Backyard Treasure: Riverside Park United Methodist Church

Located in the heart of Riverside neighborhood, Riverside Park United Methodist Church has a long history. RPUMC began as a group of members of St. Matthews Methodist Episcopal Church, who met in the home of W.P. Spiers of Grape Street, now Ernest Street. The Church was officially organized as Riverside Episcopal Church on April 15, 1890, with Rev. W.D. Dowell as first pastor. The first sanctuary was built on Roselle Street in 1891. In 1905, property for a new sanctuary was bought at Park and Fisk streets and new sanctuary was built by 1911. The name was changed to Riverside Park Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In addition, an educational building was erected in 1930 honoring the 40-year career of L.P. McCord, the Sunday school superintendent.

The breathtaking sanctuary, which currently stands, was completed in 1926.  The exterior was designed by architect Leeroy Sheftall in a Gothic Revival style, featuring cast stone scrollwork and tracery, along with two sleepy gargolyes on the Park Street side. The thirty-two stained glass windows were designed by Henry Wilet of Philadelphia in the 1940s. The interior boats massive, wooden beams complementing the Gothic Revival style of the exterior. 

In 1966, the name of the congregation was officially changed to Riverside Park United Methodist Church. After over 120 years, the church still opens its doors each Sunday morning, 9:00 for a contemporary service and 11:00 for traditional and has over 400 members. In addition to Sunday mornings, the church holds Wednesday night classes such as yoga, painting and container gardening. Local community support is shown each August with "Rockin’ Back to School," a free event where over 300 backpacks filled with school supplies are distributed, and children are given physicals and vaccinations provided by St. Vincent’s Medical Center to get kids ready for school.

For more information on RPUMC, visit them on the web at http://riversideparkumc.com/ or call (904) 355-5491.

A special "thank you"
Riverside Avondale Preservation would like to take a moment and thank RPUMC for their generosity in loaning us their table linens for our Bootleggers Ball fundraiser.  For more informatio  and to purchase tickets, please visit www.rapbootleggersball.eventbrite.com

Frank Lloyd Wright Film Festival at Sun Ray Cinema

Sun-Ray Cinema hosts a film festival honoring the work of one of America's most influential architects Sunday April 15, 2012.  Proceeds benefit RAP, The Jacksonville Historical Society, and the Jacksonville Chapter of the AIA. 

Few architects have the enduring legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright; his Priaire Style has left an indellable mark in American design and architecture.  For one day only, Director Michael Milner will present three documentaries focused on the man and his artistic contributions:

A Child of the Sun: The West Campus of Florida Southern College

1:00 pm (73 minutes)

Documents the story of Florida Southern College, whose west campus contains the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture anywhere in the world.  Originally planned as an “Academic Village” of more than 20 structures, only half the project was completed, remaining today as Wright’s “Unfinished Symphony.” The film delves into each building in great detail, while also elucidating viewers on the 20-year relationship Wright developed with the college and its visionary president, Dr. Ludd Myrl Spivey. Wright himself provided the nickname for the campus when, during its creation, he proclaimed that the buildings at Florida Southern would “...grow out of the ground, and into the light, A Child of the Sun.”  View a Clip

Sacred Spaces: The Houses of Worship Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright 
2:45 pm (73 minutes)

Frank Lloyd Wright has long been regarded as America's greatest architect. Famous for such works as the Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater, Wright designed over 1,000 buildings during his 70-year career. Sacred Spaces examines his brilliant, but less well-known, houses of worship.These magnificent Sacred Spaces transcend religious boundaries and demonstrate not only Wright's genius but also his devotion to nature, which he said, “is all the body of God we are ever going to see.”

The Houses of Worship included featured in this film:

• Unity Temple Oak Park, IL
• Pettit Chapel Belvidere, IL
• Pfeiffer Chapel Lakeland, FL
• Danforth Chapel Lakeland, FL
• Community Christian Church Kansas City, MO
• Unitarian Meeting House Madison, WI
• Beth Sholom Synagogue Elkins Park, PA
• Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Wauwatos, WI
• Pilgrim Congregational Church Redding, CA
• First Christian Church Phoenix, AZ

Romanza: The California Structures of Frank Lloyd Wright4:00 pm

The latest documentary by Micheal Milner Romanza documents Wright's contributions beginning with his first commission in 1909 until his death in 1959.  Watch trailer. 

