10 more examples of Mid Century Modern in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

An architectural movement that peaked during the 1960s, Mid-century modern (MCM) has increased in popularity within the preservation world in recent years. An American reflection of the International and Bauhaus movements, MCM can be found all over Jacksonville. Last month, we shared ten commercial examples of the unique architectural style, in and around Downtown Jacksonville. Realizing that showing only ten would not pay this unique architectural style enough homage, we're back with ten more examples.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/10-more-examples-of-mid-century-modern-in-jacksonville/

[Charles Hunter]

Another good article with some great examples of our mid-century architecture.
A couple notes.
The BB&T (Atlantic Bank) Garage has (had?) a pedestrian tunnel under Forsyth Street connecting the garage to the office building. The tunnel had a few shops, including (if I remember correctly) a barber and a dry cleaner. That glass store-front under the corkscrew ramp housed Bailey's Camera shop, THE place for downtown workers to drop their film to be developed, back in the day.

Wolfson High School has a twin in Westside High School on Firestone Road.  During the suburban boom years of the 1960s, Duval Schools would often use the same floor plan for multiple schools around the county.

[Adam White]

When I was in high school, I used to attend the Joe Berg humanities seminars (at least for a while). Robert Broward was one of the speakers and his was probably the most interesting talk, as I recall. I wish I had taken notes or recorded it. He spoke about designing the Unitarian church, as well as a house at the beach. I remember him bagging on the Independent Life building, too.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Another good article with some great examples of our mid-century architecture.
A couple notes.
The BB&T (Atlantic Bank) Garage has (had?) a pedestrian tunnel under Forsyth Street connecting the garage to the office building. The tunnel had a few shops, including (if I remember correctly) a barber and a dry cleaner. That glass store-front under the corkscrew ramp housed Bailey's Camera shop, THE place for downtown workers to drop their film to be developed, back in the day.

The tunnel still exists, but I don't think any businesses remain.  The last one was Benny's sandwich and card/gift shop, which closed in 2015.

[Adam White]

Another good article with some great examples of our mid-century architecture.
A couple notes.
The BB&T (Atlantic Bank) Garage has (had?) a pedestrian tunnel under Forsyth Street connecting the garage to the office building. The tunnel had a few shops, including (if I remember correctly) a barber and a dry cleaner. That glass store-front under the corkscrew ramp housed Bailey's Camera shop, THE place for downtown workers to drop their film to be developed, back in the day.

The tunnel still exists, but I don't think any businesses remain.  The last one was Benny's sandwich and card/gift shop, which closed in 2015.

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,26178.0.html

[sandyshoes]

I seem to recall a short-lived 'tunnel tour' where you could see the huge bank safe underground. Couldn't tell you which bank, though.

[Josh]

I seem to recall a short-lived 'tunnel tour' where you could see the huge bank safe underground. Couldn't tell you which bank, though.

Any idea how long ago that was? I had always heard that Benny's was "where the old vault" was, and Benny's had been around for a while.

[sandyshoes]

Probably around 10 years ago, could be more or less;  there was a pictorial about the tour in either the T/U or Folio.  As I am not familiar with them, this could very well be the one you mentioned. 

[Wacca Pilatka]

The tour was around in the early-to-mid 2010s.  My friend Beth Mason, who used to post here years ago, was one of the guides, along with Gary Sass from the Historical Society.  I went on it in 2011.  The tour is pictured in the link that Adam posted in this thread.  It was called Jacksonville Top To Bottom and it started in the Atlantic Bank tunnels/vault and ended at the rooftop of the Florida Theatre. 

Benny's opened in 1985 and I think it closed in 2015 - I know I have their 30th anniversary plastic cups someplace.  It was indeed in the tunnel near the old vault, and the tour route went by it.

[jaxlongtimer]

Completed in 1963, Samuel W. Wolfson High School was designed by Jacksonville architect Taylor Hardwick. Wolfson was a local civic leader who passed suddenly in 1963. Since 1946, with the construction of Wolfson Children's Hospital, the Wolfson Family Foundation has donated millions to religious, educational, medical and research entities throughout Northeast Florida.

Your photo caption date of 1965 for Wolfson High is the right date, not 1963 in the article  .

FYI, we also had Wolfson Baseball Park, a Wolfson building at JU and the Wolfson name on part of River Garden.  Read this Wikipedia article on the patriarch, Louis Woflson, who was nationally famous and notorious.  Wolfson controlled the Universal Marion Corp. which was the initial and primary occupant of the current JEA HQ's building that once bore his company's name.  He also owned the Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, and had entanglements with Larry King, Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas, and President Nixon's Attorney General, John Mitchell.  Some apparently also credit him with inventing the modern hostile takeover and creating one of the earliest industrial conglomerates.  His life would make a great Netflix or HBO documentary series!  Certainly, at least a Jaxson history article  .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Wolfson

Here is Louis Wolfson's obituary that summarizes much of his life:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion/obituary.aspx?n=louis-e-wolfson&pid=100546361

[thelakelander]

Thanks for the tip! His life would make for a great documentary series.