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Are there any Lakeshore Kindergarten alums from the 1960s out there? I went there in 1960/61. When I tell people about Mrs. Scott's crazy little school they find it hard to believe. The boys wore white shirts and shorts and an apron made from blue paisley handkerchiefs purchased at the House of Bargains. The girls wore these strange pixie dresses made of red paisley handkerchiefs--they looked like a bunch of little Wilma Flintstones. The girls had red plaid lunchboxes; the boys had blue plaid lunchboxes. On Friday, it was long pants for the boys and everybody brought their fancy tap shoes. Fridays were also Candy Day ("Hooray, hooray, today is Candy Day hooray!"). Mrs. Scott sat at a Blue piano and taught us old Broadway numbers. She also had a monkey in a cage. How this woman got fifty kids to sing and dance all day I'll never know, but we all did it. And we all behaved because Mrs. Scott had eyes in the back of her head (toward the end of the year I realized that she could see us in the mirror above the piano keys). We had performances at every holiday, and at the end of the year there was a graduation ceremony at Hyde Park Elementary. Each kid had to walk out on stage in costume and with props and do a solo number with Mrs. Scott. My song was "Off We Go." I can still see my hand shaking out in front of me as I mimed an airplane taking off, my Air Force garrison cap nearly sliding off my head. All those people! I'm a professional musician and have had a million performances, but I'll never forget the terror of singing to that sea of faces. How did she get all those kids to get up there and perform? Everyone did it and nobody cried. There was a big "Old Sparky"-like chair painted bright red for the miscreants to sit in. I got put in it a couple of times, once for climbing up a tall bookshelf to get at a cowbell that sat on the top shelf. Mrs. Scott used the bell to summon the kids back from recess. I was supposed to be outside, but I wanted to look at the bell. When I picked it up it clanged like a dinner gong and all the kids started to line up to come back in. Busted! There was a double garage where we kept our Superman capes and played with blocks. I graduated from Lee in 1973. Years later, when I was in the Army Band in D.C., my mother sent me a picture. It was a wide lens photo of the class decked out in Halloween costumes (I was a skeleton). I recognized 18 kids who went either to Bayview, Lakeshore, or Lee with me, and several who had been to all three, including two who also went to FSU.
I'd love to read other recollections of Lakeshore Kindergarten.
Greetings fellow member of Mrs. Scott's kids! (Giant Grins) My name is Ruby Wilfong, but I was Ruby Thompson back then. I grew up on Bayview Rd. I went to Mrs. Scott's in '65. I adored Mrs. Scott and would willingly do whatever she asked of me. I too had a red plaid lunchbox, wore the red handkerchief outfits and sang and danced my heart out. My first recital song was "Harvest Moon". I remember how we'd all giggle when she would grab her chalk and mark our places on the floor when we'd get ready to practice our tap dancing. I remember the "playhouses" out back too. One was for the boys and one was for the girls. Our recital tap shoes were covered in silver glitter and had red ribbons, and I couldn't stop looking at them. She got on to me for that because I wasn't paying attention to her cues. But oh my they were pretty! LOL When I was going there she had 2 little red chairs, one on each side of her piano. (She still had the mirror above it too.) I had to sit in one once because I'd kept my regular tap shoes on and was tapping them while sitting at our table during alphabet practice. (My oldest sister Terri paid my tuition, bought all my outfits, and she also had already taught me how to read and write, so I was easily bored when it came to the practice writing.) I can still feel the burning in my cheeks for having to sit in that chair! I was so embarrassed. I promised her I'd always be good after that! Whew!
Once we took a train ride down to Skinner's Dairy. That was a really big deal for us back then. It was the first time I'd ever been on a train bigger than the one at Jax Zoo. LOL! (Our family had many birthday parties there in the Birthday House too).
I have many fond memories of Mrs. Scott and cherish them all. I have some pictures of our graduation and a few of me dancing from back then too, but my sister Rose (who lives in South Carolina) has my photo albums right now for doing a family site. Actually, she's the one who sent me your link. Anyway, I've asked her to email me some copies so I can share them with anyone who'd like to see them.
