Exploring Green Cove Springs

[Timkin]

Thanks, TimKin.  If you know of any places I've missed in Clay County, deserving of a picture spread, please let me know. I have some days off approaching and looking for some new scenic material.

It is a shame so many places in GCS are no longer, thanks to "progress"

For example:

The Navy Base  ( Now Reynold's Industrial Park )  Which is nearly unrecognizable ,compared to when I was a kid. It was pretty much intact.

The Cove Theater (was right next door to the Clay Theater)  Razed 30 years ago.

The QuiSiSana Hotel  ( Current Site of the City Hall) about 12 years ago

Bartholf Dairy ( Later Wright's Dairy)   

Green Cove Sundries ( Vacant lot at corner of Walnut / Magnolia ) 

Original Bank of Green Cove Springs  Opposite Corner Walnut / Magnolia

One Structure in particular I cannot believe was left to go to rack and Ruin was in Penney Farms  at the Corner of 218 and Hwy 16.  Was the J C Penney Carriage house.  Really stunning large brick structure. Shadowlawn Dairy ended up with it at some point and it was neglect and vandalized to the point that it was not movable.  I believe the town of Middleburg actually entertained having the structure moved there and renovated to become their City Hall .. but it was too far gone by that time.

One you could shoot  a pic of that still is there is Dr. Jensen's Former Residence  ( Currently Broadus Raines Funeral Home )

I didn't see St. Mary's Church , its parsonage or many of the Historic homes left along the River front .   Some pretty amazing old homes remain.

The First Baptist Church on Page one of your pictorial was originally my Church home years ago.   Directly across the Street from it is another historic home ( I believe the Church saved it from demolition).

The Former Coca Cola Bottling Plant ( Now the Clay County Council on Aging)   Was operated by my Great-great Grandfather, Elliot Eli Geiger.  I remember as a kid the plant , not in operation but still had the machinery bottles, etc.

There are lots of others that will probably eventually pop into my mind, but looking at your pictures certainly takes me back.

I had forgotten about the time capsule which is placed on the grounds of the Original Clay County Courthouse/ Jail complex.   The School, directly across the Street from it , is the original Clay County High School. Not sure of it's exact age, but I'm pretty sure it is approaching the century mark and was , at one time , two-story.

[NavyRet]

Yes, I remember the J.C. Penny house. We used to take our dog out there to run around before they tore it down. I should have gotten pictures back that, but didn't know I would take such an interest in the images of Clay County at that time. We still run the dogs in the field across the road, under the trees.

I've actually been around Lee Field a bit. You have to be careful taking pictures around there, because the boys over at the Pegasus Technologies compound get nervous when people with cameras start roaming around. I have some shots from the runway, back at the hangars and of one of the large hydrofoils that was out there. Still is, I believe. I also still have some shots of the North Florida Railroad Museum back there, along with many shots from the Military Museum of North Florida (I do their website).

I do have a few shots of St. Mary's and agree that some of the homes in the area are architectural treasures, worthy of focus. (I'd love to buy a home in that area).

Reynolds Park and surrounding areas would be ideal for some new industries to move into. I'm not sure why some haven't already taken advantage of many of the facilities already there. It may have something to do with the costs associated with fixing the places up, or possible some EPA issues.

I may revisit some of these areas soon.

[Edward]

Merry Christmas! I found this neat present (this site) under the tree today. I saw a reference to Starbucks closing in an older post. As far as I'm concerned, it was a god-send. The coolest independent coffee shop - Spring Park Coffee - took its place. I would rather see an independent small business with personality and onsite owners instead of a ubiquitous chain. Green Cove Springs is going to change significantly over the next decade with the construction of the First Coast Expressway, but I believe there is a committed group of people who will work hard to help that change be for the better. GCS is a unique place to visit. I'm glad I have that chance several times a month.

[kafka12358]

Spring Park Coffee house is great.

There is a bakery/Deli (cannot remember the name) going south on 17 that makes amazing food. Their Tropical Cake is a stunning bit of food. The place might be a candidate for the Hole-In-The-Wall series.