Director Milner will be present after each film for a short question and answer session with the audience.  Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the making of these documentaries and Wright himself. 

Tickets are $9 per film, or $18 for all three.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit AIA Jacksonville  

Tree Planting Event to Kick-Off re:solve Marketing Grant

Join RAP's Green Team and Brunet Garcia advertising as we kick-off the re:solve marketing grant with a tree planting this Saturday at Boone Park, from 9:00 am - noon.  We will plant 59 trees, including native trees such as: Fringe Trees, Dogwoods, Bald Cypress, and Riverbirch Trees.  We will also plant Crape Myrtles.

Volunteers Needed!

To volunteer, contact our Green Team Chair, Sally Robson at sallyrobson@bellsouth.net. (or just show up at Boone Park with your shorts, hat, sunscreen, and sunny disposition!)

re:solve is a one-year grant from Brunet-Garcia advertising for pro-bono marketing and advertising services.  This year, Riverside Avondale Preservation is honored to have been selected as one of the local non-profit organizations to receive the grant from this prestigious firm.

Update: RAP's Feral Cat Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) Program

Guest Blogger: Mary Coleman

Our neighborhood's response to RAP's partnership with First Coast No More Homeless Pets has been very positive thanks to caring individuals and area businesses.  Thus far 44 feral cats have been trapped, neutered, and returned.  27 of those were females. 

One female cat can produce over 100 kittens throughout her lifetime.   Simple math indicates an exponential, rapid population growth rate.  In a prefect world, most of us would rather see these kittens go to loving homes as indoor pets. The reality is TNR programs help reduce unwanted feral cat colonies. 

The TNR Program's impact:

·        Stabilizes the feral cat population, eventually eliminating the cat colony in a humane manner which fosters compassion.

·       Is a more effective and less costly solution than repeated extermination.  Costs for repeatedly trapping and killing feral colonies are far higher than promoting stable, non-breeding colonies.

·      Reduces the number of feral cats harming wildlife and causing general nuisances.

RAP has chosen a pro-active approach in controlling unchecked growth of feral cat colonies in our neighborhood.  Every cat spayed/neutered, is one more step towards that goal. Remember, spring is breeding season. Be pro-active and make a difference! All it takes is a phone call to Mary Coleman at 483-7189.

The Cummer Hosts Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Collection from the High Museum of Art

Maximilien Luce, (French, 1858 – 1941), Port of London, Night,

1894, Oil on canvas, 28 x 35 1/4 inches, Gift in memory

 of Caroline Massell Selig (1919-1984) , 1985.22.

A Room with Several Views
You may have passed by the Cummer and noticed their banner that reads, "Monet was a Misfit."  I did, and did a "double-take."  Not only did the phrase catch my eye, but the exhibit itself caught my attention, as it showcases a pretty significant collection from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA.  There are close to 50 works displayed, tracing the evolution of the movement from beginnings with artists, such as Eugène Boudin,  who transitioned from the realism of the academic Salon to free brushstrokes and more vivid colors, through the Post-Impressionist movement artists such as: Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, and Edouard Vuillard.

The Cummer's three gardens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, were one of the reasons the museum was selected to host this exhibit.  Landscapes were one of the key subject matters of impressionist painters, particularly gardens. Many impressionists were known for painting their subject on site in open air, otherwise referred to as "en plein air."  This visual relationship between the paintings and the formal gardens is one that few museums can offer. 

Museum curator Holly Keris states,

"These artists were considered rebels for breaking with tradition, not only in terms of subject matter --they preferred not to paint the standard religious, historical, or mythological scenes --but also in terms of technique.  The impressionists were the first group of artists to have paint in tubes, a recent invention, available to them.  This led them to paint outdoors, instead of creating and finishing works in the studio. The timing of this exhibition could not be better.  In a few short weeks, The Cummer Gardens will be in full bloom, and visitors will not only be able to see great works of art indoors, but also see the beauty of the natural world."

A Response to Photography--Your Photograph as a Response

The vividness of the colors is also an artistic response to the advent of photography and the need for realistic painted portraits diminishing.  Instead of competing with a photograph's accurate representation of reality, they created visual effects through loose brushstrokes. These artists captured atmospheres and moods in color, contrasting black and white photography. Like photographers, impressionists captured a "moment in time" and movement. 