I went to Bayview Elementary (I was a girl cadet in 6th grade), Lake Shore Jr. Hi. and Robert E. Lee High (In Chorus in both). Graduated in 1978. I still have friends from back then. I'd also love to find others from Mrs. Scott's, and hopefully will be able to get in touch with them too. I still have family and friends in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
Now I live in middle Georgia, close to Macon, with my husband William. Both my kids, now grown, live here as well.
I want to thank you so much for your post and for the trip down memory lane! It's wonderful to find someone else who loved being one of Mrs. Scott's kids too!
I remember when the Gulf Life building was the tallest in Jacksonville, then the Independent Life building was built! And you could stand on the middle section of the Main Street bridge when it went up, partier's from the Landing would do that on their way across to Friendship Park. I know the Alexander Brest Planetarium still does Cosmic Concerts...how long has that been going on??
And I've been on the new Jax Beach pier, but there was one further north towards Mayport back in the late 70s/early 80s where Le Chateau restaurant (owned by Preben Johansen) once stood. I believe there are condos/apartments there now, and I am not sure but the remnants of the pier may still exist between 9th St/Club Drive and 10th street.
Also, Ocean Avenue surf shop was a great place to hang out, I still have one of their boards but I don't know if it still floats! I remember being able to drive off of Mayport NS and onto Hannah Park. And my parents took me to the Officers Club on Mayport for my 16th birthday (1979). And I took my driving test out at Jacksonville Beach, and it was hard keeping my eyes on the road!
And anyone who has been down Mt Pleasant Ropad to Wonderwood Drive, I remember when that bridge just before Girvin was made out of wood! Same with the two down on Ft Caroline Road, past St John's Bluff going east. Speaking of which, does anyone remember the area settled by former slaves on Ft Caroline Road, just before McCormick intersects with it? It was called Cosmo, and I see on GoogleMaps that the name remains, despite the fact that most of the land was sold off and is now developed. There also used to be an archery range near there, I suspect it is gone too.
I remember being able to ride up the power lines from Ft Caroline all the way to Beach Blvd on our dirt bikes. That was quite an adventure back in the days before cell phones. If you broke down out there, you were hosed!
Cheers! M2
I remember the Alhambra! Went there a few times in the 80's. Saw Fiddler on the Roof, and a few others.
I remember the Greaseman, who didn't look at all like I'd imagined when I met him! Do you remember the jingle he did for the lumber company out on the industrial side of Edgewood? Was it Great Southern Plywood? Seems like he sang "Great Southern Plywood is the place to be" or something like that.
I grew up on the West Side in Lake Shore, and mostly did things on that side of town.
Do you remember an area south of Jax Beach that we all called "Cross Roads' ? It was still undeveloped and mostly dunes just off A1A. It was a great teenage hang out back then. We got chased off by the "4-Wheel Posse" many times for being out there after curfew.
I loved the Cosmic concerts at the planetarium!!! And the old tree that was outside the museum. Is it still there? That thing was really, really old!
I remember as a kid riding out to the beach and we'd all get so excited when we'd see the big dinosaur because we knew we were almost there. Is it still there?
In the 70's all of us kids from the neighborhood would sneak out at night to drive down to Orange Park when it was still a hole in the wall, before the Mall came and changed everything, and go to what we called "The Monkey Farm". Does anyone remember that creepy old place where they used to do experiments on monkeys in the 50"s? It was suddenly shut down for unknown (to us kids anyway) reasons, and we'd sneak into the buildings and scare each other to death, and run from the old guy who was the caretaker there too. Had my first taste of beer out at that old place.
Oh, and does anyone remember the Blanding Blve Drive in Theater? I remember when I was little it was called the "Play Time Drive-in". I still remember the ad on the radio with some gal saying, "Come to the Play Time Drive-In at 6300 Blanding Blvd." Her voice sounded like she hailed from New Jersey. All of us girls would try to sound just like her and laugh like mad because our southern accents just couldn't conform. LOL
I remember going out to Old Airport Rd. to watch the phosphorus lights drift at night and tell scarey stories to each other, and the guys racing their cars out at old Emerson Airport.
