood deteriorated in the 50s and 60s, until the owner, Joe Hackel, finally shut it down.

[Ocklawaha]

Still no one has been able to locate 'Masons Park' or 'Roosevelt Park,' as it was later called. I suspect the area of Kings and Myrtle but so far no cigar.  This was the site of the North Jacksonville Street Railway Town and Improvement Company's car barn and also a amusement or 'trolley park.'

[thelakelander]

What were its years of operation?  Let me know and I'll see what I can dig up from that era's Sanborn maps.