Old Orange Park

bradgator2

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I cant see the pics but we moved pretty close to there in 1979 due to the Navy. Blanding was a normal 4 lane road then. I have memories of living in a townhouse across from the mall where the Target is. Showbiz Pizza was fuking awesome. The Argyle area was still just woods. The old xxx drivein on Blanding where I would always try to see the movie titles.

I actually drove through that area last night. Freaking zoo.
 

MJMGator

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Wheew. I lived in the slums on the Westside baby! Close to 103rd and 295. It wasnt nice then.... but holy crap ghetto now.
I lived on the west side until about age 9 when we moved out by Julington Creek. Probably would’ve winded up in prison if we hadn’t. :lol:
 

MADGator

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Hell yeah, I remember all those places! We moved to OP in '75, to Bellair West. From birth to then we lived in Normandy Village; that house is now purple.
 

Zambo

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Yeah we lived on the westside when my dad first got stationed at Cecil while our house in OP was being built. I still remember the dirt lot before they even poured the slab (Woodlands subdivision off Moody). Most of the other subdivisions were just trees. I couldn't see the FB pictures either.

One place I remember from growing up was George's Creations, an ice cream shop in the Publix shopping center. They had all kinds of crazy dishes, including the 'certificate sundae'....ten scoops of ice cream plus fruit and syrup in a tall dish which, if you ate in one sitting and could still blow a police whistle after finishing (and without puking), you got a free sundae every year on your birthday. Everybody who successfully ate one had their picture on the wall in the shop.
 

NVGator

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Yeah we lived on the westside when my dad first got stationed at Cecil while our house in OP was being built. I still remember the dirt lot before they even poured the slab (Woodlands subdivision off Moody). Most of the other subdivisions were just trees. I couldn't see the FB pictures either.

One place I remember from growing up was George's Creations, an ice cream shop in the Publix shopping center. They had all kinds of crazy dishes, including the 'certificate sundae'....ten scoops of ice cream plus fruit and syrup in a tall dish which, if you ate in one sitting and could still blow a police whistle after finishing (and without puking), you got a free sundae every year on your birthday. Everybody who successfully ate one had their picture on the wall in the shop.
I'll never forget George's. To this day my wife want to open an old fashion ice cream parlor and this is exactly my picture in my mind when she talks about it. I try to explain it to her every time, but it's so unique. The bubblegum ice cream was the best. Banana splits.

I grew up in Park West, off Blanding Blvd. just south of OPHS. Jiffy Store was the only thing around. There's wasn't a Wal-Mart or anything further south. Heritage Hills across the street.
 

LagoonGator68

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Used to shag balls at Woodstock Park for the Lynch-Davidson Ford semi-Pro baseball team. Lived 2 blocks away and played baseball from 8 am until dark or supper time. Annie R. Morgan Elementary School; Duval County P.S. 21.....good times....
 

78

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My memory of Orange Park is a busy four-lane road that stood between Neptune Beach and G’ville. I just wanted to get through it. Zzzzzzzzzz.
 

bradgator2

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For some reason, the Orange Park skating rink popped into my head last night. That was THE place to be dropped off and hang out on a Friday night when I was in middle school.
 

Zambo

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For some reason, the Orange Park skating rink popped into my head last night. That was THE place to be dropped off and hang out on a Friday night when I was in middle school.

Wasn’t it called Skate in Space or something like that? Went there many times.

Spent countless days at the Gano athletic field complex growing up. Either playing baseball or pickup games or Pop Warner football (Falcons baby, screw Bel-Med!), something was always going on there. My dad coached when he could and mom was a scorekeeper.
 

ThreatMatrix

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My memory of Orange Park is a busy four-lane road that stood between Neptune Beach and G’ville. I just wanted to get through it. Zzzzzzzzzz.
LOL.
Neptune Beach? Did you go to Fletcher?
 

bradgator2

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Wasn’t it called Skate in Space or something like that? Went there many times.

Spent countless days at the Gano athletic field complex growing up. Either playing baseball or pickup games or Pop Warner football (Falcons baby, screw Bel-Med!), something was always going on there. My dad coached when he could and mom was a scorekeeper.

Sounds correct. I think it’s still there actually.

My athletic club was the Westside Athletic Association. WSAA baby!
 

NVGator

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For some reason, the Orange Park skating rink popped into my head last night. That was THE place to be dropped off and hang out on a Friday night when I was in middle school.
Does the link in post #9 work for you?
 

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