by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
One of Downtown’s oldest historic buildings will be one of the stars of the Memorial Day Weekend Jacksonville Jazz Festival when Snyder Memorial Church opens its doors to the public for the first time in five years.
The Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in Jacksonville in 1870 and 31 years later witnessed the destruction of its sanctuary in the Great Fire of 1901. As soon as the ashes had cooled, church members began the work of restoring their place of worship and just two years later a granite and limestone church in the Gothic Revival style opened at the southwest corner of Laura and Monroe streets. The church was renamed Snyder Memorial in honor of former pastor E.B. Snyder, whose children had contributed generously to the building’s resurrection campaign.
Years after the church held its last Sunday service in the 1970s, it was deconsecrated and later became the headquarters of the St. Johns River City Band. After a few years of renovations, the band experienced financial hardship and was forced to put the building up for sale in 2004. The City purchased it and Snyder Memorial has been unoccupied since.
“The only real way to preserve a historic building is to find a use for it today,” said Jerry Spinks, president of the Jacksonville Historical Society. “Using pieces of our historic identity to be part of current activities makes our history much richer.”
Spinks is pleased that an iconic piece of local history and architecture is finding a new use. The City is pleased to have a most unique venue to be part of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival’s move from Metropolitan Park to the the Laura Street corridor in the heart of Downtown. This year, entertainers will perform on four stages located between Hemming Plaza and the Landing.
“We are adding many elements to the festival this year and having performers on stage inside Snyder Memorial is certainly one of the most exciting,” said Theresa O’Donnell-Price, the City’s director of special events.
In addition to live entertainment, Snyder Memorial will also offer an exhibit of historic photographs explaining the building’s history. The doors will also be open May 20 when Mike Tolbert, one of the Jazz Festival’s founders, will host a presentation about the history of the event beginning with the first festival at Mayport.
O’Donnell-Price said after the community discovers Snyder Memorial during the festival, she won’t be surprised if the building is desired for other functions.
“Of course we’d like to use it beyond the Jazz Festival. It can be a tremendous enhancement for other Downtown events like ArtWalk,” she added.
The May 6 First Wednesday ArtWalk will be a preview of the part Snyder Memorial will play in the Jazz Festival. This year’s official poster artist, attorney Tom Farrell, will be set up at the building to autograph copies of his work titled “Trio Jax.”
Spinks said using Snyder Memorial as a festival venue is a “great example of what can happen with a historic building and a great way to introduce some more of Jacksonville’s history to the community. I am looking forward to walking past Snyder at night during the festival and seeing light streaming from inside the building through those beautiful stained glass windows.”
Jazz at Snyder Memorial Church
May 22
Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame Band with Von Barlow, Longineu Parsons, Bill Prince and Teddy Washington featuring Marcus Roberts; and the Ya’ Gozo’ Latin Jazz Band.
May 23
“This Joint is Jumpin’ Jazz and Soul Review (four shows) and Sasha Johnson.
May 24
Sacred Jazz featuring The Noel Freidline Quintet and the Jacksonville Mass Choir.
356-2466