[Timkin]

Spring Park Coffee house is great.

There is a bakery/Deli (cannot remember the name) going south on 17 that makes amazing food. Their Tropical Cake is a stunning bit of food. The place might be a candidate for the Hole-In-The-Wall series.

Would that be Cousin's Cafe?  Its been a while.  You may be speaking of another establishment.

[blizz01]

I think it's Sweet Sensations.  If I recall, they make quite a bit (sweets) for some of the better known JAX establishments - including European Street.

[Timkin]

I think it's Sweet Sensations.  If I recall, they make quite a bit (sweets) for some of the better known JAX establishments - including European Street.

Gotya.  That building/site was formerly a Union 76 Gas Station.   I ll have to check it out when I visit the Cove again.

[No2rdame]

What is GCS like now?  We've considered moving there but the consensus I got on another forum was to run, not walk, from the area.  Of course, that is quite subjective and since I know little of the area, why would someone say that?  Is it as bad as some people presented it to me or are some people just overly dramatic because it may not be as new and shiny as some other suburbs?

[Edward]

No2rdame,
Sorry this reply is almost a month after your question, but GCS is an all-around great place to me. I moved to Clay from Jacksonville 30 years ago and if I were doing it all over again, I would pick GCS over any other part of Clay. It is the county seat so it has a constant buzz of activity from all of the public traffic to the courthouse and admin building. It has one of the neatest parks anywhere along the St. Johns River (that is currently undergoing a major 2-year renovation). It has easy access to I-95 over the Shands Bridge and you can be in St. Augustine in about 35-40 minutes. Obviously, it's a haul from GCS to DT Jax. All the shopping you need (maybe not want) in GCS or Fleming Island (10 minutes north). Nice independent restaurants, just not enough of them. An uncertain, but definitely growing, future with the First Coast Expressway looping just south of town, and a couple thousand (so far) new homes planned in a couple of major developments that have not yet broken ground.
All-in-all, I would still pick GCS over any other part of Clay, but Fleming Island is a close second.

[Know Growth]

It is a great privilege, a lesson spanning decades, to finally realize the any previous attraction or draw to GCS was not warranted.

The local writers the town produced were a hoot. The column inches best tossed on to the Beltway swale. What an idiotic place.

[No2rdame]

No2rdame,
Sorry this reply is almost a month after your question, but GCS is an all-around great place to me. I moved to Clay from Jacksonville 30 years ago and if I were doing it all over again, I would pick GCS over any other part of Clay. It is the county seat so it has a constant buzz of activity from all of the public traffic to the courthouse and admin building. It has one of the neatest parks anywhere along the St. Johns River (that is currently undergoing a major 2-year renovation). It has easy access to I-95 over the Shands Bridge and you can be in St. Augustine in about 35-40 minutes. Obviously, it's a haul from GCS to DT Jax. All the shopping you need (maybe not want) in GCS or Fleming Island (10 minutes north). Nice independent restaurants, just not enough of them. An uncertain, but definitely growing, future with the First Coast Expressway looping just south of town, and a couple thousand (so far) new homes planned in a couple of major developments that have not yet broken ground.
All-in-all, I would still pick GCS over any other part of Clay, but Fleming Island is a close second.

That's quite okay that you were a little late to respond, as you can see I'm even later in following up.  After looking at all of the areas in Clay and St. Johns Counties that were within our price range and offered what we wanted, I have to say that GCS ended up being the winner.  We moved in last month and I have been very pleased with the area.  Sure, the town itself may have once seen better days, but there is still a  great deal of charm to it and I can see how one day as the area continues to grow it will see a resurgence.  As far as what I read in other forums, I'm not sure what the issues were.  Every place has its own issues, but I have no regrets about picking GCS even if it is a bit farther of a commute for me.

[NavyRet]

Finally visited the Gustafson Dairy Farm.  What a fun place!!

http://www.claycountysounder.com/images/gustafson/dairyfarm/saycheese.htm