Blast from the Past: Streets Then and Now

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Ever heard of the Alachua County Library District's Heritage Collection? No?! The Heritage Collection consists of over 1,100 historical photographs from all aspects of daily life in the Alachua County area. Treat yourself to a journey of amazing historical detail and profound human interest through this annotated photographic exposé of the Alachua region spanning the 1870s through the 1970s. Experience and understand local history in a different way, through the faces and places of the past that still influence the present.

Over the years, some of our streets have changed names. Some have changed more than once. Others still look familiar, with buildings we use today. Then there are the streets that look completely different. Can you spot where some of these photographs were taken? If you've lived in Alachua County for a long time, do any of the streets in these postcards bring back memories?

Old East Main St., now SE 1st St. looking South

Old East Main now SE 1st St
Back when there was a Courthouse Square, there were two Main streets on either side of the square. East shown here, and West, which is the Main Street of today.
SE 1st looking at Hippodrome Theatre
The Old Post Office turned into the Hippodrome Theatre is the only building that looks the same.

Mechanic St., now NE 1st Ave. looking East

Old Mechanic St. now NE 1st Ave
At the end of the street is the Gainesville Graded and High School, which is now the Alachua County Public School Office building.
NE 1st St 2024
The postcard is taken from NE 3rd Street, this picture from 2024 is from NE 4th Street.

Archer Main St. now SW 134th Ave. looking West

Archer street
Archer Main St. 2023
The Maddox Foundry and Machine Works at the end of the street still stands. 

Hawthorne Main St., Johnson St., SE 221st Street

Hawthorne Main Street
The postcard is labeled Main Street, but it is known as Johnson Street and now also SE 221st Street.
Hawthorne Main St 2024

High Springs Main St. looking North

High Springs Main St
High Springs Main Street 2023
The Opera House, hidden behind the trees on the East side of the street, is still used as an event venue today.

High Springs Main St. looking Southeast

High Springs Main St westside
High Springs Main St westside 2023
You can see from some windows and architectural details, that though the businesses are different the structures remain.

West University Ave. looking East from West 6th St.

W University Ave 1937 and 1967
Someone took a picture from roughly the same spot in 1937 (top) and 1967 (bottom).
W Univ Ave and 6th 2024
Here is how it looks today. The Seagle building is the only familiar structure.

West University Ave. and Main St.

University and Main 1940
University and Main 2024
You see the architectural details on the old Woolworth's building are still present.

West University Ave. looking West from West 1st Street

W University and 1st
W University Ave from 1st Street looking east 2024
The windows on the building to the right look familiar and well as well as the structures on the left behind those trees.

West University Ave. looking Southwest from West 2nd St. 

W University between 1st and 2nd
W University Ave between 1st and 2nd 2024
The Bond Jewelry store is gone, but some of the structures further down the block, like The Florida Theatre are still there.

West University Ave. looking Northwest from the 100 Block

W University and 2nd St
W University Ave and 2nd St 2024
You can see the same curved bulding on the NW corner and the Seagle building in the distance.

West University Avenue looking South on 13th Street

University and 13th flooded 1947
The intersection flooded one day in 1947.
University and 13th 2024

 

 

 

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By BethN on November 18, 2024