Jacksonville, Uptown Springfield, Historic Queen
An Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Uptown Springfield is emerging as Jacksonville’s hippest and most community-oriented downtown neighborhood. Its architectural heritage pre-dates the Great Fire of 1901 — yet, today, the area features a variety of neighborhood and urban homestyles.
Uptown Springfield’s diverse resident population is steps from the St. Johns River, the Emerald Necklace of Jacksonville’s park system, three professional sports teams, and all of downtown’s entertainment amenities. Many of its historical homes, as well as its Main Street commercial area, are undergoing a modern-day, renovation Renaissance.
The Spanish government validated John Hogan's claim to the Springfield tract, known as "Hogan's Donation." in 1823. The original parcel remained intact until after the Civil War when 54 acres were carved out to become the suburbs of Hansontown and Franklintown. In 1869, half the remaining Hogan's Donation was divided and offered for sale by John H. Horton, one of Jacksonville's first professional real estate developers. Jacksonville merchant Calvin L. Robinson is credited with naming the new development Springfield because of "a spring of good water located in the field through which West Fourth Street would now pass (near Broad Street)."
This is a tract consisting of about 300 acres of high level land, just north of Jacksonville, and from the river a distance of about half a mile. This land has been laid off in blocks and lots, with broad streets and avenues running at right angles through it, 418 feet apart, thus making the blocks to consist of just 4 acres each, which can be subdivided to suit purchasers.
Great activity is now manifested in this direction; some eight or ten substantial dwellings, of handsome architectural design, are now being erected, while the streets are being opened, graded and improved as fast as possible.
Springfield's proximity to Downtown would become a major factor later, but during the 1870's Springfield grew very slowly. The first major construction was the waterworks, located in the southern part of Springfield along Hogans Creek. Begun in 1879 and completed a year later, the pumping station became the major water source for the city of Jacksonville.
This place presents great advantages as a location on which to make one's home. The lands are cheap and one can secure ample room for garden and ornamental grounds for a small amount, which in our rapidly growing place, will soon greatly increase in value. It is high and healthful. None but respectable people can purchase these lots as the trustees refuse to sell to others...No other suburban addition to the city is so centrally located or so contiguous to the business portion of the city.
In May 1882, the Springfield Company was formed by several prominent Jacksonville citizens, including S. B. Hubbard, Jonathan Greeley, and William McDuff. They acquired the remaining six hundred acres of the Hogans' Donation, and coupled with the extension of the trolley line out Main Street (then known as Pine Street), brought about the first real surge of development in Springfield. The streetcar line was built in 1882 from Bay Street to Eighth Street by Mr. B. Upton, who leased it in 1884 to Mr.G. A. Backenstoe. With visions of a profitable resort at the terminus of the line, Backenstoe build a skating rink, dinner hall, and restaurant. When profits failed to materialize, however, the line was sold to the Springfield Company. With the street railway serving Springfield exclusively, the suburb's population grew to 356 by 1886. In 1887, a new Jacksonville charter brought Springfield and seven other suburbs into the city limits.
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City of Jackonville
Jorge Nunez
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