Lost Jacksonville
Why is Historic Preservation Important?
Historic preservation is the practice of protecting and preserving sites, structures or districts which reflect elements of local or national cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological or architectural history. Preservation has many diverse purposes and rewards, including the strengthening of local economies, stabilization of property values, the fostering of civic beauty and community pride, and the appreciation of local and national history. Historic preservation is a public purpose that advances the education and welfare of citizens, while providing economic and aesthetic benefits as well.
Historic resources are defined as districts, sites, structures, objects or buildings that are greater than seventy-five years in age, and are significant in local, state or national history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture. History encompasses all cultures, economic classes, and social, political and private activities that form the background to the present.
What is a historic site or structure?
Historic resources fall into five categories or types: buildings, sites, structures, objects, or districts. A building is a construction created to shelter human activity, while structures are functional constructions usually created for purposes other than creating human shelter. A site is the location of a significant event, occupation or activity, while an object is primarily an artistic creation such as a sculpture, monument or statuary. A district is a collection of any or all of the above which is united historically or aesthetically.
What are the benefits of historic preservation?
The benefits of historic preservation come in many forms. The prime benefit of historical restoration is always education. It also includes both public and private benefits. Historic preservation safeguards a community's heritage, making it available to future generations for civic enjoyment and educational activities. Preservation stabilizes property values and strengthens local economies. In addition, the conservation and maintenance of historic resources and scenic areas fosters civic beauty and bolsters community pride. Finally, historic preservation has been successfully employed to improve business opportunities in many locales.
1. City Hall - NW corner of Forsyth & Ocean (current site of Haydon Burns Library)
2. Palace Theatre - SW corner of Forsyth & Ocean (current site of metal parking deck)
3. National Bank of Jacksonville - NW corner of Forsyth & Laura (current site of Jacksonville Bank Building)
4. Masonic Temple - SE corner of Main & Monroe (current site of surface parking lot)
5. Post Office Building - NE corner of Forsyth & Hogan (current site of office building)
6. Union Terminal - West Bay Street (the facade still remains)
7.
8. SE corner of Duval and Julia (current site occupied by Federal Courthouse Tower)
9. Demolition of Post Office Building for Furchgott's Department Store - SE corner of Adams & Hogan
10. Looking south over Hemming Park (current location of Dalton Agency)
11. NE corner of Forsyth & Ocean (current location of surface parking lot)
12. JCPenney - NE corner of Main & Bay (current location of metal parking deck)
13. Lane Drugs - SE corner of Forsyth & Main (current location of metal parking deck)
14. Jacksonville Terminal - Prime Osborn Convention Center
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16. Houston Street Bordellos - Houston & Davis
17. Looking east down Adams Street - Intersection of Adams & Julia
18. Looking east down Forsyth Street - Intersection of Forsyth & Laura
19. Looking north down Main Street - Intersection of Main & Forsyth
20. Looking north down Main - Intersection of Main & Forsyth
21. Rhodes Furniture Building - NW corner of Main & Monroe (demolished for new public library)
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23. Windsor Hotel on Hemming Park - NW corner of Hogan & Monroe (current location of Federal Courthouse)
24. Windor Hotel - Hemming Park
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26. Kennedy Generation Station - Tallyrand (just north of JaxPort)
27. West Bay Street Post Office - Bay Street adjacent to Jacksonville Terminal
28. Duval County Criminal Court & County Jail - Liberty Street
29. Haverty's Furniture Building - site of Main Street pocket park.
30. Jackson-Hoyt Building - NW corner of Bay & Laura (current location of BOA Tower)
31. Seminole Hotel - SE corner of Forsyth & Hogan (current location of BOA Tower)
32. Lee Simpson Tire Company - NW corner of Pearl & Adams (Duval County Courthouse site)
33. Sugar Hill - Looking north over Davis Street (Now FCCJ, HUD housing, I-95 and Shands, etc.)
34. Bay Street, between Main & Laura (location of One Independent Square)
35. Gulf Life Insurance Company - Adams Street (current location of Ed Ball Building)
36. Robert Meyer Hotel on Julia Street (current location of Federal Courthouse Tower)
37. Riverside Chevrolet
38. Looking east along Forsyth from intersection with Julia
39. Southern Bell Building - Adams, between Pearl & Julia (demolished for proposed county courthouse) 
40. St. Cloud Hotel in Springfield - Laura Street
41. NE corner of Main & Monroe (site of Main Street Pocket Park)
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43. Independent Life Building - SE corner of Bay & Laura (site of One Independent Square)
44. Imperial Theater - Forsyth, between Ocean & Main (site of metal parking deck)
45. Davis Street in LaVilla
46. Crane Warehouse on West Bay Street in LaVilla (currently a vacant lot)
47. City Hall - NW corner of Forsyth & Ocean (site of Haydon Burns Library)
48. J.G. Christopher Company - East Bay Street (Berkman Plaza)
49. Delchers Storage Building - Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn (demolished for recent road widening project)
50. Looking east down Forsyth - Intersection of Forsyth & Julia
51. Duval County Courthouse - NE corner of Forsyth & Market (site used as surface parking lot for Churchwell Lofts)
52. Bay Street, between Ocean & Laura (site of One Independent Square)
53. Downtown Jacksonville - Intersection of Pearl & Bay at image's bottom right corner
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55.
56. Atlantic Coast Line Offices - SW corner of Forsyth & Julia (site of AT&T Tower)
57. Atlantic Coast Line Terminal - SW corner of Forsyth & Jefferson
58. Arcade Theatre - SE corner of Adams & Laura (currently a vacant lot)
59. Andrew Jackson Hotel - NW corner of Main & Adams (The Police and Fire Pension Fund building location)
60. Looking east along Bay Street - block demolished for One Independent Square
61. SW corner of Bay & Broad (current skyway corridor along Bay Street)
62. Looking south over the Cathedral District - Union Street can be seen at the bottom
63. Capitol Theatre - Main Street, between 7th & 8th
64. Board of Trade Building - NE corner of Main & Adams (currently a surface parking lot)
65. Duval County Courthouse on left - NE corner of Forsyth & Market
Heard National Bank Building on right - SW corner of Forsyth & Laura (site of BOA Tower)
66. Duval County Courthouse - NW corner of Forsyth & Market (site occupied by parking deck)
67. SE corner of Forsyth & Julia (current location of BB&T Tower and surface parking lot)
68. Independent Life Building - SE corner of Bay & Laura
69. Germania Club - Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn
70. Flagler Hotel - 
71. Floridian Hotel
72. Davis & Co. Building
73. NW corner of Bay & Julia - (demolished for AT&T Tower)
74. Warrocks Guava Jelly - Main Street
75. Looking east over Forsyth 
76. George Washington Hotel - NW corner of Adams & Julia (proposed county courthouse site)
77. SE corner of Hogan & Monroe
78. Duval Motor Company in LaVilla (site of vacant lot)
79.
80. Elk's Building
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82.
Article by Ennis Davis