To this end, the Cummer is hosting a photography event or "experience."  From their website:

Calling all Photo Enthusiasts: February 16 – May 5
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens invites experienced and novice photographers alike to capture reflected images or reflected light along the St. Johns River. From February 16 through May 5, 2012, send between one and three photos to lstevens@cummer.org. All appropriate photos will be shared on The Cummer’s Flickr account. This is not a contest, but rather a shared photo experience celebrating Impressionism and creative expression.

Exhibition Details: February 16, 2012 - May 6, 2012 (The Minerva and Raymond K. Mason Gallery)

Key Lectures:

Lecture: Brilliant Transformations: Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Dr. Debra Murphy, University of North Florida. Tuesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. $5 Members and Non-members

Lecture: Special Guest Lecturer David Brenneman, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, High Museum of Art. Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. $5 Members and Non-members

For more information, visit the exhibit page on the Cummer Museum website.

Bike Sharrows on Riverside Avenue

<< SHARROW: shared lane pavement markings

You may have noticed these markings on Riverside Avenue from the Riverside Arts Market (under Fuller Warren Bridge) to Post Street. They are part of an ongoing effort by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to encourage bicycle safety.

Sharrows tell bicyclists where it is safe to ride and alert motorists where to expect bicycles. 
- They help position cyclists on narrow lanes, where bikes and cars cannot travel side-by-side safely.
- Guides bicyclists to a safe position next to parking lanes, outside the “Door Zone”.
- Alerts motorists to where bicycles may use the full lane, as Florida law allows.
- Encourage safe passing.

You may note these posters all over our neighborhood, informing the public on how to properly share the lane with a cyclist.  Please take a moment and review, for everyone's safety.

FOR MORE INFORMATION BikeJax wrote a wonderful post about sharrows with in-depth information, "New Lane Markings: The Down and Dirty Guide" and we thought we'd share. (Great job!) As they explain, a sharrow pretty much alerts drivers and cyclists to what already is stipulated under Florida Law.

Cliff Notes: Urban Agriculture Community Forum

On Thursday, January 26, RAP joined forces with Sustainable Springfield to co-present a Community Forum on Urban Agriculture.  Topics included possible locations for a community garden in the Riverside Avondale Historic District and proposed Hen Legislation for Duval County.  This article presents general information about urban agriculture, notes from the meeting, and some key points for residents. 

Copyright: Robert Nickelsberg for TIME Magazine. Photo
of a former asphalt-covered playground in Brooklyn, NY

What is urban agriculture? As a national movement, urban agriculture is growing rapidly across the US. According to the USDA, around 15 percent of the world's food is now grown in urban areas. City and suburban agriculture takes the form of backyard, roof-top and balcony gardening, community gardening in vacant lots and parks, roadside urban fringe agriculture and livestock grazing in open space."* Amid escalating concerns about the environment, pesticides, and food safety, urbanites are turning to community gardens to supply their fruits and vegetables.  Cities are also creating gardens to address "urban food deserts," or areas where access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited. 

Animal husbandry, of which urban hen-keeping is the most popular version, forms a significant part of the urban agriculture movement.  Sarasota, Austin, Charlotte, San Francisco, Little Rock, Mobile, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Boise, and Albuquerque all allow a limited number of hens on private property.  Proposed legislation is for hens in Duval County and a regulatory process.  Organizations such as Urban Chickens help dispel myths pertaining to urban chicken-keeping.

Community Forum Cliff Notes
Community Gardens in Riverside Avondale Historic District
Sally Robson, RAP Board Member and Master Gardener
Sally spoke about RAP's Green space Committee and efforts to start a community garden in Riverside Avondale Historic District.  Potential locations include: Willowbranch Rose Garden Park, Peace Memorial Garden (next to Rose Garden), and Fishweir Park.  There is a possibility to have more than one community garden. Some options include either a large, shared garden or individual plots. 

Jump-starting a Community Garden: Ideas and Partnership with Sustainable Springfield
Amanda Searle, Sustainable Springfield
Sustainable Springfield will be helping RAP set up one or more community gardens in Riverside Avondale. Amanda spoke about how Sustainable Springfield runs their community garden. Some of the most important aspects are establishing by-laws and annual dues that help keep the garden looking great and preventing issues from lack of maintenance.  By-laws help establish rules such as whether the garden will allow pesticides, size of plots, and other responsibilities of members.  The most important aspect is buy-in from the community in establishing how the garden should be run.


