Abandoned Jacksonville: The Triumph Church

[thelakelander]

A look inside an abandoned historic Eastside institution: The Triumph Church of Kingdom of God in Christ

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/abandoned-jacksonville-the-triumph-church/

[MusicMan]

Says "listed for sale at $110,000"... can you provide a link? Or is this FSBO? Did not see it on MLS or Loopnet

[Alex Sifakis]

Local investor has it for sale, it's off-market.  His email is below.

Eric Sturgeon <egsturgeon@gmail.com>
Subject: Preserve a piece of Jax History! Historic Church Near the Stadium- 1312 Franklin St. 32206

1312 Franklin St. 32206. 2 story, 7928 sqft, 4 bathrooms. Built in 1900, this building survived the great Jacksonville fire of 1901 and is a beautiful piece of history. Property has a new roof. Can also be sold with or without the vacant land across the street for parking.

Asking price for the church and land is 140k, or 110k for just the church. Below is the coj link for the land as well as some pictures.
https://paopropertysearch.coj.net/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=1143770000

[Charles Hunter]

"Near Stadium"??  It's a mile as the crow flies, longer by the street system.
I guess that's real estate agent-speak. 

[jaxlongtimer]

Article says:

Located at 1312 Franklin Street, the former Triumph Church of Kingdom of God in Christ was built around 1940 by James Edwards Hutchins.

Property tax rolls and Mr. Sifakis say: Built in 1900.

1312 Franklin St. 32206. 2 story, 7928 sqft, 4 bathrooms. Built in 1900, this building survived the great Jacksonville fire of 1901 and is a beautiful piece of history. Property has a new roof. Can also be sold with or without the vacant land across the street for parking.

Which is correct?  That's a big difference  .

[thelakelander]

^I verified the date by checking the annual city public directory records on Ancestry.com. A church doesn't pop up in the directory until 1940. The design is also pretty similar to Hutchins other churches. I'm quite fond of Hutchins and believe he's just as important to the development of the City of Jacksonville as H.J. Klutho, so I already had research material on him. Triump is also mentioned as a church designed by Hutchins in the landmarking designation report for Second Missionary Baptist Church in LaVilla (see below).

Second Missionary Baptist Church was constructed and probably designed by noted Jacksonville contractor and designer, James Edward Hutchins. Born November 25, 1890 in Blakely, Georgia, James Edward Hutchins moved to Jacksonville after completing studies at the Savannah State College. Identified as living and working in Jacksonville, Florida as a carpenter as early as 1918, Hutchins was first associated in different capacities with the Dawkins Building and Supply Company except for a few years in the mid-1920's when he was employed as a porter with the Pullman Company.

After forming J.E. Hutchins Construction Company in the 1930's as well as the American Builders Service, Hutchins has become recognized for the design and construction of numerous African American churches in Jacksonville as well as residences in the Durkee Gardens and College Park Subdivisions that opened north and west of Downtown Jacksonville for Jacksonville's growing African-American middle class. Some of the churches in Jacksonville designed and constructed by him include St. Paul A.M.E. Church, New Bethel A.M.E. Church, First Born Church of the Living God, Zion Hope, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Triumph the Church.

See Page 11 of 12: http://cityclts.coj.net/docs/2014-0729%5CReports/Composit%20Exhibit%201.pdf


Based off these three resources that appear to align, I went with Hutchins around 1940 as opposed to 1900. The 1900 data likely comes from the property appraiser's site, which does get building dates wrong from time to time.

[MusicMan]

I drove by yesterday. It's hard to come up with a use going forward, other than a church. I guess it could be residential? The lot across the street is pretty important to any future development.

[Charles Hunter]

I drove by yesterday. It's hard to come up with a use going forward, other than a church. I guess it could be residential? The lot across the street is pretty important to any future development.

Performance Hall?
Recreation Center?

[MusicMan]

Physically yes those might work. Is there an audience over there for it? It will need funding for programming ...... that's a pretty poor area quite frankly.  COJ not exactly out there putting new PAC's or Rec Centers in play as far as I know. But yes it would be nice.

[thelakelander]

Eastside is still a densely populated community. So a recreational or community center could work. I think the major question for a use like that would be financial feasibility and sustainability unless COJ is paying for it.