Times Union: Jacksonville Historical Society lists 12 sites in danger of being erased

Well worth the read and assuming as a cause if you don't have enough causes already. Although Jacksonville, for some reason, insists on obliterating anything historic in our city, many other large cities fight to keep these building and historic landmarks in good repair and used even if not for the original intent. Those that run our city, apparently, are unaware of cities such as Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans, and countless other cities that have beautiful cites where old buildings are a major part of the landscape (instead of well groomed and landscaped parking lots). There is a second article below this one about 3 buildings that have been added to the historical society endangered list (below the article about the 12).

Some stand tall in downtown Jacksonville, elaborate architectural accents defining their early 1900s style.

Others rust quietly along the St. Johns River, decay on North Jefferson Street, or fade in the sun in a parking lot off downtown.

But whether it is the 64-year-old St. Johns River Ferry between Mayport and Heckscher Drive or the trio of 1901 shotgun houses, they are endangered species according to the Jacksonville Historical Society.

Without someone pushing for their preservation, the items on Monday's 12 Worth Saving list are so threatened they could be doomed, said historical society president Emily Lisska.

"It is the one final hope for many of these structures to get the attention of the public and public officials, just in case we or some other group are not doing due diligence to save these structures," Lisska said. "This is one of our methods to ensure we have promoted the importance of the structures, and our concern that they could be lost to us."

See all of the properties on the historical society's 12 Worth Saving ...

A trio of time-tested Jacksonville structures have been named to a new most endangered historic sites list.

Known as the Laura Street Trio, the Florida Life, Bisbee and Old Florida National Bank buildings at the intersection of Laura and Forsyth streets downtown were added to the historic list Thursday, as announced by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. The three buildings were erected after the historic “great fire” in Jacksonville in 1901.

According to a news release by the Jacksonville chapter of the American Institute of Architects, because the buildings were named to the Most Endangered Historic Sites list they are eligible for outreach programs offered by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation to provide upkeep and conservation.

Times Union: Jacksonville Historical Society lists 12 sites in danger of being erased

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