The Coastal
  • Development
    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Vestcor planning Lofts at San Marco East

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Rockler Woodworking coming to SJTC

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Sportsman’s Warehouse coming to River City Marketplace

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Tesla expanding its local presence

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Brooklyn mixed-use project up for DDRB approval

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee planned for San Marco Square

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: BJ’s Wholesale Club coming to River City Marketplace

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: 7Brew Drive-Thru Coffee coming to Jax

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Bolles adding $25mil Center for Innovation

  • History
    • All
    • Jax Evolved
    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

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

    Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

    Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

    San Marco Theater, San Marco, Jacksonville, FL

    Story of a Building: San Marco Theatre

    Sun-Ray Cinema building Five Points Jacksonville FL

    Story of a Building: Sun-Ray Cinema Building

  • Jax Evolved
    VyStar at 100 West Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: VyStar Reinvigorates the Former Life of the South Building

    JAX EVOLVED: San Marco Preservation Society Now Occupies South Jacksonville City Hall

    JAX EVOLVED: San Marco Preservation Society Now Occupies South Jacksonville City Hall

    Old St. Luke's Hospital jacksonville fl

    JAX EVOLVED: Old St. Luke’s Hospital Building Now Houses Jacksonville Historical Society

    Paul Davis Restoration, formerly Chevrolet Parts Depot, Springfield, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Paul Davis Restoration Gives Life to Old Chevrolet Parts Depot

    Old St. Andrew's Church building, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Old St. Andrew’s Church Building

    Novel Coworking / Groover-Stewart Drug Company Building, 25 N. Market Street, Jacksonville, FL - Image copyright 2020 Google

    JAX EVOLVED: Groover-Stewart Drug Company Building Now Houses Novel Coworking

    Dyal-Upchurch Building, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Downtown Jacksonville Adaptive Reuse Collection

    The Barnett, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: The Barnett’s Long Journey to Redevelopment

    JAX EVOLVED: Brewster Hospital to North Florida Land Trust, LaVilla, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: From Brewster Hospital to North Florida Land Trust

  • More
    • Culture
      • All
      • Art
      • Hidden Gems
      • Local Quirks
      • Music
      • Shopping
      Local Producer Alex Moye Releases New Album, “All I Need”

      Local Producer Alex Moye Releases New Album, “All I Need”

      Jacksonville Jazz Fest to Return This Fall

      Jacksonville Jazz Fest to Return This Fall

      Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

      Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

      Dockless Mobility Program Brings E-Scooters to Downtown Jacksonville

      Dockless Mobility Program Brings E-Scooters to Downtown Jacksonville

      MURAL SPOTLIGHT: Riverside Park Place by Jason Tetlak

      MURAL SPOTLIGHT: Riverside Park Place by Jason Tetlak

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

      Sugar Ray, Quad City DJ’s Highlight Jax River Jams Lineup

      Art Notes - Jacksonville, FL

      ART NOTES: Jazz Discovery Series 2021 Kicks off Friday Night

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

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

      Joseph E. Lee Jacksonville's first black attorney

      Joseph E. Lee Was Jacksonville’s First Black Lawyer – and He Didn’t Stop There

    • Community
      Prati Italia Jacksonville FL

      How the Prati Italia Team Survived the Pandemic

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Cowford Chophouse Partners with JAMS for 2021 MOO-VE IT 5K

      Cowford Chophouse Partners with JAMS for 2021 MOO-VE IT 5K

      Taverna Meals for Medical Workers Jacksonville Baptist Health

      Taverna Gives Back to First Responders with “Meals for Medical Workers”

      Local Companies Anact, SurfearNEGRA Join Forces to Address Aquatic Inequality

      Local Companies Anact, SurfearNEGRA Join Forces to Address Aquatic Inequality

      The Pitman Sisters, TikTok video stars from Jacksonville, FL

      How “The Pitman Sisters” Became TikTok Famous During COVID-19

      Local Women in Cannabis, Jacksonville, FL

      Breaking the “Grass Ceiling”: Local Women in Cannabis

      Urban Mining Jacksonville FL

      How Urban Mining Utilizes Donations to Provide Computers for Local Kids

      Cowford Chophouse Teams Up with Jacksonville Arts & Music School for 4th Annual MOO-VE IT 5K

      Cowford Chophouse Raises Over $18,000 for Jacksonville Arts & Music School

    • Food + Drink
      • All
      • Beer
      • Reviews
      Southern Italian Deli Market Jacksonville FL

      Cugino’s Sausage Launches The Southern Italian Deli & Market

      Prati Italia Jacksonville FL

      How the Prati Italia Team Survived the Pandemic

      Crazy Beans Coffee Makes Debut Inside JRTC at LaVilla

      Crazy Beans Coffee Makes Debut Inside JRTC at LaVilla

      Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

      Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

      Dochi, Jacksonville, FL

      Japanese Donut Pop-Up Shop Dochi Coming to Town Center

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Taverna Meals for Medical Workers Jacksonville Baptist Health