Urban Hen-keeping and Proposed Hen Legislation for Duval County
Lauren Trad, Hens in Jax
Benefits of urban hens:

·         Health – better source of protein than Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFO’s) that send eggs to our grocery stores, often from poorly run facilities and months old by the time they are consumed.

·         Economic - Cheaper source of protein and promotes the local food movement that keeps more dollars and jobs in our local economy.

·         Safer – CAFO’s are more prone to E coli and salmonella and often use antibiotics and hormones  - McDonald’s just dropped a multi-state egg supplier after “serious violations” were found.

·         Education and Knowledge – Kids learn firsthand knowledge of where their food comes from and since they are home raised, we know that they are antibiotic and hormone free.

·         Environmentally sensitive – eggs are brought in from the backyard instead of hundreds or thousands of miles away.

·         Natural pest control – chickens eat worms, roaches, slugs, fire ants and termites among other pests.

·         Domesticated pet – in current Jacksonville coding, the following are considered domesticated animals – dog, bird, cat, rodent, such as a gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, domesticated mouse, and domesticated rat, domesticated or European ferret, rabbit, fish, nonvenemous reptile and amphibian.  Poultry is not.

Some misconceptions about urban hen-keeping:

·         Noise - Roosters will not be permitted and are not needed to produce eggs.  Laying hens make some soft noise when laying an egg, but are basically silent at all other times.  From sundown to sunup, because chickens can’t see in the dark, they lay quietly in their coop.

·         Odors – Much like a cat litter box, the laying hen’s coop does need cleaning from time to time.  Unlike cat’s, a hens waste is a great source of fertilizer for lawns and garden beds.   The slaughtering of chickens is expressly prohibited unless at a USDA approved facility.

·         Disease – Chickens carry far fewer diseases than cats or dogs.  As to “bird flu”, there has never been human infection in the US and the spread in Asia, Africa and Europe is largely due to the unsanitary and tight quarters seen more often in CAFOs. 

·         Attraction of predators – Raccoons are the most common predators to chickens and they exist in Jacksonville currently, usually feeding off the plates of outdoor cats and dogs, as well as the trash created and left out by humans.  Laying hens, when secured in proper coop at night, are safe from these nocturnal creatures.

Key elements from Proposed Draft Hen Legislation

·         As an accessory use to a permitted single family dwelling.

·       A maximum of 6 hens – no roosters.

·        Enclosing structure required, screened from street view, and consistent with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services Publication.

·        Chickens are not raised for consumption.  Sale of eggs is already regulated and enforced by the State Department of Agriculture.

Restaurant Trends: Why Fresh Ingredients Matter
Brian Siebenschuh, Chef, Orsay Restaurant
Brian spoke about the trend of urban argiculture and the importance of providing fresh ingredients.  The Black Sheep Restaurant Group not only purchases meats  from local farms, but also has their own farm and grows their own ingredients.  Rather than a passing fad, fresh, sustainable food production is here to stay.  There is a marked difference in quality of food, in the opinion of many chefs.  7 of the top 10 Restaurant things Restaurant owners and chefs find to be important for 2012 pertain to locally-produced foods and sustainability.

Top 10 Trends for 2011- survey of over 1,500 chefs:
1) Locally-sourced meats and seafood
2) locally-grown produce
3) Sustainability
4) Nutritionally-balanced children's dishes
5) "hyper local" restaurants having their own gardens and chefs butchering their own meats.
6) Children's nutrition
7) Sustainable seafood
8) Gluten-free products and allergy-conscious dishes
9) Simplicity - "back to basics"
10) Farm/estate-branded ingredients


SOURCES & MORE INFO
* USDA, "Urban Agriculture: Farms and Community: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.  http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=2&tax_level=2&tax_subject=301&topic_id=2719

RAP Member Richard Skinner & Associates Grace the Cover of Florida Architecture

RAP Small Business member Richard Skinner & Associates and DRC Chair, architect Greg Thomas, make the cover story of the latest edition (82nd) of Florida Architecture with a bold, elegant, and contemporary interpretation of a beach bungalow.

