Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jacksonville's 1901 Fire

“The Great Fire”

By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

1. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire Marker

Inscription. On May 3, 1901 at 12:30 p.m., a fire began at the Cleaveland Fibre Factory, ten blocks northwest of this site. Chimney embers ignited sun-dried moss to be used as mattress stuffing. Fueled by wind and dry weather, the fire roared east destroying most structures in its path. By 3:30 p.m., the fire reached this site, then called Hemming Park. The park and its renowned live oaks were devoured by the flames and only the Confederate Monument survived, its base glowing red from heat. The fire continued an eastward march to Hogan's Creek, where a citizens' bucket brigade stayed the flames. Then, turning south, the inferno roared to Bay Street's riverfront docks. Extreme heat caused a waterspout in the river where rescue boats trolled for survivors. The fire was so intense, black smoke clouds could be seen as far away as South Carolina. As flames moved west on Bay Street, the firefighters' gallant stand and dying winds brought the fire under control by 8:30 p.m. In just eight hours, nearly 10,000 people were homeless, 2,368 buildings were lost, 146 city blocks were destroyed, but miraculously only seven people perished. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire remains the most destructive burning of a Southern city in U.S. history.

Erected 2001 by The Jacksonville Historical Society and the Florida Department of State

Jacksonville's 1901 Fire Marker, along West DuVal Street image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

2. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire Marker, along West DuVal Street

. (Marker Number F-433.)

Location. 30° 19.78′ N, 81° 39.574′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. Marker is on West DuVal Street near N Hogan Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Located along the northwest corner of Hemming Park. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville FL 32202, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Confederate Memorial 1861-1865 ( within shouting distance of this marker); John Milton Bryan Simpson ( within shouting distance of this marker); 1960 Civil Rights Demonstration ( within shouting distance of this marker); Florida Pharmacy Association ( approx. 0.2 miles away); Seminole War Blockhouse Site ( approx. ¼ mile away); "The Great Endurance Run" ( approx. ¼ mile away); Florida's First African-American Insurance Company ( approx. 0.3 miles away); Sinking of the Maple Leaf ( approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Also see . . .
1. Metro Jacksonville, The Great Fire of 1901 ( Great photos included). "...the third largest urban fire in American history behind the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Chicago Fire of 1871." (Submitted on August 1, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. Great Fire of 1901, from Wikipedia,.

Jacksonville's 1901 Fire Marker in Hemming Park image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, July 15, 2012

3. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire Marker in Hemming Park

...Florida Governor William S. Jennings declared martial law in Jacksonville and dispatched several state militia units to help... (Submitted on August 1, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Categories. • Disasters • Industry & Commerce •

Jacksonville's 1901 Fire image. Click for full size.

Wikipedia

4. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire

By Metro Jacksonville, 1901

5. Jacksonville's 1901 Fire

Hemming Park after the fire. The Confederate monument in Hemming Park was one of the few structures to survive. Many witnesses claim that the base had a red glow during the fire.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on August 1, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 6, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.