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SOUTHERN ROOTS
[Southern Roots Home] [Shotgun Houses] [E.L. Weems] [James W. Johnson] [Jacksonville Bears] [John Rosamond] [Beach Lady]
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SOUTHERN ROOTS |
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[Southern Roots Home] [Shotgun Houses] [E.L. Weems] [James W. Johnson] [Jacksonville Bears] [John Rosamond] [Beach Lady] |
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In this special section, we will pay tribute to African-Americans who have left their distinctive mark on the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville is filled with a wealth of history relevant to the African-American experience. Read carefully, Research and Share the Knowledge. |
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What do you know about Shotgun Houses? The three "Shotgun"
houses situated at 612, 614 and 616 North Lee Street were constructed
between 1903 and 1912 in the West part of historical LAVILLA. These type
of structures were very representative of the working The "Shotgun" house is one room wide and three or more deep, oriented with its gable end to the front. Some scholars argue that these one-story wood frame houses with narrow widths and front porches reflect African building traditions that entered the American Southeast via the trans-atlantic slave trade through the Caribbean Islands. Probably, in New Orleans, the style was bought to Southern towns and cities by migrating Black freedman. The name "Shotgun" (locally explained as deriving from the possibility of shooting a shotgun through the house without hitting anything) may have derive from the African word "to-gun", whcih means in the Fen language of Benin, "place of assembly". These black cultural associations had become totally obscured by the turn of the 20th century as more and more of these structures were built as homes for Caucasians. Blacksonville.com would like to thank Ms. Linda Harper for her diligent work to help preserve our historical landmarks |
Jacksonville Bears Ellie Lee Weems John
Rosamond Johnson
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class housing stock
found in many of Jacksonville's early urban neighborhoods such as
Lavilla,
Brooklyn, Sugar Hill, Hansontown, Oakland (Eastside), and Durkeeville. The
first city directory listing for the three houses was in 1919. At that
time, 612 N. Lee Street was occupied by Columba H. Boger, a widow. 614 was occupied
by Daniel Redmond, a porter. And 616 was occupied by Thomas Taylor,
identified as a driver. According to the 1913 Sanborn map (source map of
early Jacksonville, often referred to), these houses were among scores of
"Shotgun" houses that lined both sides of North Lee Street, West
Ashley Street, and West Beaver Street. Unfortunately only these three were
spared, barely escaping a planned demolition. Due to urban renewal and
redevelopment plans for Historic Lavilla, the houses will be removed from
their original site and relocated on Jefferson Street, between Ashley and
Duval Streets.