Bureau of Historic Continuity

our handmade (stamped) download cards we gave out at ArtWalk - over 300 of them!

See you at ArtWalk tonight! 5-9 pm at the old Hayden Burns Library!

Come by and get a download card!

or download it online here :)

the last few interviews

(Photos to follow when the internet isn’t being so slowwwwwwwww…)

We were able to squeeze in a few last interviews this past week, bringing our total and final number up to 25. These 25 interviews will compile the 25 stops on the audio tour.

On Wednesday May 25th, we met Tom Edwards at the former site of his grandparents old corner store out on Old Kings Road. The Times Union came to report on the project too!

On Saturday morning we caught up with John Nooney, a local eco-tourism enthusiast who gave us a tour and some history on Hogans Creek — an urban waterway right here in Jacksonville. And we had the awesome surprise of getting taken out on an urban waterway kayak excursion after the interview!

We also got talking with Patti Hodge and her lifelong friend and Fletcher High classmate Cody Swanson in front of their old alma mater on 3rd street. They used to see Lynrd Skynrd for $1 at the beach!

And our last interview for the project was with my Dad who came to town just in time to share a story for the tour. He recollected his time during high school working as a union postal worker on nights and weekends at the old Jacksonville railway terminal and all the life lessons and antics that ensued. I have a lot more to say about interviewing him for the project, but that will be another blog entry …

so …

See you at Art Walk tomorrow!

-Juliet

for the Bureau of Historic Continuity

AUDIO TOUR RELEASE WEDS JUNE 1ST

The official release of the audio tour will be THIS Wednesday June 1st at the downtown Art Walk - the site from which this project began :)

We will have the yellow cardboard kiosk at the old Hayden Burns library at Oceans and Adams and we will be giving away download cards for the audio tour! You will also be able to access the audio-tour download from this blog as of tomorrow evening.

 We are currently tying up all the loose ends (trying to!) and getting everything ready to go for tomorrow night!

Also, we were able to schedule a few more interviews for this past week and we will be posting pictures and blurbs later this afternoon. Good stuff!

ALSO! Be sure to get a copy of the Jacksonville Times Union tomorrow. There is supposed to be a story about the release … :)

featured on metrojacksonville.com!

Hello everyone!

Today we are featured on metrojacksonville.com! There is a nice little overview and interview there, as well as some photos. We love the headline :)

check out the article here!

Wow! SO behind on blogging … sorry guys! We’re still here! Just very busy with the project and EVERTHING ELSE! Another update to follow soon with info about the TOUR RELEASE and the last chance for interviews.

Here’s a peak at some interviews of late:

Last Thursday we met with Florence Haridan at the corner of Monroe and Laura, right by the parking spot where her whole life changed. Florence detailed the catalystic afternoon her car was broken into and the events, realizations, and perspective shift that followed.

***

Dr. Wayne Wood gave us an eloquent architectural history of Riverside from the front porch of his historic site in Jacksonville, which also happens to be his home, prairie-style “Strawberry Hill.”

***

This last interview technically falls out of bounds of the project, as it actually takes place in St. Johns County at Mickler’s Beach, but Sid Mickler was so full of stories we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go interview him. We met one morning a few weeks back at the exact site where the Mickler pier, which Sid helped his father build, once stood. Many stories unfolded from that very spot, and Sid’s daughter Julie was there to give her perspective as well. She was also nice enough to send us these photos she took during the interview AND to share some of her photos and research for the book she is writing about Palm Valley!

an old Florida postcard showing the Mickler pier!

beats, bikes, and bags

Sunday in Springfield

On Sunday we met up with Jacksonville hip-hop head-honcho Tough Junkie, and yes, that is his real name :) He put on his best story-telling voice and gave us the rundown on the rise and fall of 1520 North Main Street — the former home of his record shop, Zombie Bikes, and Burro Bags. And a myriad of games, traditions, and local legends that emerged from the community there.

(Tough Junkie demonstrates his winning form for bike-tire phone poll horseshoes)

Saturday morning on Myra Street

Edward McClaud (and his sister who just happened to be in town!) told us stories all revolving around the pecan tree in the front yard of their childhood home.

Friday evening at Lonnie Millar Park

Elijah Jamall shared playground stories, including a dare-devil tumble from the top of the play structure, at Lonnie Millar Park way up on Moncreif Avenue. He and his two sisters (together they are TRIPLETS!) spent many many afternoons there and the park is named for their late family friend.

marathon interview day

Yesterday we had three interviews back-to-back. It was a real runaround but ultimately it was what we wish we could do every day! Momentum feels GOOD!

Interview #1: Cheryl Etheridge at the Carling

Cheryl discussed the history of The Carling (former fancy hotel now restored into apartment housing) and how it stands as a symbol of progress in the south.

*****

Interview #2: Powell Mock at the site of his college graduation ceremony as part of UNF’s very first graduating class in 1973.

(On his iPhone Powell compares an historic photo of the graduation ceremony with the architecture of the courtyards to make sure we are in the right spot)

*****

Interivew #3: Leslie and Phil Kaplan by the river at Landon Park. Spoiler alert: dead body in the river on their wedding anniversary date!