Tag Archives: Haydon Burns Library

When Jax Banned Mickey Spillane

Posted on March 24, 2023 | Leave a comment

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When Jax banned Mickey Spillane, the tough-talking crime novelist and his “blonde bombshell” wife Sherri came to town. Activist Warren Folks wanted all funding for the Jacksonville Public Library system halted until every book was screened. Spillane said if Folks thought this book was bad, “Wait until he sees the next one!”

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Tagged A.J. Reddick, Arnett Girardeau, book banning Florida, Conservative Citizens Council Jacksonville, Florida Culture Wars, Harry Brinton, Haydon Burns Library, Jacksonville Public Libraries, Jake Godbold, jax psycho geo, Main Library Jacksonville, Mickey Spillane, Mickey Spillane Jacksonville, Morton Kesler, Ron DeSantis, Roy Lord, Sherri Spillane, Sidney Lefkowitz, The Erection Set, The Last Cop Out, Tim Gilmore, Warren Folks

The Last Days of Taylor Hardwick’s George Varn House

Posted on March 18, 2022 | 1 comment

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Within the month, one of the earliest houses designed by Taylor Hardwick, one of Florida’s greatest architects, will be demolished. It’s a stipulation of the original owner’s will. Because who said you can’t take it with you when you die?

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Tagged George Varn, George Varn House, Hardwick and Lee, Haydon Burns Library, Jonathan Lux, Merrill Lee, Mid-Century Modern Jacksonville, Ortega, Ortega Boulevard, Skinner Dairy, Skinner Dairy Store, Taylor Hardwick, Taylor Hardwick George Varn House, Tim Gilmore

Story #509: Riverdale Inn / Brazile House / Kelly House

Posted on February 7, 2020 | Leave a comment

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Walter Brazile founded B & B Exterminating Co. in his rambling old boarding house. He nurtured the business and nurtured people, including Rufus King, Jr., brother of Virginia, author of that 8,448-page book about Jax. William Kelly, turpentine magnate, built the house 115 years ago. Albert O’Neall, though a Quaker, took a job here building bombing ranges. Now the former HQ of B & B has been restored as a bed-and-breakfast. One of my favorite writers stayed here just last week.

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Tagged Albert Ellis O'Neall, Albert O'Neall, Arden Herrin, B & B Exterminating, Barnett Mansion Springfield, Benvenuto, Bret Burmeister, Charlie Towers, Claude L'Engle, Consolidated Naval Stores, Elizabeth Brazile, Eric Waln, Florida history, Gum Bunch, Haydon Burns Library, Henry John Klutho, Irma O'Neall, J.E.T. Bowden, Jacksonville Florida, jax psycho geo, Jessica Miner-Killian, Jonathan Greeley, Larry James Bana, LaVilla, Malcolm Gladwell Jacksonville, Marjorie Ann O'Neall, Mary Mychael Waln, McCoys Creek, Mellen Greeley, Memorial Park, Napier Apartments, naval stores, Orren McJunkins, Ortega Jacksonville, Palms Boarding House, Palms Hotel, Riverdale Inn, Riverside Avondale, Riverside Hospital, Rocco Morabito, Rogers Towers, Rufus King Jr., Slappey Building, The Mad Atlas of Virginia King, The Row, Tim Gilmore, Tim Gilmore Florida, Tom Gilmore, Virginia King, Walter Brazile, Walter P. Brazile, William Kelly, William O'Neall