Urban change and cultural loss: 4 Vanished Main Streets

[thelakelander]

Once vital arteries of Jacksonville's growth and cultural identity, here are four historic commercial corridors that have been forgotten and lost to time.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/urban-change-and-cultural-loss-4-vanished-main-streets/

[Charles Hunter]

Another interesting article. The real shame is that these lost "Main Streets" were not replaced with another a couple of blocks away. They just disappeared.

A question about the Main Street (the one with that name) photos.
The first one, which appears to be near Forsyth Street, shows Main Street with two lanes in each direction.
The second one, on the Alsop Bridge, looks like it has three southbound lanes and one northbound lane. Were there reversible lanes on the Alsop Bridge during the peak hours?

[thelakelander]

Yes, at one point Main Street had reversible lanes to accommodate peak traffic flow. Here's a full set of images of Main Street's rush hour during the 1950s:



https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/memory-lane-downtowns-main-street-in-1952/

[Charles Hunter]

Interesting.

From the cars, these appear to be very early 1950s photos.

[thelakelander]

Good eye! 1952 to be exact.

[Jagsdrew]

The Chevy billboard on the right is a dead giveaway 

[Papa33]

For anyone who knows.  Before the construction of I-95, did this side of the Main Street Bridge "T" at US 1 for a left/right turn only or did it continue South into San Marco?

[thelakelander]

Main ended at Miami Road (Prudential Drive). US 1 went east on Miami Road and then south on Kings. Click on the link above. The last picture in it shows that intersection.

[copperfiend]

Looking at old pictures of downtown Jacksonville can be so depressing

[Charles Hunter]

Remember in the late 1960s when there were enough people working and shopping downtown that there were 2 (or 3) intersections along Hogan Street that had an "all pedestrians" phase (aka Barnes Dance or Scramble Crossing)?

[jaxlongtimer]

In this mid-century heyday, Main Street was Jacksonville's primary shopping street, home to major national chains such as S.H. Kress & Co., Woolworth, Lane Drugs, JCPenney, McCrory, and Grant's.

The Woolworth and JC Penney of my childhood faced James Weldon Plaza, situated were the Federal Courthouse is now.  I don't recall them on Main Street.  Was there a prior location on Main for these stores?

[thelakelander]

JCPenney was on the NE corner of Bay & Main before moving to JWJ Park.

[Zac T]

I believe Woolworth was at Forsyth & Main where Perdue is located now