Jacksonville art icon mactruQue talks community and art in Springfield.

There’s not a lot that has been left unsaid about mactruQue Skinner, the dynamically prolific multi-media artist who resides in the Springfield historic district. So here's the Cliffs Notes :

Read more: The Artist

Name: Nicole

Age: 26 

Location: 9^th Street 

Occupation: Medical Sales Representative 

Fun Fact: Through traveling the world in the 1940’s, Nicole’s great uncle developed one of the world’s largest and most extensive collection of mounted animals, now displayed at museums in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

What brought you to the Springfield Historic District?

I first heard of the neighborhood a couple years ago when it was featured in Southern Living Magazine. Before that, I had no idea this community even existed.  I’ve always been drawn to old houses; each has a history unto itself and a story to tell. The front porches, character, and quarks. A few months ago, I was searching online for houses, looking in other historic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, and stumbled upon one in Springfield. I loved it, but wrote it off because of the perception I had of the area. After a couple months of searching, I just couldn’t let go of the Springfield house and decided to do some research. I spent a few days reading everything I could find about the neighborhood: the history, the fall from grace, the gentrification, and current events too. Pretty much everything I could find, I read. When I found all the information and stories in the Myspringfield.org site, it really sealed the deal for me. I finally decided to drive by the house and just see for myself. Luckily, someone was working outside the home and I was able to talk to them about it. I knew my search was over the minute I walked in the door! I moved in just a couple months ago.

Read more: Springfield Residents Nicole and Brent

A Novel Idea.

Something struck Kim Heyde while driving her car on Boulevard Street one cool November morning.

It wasn’t a speck of dirt or even an errant pebble, but something larger.

As she glanced across the meandering pools of grass that is Klutho Park, Kim was struck by an idea.

Well, a memory really. Of another green expanse in another Florida city. Tom Brown Park, in Tallahassee. Spending time with friends. Laughing. Enjoying the day. Having fun. Watching disc golf.

! ! !

“. . . . and I thought, wouldn’t that be cool?”

Read more: A Vision to Reality: Springfield Disc Golf is Here

“Two wheels are definitely better than four” according to Dexter Murphy, “at least in Springfield.”

This sentiment sums up how most people in the Springfield Historic District, and greater urban core, feel about the ancient, yet suddenly-chic form of transportation: the bicycle.  Whether it’s the benefit to the environment, a financial decision based on gas prices, or the rediscovered simple joy of riding through the open air, bikes are definitely in in Springfield.

Read more: Bike Springfield

New Resident Interview

Name: Angie & Brent

Age: 25 & 27

Location: E. 4^thStreet

Occupation: Children's Clinic community organizer & Financial performance reporter

Status: About 7 months of wedded bliss.

Fun Fact: Angie & Brent spent their honeymoon on a tropical island in the Caribbean. But instead of enjoying a typical paradise getaway, they traveled to  Haiti to help with earthquake relief efforts.

What brought you to the Springfield Historic District?

Brent: I was working at Fidelity as a broker at the time, and had a friend that lived  in the neighborhood. Both he and his wife were always super enthusiastic about their community. We weren't seriously thinking about buying a house at the time, but the idea peaked my interest. That's how I found about it.

Read more: Springfield Residents Angie & Brent, and Judy & John

New Resident Profile Series

Name: Russ and Bruce

Age: Undisclosed

Occupation: Russ is the Accreditation Coordinator for the American Culinary Federation, and Bruce serves as a Pastor and Professor of Communications.

Location: Pearl Street

Fun Fact:  Russ and Bruce have spent the better part of 20 years collecting art, and their home doubles as a spectacular art museum of sorts. Each piece of art has a story.

How did you arrive in the Springfield Historic District?

Russ & Bruce: We've always loved "transitional" and changing neighborhoods.

We moved from Racine, Wisconsin, and before that we lived in Stanton, Virginia. Stanton is a small community of thirty five thousand or so, but has five historic districts. All different types, from extravagant to not so nice. Our house in Stanton was built in 1904 by a relatively well known architect named TJ Collins. We lived in one of the "transitional" historic districts in Stanton, but after 4 years our professional lives and political preferences drew us to Wisconsin.

Racine, Wisconsin was our destination. We bought a house a block and half away from Lake Michigan, in another federally designated historic district. It was nice, but the winters took their toll. The neighborhood itself was, again, changing and improving, but the local community there didn't necessarily like all the rules that came along with being a historic district. There was a lot controversy on the local level.

Read more: Springfield Residents Russ & Bruce, and Jim Polkey