The Coastal
  • Development
  • History
  • Jax Evolved
  • More
    • Culture
    • Community
    • Food + Drink
    • Hidden Gems
    • Local Quirks
    • Lists
    • Sports
    • 904VIEWS
    • Seven Bridges
    • Music
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
The Coastal
  • Development
  • History
  • Jax Evolved
  • More
    • Culture
    • Community
    • Food + Drink
    • Hidden Gems
    • Local Quirks
    • Lists
    • Sports
    • 904VIEWS
    • Seven Bridges
    • Music
No Result
View All Result
The Coastal
No Result
View All Result

Story of a Building: Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church

by The Coastal
February 9, 2021
in History, Story of a Building
Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, FL
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Though it’s now been vacant for nearly two decades, the Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church played an integral role in helping some of downtown Jacksonville’s most vulnerable populations throughout its 118-year history – including the role it played in the aftermath of Ax Handle Saturday.

The church, located at 226 N. Laura Street just south of James Weldon Johnson Park, was constructed in 1903 to replace the previous Methodist Episcopal church building, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1901. Architect J.H.W. Hawkins designed the new building with striking Gothic Revival details; Hawkins was also known for designing the Bostwick building, Hermiker Block, and the since-demolished McConihe building.

The new church was named in honor of the Snyder family, who donated funds to help with construction. It quickly became a pillar of the downtown community, routinely taking in and caring for those in need of help or who had nowhere else to go through its “open-door” policy.

In 1917, the building underwent an expansion to add a gymnasium to its rear, allowing the church to host American troops in training during World War I, and later during World War II as well.

By the late ‘20s, the church found itself amidst a sea of commercial activity, as the neighboring James Weldon Johnson Park effectively became the central plaza for downtown’s plethora of shopping options. The presence of shoppers didn’t affect the church, which thrived from its centrally-located property for decades.

It was the church’s proximity to this bustling plaza, as well as its open-door policy, that led to it playing a major role in the aftermath of the 1960 Ax Handle Saturday race riot.

You MightAlso Like

Florida Times-Union building

Story of a Building: The Florida Times-Union Building

Edgewood Bakery

Remembering Edgewood Bakery: Once a Murray Hill Staple, Now an Empty Building

jacksonville university

A Brief History of Jacksonville University

history of Ed wAters College

A Brief History of Edward Waters College

Snyder church, Jacksonville, FL

During and immediately following the riot, the church welcomed in several Black residents who were being attacked, protecting them from the mob. Afterward, it hosted a committee of civil rights leaders and city officials who tried to make sense of the chaos and plot a path forward for the community.

Just a few years later, the church helped provide shelter for survivors of the deadly 1963 Hotel Roosevelt fire.

As the downfall of downtown Jax began during the 1970s, the church’s congregation began to disperse into the suburbs. Nonetheless, it remained open through the late ‘90s before closing its doors after nearly a hundred years.

The building was purchased by the St. Johns River Band, which spent four years renovating it with the help of the city. With the band having run out of money, the city took over ownership of the building in 2004.

In the years since, the city has occasionally utilized the building for festivals and other special events – while keeping an eye on options for future reuse. Among the options proposed for the building’s future is a civil rights museum to honor the city’s many civil rights leaders.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, granting it a certain degree of protection from demolition. Its significance to the history of downtown Jacksonville lends further protection to the property.

So while it may still take a while for the Snyder church building to be redeveloped, it’s almost certain to be around for many years to come.

ShareTweetSendShareShare
Previous Post

Building Up Jax: Concert venue, rooftop bar proposed downtown

Next Post

Japanese Donut Pop-Up Shop Dochi Coming to Town Center

The Coastal

The Coastal is a local magazine in Jacksonville, FL, founded in 2015 to bring you stories about the past, present, and future of the First Coast.

Related Posts

Florida Times-Union building

Story of a Building: The Florida Times-Union Building

Edgewood Bakery

Remembering Edgewood Bakery: Once a Murray Hill Staple, Now an Empty Building

jacksonville university

A Brief History of Jacksonville University

history of Ed wAters College

A Brief History of Edward Waters College

Worman's bAKERY AND DELI

Remembering Worman’s Bakery and Deli

Before Normandy Mall, There Was the Loew’s Normandy Drive-In Theatre

Next Post
Dochi, Jacksonville, FL

Japanese Donut Pop-Up Shop Dochi Coming to Town Center

“Jax River Jams” Concert Series Coming to Riverfront Plaza in April

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Rooms To Go coming to Town Center area

Comments 1

  1. Pingback: Finding a New Purpose for the Snyder Memorial Church Building – The Coastal

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

LATEST POSTS

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday
Development

Building Up Jax: South Moon Under coming to SJTC

South Moon Under to SJTC A new fashion retailer is coming to St. Johns Town Center. South Moon Under received...

Read moreDetails
Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop coming to Mandarin

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Scramblers coming to Deerwood, Lakewood

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Gucci to SJTC; Taverna debuting new concept

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Dolly Llama to PVB; Lowe’s, Wawa to CR-210

The Coastal

© 2015-2021 Cowford Media / The Coastal Jacksonville LLC. All rights reserved.

Browse by Section

  • News
  • Culture
  • History
  • In the Community
  • Food + Drink
  • Sports
  • About

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Development
  • Culture
  • History
    • Jax Evolved
  • In the Community
  • Food + Drink
  • Sports
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Submit Your Story
    • Advertise

© 2015-2021 Cowford Media / The Coastal Jacksonville LLC. All rights reserved.