The Way We Were: Neill Wade McArthur, Jr.
Neill McArthur has done some serious traveling in his lifetime. He mentioned 20 countries he has visited and that didn’t include visiting the Russian Federation twice, where he had problems with his passport and his hotel reservations were cancelled because the King of Saudi Arabia reserved the entire hotel and displaced the other hotel guests. […]
The Way We Were: Katherine Monahan
Once upon a time, 79 years ago to be exact, a little two-year-old named Katherine and her three older sisters found themselves living on the east side of the St. Johns River, in the Granada neighborhood just south of San Marco. Their father, J. Reedy Brown, worked for National Distillers, maker of some of the […]
The Way We Were: Bill and Julie Mason
Juliette “Julie” Baldwin Mason is a seventh-generation native Floridian from a pioneering American family whose ancestors arrived at Plymouth Colony in 1621 on the Fortune, which landed two weeks following the Mayflower. Members of her family fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as World War I and II. One of three […]
The Way We Were: Anita Thompson
A local newspaper once dubbed Anita Thompson as “the Catholic pharmacist.” That’s a very apt descriptor of Thompson’s passion, involvements and accomplishments in the 63 years she has lived in Jacksonville. Born in Stuart, Florida, in 1932, her mother, brother Frank and she moved to Key West after World War II started, where, from 1939 […]
The Way We Were: Mary Jane Blanchard
Mary Jane Blanchard has many memories of growing up on Felch Avenue and in San Marco; hanging out with two close girlfriends; teachers who inspired her to become a teacher; and classmates and friends, some of whom help her today, because she is now homebound. Mary Jane’s mother, Dorothy Louise Burrell, moved to Jacksonville […]
The Way We Were: Gunnel Kopp Humphreys
Gunnel Humphreys of Riverside said she has watched her favorite movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” three times. And, if anyone knows bohemian, it’s Gunnel, owner of Edge City in historic 5 Points. The Swedish-born artist, designer, entrepreneur and trendsetter has been part of the eclectic vibe of 5 Points since she and her life partner, Tom […]
The Way We Were: Elizabeth “Libby” Lee
Her knees may prevent her from walking these days, and her memory isn’t what it used to be, but at nearly 100 years old, Elizabeth “Libby” Battle Lee still has an engaging personality and tells great stories. She is full of many good memories of living, worshiping and clubbing in San Marco. When all is […]
The Way We Were: Dorsey-Ann Holz Rhames
Dorsey-Ann Rhames is proof that you can come home again. After growing up in Murray Hill and moving to Ft. Lauderdale, she eventually moved back into the house in which she grew up. Like the neighborhood itself, however, with her husband’s and her efforts, the house has changed somewhat. “My father’s name was Gunther Schlichtholz, […]
