Durkee Gardens: Jax's first black historic district

Situated on the opposite side of Interstate 95 from Downtown Jacksonville, Durkeeville is a historic neighborhood that most Jaxsons may not know or have visited. Developed for Jacksonville's rapidly growing middle class black community during the prime years of Jim Crow, a portion of the neighborhood is now designated as a National Register of Historic Places historic district.

Durkee Gardens was platted in seven subdivisions between 1934 and 1944. 1211 West 10th Street was built in 1939.

1189 Durkee Drive was completed in 1945 for John Parrott.

1197 Durkee Drive West was designed by and built for architect Stanford Augustus Brookins. Establishing his own contracting business in 1916, the Macon, Georgia native built more than 150 houses between 1916 and 1926. Much of his work can be found in the Durkee Gardens historic district and Riverside.

1130 Durkee Drive North was built in 1948.

Completed in 1949, 1122 Durkee Drive North was the residence of Lucille S. Shrine. Born in South Carolina, Lucille was a maid for wholesale liquor company. Husband Robert Shrine, from Georgia, was employed as a laborer for the wholesale liquor company.

1916 Durkee Drive East. Minimal Traditional is a style of architecture that emerged during the 1930s, remaining a dominant architectural style in the country until the early 1950s.

1919 Myrtle Avenue was completed in 1939 for Leroy and Marie Argrett. Argrett was a brick mason and building contractor. Marie Argrett was employed as a public school teacher

A member of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, this sanctuary at 2225 Myrtle Avenue was built by James Edward Hutchins built in 1956. Born in Blakely, Georgia, Hutchins was employed as a carpenter with the Dawkins Building and Supply Company several years before establishing his own construction company in the 1930s. One of the few local African-American contractors that also designed their buildings, Hutchins is responsible for several African American churches and residences in the College Gardens and Durkee Gardens subdivisions. After World War II, Hutchins worked with the Veterans Administration to train African-American carpenters, brick masons and architects. In addition, Hutchins was one of the owners of A.L. Lewis’ Lincoln Golf and Country Club.

Source: City of Jacksonville Planning and Development Department Historic Preservation Section

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com