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Journal
Articles
of Interest about
Jacksonville History
J.P.
Small
Memorial Stadium
Jacksonville's First Municipal Baseball
Stadium
On June 3, 2006, the newly renovated J.P.
Small Memorial Stadium in the Durkeeville community of northwest
Jacksonville reopened. The grand reopening was a celebration of sports,
history and neighborhood pride. The stadium, known at various times as
Barrs Field, Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field, and the Myrtle Avenue
Ball Park, was the first municipal recreation field in the city of
Jacksonville.
 The Joseph H. Durkee family once owned the
property. Joseph Durkee, a former Civil War Union officer, settled in
Jacksonville following the war. Durkee became a prominent businessman
and politician. In 1911, his son, Dr. Jay Durkee, gave control of the
property to Jacksonville businessman and Jacksonville Baseball
Association President, Amander Barrs. Barrs created the recreational
field that became the site used by local teams, including the
Jacksonville Tars and the African-American ball team, the Jacksonville
Athletics, a team on which James Weldon Johnson played.
In addition, major league teams, along with their star sluggers, played
at the field, including the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The city gained control of the property in 1926, renamed it Joseph H.
Durkee Athletic Field, and created Jacksonville’s main municipal park
on the site. In 1936, after the original stadium was destroyed by fire,
the present structure was built with a larger building that afforded
space for a separate section to seat African American patrons in the
era of segregation.
 In 1953, the field added another layer of
history when it became the location of the first games played by the
newly integrated Jacksonville Braves (a home team of the Milwaukee
Braves) that included a 19-year-old Hank
Aaron. The team’s manager hired Aaron and two other black
players.
The following year, Wolfson Stadium was built and replaced Durkee Field
at the municipal ballpark. Through the years, the Myrtle Avenue field
provided the city’s African Americans other important uses. Area
schools, including Stanton (where J.P. Small served as the main coach
and athletic director from 1934 until 1969); Raines High School (where
Bob Hayes played on football and tract teams); and Edward Waters
College practiced and played games in the park.
By the late 1970’s, however, the park experienced a major decline. In
1980 Councilwoman Sallye B. Mathis sponsored legislation to renovate
the exterior of the stadium and to rename it in honor of the legendary
local coach, J.P. Small. After the death of Mrs. Mathis, Councilwoman
Denise Lee and Mayor Jake Godbold hosted a rededication ceremony of the
newly named J.P. Small Memorial Ball Park.
Following demolition of Wolfson Park, J.P. Small became the last
historic park in the city of Jacksonville.
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Jacksonville Historical
Society
317 A.
Philip Randolph Blvd.
Jacksonville,
FL 32202-2217
[ MAP]
[ Driving
Directions ]
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Emily
Lisska –Executive
Director
Jerry Higingbotham – Associate
Director, Collections Manager
Phone: 904-665-0064
FAX: 904-665-0069
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Jacksonville
Historical Society Archives at
Old St. Luke’s
314
Palmetto Street
Jacksonville 32202
Lauren Swain
Mosley,
Archivist
Phone: 904-374-0296 Email
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All
Rights Reserved, Jacksonville Historical Society.
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