"It's the air conditioning" I told myself yesterday when I got a sore throat. It was exactly the kind of sore throat that precedes a cold; I know it well. I had just been on a plane, and as I tweeted, the last fellow who didn't get a cold after a plane flight was named Wilbur. At 11:45 PM, while watching "The Agency," I sneezed, twice, and thought "it's the air conditioning." Nevertheless, I took zinc, making sure to do so on a full stomach. Today I woke up feeling absolutely lousy, and everything feels like a cold is en route. That's the part I hate: it's not here yet, but I feel bad, and, I know I'll feel worse.

The shot above is from Sunderwood Park, parts of which has gone entirely feral. It gets more interesting every month.

Speaking of months: This marks the start of my third. April doesn't count, since I was moving in slowly, and still sleeping back at the house, because it was my house, and I wanted to. I will also note something else, in case you were wondering, or in case you weren't wondering because you hit the index redirect page instead of the main index. There were two videos for banners, Monday and Tuesday.

The original banner:

Monday:

 

 

 

 

Tuesday:

 

 

 

 

A letter arrived from the county. The decree had been issued.So that's that.

A few more shots from the Boston trip, if you're dying for more. Which I doubt. I'd posted a picture of the Berkeley building, but hadn't bothered you with these close-ups. It's quite a lot of frosting.

 

 

Why, it's the Clark Gum logo:

 

 

Not really. Clark used a stylized Teaberry tree. I don't know what this is. Grok says the building is covered with stylized marine elements, including twisted vines and sea plants.

It's quite extraordinary. You can't see all the incredible details from the ground level, but get a general impression of abundance and fascinating sights. A gift to the city.

 

 

Another look at the John Hancock tower:

 

 

The problem with the blue-mirror buildings that popped up everywhere in the 70s: they lose their own personality, because they spend all their time showing you something else.

 

 

 

  

   

Seventeen thousand souls, down 2K from 2010. "Jacksonville is the home of the Eli Bridge Company, manufacturer of Ferris wheels and other amusement rides such as the Scrambler." I love the Scrambler.

Well, this is one place to start, I guess.

This was an interesting building, once.

Imagine at early evening, lights glowing from the windows.

If you go inside you find one of the last Knights Templar, keeping the Holy Grail safe.

Roll back the Google view, and you see how it used to look. Recently rehabbed, it seems.

I wonder what happened.

Erected?

Let’s go back to another pass. The nameblock is clearer.

Hoffman Building? Let’s google . . . yes. 1892.

Look, I understand, there might have been some client requests, but if you’re going to cover up the facade, go all the way. Otherwise you make it look like a prison, and there’s a guy in there wearing an iron mask.

 

Nice!

“No, don’t worry. Financing for the second half is solid.”

Nice restoration. On the left, a stack of bricks left over from the lot’s previous occupants.

“How Not To Do It,” Plate 23

Abe makes an appearance in the standard "downtowns are fun important places with history" mural.

Bog-standard early 20th century bank / office block.

Ayers Bank, now Farmers’. 1912. First steel-framed building in town. Lit up at Christmas for the World's Biggest Advent Calendar - at least it was in the past.

I’m so sorry.

Surely it’s on the way back. That’s fresh wood.

The Morrison Block, with a later rehab to modernize the ground floor. Looks as if it could be 30s, really.

 

More next week! Lots of stuff in Jacksonville.

 

That will suffice for Thursday. See you around.