Mayor Lenny Curry rejects the idea that he's the 'Tear Down Mayor,' but a review of projects in the Downtown Northbank through his time in office shows there's been more demolition than new construction. Still, Curry can count a number of successes in one area: the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Read More
In 1953, Major League Baseball great Hank Aaron was one of three Black baseball players to integrate baseball's notorious South Atlantic League. Aaron would go on to become one of the greatest players to ever play the game. However, not much is known about sites associated with his experience in Jacksonville. With this in mind, here are four local sites in Durkeeville with ties to Hank Aaron's historic 1953 baseball season. Read More
In 1950, a new school for Nassau County's African-American students opened near Yulee. Replacing one room frame schools, such as Brickyard, Chester, Odum Branch, and Yulee, Bryant Academy was named in honor of its first principal, James Benjamin Bryant. In 1969, the school was closed as a part of the integration of the Nassau County school system. Now the site is occupied by Yulee Elementary School. On Saturday, February 20th, the first Bryant Academy Grand School Reunion will take place virtually as a part of the efforts to capture the school's history before it is lost forever. Read More