Refugio do Gatao (Portuguese for "refuge of the big cat") is a Brazilian-inspired home nestled on the Florida shoreline and its lush landscape. Constructed largely of wood and stucco with large overhanging eaves gently held by handcrafted brackets, the home is at once traditional and also contemporary. "Its a simple house, with traditional forms like a gabled roof and wide porches," said architect Greg Thomas.  

There is a decidedly elegant, minimalist tendency, with natural materials taking supremacy. Cypress vaulted ceilings and walls counterbalance mahogany on doors and window frames, hickory on floors, and ipe on exterior decks. Here the materials are clean, "unfettered by ornament" Thomas explains.

The home is totally integrated into its natural environment. The living room and dinning room both seamlessly open to the exterior wrap-around porches.  Central to the design was a churrasqueira, a traditional Brazilian barbecue area.  Located near the entrance, it creates a welcoming area which connects the interior to the exterior. Another interesting space is the wine room, located beneath the house.  Project designer Richard Skinner comments, "It is made completely out of Brazilian purpleheart, which has an interesting spilled wine feel."

RAP would like to congratulate Skinner & Associates and Greg Thomas on this distinction. 

Hygema House Movers Selected for Foundation Portion of Buckland House Restoration

RAP is honored to announce the bid for the foundation component of the restoration work, after an arduous selection process, has been awarded to Hygema House Movers.

RAP assembled a committee comprised of: Executive Director, Carmen Godwin; Preservation and Education Coordinator, Laura Lavernia; Project Architect, Greg Thomas; and Contractor, Bill Smart owner of River City Restoration. A request for bids was issued and bids were evaluated based on--in order of importance-- experience and staff qualifications, thoroughness of scope, schedule, and cost. Based on careful evaluation of criteria and extensive interviews, RAP has awarded the foundation portion of the project to Hygema House Movers. 

Pictured: beloved RAP member Jerry Spinks (1938 - 2011)

Established in 1930, Hygema has a long-standing history and reputation for excellence providing specialized services for historic structures in the areas of: structural moving (historical, masonry, brick, block, frame), foundation repairs, house leveling, termite damage repairs, and structural repairs.  They have been involved in previous projects with RAP, specifically during the early years of the organization's history when the organization was moving historic structures as a last resort in able to save them from imminent demolition. 

Hygema House Movers is also a proud sponsor of the Buckland House Restoration project.  Their main project contribution consists of materials and other costs associated with construction.  Their proposal consisted in rebuilding the foundation salvaging the existing exterior rusticated blocks, leveling the house and the front porch, re-pouring cracked front concrete steps, and plumbing (straightening) the porch, particularly re-setting the columns that are currently leaning as a result of the settlement.

---
This project has been financed in part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, administered through the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission.

Hey! We've Got Some Hay We'd Like to Give Away!

RAP fall pic - bales of hay

We need to deck the halls...so out with Fall!  As part of our fall decor, on our front porch we have 9 bales of hay. It would not be very sustainable of us to simply throw these out, so we researched options and ideas to re-use or recycle bales of hay.  Now all we need are folks to come and get it!  First come, first serve (RAP Temporary Offices 2705 Riverside Avenue, corner of Riverside and King). 

Options for Re-Use of Hay Bales

Mulch AlternativeDismantle the bale and work the hay into the soil.  Mulching with hay after the fall will add organic material to the soil as it decomposes during the winter months.  If you add hay to your compost pile, that will speed up decomposition. 

Props to You!Either as imaginative walls for a children's fort (just think, Fort Bale!) or props for your country themed decor...the possibilities are endless. Planning to shoot a country music video, anyone?  We even ran across articles suggesting using hay bales for seating at country-themed weddings. 

How Does your Garden Grow?Apparently, hay bale gardening is popular is you have poor soil quality.  You can plant a vegetable garden in a bale of hay. Tomatoes and okra will require a trellis to help support them. 

We hope we've inspired you to consider creative re-use.  Please share with us any other creative options and ideas!  Brighten your day with some free hay!

Christmas in Avondale Tonight

Tonight (Friday, December 2, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm) sleigh bells will ring, choruses will sing, and it will be Christmas in Avondale.  This event organized by the Avondale Merchants Association is a tradition in our neighborhood dating back at least 25 years. Christmas in Avondale celebrates the art of giving and community. 