      Taverna Gives Back to First Responders with “Meals for Medical Workers”

      The Homestead Restaurant, Jacksonville Beach, FL

      Long Before Taco Lu, There Was The Homestead Restaurant

      Norikase Jacksonville

      BENTO Group to Debut Norikase Concept in Jacksonville

    • Hidden Gems
    • Local Quirks
    • Lists
    • Sports
    • 904VIEWS
    • Seven Bridges
    • Music
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
The Coastal
  • Development
    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Vestcor planning Lofts at San Marco East

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Rockler Woodworking coming to SJTC

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Sportsman’s Warehouse coming to River City Marketplace

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Tesla expanding its local presence

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Brooklyn mixed-use project up for DDRB approval

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee planned for San Marco Square

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: BJ’s Wholesale Club coming to River City Marketplace

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: 7Brew Drive-Thru Coffee coming to Jax

    Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

    Building Up Jax: Bolles adding $25mil Center for Innovation

  • History
    • All
    • Jax Evolved
    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

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

    Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

    Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

    San Marco Theater, San Marco, Jacksonville, FL

    Story of a Building: San Marco Theatre

    Sun-Ray Cinema building Five Points Jacksonville FL

    Story of a Building: Sun-Ray Cinema Building

  • Jax Evolved
    VyStar at 100 West Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: VyStar Reinvigorates the Former Life of the South Building

    JAX EVOLVED: San Marco Preservation Society Now Occupies South Jacksonville City Hall

    JAX EVOLVED: San Marco Preservation Society Now Occupies South Jacksonville City Hall

    Old St. Luke's Hospital jacksonville fl

    JAX EVOLVED: Old St. Luke’s Hospital Building Now Houses Jacksonville Historical Society

    Paul Davis Restoration, formerly Chevrolet Parts Depot, Springfield, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Paul Davis Restoration Gives Life to Old Chevrolet Parts Depot

    Old St. Andrew's Church building, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Old St. Andrew’s Church Building

    Novel Coworking / Groover-Stewart Drug Company Building, 25 N. Market Street, Jacksonville, FL - Image copyright 2020 Google

    JAX EVOLVED: Groover-Stewart Drug Company Building Now Houses Novel Coworking

    Dyal-Upchurch Building, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: Downtown Jacksonville Adaptive Reuse Collection

    The Barnett, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: The Barnett’s Long Journey to Redevelopment

    JAX EVOLVED: Brewster Hospital to North Florida Land Trust, LaVilla, Jacksonville, FL

    JAX EVOLVED: From Brewster Hospital to North Florida Land Trust

  • More
    • Culture
      • All
      • Art
      • Hidden Gems
      • Local Quirks
      • Music
      • Shopping
      Local Producer Alex Moye Releases New Album, “All I Need”

      Local Producer Alex Moye Releases New Album, “All I Need”

      Jacksonville Jazz Fest to Return This Fall

      Jacksonville Jazz Fest to Return This Fall

      Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

      Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

      Dockless Mobility Program Brings E-Scooters to Downtown Jacksonville

      Dockless Mobility Program Brings E-Scooters to Downtown Jacksonville

      MURAL SPOTLIGHT: Riverside Park Place by Jason Tetlak

      MURAL SPOTLIGHT: Riverside Park Place by Jason Tetlak

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

      Sugar Ray, Quad City DJ’s Highlight Jax River Jams Lineup

      Art Notes - Jacksonville, FL

      ART NOTES: Jazz Discovery Series 2021 Kicks off Friday Night

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

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

      Joseph E. Lee Jacksonville's first black attorney

      Joseph E. Lee Was Jacksonville’s First Black Lawyer – and He Didn’t Stop There

    • Community
      Prati Italia Jacksonville FL

      How the Prati Italia Team Survived the Pandemic

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Cowford Chophouse Partners with JAMS for 2021 MOO-VE IT 5K

      Cowford Chophouse Partners with JAMS for 2021 MOO-VE IT 5K

      Taverna Meals for Medical Workers Jacksonville Baptist Health

      Taverna Gives Back to First Responders with “Meals for Medical Workers”

      Local Companies Anact, SurfearNEGRA Join Forces to Address Aquatic Inequality

      Local Companies Anact, SurfearNEGRA Join Forces to Address Aquatic Inequality

      The Pitman Sisters, TikTok video stars from Jacksonville, FL

      How “The Pitman Sisters” Became TikTok Famous During COVID-19

      Local Women in Cannabis, Jacksonville, FL

      Breaking the “Grass Ceiling”: Local Women in Cannabis

      Urban Mining Jacksonville FL

      How Urban Mining Utilizes Donations to Provide Computers for Local Kids

      Cowford Chophouse Teams Up with Jacksonville Arts & Music School for 4th Annual MOO-VE IT 5K

