Before urban renewal: LaVilla's West Monroe Street

What does urban renewal look like? What did LaVilla, Jacksonville's oldest suburb, dating back to 1866 look like? Ask no more. We recently received access to pre-demolition photographs of properties being prepared to be razed as a part of the River City Renaissance plan. Since there are so many to share, we'll occasionally show one street at a time. Today, we'll start with West Monroe Street.

912 West Monroe Street was the home of Reverend John Tressler and Maude Cuppett. The Cuppetts came to Jacksonville from West Virginia.

1004 West Monroe Street was vacant in 1923. James and Julia Moneyhan lived next door at 1006 West Monroe Street. Born in Pennsylvania, James was employed as a car inspector.

1021 West Monroe Street was the home of Jacob and Minnie Rosenblatt. Born in Austria in 1895, Jacob was employed as a cabinet maker. Minnie was a Yiddish speaker from Russia who immigrated to to the United States in 1909. Their son Israel, was born in Jacksonville 1918. The Rosenblatts eventually left LaVilla and moved to Springfield.

1029 West Monroe Street was the home of Bernard and Jennie Blattner. Blattner owned a produce business in LaVilla at 15 Clay Street.

In 1924, West Monroe Street was populated by Jewish and Greek residents. By 1930, the racial demographics were in the midst of a dramatic shift. In 1930, Davis Street had become a racial demarcation line along West Monroe Street. West Monroe Street had become a Black community west of Davis Street. Here are some residential buildings that were constructed after 1924. The names associated with these properties were identified in the 1930 and 1944 city directory.

1014 West Monroe Street was the home of Leo and Fannie Loyd. Roosevelt and Stella Johnson lived next door at 1016 West Monroe Street. Roosevelt was in the butter business.

Luella Daniels lived at 1020 West Monroe Street and was employed as a domestic. James and Pearl Cohen resided next door at 1022 West Monroe Street. James was employeed at the Florida East Coast Railroad.

1025 and 1027 West Monroe Street.

Carrie Brooks was a cook who lived at 1066 West Monroe Street in 1944.

Charles and Anne Davis lived 1072 West Monroe Street in 1944. Charles Davis was a shoe shiner at 612 West Ashley Street.

1075 West Monroe Street was occupied by Anna Belle Houston. Houston operated the New Century Industrial School at this residence in 1944.

Willie and Fannie Cowley lived at 1087 West Monroe Street in 1944. Cowley was employed as a waiter with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Photographs courtesy of the Ritz Theatre and Museum.