Historic preservation on full display during book signing
Highly anticipated Bicentennial Edition released for sale
It was an evening of historic proportions, as author Dr. Wayne W. Wood unveiled and signed the second, updated printing of Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage – Landmarks for the Future, Bicentennial Edition. The latest volume of the book, originally printed in January of 1989, made its debut at a recent book signing in Riverside at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Dec. 8.
The Jacksonville Historical Society partnered with Riverside Avondale Preservation to welcome guests to the highly anticipated release and reception in the Betsy Lovett auditorium. After 45 minutes of book signing, Wood thanked the standing room only crowd and talked through a slide presentation while sharing sentiments about the importance of preservation.
“Architecture is a fragile art,” Wood stated, “…unlike poems, books and operas that live on.” Brick, steel, iron and other elements can be relegated to demolition and buildings can be lost in our lifetimes, he surmised, emphasizing the need to appreciate the unique form of expression.
“Architecture is the one form of art we share as a community,” he said, “…to encourage preservation, that’s one of the things we hope to achieve with this book.” The author steadily clicked through his slide presentation of structures, some remaining, some lost to the wrecking ball.
The newly minted and printed edition is now complete with colored photos, the addition of mid-century modern structures (because of the age of the structures during the first publishing, they didn’t qualify), other quirky landmarks unique to Jacksonville as well as some of the city’s African American designed and built structures.
The Bicentennial Edition of Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage is funded by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Preston Haskell, and the Ida M. Stevens Foundation. The hardback, coffee-table book is available for $64.95. Proceeds benefit preservation efforts of the Jacksonville Historical Society and Riverside Avondale Preservation. For more information about how to order a book, visit jaxhistory.org.
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