Crossing the "Ditch" - From Moonshine to Mimosas
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San Pablo Locomotive |
Personally, I like that these beach communities are not
overcome with tourists. In fact, tourists are sometimes agitated with the lack
of parking here at our picturesque beaches. Many of our beach goers actually
live on the beach or just a short bike ride from the beach. Local bars and
restaurants include bike racks inviting the sandy guests in after a day on the
beach.
But the beaches have not always been like this. In fact,
Jacksonville Beach had two other names in its history. Its original name was
Ruby Beach, named after William and Eleanor Skull’s eldest daughter around
1884. This dated back when the area was a just tent city and the Skulls were
known for opening the first general store and post office. The Ruby Settlement
sold thirty-five lots in one day for a total of $7,514! How is that for a real
estate investment? In 1907, Ruby Beach
became known as Pablo Beach - named after the San Pablo River. However, we have been referring to our soft
sand beach as Jacksonville Beach (aka “Jax “Beach) since 1925.
Back in the day, the Atlantic Beach hotel was the place to
be seen before it burned to the ground in 1919.
Now, Atlantic Beach is sprinkled with a combination of local, trendy and
upscale shops and restaurants. The residents of Neptune Beach still take pride
in maintaining their small town lifestyle.
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Ponte Vedra Beach |
The Florida East Coast Railway that ran up and down the
beaches was the only form of transportation – which explains the encased
locomotive on Beach Boulevard. That is until the “Electric Road” was created
with a white-ish lit path road as crushed seashells literally paved the way to
the beach. Now known as Atlantic Boulevard, the road was completed in 1910 and
life at the beaches took off. Luxury tents for visitors and transportation to
the beach by train became a thing of the past.
Back then, beach life on and along the sand consisted of car
races, penny arcades, pinball machines, beauty pageants, wrestling matches, circus
acts, shooting galleries, a dance hall, a roller coaster, a ferris wheel and even
a boardwalk.
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Jacksonville Beach |
So maybe one day you will cross the ditch, rent a bike and
enjoy a mimosa on any one of our beaches. Don’t forget that hard to find
parking is an intentional design as we tend to live here and not just visit. And once you take up residence here, you too
will become an “islander” here in Northeast Florida. In the meantime, “Love
Where You Live.”
To learn more or visit the Beaches Museum, click HERE.
To learn more or visit the Beaches Museum, click HERE.
Re/Max Unlimited
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