The list of who and what is planned is exhaustive.  Street will be closed, an ice slide assembled, and Santa will make a guest appearance. First Coast Chorus and Fishweir School Chorus, will be signing carols. There will be horse and buggy rides down Ingleside Avenue. Santa will make his appearance riding his "sleigh" around 6:00pm and will be at Avondale Artworks the rest of the evening. Merhants will have special treats in each of their stores.  Also of note is the participation of the award-winning Legacy Baton Twirlers, Dance Trance Kids, face painting and temporary tattoos for children and, last but certainly not least, Blossom the Possum from MoSH will make a guest appearance. 

As merchants deck their halls in preparation for the event (and the window decorating contest), we got to thinking about the art of giving.  "People want to give something that they will be remembered by - something meaningful.  It's the sentiment and not the cost.  A gift is about what stirs the soul, about what makes people happy.  A gift can be a treasured memory," said Samantha Wyatt from Avondale Gift Boutique.

"Accessories make the perfect gift.  They add a personal touch to every outfit and can be relatively inexpensive, said Dianne Garcia of J. Ashley Boutique.  A great scarf is a perfect present, as scarves have been the go-to accessory for women for a couple of seasons now. We certainly never under-estimate  what a good pashmina can do!

For the foodie, try Green Man Gourmet (they will have mulled cider--that's Christmas in a cup).  With an extraordinary selection of spices, salts, and rubs, they are sure to have the right cooking accessory for the epicurean in your family.  One can never go wrong with baked goods from Let them Eat Cake or Peterbrooke Chocolatier. 

The perfect accessory for the home, according to Cowford Traders is their best-selling Fraiser Fir candle (there is no merrier scent).  For a truly unique gift, consider an art piece from Avondale Artworks or a beautiful oriental rug from Hooshang. 

The most important gift of all is the experience of the event and the memories created year after year.  "Christmas in Avondale is our gift to the community," said Dianne Garcia of J. Ashley, President of the Avondale Merchants Association.

Local Electrician Hangs Holiday Decorations at Park and King

Kyle Kestner on self-propelled lift

The Holiday spirit is alive and well in our neighborhood!  Charlie Alderman, of Alderman Electric, met Councilman Jim Love and aide Kevin Kuzel (President and Treasurer of Park & King Area Merchants Association, respectively) at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving to aid with the hanging of holiday decorations. Charlie graciously volunteered to help install holiday banners and ornamental candy cane decorations on the eighty light poles in the Park & King commercial district. 

The process was much smoother than the traditional manner of hanging light pole decorations (ladder) with the self-propelled lift loaned by RSC Equipment Rental.  Kyle Kestner, employee of Alderman Electric, ran the lift and banners were installed in an expedient manner. As this is the season of giving, Charlie Alderman also repaired twenty or so light pole arms that were broken at his cost. 

Park & King Merchants Association and Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to Charlie for this early holiday present!

For more information about Alderman Electric, please call (904) 778-9631.

History of the Buckland House

George Buckland and family in Jacksonville

The Buckland House is significant to the social history as well as the architectural history of Jacksonville, FL.  The home was built around 1909 (property appraiser records have final construction date recorded as 1912) and it currently serves as the headquarters for Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) as well as the Riverside Arts Market (RAM).

The Buckland Family The house on Herschel Street appears to have been built for the Buckland Family and was owned by this family for nearly eighty years.  Former owner George Buckland practiced law in Ohio with his father, Ralph Buckland, who was a colleague of former US president Rutherford B. Hayes in the 1840s and a former mayor of Freemont, OH, former member of the US House of Representatives, and a leader of the 72nd Ohio infantry during the Civil War.  George Buckland  moved to Jacksonville in 1908 to work for the gas company.  He was known for his weekly column, "Family Pages from the Past" published in the Florida Metropolis newspaper.  He married Grace Huntington and had two daughters: Mary and Charlotte. 

