by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Fixed above the ivy spreading across the building’s old brick is a placard announcing “Event Parking.”
There’s no hint that there’s anything particularly distinctive about the building or the one next to it — other than their age. They could be taken for fading, abandoned structures suitable for little more than offering up a surface for graffiti artists to hone their skills.
But that would be a mistake.
The old Victorian building with its distinctive cupola opened as St. Luke’s Hospital in 1878, making it “one of the first modern hospitals in the United States,” said Dr. Wayne Wood, optometrist and local historian.
The architect and builder was George Hoover, also the architect for Jacksonville’s elegant Astor Building on Bay Street.
In 1885, the hospital established the first modern nursing school in Florida. It survived the great fire of 1901, but only survived as a hospital until 1914.
Old St. Luke’s and the area around it testify to the economy of space that was actually more common in an era that had more space. Off to one side of the building are the stone remains of the crematorium. To the other side of the parking lot is a former casket factory, the one with the placard that says parking is available for events in the Arena, Alltel Stadium and The Baseball Grounds. A cemetery is nearby.
The Arthritis Foundation, which took over the defunct hospital and casket factory in 1985, uses its parking spaces to raise money and increase awareness about the disease.
“Awareness is key,” said Brooks Biagini, regional director of the Arthritis Foundation. “There’s a need out there, and that’s what we’re aiming to fulfill.
“We are a resource center for people with arthritis. We provide programs, support groups, exercise classes and educational materials. But a lot of people don’t know the Arthritis Foundation exists. We have the resources to help — if people just knew we were here.”
Old St. Luke’s truly is a survivor, but only by a hair. Both wings of the building were demolished in 1975, which was taken as a prelude to total destruction.
The preservation effort was led by Congressman Charlie Bennett, who mobilized local fund-raising support and had the building put on the National Register of Historic Places.
The two-year restoration project began in 1983.
For a time, Bennett had his office on the former hospital’s first floor, as did Rep. Corrine Brown. When Brown moved out, the Foundation moved its offices into old St. Luke’s.
Bennett, in the end, wanted the building to be given to a nonprofit organization or turned into a museum with artifacts and information about the city’s history.
After the Foundation bought the building, residents of Jacksonville raised money to donate the old hospital to the organization.
In those early days, the Foundation’s offices were on the second floor of the casket factory. On the first floor was a craft shop, where people with arthritis went to make ceramics and clothing. The cost of maintaining the shop got so high that it was closed about eight years ago.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States, said Biagini. An estimated 73 million Americans have the disease.
“Work forces need to care about it, because one in three employees has arthritis,” said Biagini. “And there are programs that can prevent the progression.”
Parking is only one way the Arthritis Foundation tries to raise money and increase awareness about the disease. One project being planned calls for more signs and, perhaps, distinctive artwork on the side of the casket company that faces Duval Street.
The Foundation is also eager to discuss renting, and perhaps selling, that building.
“The casket factory is wide open for the Super Bowl,” said Biagini. “Perhaps it could be rented out. Perhaps a business would be interested in renting it permanently. They’re welcome to do that as well.”
That building’s tenant, most recently, was Turner Construction “which did a great job of cleaning it up when they moved in and when they moved out,” Biagini said. “The second floor has built-out offices. There’s some storage space on the third floor.
“There are a lot of opportunities here without the community necessarily knowing about them.”
The Foundation is also trying to work with small local businesses to allow them to have small vendor spaces in the parking lot the week of the Super Bowl.
“They’re talking about building a walkers’ bridge right behind here at Hogan’s Creek, so people will be coming right through here,” said Biagini. “We could use the opportunity to help out those businesses, and we’ll be out there with our information.
“We really do need to have the community know we’re here to help.”
Anyone interested in helping the Arthritis Foundation or seeking more information about renting the factory building should fax questions or proposals to 353-7508. They may also be e-mailed to [email protected].