Finally, the day the citizens of Jacksonville have been waiting for has arrived. During the previous couple of weeks, one could feel the energy and excitement building all over town. The President of the United States will arrive tomorrow morning, and in preparation the roads have been smoothed, the electrical lighting tested and the bands have practiced in the Plaza. Local women’s groups have created nearly 60 artistic banners which have been hung along the drive to the city, welcoming both the President and his First Lady. As a showing of our gratitude, the Mayor will present the First Lady with an orange tree (in full bloom). To the surprise of the press corps, the President and his entourage are not traveling by usual method, but have decided instead to take a specially assembled set of private train cars without Secret Service escort. The entire trip will take over 25 hours, including a short stopover in Georgia.
It was an exciting day back in February 1888 when President Grover Cleveland and his new bride started their lengthy trip toward Jacksonville. For nearly ten years, Jacksonville had dominated the country as the winter destination city. The tremendous St. James Hotel (located on the present site of the new city hall) and other similar resort hotels of the day only opened for three to four months per year.
This entire visit was orchestrated in response to a new state rivalry. California instituted an overwhelming public relations campaign to dominate seasonal vacationing and bring winter travelers to its state. Not to be outdone, Florida state representatives, charged with bringing more travelers to the state, arranged for a dynamic event never seen before in the United States – all to take place in the city of Jacksonville.
The idea of a Sub-Tropical Exposition was born. It would combine the state’s flavors in horticulture, farming and seafood under one roof. To better understand the look of this major attraction, imagine a cross between a large fair and Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival held annually in the Spring. To attract visitors from the entire country, an eye-popping architectural wonder would be constructed as its center piece. And, who better to kick off this once in a lifetime event but the United States President and his wife.
[click to continue…]
“Automobile owners and drivers take notice. The police have received instructions to watch automobile drivers carefully and see that they do not exceed the speed limit [of 10 mph].” The Judge has made it clear that all offenders will be arrested. Before the trial of the offenders began, Jacksonville’s Mayor exclaimed “We have to stop this ridiculous behavior now!”
Although three men were arrested and taken to jail for speeding, offender Dr. J. V. Freeman was the first to appear before Judge A.O. Wright. The judge stated that since he had never had a case involving a speeding automobile, he was inclined to be lenient. To clarify, Judge Wright added that he had spoken to the Mayor and that they both wanted to “break up the reckless driving of automobiles” in Jacksonville. “You must understand that in the future, fines for this offense will not be light.” Under the new law, Judge Wright could have thrown the book at Dr. Freeman and forced him to pay the maximum penalty of $100, but instead merely fined him $10.
This article, printed in the Florida Times-Union in 1907, points out the issues the city faced to address the modernization of transportation. Motor cars, which were only owned by the wealthy, did not fit in well in a rural city. Since most of the vehicles on the road were horse-drawn wagons or carriages. In addition, there were pedestrians at risk. While bicycles and motorcycles had flourished, they were discouraged on downtown streets.
Catching violators of the 10 mph law proved difficult, especially if they were able to make their way outside of the downtown area. The local police lacked powerful “chase vehicles.” Their small motorcycles (powered bicycles) were nearly useless in chasing and catching the enhanced horse-powered motor cars. The police task became more difficult since vehicles were not required to have identifying marks or license plates. Poor roads were the officers only hope to apprehend offenders. If the police were lucky, the motor car could hit a pothole or get bogged in the mud. Another lucky break might have been that the offender’s automobile would experience an equipment failure. For example, tires were poorly constructed and had to be replaced after a few miles. John Dunlop did not develop pneumatic tires until 1888, and those were for his bicycle.
[click to continue…]
Saturday, there was a tragic accident downtown involving two prominent Jacksonville women. The accident occurred at the intersection of Hogan Street and Adams Street. Both women were rushed to the local physician after they were violently ejected from their vehicle onto the pavement.
This sounds like any other accident, but it happened June 6, 1903, nearly 106 years ago. It involved Mrs. A.S. Mann and her mother Mrs. George W. Clark, Sr. The women were visiting downtown to purchase a few items when their High Stanhope (the Chevy Tahoe style horse carriage of the day, which included plush leather seating and larger rear wheels) overturned. It seems that, as the women guided their horse and carriage from Bay Street onto Hogan, the straps that Mrs. Clark was using to direct their horse suddenly broke causing her to lose control. When the front of the carriage touched the horse, the horse kicked the dashboard of the carriage several times with his hind legs (alerting passersby) and quickly trotted up Hogan dragging the carriage rapidly behind it.
When the carriage reached Adams Street, the horse (still connected) made a rapid and unpredictable turn heading East on Adams Street. The carriage and women were jerked so violently that the Stanhope overturned throwing both women to the ground. Witnesses reported that Mrs. Mann (wife of former State Legislator A.S. Mann) was ejected in such a fashion that it appeared that she were diving into a pool. Her head struck the ground with the full force of her body weight, and she was left unconscious. Her mother, Mrs. George Clark (wife of wealthy land owner, marble company owner, local undertaker and national bicycle company owner, George W. Clark, Sr.) left the carriage in a near standing position and hit the ground feet first, then fell onto her side.
[click to continue…]
