Red Carpet Treatment

The Jacksonville Film Festival and jacksonville.com are throwing an Oscar party. Click here for ticket info.

Fun with Flowers

Fun with Flowers
Wednesday, January 28 • 10am
Garden Club of Jacksonville
1005 Riverside Ave.

Frank Smetak presents "Scentimental Melody"
and new ideas for the New Year.
$15, registration required. (904) 355-4224.

At the Cummer

Georgia O’Keeffe
and Her Times:
American Modernism

from the Lane Collection
of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Wednesday, February 4 through Sunday, April 12

Local Author Speaks at the Next JHS Meeting

Author Charles E. “Pat” Pattillo III speaks on his recent book, St. Dunstan’s and John, at the next Jacksonville Historical Society meeting.

Thursday, January 29, 2009
at Old St. Andrews
317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

7 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. program

Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings

Uncontrolled moisture is the most prevalent cause of deterioration in older and historic buildings. It leads to erosion, corrosion, rot, and ultimately the destruction of materials, finishes, and eventually structural components. Ever-present in our environment, moisture can be controlled to provide the differing levels of moisture necessary for human comfort as well as the longevity of historic building materials, furnishings, and museum collections. The challenge to building owners and preservation professionals alike is to understand the patterns of moisture movement in order to better manage it--not to try to eliminate it. There is never a single answer to a moisture problem. Diagnosis and treatment will always differ depending on where the building is located, climatic and soil conditions, ground water effects, and local traditions in building construction.

Have You Seen Any Meskers?

Do you even know what one is? If so, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency wants too know! They are conducting and extensive, nationwide search to locate and identify so-called Mesker buildings. These buildings have ornate, sheet-metal facades and were built mainly in the late-1800s to early-1900s. They are a product of two companies – the Mesker Brothers Iron Works of St. Louis, Mo., and the George L. Mesker Company of Evansville, Ind. Although owned by brothers, the two companies operated independently. Producing similar products with architectural motifs rooted in the Classical Revival style, the companies are distinguished through subtle identifying characteristics. These companies specialized in storefront columns and cornices to entire facades made of the galvanized steel and cast iron construction.

"Meskers" can be found all across America but especially in small towns. If you have seen any here in Jacksonville or have seen any in your travels, please contact www.gotmesker.com.

Monthly Board Meeting for RAP

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
7:30pm
Call the RAP office for meeting location.

The Board of Directors meet the third Wednesday of each month.
We will be dicussing the some of the regular issues as well including zoning issues,
quality of life issues facing the district, fundraising issues,
the ongoing restoration of the Buckland House,
zoning and transportation issues will be among the topics discussed.

This meeting is open to all RAP members as are the committees.
So if you have an interest in helping out in the district, please plan to attend.

Riverside Fine Arts - Organ Series

A Showcase of Jacksonville Talent Organists
January 18 at 3:00 pm
Jacoby Symphony Hall

Sophie Milman
Friday, January 23,2009 // 8:00 PM // Church of the Good Shepherd

The Riverside Fine Arts Series continues strong with Russian-born singer Sophie Milman. She has toured the world, won a Juno (Canada's Grammy Award) for best Jazz Vocalist of 2008, sold more than 100,000 records - and she's only 25! She tours internationally and has worked with the likes of Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Chick Corea, and Jesse Cook.

Magnet School Informational Expo

Duval County Public Schools will open the doors of the Jacksonville Fairgrounds on Saturday, January 10, for Magnet Mania & More, an interactive, fun-filled and informational expo detailing magnet programs and school choice options for the 2009-2010 school year.

The free event, which is from 11am to 3pm, provides parents and students with the opportunity to learn more information about our district's magnet programs, special academic programs and charter schools. In addition, attendees will also have an opportunity to speak with magnet office staff and transportation officials, win prizes and enjoy performances by magnet students.

The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows

The windows on many historic buildings are an important aspect of the architectural character of those buildings. Their design, craftsmanship, or other qualities may make them worthy of preservation. This is self-evident for ornamental windows, but it can be equally true for warehouses or factories where the windows may be the most dominant visual element of an otherwise plain building. Evaluating the significance of these windows and planning for their repair or replacement can be a complex process involving both objective and subjective considerations. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and the accompanying guidelines, call for respecting the significance of original materials and features, repairing and retaining them wherever possible, and when necessary, replacing them in kind. This Brief is based on the issues of significance and repair which are implicit in the standards, but the primary emphasis is on the technical issues of planning for the repair of windows including evaluation of their physical condition, techniques of repair, and design considerations when replacement is necessary.