Jacksonville childhood

Pictures from my childhood home area. Entering the ferry. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood home area. From the ferry, looking at the terminal on the south (Mayport) side. In the distance is the Mayport lighthouse, which hasn't been functional for many, many years. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood home area. My mother and myself on the Mayport ferry, taken some time in the mid 90's. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). North of Mayport (see adjacent photos) are various islands. One of the islands, on Ft. George Inlet, has a beach where you could still drive down onto the sand when I was last there. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Further north is Big Talbot Island, which is a state park and relatively untouched -- we used to go picnicking and fishing out there regularly. One notable thing about Big Talbot is that it is relatively high, so there are large stands of oak trees -- but, natural erosion still washes them into the water. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). You can see a person in the lower left side of the third picture, which gives some perspective of how big the trees are and how high the cliff is on Big Talbot. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Jax Beach (Jacksonville Beach) was the 'peoples' beach community in the 50's and 60's (there were other beaches which were wealthier and more exclusive, this was where the working people went). For many years, Jax Beach had a thriving boardwalk area (much like Santa Monica's wharf or Santa Cruz's boardwalk area) with restaurants, game arcades, carnival-type rides (a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and other rides), stores that sold bathing suits and beach accessories, and bars. Up into the 60's, the boardwalk was really a board walk, with a walkway made of wood. Below is of a one block section that still existed when I took this picture around 2000. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Jax Beach itself. The commercial area that was Jax Beach began to die off in the 1960's, about the time that the beaches integrated. Whether it was racism that killed the businesses is hard to know. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Bo's Coral Reef, a gay bar that was on the boardwalk in the 60's but is now about 4 blocks from the beach. I understand that it is still a gay bar. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Though Jacksonville has grown very rapidly, it is still possible to find the Old South -- particularly as you head south of the city. Hendricks Avenue, the road that I grew up on, is also state route 13. Once past the newer strip malls, apartment complexes, and 'estate in a box' housing, the charming Old South begins to surface. It's still possible to find what used to be quite common -- relatively run-down businesses and pickup trucks selling fruits and vegetables. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). Once you get out of Jacksonville, there are still many quiet areas to pull off and just enjoy the river and swamplands. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). St Johns River from a pull-off along Route 13. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from my childhood area (Jacksonville). St Johns River from a pull-off along Route 13. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

Pictures from childhood my childhood area (Jacksonville). St Johns River from a pull-off along Route 13. Scans of older pictures, best viewed from left to right, as part of Jacksonville set.

In Air Force uniform, apparently taken in my mother's home. Since the insignia is one chevron, for Airman, that means I was an E-2. The picture thus was probably taken in July, 1967, as I was preparing to go from basic training to Monterey for language school. Best when viewed as part of Jacksonville childhood album.