Built in 1967,The Museum is located on 4160 Boulevard Center Drive, at the corner of Boulevard Center Drive and Art Museum Drive, in Jacksonville, Florida. The Museum building housed Jacksonville Art Museum until 1998. The museum of contemporary art moved to downtown. From 1998 to 2001, the museum housed the Koger Gallery. From 2001 to 2012, the museum was empty. In May 2012, the Executive Food Service changed the venue in event center for wedding receptions, proms, fundraising, and cocktail parties. Since December 2018, the museum is in the process of becoming a Medical Innovation Center. The Museum’s website domain, museumandgardens.com, is for sale.
Payless ShoeSource located in Memorial Health Plaza at 3997 University Boulevard South in Jacksonville, Florida has started its closing sale. This sale is aligned with clsoure of all stores in United States, Canada, and Porto-Rico. Payless ShoeSource is also closing e-commerce operations. Payless will keep stores in Latin America and International Franchise stores. Payless ShoesSource was founded in Topeka, Kansas in 1956 with the name Pay-Less National. Payless ShoesSource stores sold quality footwear and accessories at affordable prices. The liquidation sales will end in May. Payless ShoeSource is another victim of a rapidly changing retail environment.
Virginia College was located at 5940 Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville,
Florida, from 2008 to 2018. This campus was one of 75 campuses closed by the
Education Corporation of America in December 2018. Education Corporation of
America had just lost accreditation from ACICS. Financial challenges multiplied
since the Department of Education imposed new requirements for students’ loans.
More than five schools have closed including ITT Technical Institute, Advanced
Career Training, and Fortis college. Virginia College was the third company to
occupy this building since 1979. The building was initially occupied by
Albertsons Supermarket at its inauguration in 1979. In 2005, Albertsons sold
the building to Rowe’s IGA Markets. Rowe’s closed in 2008. Across Beach Boulevard,
at 5751, Kmart Building is empty since December 2012.
SThe Atlantic Coast Line served for eight decades the South-East of the United states. One of its trains is displayed at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center. In 1990, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers posted in front of the train a plate saying,
” Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark United states railroad administration locomotive Atlantic Coast Line Class p-5-a 4-6-2 # 1504 1919 During the World-War I-Emergency, American Railroads were placed under the control of the united states railroad administration (USRA) to facilitate construction, operation, and maintenance. All new steam locomotives ordered during this period were built to one of twelve standard designs developed by a committee composed of USRA, Railroad, and Locomotive-builder representatives. This family of locomotives, ranging from 0-6-0 to 2-8-8-2 in size, incorporated the best proven features of the day and was the first successful standardization of American motive power. Although the USRA period lasted only three years, locomotives continued to be built around these basic designs for another decade. ACL 1504, built by American Locomotive Co. Richmond works, is a “light pacific,” the most common USRA passenger design. It was in service on ACL for over 30 years and has survived in almost original condition.” For more information on Atlantic Coast Line, visit https://www.american-rails.com/atlantic-coast-line.html
Yesterday, in the spirit of veteran day celebrations, I visited Memorial Park located at 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Memorial Park was dedicated on December 25, 1924. Spiritualized Life, bronze sculpture, was designed by Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architectural firm from Brookline, MA, and symbolizes the victory of the youth on the chaos.The bronze eagles were designed by Diane LaFond insetta. Memorial Park entrances were restored by family Barletti in memory of Willam Randle Barletti. The names of the 1220 Floridians who died in the World War I are in a time capsule beneath the fountain at the base the Spiritualized Life Sculpture. Many people enjoy the park. Yesterday, a couple was taking wedding pictures at the park.
Today, Memorial Park is maintained by the Memorial Park Association. Memorial Park Association is a not-for-profit organization established in 1986 with the mission to preserve, promote, and enhance the park. To support Memorial Park with donation or volunteering, visit memparkjax.org.
Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church is located at 226 Laura Street North in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Snyder Memorial was originally Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and was founded in 1870. The present building was built after the original building was destroyed by the fire in 1901 and was inaugurated in 1902. The building is registered on the National Register of Historic Places Program since 2013 with architecture, social, and history significance. Snyder Memorial ended to be a church in the year 1992.
