Tag Archives: Swisher House

The Balis House / the Herbert Swisher House

Posted on February 10, 2018 | Leave a comment

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Herbert Swisher was a “trust fund baby.” His grandfather built him a house. Sheffield and Abla Balis left the Franco-Syrian War in the Middle East and made Herbert’s house their home. When Sheffield died, Abla built him a tower.

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Tagged Abla Balis, Arnold Southwell, Balis House, Balis Tower, Carl Swisher, Debra Pataky, Herbert Swisher, Immigrant Jacksonville, Jacksonville, jaxpsychogeo, John Swisher, Jon Pataky, Katherine Cohen, Lilian Davin Park, River Road, Robin Robinson, San Marco, Sheffield Balis, Swisher House, Tim Gilmore, Villa Alexandria

San Marco’s Swisher House (John H.) and Villa Alexandria

Posted on January 13, 2018 | Leave a comment

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All big houses harbor the loneliness of unpeopled space. When Heather was a little girl, she didn’t understand the elevator went up and down. She thought it somehow “swapped the rooms around.”

Christina says, “I don’t think Mrs. Mitchell liked that they tore her house down.”

Carl Swisher always carried jokes in his pocket. Workers rolled 600 to 700 cigars a day.

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Tagged Alexander Mitchell, Carl S. Swisher, Christina Gatlin, Frank Gatlin, Franklin Gatlin, Gae Cavanagh, Great Depression, Heather Cavanagh, Herbert Swisher, Jacksonville, jaxpsychogeo, John Cavanagh, John H. Swisher, Johnnie Swisher, Joseph Davin, King Edward Cigars, Lillian Davin, Little Theater, Martha Mitchell, River Road, San Marco, Stuart Cavanaugh, Swisher and Son, Swisher Brothers, Swisher House, Swisher International, Swisher Place, Telfair Stockton, Theater Jacksonville, Tim Gilmore, Villa Alexandria