Another place we would hang out was Stockton park in Old Ortega. You could actually have small campfires down by the river back then. Sometimes we could hear the male gators growling at each other and freaking us out.
I've been gone from Jacksonville for many years now, and live in middle Georgia. But it sure is fun remember how things were when we were young, and finding out what is still there!
Thanks Major for starting this post!
I grew up in Jax but now live in San Antonio. There is a great thread going on in the Alamo City forum on places that existed when people were growing up here that I thought I would start for Jacksonville. It must be an interesting topic as the San Antonio one has over 125 pages!
Anyhow, I am a 1981 Sandalwood graduate, and worked for Winn Dixie most of my teenage years. However, I did do a brief stint at the Mr. Dunderbach's in Regency Mall twice, once as a teenager and a second time before going to UF in 1986. Back then, you could see both ends of Regency from the middle.
Also, there used to be a Putt-Putt golf course off of the Arlington Expressway, not far from the Matthews Bridge. And the Midway Drive-In theater on Beach Blvd, I think there's a Super Wal-Mart there now. The Alhambra Dinner Theater as well, is that still around? I know The Sheik restaurant is, which has been around since I was in high school over 25 years ago! And Big Daddy's bar on Atlantic and Southside near Regency was pretty easy to sneak into when you were underaged, from what I was told!
I'll be honest, I barely recognize the place when I visit these days; but I am sure there are some other residents from the 70s and 80s on here that remember a few of the Bold New City's icons from that time...
Cheers! M2
Hi! I grew up in Jax on the west side in Lake Shore. But I've been gone a long time now. Moved to Silver Lake in Interlochen in 91, then to Lake City in 95, then finally settled in middle Georgia in 2000, North Carolina in 2003 then back to middle Georgia just south of Macon, in the middle of nowhere, and am still here and loving it! But growing up in Jax hold some of the best memories for me.
I remember the Alhambra, saw "Fiddler on the Roof" and a few others, and loved it every time.
I remember the dinosaur on Beach Blvd, the Play Time Drive-In on Blanding Blvd, and the ads it ran on the radio with a gal who's voice sounded like she just stepped off the bus from New Jersey! LOL All of us gals used to try to talk like her with our thick southern drawls, and would roll with laughter at ourselves.
I loved the Greaseman and his crazy ways! He was one of the best things about being a teenager back then. He was our version of "Wolfman Jack" and all of us loved him. I sure was surprised when I actually met him because he didn't look anything like I had imagined! One of the things that stands out in my mind when I think of him were those crazy jingles he did for (I think it was) Great Southern Plywood??? Something about "Great Southern Plywood is the place to be". LOL I wonder if they are still in business.
I loved the Cosmic concerts at the Planetarium, and went as often as I could. Hey, does anyone know if that ancient tree is still outside the museum??? I hope it is!
Did anyone out there ever go out to the "Monkey Farm" in Orange Park, before the mall came? It had been some kind of testing lab, mostly on chimps back in the 50's, and was suddenly shut down, leaving lots of stuff behind. It had side by side 2-story houses joined by concrete sidewalks and the monkey cages were still out back, and it had a 12' chainlink fence with barb wire on the top that surrounded the whole compound. We used to climb over it to get in until someone brought their dad's bolt cutter and made a cut by the gate post to make it easier. (Too many pairs of ripped jeans to explain to their Mama, I guess.) I know the kids from our neighborhood weren't the only ones who went out there. We sure had a great time scaring each other to death, and running from the old man who was the caretaker out there for years. The last time I was in Jacksonville, it had become, respectively, "The Grainary" and a doctors building. We used to love sneaking out late at night and go out there. That was in the early 70's.
We also used to hang out at a place we called, "Crossroads" just south of Jax Beach off of A1A. It wasn't all over developed back then, still had dunes and driftwood was still handy for beach fires. I had my first taste of beer out there. Yes, good memories for sure! We all had our AM radios tuned in and would sing and dance in the sand.
I went to the Regency Theater to see "Jaws", on opening night (yup, on a date) and got sick to my stomach right after Jaws ate the girl, and I tried to get to the rest room, but ended up fainting in the aisle, much to my humiliation. Ahhhh.... such a miserable date no doubt.