Buckland House Becomes the French Primary School
In 1918, Grace and daughter Mary founded the French Primary School at the Buckland House.  Grace taught the children French, while Mary attended to their primary education, "The Three R's." The Buckland family continued to live in the home while it served as a school.  There are accounts of the butler and maid assisting with moving the furniture to accommodate for desks and such. The French Primary School taught some of Jacksonville's most prominent citizens and operated until Mrs. Buckland's death in the 1940s.  Daughter Charlotte never taught at the School, but taught Biology at Duval County Public Schools. 

Buckland House Donated to RAP for Headquarters
From 1978 to 1990, RAP was headquartered on 2624 Riverside Avenue.  The expansion of St. Vincents Medical Center made the relocation of 2624 necessary for that home's only salvation.  RAP saved the house by moving it to Powell Place, a street zoned for strictly residential use, and in the process lost it as its offices.  Harry Blanton, a long-time supporter and resident on Herschel Street, learned of RAP's predicament and reached out to Helen Chatfield Black of Cincinnati, OH who had inherited the Buckland House from her cousin Charlotte Buckland in 1990. Mrs. Black was so moved by RAP's story and circumstance that in an extraordinary act of generosity deeded the Buckland House to our organization. The Buckland House was officially dedicated as our new headquarters on March 16, 1991.  This year marked the 20th anniversary of RAP owning the Buckland House.

5 Points Wants Your Blood!

Please come out to 5 Points this Saturday and donate blood!

The Blood Alliance will have their bloodmobile in front of the Theatre Building from noon until 5 pm.

Enjoy a free snack from Tasti D-Lite and coupons from many other 5 Points Merchants as a Thank You!

5 Points Horror Fest this weekend!

Check out the lineup of horror films at the 5 Points Theatre - new and classic, family-friendly and not so much...

Friday at 7 pm you can see Nosferatu, the original vampire movie, with a new live score by Tony Steve and Bob Moore. Our silent classics have been very popular!

At 9:30 there's Norwegian faux-doc Trollhunter and at 11:30 see the re-mastered 1979 Italian classic Zombie.

Check out the full lineup here! And don't miss the totally restored North Florida classic Zaat! - returning to the big screen on Sunday night at 7:30! Producer Don Barton will be there, along with several members of the cast including the monster itself.

Sustainability: Historic Green – Passive Strategies for Heating and Cooling

Written by: Corie Baker, AIA, LEED AP, Pond and Company

The continued use and reuse of historic buildings is, at its core, a sustainable building practice – it reduces demolition waste, it reduces the use of new materials and resources, and it limits new infrastructure needs. In addition, historic buildings often utilized passive heating and cooling strategies, which are still relevant today and can help reduce the loads on modern mechanical equipment.  

State of the Re:Union Live Multimedia Performance@ MOCA

Join NPR host Al Letson and the rest of the State of the Re:Union team for an exciting night out while helping support a Jacksonville-based public radio show on Saturday, October 22nd at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Downtown Jacksonville. The ticketed event will feature a cocktail hour and two shows, each a multimedia experience featuring a performance by host Al Letson, compiled with audio and video from the second season of State of the Re:Union.

Show times are at 7:00pm and 8:30pm with the cocktail hour beginning one hour prior to show time. Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided and a cash bar will be available.

Advance purchase tickets are only $15 each (100% tax deductible) with a limited number available. The price goes up to $20 at the door if seating is still available. Purchase Tickets »

College Football at the 5 Points Theatre

Come out to the 5 Points Theatre and watch the game of the season (so far) as UF plays Alabama!

Saturday at 8 pm. Admission is free.

Beer, pizza and popcorn will be served as always.

RAP Offices are Moving (Temporarily)

 

As part of the Buckland House Restoration Project, RAP Headquarters are moving!

Beginning this Tuesday, October 4, our offices will be located at
2705 Riverside Avenue (Yellow House, corner of Riverside and King)

Our office hours will be the same:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 2pm

The move is temporary, and needed, as the scope of work for the restoration project requires staff to relocate to other offices in order to best serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Visit the Buckland House Restoration page on our website for more information.  As we progress, RAP will provide blog posts, videos, and other communications related to the project.

About the Buckland House

RAP's Headquarters, The Buckland House,  is undergoing  some much-needed repairs as part of the Buckland House Restoration Project. One of the first considerations when looking to make alterations to a historic home is to consider how appropriate these changes are to the home and how these changes may affect its historic integrity. Do the changes work with the style of the home? Do they preserve the character-defining features that make it special?