The Mayport Depot - Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Posted by: 
macleod1
N 30° 17.310 W 081° 23.622
17R E 462138 N 3350819
This old depot was once in the Mayport area of the city. It now resides in the Pablo Historical Park, at Jacksonville Beach along with Old Engine # 7, the Foreman's House, the Old Post Office and the Beaches Heritage Museum. This is on Beach Blvd.
Waymark Code: WM482C
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 07/20/2008
Views: 48
The extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Mayport in 1900 spurred the growth and economy of the town. Coal powered trains were able to load coal directly from the docks; the old hazardous mouth of the St. Johns River had been tamed by jetties, built by the government, reaching miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Mayport was a two way traveling town: lumber and naval stores were carried away by schooner while settlers, tourists and health seekers were carried in by steamboat.
In 1913 Elizabeth Starke bought a 375-acre estate she called Wonderwood. The estate was later acquired by the federal government to establish a naval station on its site.
When the trains stopped running in 1932, Mayport returned to its roots, fishing and shrimping. The community continues to coexist with US Naval Station Mayport, a military base established prior to World War II and one of the largest and most sophisticated military bases in the world.
Today, what was once an historic, picturesque fishing village is giving way to modern development like all the other communities at the beach.
Website:http://beachesareahistoricalsociety.com/history.html
Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: No
Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes
If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?:
The depot is part of the heritage tour given by the historical society.
What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Florida East Coast Railway
Station/Depot Web Site: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the station/depot taken while you were there. Please also record how you came to be at this station/depot and any interesting information you learned about it while there.