Did any of y'all go out on Old Airport Rd to see the "Ghost lights", which turned out to be phosphorus gas balls? Yeah, we did it a lot. (Grins)
We used to go out to old Emerson Airport where the guys would race their cars too. I think it's an Industrial Park now, or it was last I heard. It's been a while.
I remember when they built Ed White High School, and had a few friends who went there. Everyone was talking about how different it was and more like going to college. But I went to Robert E. Lee. Graduated in '78. Go General's ! (Giant Grins)
I remember riding the city bus downtown with friends and going shopping at the Army Surplus store for really "Boss" stuff. The Ivey's store had the best soda fountain, and eating at the "StandandSnack" on the corner, and the Natural Juice Bar, where everything was fresh made right in front of you. I wonder if it is still there. I can't remember what street it was on now.... dang!
Gee it sure would be great to talk to folks who remember stuff from back in the day!
Dear Ruby ~ I remember that dinosaur on Beach Blvd.! And "crossroads"! Do you remember how amazing the stars looked at night there? Lol, I used to take dates there, too. Your posts are really great to read! I do hope you stick around here on City Data. Maybe you'll stop in at the Other Topics forum (Do the "Question of the Day", a.k.a. "Today's Questions"!) and the Food & Drink forum? I hope so!
Thanks for the fun posts!
~rainroosty~
Okee Dokeee! I did it. Well I did the questions of the day thingie. And to answer yours above, the stars just don't seem to shine like they did back then, but here in the middle of nowhere, I can see them well, and they are still as beautiful as I remember.
Love laying on an old quilt out there in the evenings and watching the meteor show that comes along from time to time.... well, until the skeeters run me off anyway. And if the meteors do a no show, the moon does quite nicely too, especially when it's smilin.
I remember the Greaseman, who didn't look at all like I'd imagined when I met him! Do you remember the jingle he did for the lumber company out on the industrial side of Edgewood? Was it Great Southern Plywood? Seems like he sang "Great Southern Plywood is the place to be" or something like that.
Save me a dolla! Save me a dime! Jax Bargain Plywood will do it every time!
I love that someone remembered the name of the juice bar that was downtown! Hawthorne Juices, I was going nuts trying to remember that. Now if only I could remember the owners name...
He's a stumper. The Chinese restaurant in downtown, owned by Ms Lu. I can't remember the name or location. It was there in the late 70's -late 80's, possibly earlier. I know it was turned into fast food and all the fun interior was thrown out. I had many birthdays in the back room (the one through the kitchen).
I can remember going to Woolworths for ear muffs before the Gatorbowl Parade, and sitting by the big clock for the Veterans Parade.
Lum's
Wolf Department Store in Downtown
The wooden floors that squeaked in W.T. Grants
Hemming Park when it had lots of trees (and below ground restrooms)
Camel Riders
The Andrew Jackson Fighting Tigers
Jax Center out on North Main Street in North Shore
Trout River
Riverview Amusement Park (I've searched high and low, and cannot find a single bit of history on this place...but recall visiting there in the late 1950s. Anyone else been there?)
Seeing Arlo Guthrie and Ry Cooder on the same bill at the Civic Auditorium
The beautiful Florida Theater (and being escorted to your seat by an usher, smartly dressed in his hat and uniform)
Standing on the corner of 9th & Main as the Beatles drove by in their limo (John waved at me through his window)
The Sand Dollar seafood restaurant way out off Hercksher Drive
The Swannee River at the Jax Zoo ("no boating, no swimming, no skiing, no fishing, no wonder, no river")
Jake's Newsstand
Banner Food Stores
Barrier's Ice Cream
Imeson Airport
The ferry out at Mayport
Civil Defense drills at school...when we all thought that by hiding under your desk you could somehow survive a nuclear attack
Five Points (and I remember you could smoke in the balcony of the Five Points Theater)
Edge City (when it was a head shop...back in the day)
Pizza Italanio
The Grand Falloon
Memorial Park (a great place to have lunch by the river)
The Studebaker car dealer on Main Street (which was later sold and renovated to become the broadcast studios for PBS TV station Channel 7)
"Let's Go Popeye"
The U.S.S Rotten Bottom
"Birds and rabbits, possum, deer...make the magic line appear!"
