The Springfield Stories Oral History Project
We capture and preserve the living histories of individuals with deep connections to the Historic Springfield community in Jacksonville Florida
Historic Springfield is home to many diverse residents! The owner of one of the community’s more unique homes, Drew Edward Hunter, shares his Springfield story.
Drew Edward Hunter invites us into his whimsical and mysterious home, The Drewseum. Enter if you dare!
John Halman, Sr. shares his childhood memories of growing up in Springfield during the depression era.
An early investor and advocate for Springfield, Michael Trautmann tells the story of how he landed in Springfield. He describes the challenges and rewards of restoring and preserving this historic community.
Al Saffer shares his childhood memories of growing up in Springfield in the early 40's. Join us on a guided tour of his old stomping grounds.
There are many individuals who have contributed to the restoration and development of Springfield. Frank & Susan Noonan and Lloyd & Fran Downing share their Springfield Story.
Richard Wright shares his Springfield Story- visiting his grandmother and Aunt Rosa and listening to his father’s stories growing up in Springfield and downtown Jacksonville in its heyday.
Mary Porter shares her Springfield Story- a full circle, from her grandparents and parents early life in Springfield to her childhood in the community, and later returning herself to design the "Symphony Houses" on Silver Street!
Enjoy memories of a bygone era as Mary Geiger, Springfield's own centenarian, shares her Springfield Story.
Joyce Butler Hires shares memories of her family history and life in historic Springfield. Her grandparents bought one of the first homes built there in the early 1920s. Joyce spent her teenage years in Springfield and met her future husband at the Springfield pool around 1952.
Pastor William Hamilton and Pastor Victoria Hamilton, or P-Ham and PV as they are affectionately called by their parishioners, share their Springfield Story. When they arrived in January 2000 to redevelop St. John’s Lutheran Church, one of the oldest Lutheran congregations in Florida, they knew that there was work to be done.
Meet Walter and Dorothy Whetstone and learn more about the life of the Whetstonian founders. Dorothy shares the story of how they met and their early years. Hear about the Whetstonian, a quirky, amazing montage of treasures that Walter has collected throughout his life. This personal “museum” encompasses nearly half a city block in Jacksonville’s Urban Core. Walter has incorporated many artifacts from Old Lavilla, once renowned as a black culture center of the South. Located at 821 North Jefferson Street, this 1920’s structure is a unique work of art.
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