Jubilee Hall Trilogy - Past, Present and Future
I'm eager to share a project initiative that my family has decided to support. It involves the potential to save a historic structure in Jacksonville FL scheduled for demolition. I'll be sharing this information in a three part series, and today's post is "Jubilee Hall - Past". This home may or may not be saved from demolition, depending upon many factors and will require a public/private partnership, all in a short period of time. I welcome your thoughts and support by sharing this story.
Jubilee Hall - Past
Jubilee Hall was constructed in the fall of 1887 by William Monson for the family of Charles Frederick Winton, and is highlighted in Wayne Woods book “Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage”. Charles Winton, born 1851 in Maidstone, Kent, England, came to Mandarin in the 1870’s as a representative of Lloyd’s of London. He was responsible for overseeing the export of produce shipments, including fancy fruits and vegetables. He organized local growers to supply the overseas shipping business, and also acquired roots, herbs and flavorings from the black community as additional shipping product. The home featured a simple, but finely detailed two-tier veranda, and has two chimneys with vaulted hoods. It was named Jubilee Hall because it was a popular gathering place for Mandarin families. The Winton Family were also among the founding members of Church of our Savior.The picture above shows the Winton Family in the 1890’s on both levels of the veranda.
The builder of Jubilee Hall, William Monson, was born in 1841, was the son of a Norwegian immigrant who settled in St. Augustine, and was taught the cabinet making trade. Monson temporarily left the cabinet business to fight as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War, serving in Company D, Tenth Regiment, Florida Voluntary Infantry, attached to the First Florida Battalion. He fought in the Battle of Olustee, among others, and was paroled at Appomattox Courthouse on April 10, 1865. He returned to North Florida to continue his trade as a carpenter, cabinet maker and builder. He was hired by a group of nuns in Loretto, Florida (Mandarin) to build a convent, and later built the original St. Joseph’s Catholic Church as well as the Mandarin School House recently relocated and restored at Walter Jones Park.
The next post will be Jubilee Hall - Present, and will be posted following the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society agenda on January 9, 2017. Jubilee Hall is on the agenda and includes a discussion on alternatives to explore that how to Save Jubilee Hall.
Comments