      Cowford Chophouse Raises Over $18,000 for Jacksonville Arts & Music School

    • Food + Drink
      • All
      • Beer
      • Reviews
      Southern Italian Deli Market Jacksonville FL

      Cugino’s Sausage Launches The Southern Italian Deli & Market

      Prati Italia Jacksonville FL

      How the Prati Italia Team Survived the Pandemic

      Crazy Beans Coffee Makes Debut Inside JRTC at LaVilla

      Crazy Beans Coffee Makes Debut Inside JRTC at LaVilla

      Green Turtle Restaurant in Jacksonville, fl

      Remembering Joe Adeeb’s Green Turtle Restaurant

      Dochi, Jacksonville, FL

      Japanese Donut Pop-Up Shop Dochi Coming to Town Center

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Jax-Based SipClean Debuts New Canned, Non-Alcoholic Rosé

      Taverna Meals for Medical Workers Jacksonville Baptist Health

      Taverna Gives Back to First Responders with “Meals for Medical Workers”

      The Homestead Restaurant, Jacksonville Beach, FL

      Long Before Taco Lu, There Was The Homestead Restaurant

      Norikase Jacksonville

      BENTO Group to Debut Norikase Concept in Jacksonville

    • Hidden Gems
    • Local Quirks
    • Lists
    • Sports
    • 904VIEWS
    • Seven Bridges
    • Music
No Result
View All Result
The Coastal
No Result
View All Result

James P. Small Park, Jacksonville’s First City Baseball Stadium

by The Coastal
September 12, 2019
in History, Sports
J.P. Small Park, Jacksonville, FL
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Long before the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville was built, the heart of professional baseball in the Bold City was located off of Myrtle Avenue in Durkeeville.

James P. Small Park, as it’s been known since its 1980 re-dedication, began its life in the 1910s as a simple community baseball diamond, known alternatively as Barrs Field or the Myrtle Avenue Ball Park. It was home mostly to local rec league teams – one of which featured a young James Weldon Johnson on its roster – but was occasionally utilized for pro teams’ spring training operations and semi-pro games.

But the city soon set its eyes on attracting a professional team, prompting it to purchase the Durkeeville field’s land from the Durkee family in 1932.

A steel-and-brick grandstand was built around the existing diamond – then rebuilt promptly following a mid-‘30s fire. The new stadium was dubbed Durkee Field.

Its bleachers were built specifically to be racially segregated, despite the stadium’s location within the historically black Durkeeville neighborhood.

The city was successful in luring a professional team to the park – specifically, the Jacksonville Tars of the Southeastern League.

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

A few years later, the Jacksonville Red Caps of the Negro American League began play at the park as well. They lasted just three years before fizzling out as many of its players left to fight in World War II.

In 1953, local businessman Samuel Wolfson purchased the struggling Tars, renaming them the Braves and racially integrating the team – a move that led to the team acquiring elite talent including a young Hank Aaron.

Wolfson also pushed the city to build a new, modernized ballpark in downtown Jax – which it did almost immediately, opening what would become Wolfson Park just two years later in 1955.

By this point, Durkee Field was viewed as outdated and unappealing for professional teams. It was relegated back to community use and gradually entered a state of disrepair as the city ignored it in favor of its new downtown field.

By the late ‘70s, the city was ready to demolish the field. But thanks to a push by neighborhood activists, the city instead opted to repair the aging stadium and add amenities such as lighting, a press box, and a new parking lot.

The field was rededicated in 1980 in honor of James P. Small, who served as Stanton High School’s athletic director and head coach from 1934 to 1967.

In 2013, the park became part of the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the field continues to be utilized by the community, including multiple local school teams. It also features a small museum honoring its history and the history of baseball in Jax.

Share85TweetSendShareShare
Previous Post

Here’s Where You Can Find an Impossible Burger in Jacksonville

Next Post

Building Up Jax: 10/Six Grille to replace MLG; Wawa coming to Baymeadows

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

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

Next Post
Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Development and Construction News Every Saturday - The Coastal

Building Up Jax: 10/Six Grille to replace MLG; Wawa coming to Baymeadows

Dyal-Upchurch Building, Jacksonville, FL

JAX EVOLVED: Dyal-Upchurch Building

Five Points, Jacksonville, FL

Imagining a Pedestrian Mall in Five Points

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

LATEST POSTS

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

Building Up Jax: Vestcor planning Lofts at San Marco East

Vestcor planning Lofts at San Marco East Vestcor is expanding its affordable housing presence outside of the urban core. The...

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

Building Up Jax: Rockler Woodworking coming to SJTC

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Sportsman’s Warehouse coming to River City Marketplace

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Tesla expanding its local presence

Building Up Jax - Jacksonville Construction and Development Updates Each Saturday

Building Up Jax: Brooklyn mixed-use project up for DDRB approval

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.