"Be good, have a happy birthday, get well soon, listen to Mom and Dad -- they're your best friends -- and remember, it's nice to be an American!"
"1 - 2 - 3- easy as can be...Riverside Avenue"
"It's a pleasure to bank at the Atlantic...at the Atlantic, Atlantic National Bank"
The Jacksonville Journal
Trains going over the trestle next to the Acosta bridge
Big Jim whistle every day at 7:00, noon and 5:00
When Channel 12's call letters were WFGA
Tom Kennington and his TKAAM club on WPDQ (can anyone remember what TKAAM stood for?)
WAPE banning Beatle records for a while after John made his Christ comment
Bertha Breadsacker
Been away a long time...I'm sure more memories will surface.
What about The Ribault drive in...Milligans, the Krystal's on main st....oh and Biff burger on Souter dr
Lum's
Wolf Department Store in Downtown
The wooden floors that squeaked in W.T. Grants
Hemming Park when it had lots of trees (and below ground restrooms)
Camel Riders
The Andrew Jackson Fighting Tigers
Jax Center out on North Main Street in North Shore
Trout River
Riverview Amusement Park (I've searched high and low, and cannot find a single bit of history on this place...but recall visiting there in the late 1950s. Anyone else been there?)
Seeing Arlo Guthrie and Ry Cooder on the same bill at the Civic Auditorium
The beautiful Florida Theater (and being escorted to your seat by an usher, smartly dressed in his hat and uniform)
Standing on the corner of 9th & Main as the Beatles drove by in their limo (John waved at me through his window)
The Sand Dollar seafood restaurant way out off Hercksher Drive
The Swannee River at the Jax Zoo ("no boating, no swimming, no skiing, no fishing, no wonder, no river")
Jake's Newsstand
Banner Food Stores
Barrier's Ice Cream
Imeson Airport
The ferry out at Mayport
Civil Defense drills at school...when we all thought that by hiding under your desk you could somehow survive a nuclear attack
Five Points (and I remember you could smoke in the balcony of the Five Points Theater)
Edge City (when it was a head shop...back in the day)
Pizza Italanio
The Grand Falloon
Memorial Park (a great place to have lunch by the river)
The Studebaker car dealer on Main Street (which was later sold and renovated to become the broadcast studios for PBS TV station Channel 7)
"Let's Go Popeye"
The U.S.S Rotten Bottom
"Birds and rabbits, possum, deer...make the magic line appear!"
"Be good, have a happy birthday, get well soon, listen to Mom and Dad -- they're your best friends -- and remember, it's nice to be an American!"
"1 - 2 - 3- easy as can be...Riverside Avenue"
"It's a pleasure to bank at the Atlantic...at the Atlantic, Atlantic National Bank"
The Jacksonville Journal
Trains going over the trestle next to the Acosta bridge
Big Jim whistle every day at 7:00, noon and 5:00
When Channel 12's call letters were WFGA
Tom Kennington and his TKAAM club on WPDQ (can anyone remember what TKAAM stood for?)
WAPE banning Beatle records for a while after John made his Christ comment
Bertha Breadsacker
Been away a long time...I'm sure more memories will surface.
What about The Ribault drive in...Milligans, the Krystal's on main st....oh and Biff burger on Soutel dr
What about The Ribault drive in...Milligans, the Krystal's on main st....oh and Biff burger on Soutel dr
Ribault drive in - Closed down, I went there a few times when in high school.
Milligans - Closed down in the early 70's, went there a few times with my buds, but liked Krystal more.
Main Street Krystal - still open and serving that teeny tiny burger at a much greater price!
Biff Burger which was at the corner of Soutel Dr and Norfolk Rd has been gone awhile now.
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)..
I remember that dinosaur on Beach Blvd.! And "crossroads"! Do you remember how amazing the stars looked at night there? Lol, I used to take dates there, too. 
