The Hidden History Behind Downtown Jacksonville's Street Names
From presidents and pioneers to forgotten families and distinctive trees, the names of downtown Jacksonville's streets offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's early history. Read More
A look back at Oakland: The origins of Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside
Rare photographs from the early 20th century offer a glimpse into Oakland, the oldest neighborhood in Jacksonville's Historic Eastside. Established in 1869, this historically African American community became home to generations of residents, businesses, churches and institutions that helped shape the city's cultural identity. Read More
The Boo Hag: A Ghost Story from 1930s Jacksonville
In the 1930s, folklorist and Episcopal priest Harry Middleton Hyatt traveled city streets and backcountry byways with a dictation machine, recording folklore and hoodoo traditions from hundreds of Black Americans from all walks of life. In July 1937, Hyatt’s travels took him to Jacksonville’s Wynn Hotel, where one informant told him possibly the eeriest stories in the whole collection. Here’s the story of a Jacksonville family’s terrifying encounter with a life-draining witch from Gullah Geechee lore: the boo hag. Read More
