JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Just north of downtown sits one of Jacksonville’s most iconic and storied neighborhoods — Historic Springfield.
Known for its character, wraparound porches and beautifully restored homes dating back to the 1800s, Springfield is a place where the past and present walk side by side.
MORE: Complete coverage from our 4 Your Neighborhood visit to Springfield
Founded in 1869, the neighborhood still carries the same charm it did more than 150 years ago.
For longtime resident Crissie Cudd, Springfield is more than just a place to live.
“You think you’re moving here for the houses — the history, the architecture — but it turns out you’re here for so much more,” said Cudd, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 15 years and now works as a local real estate agent.
She points out century-old brickwork and homes with front doors that look like they could tell stories of their own.
“That house right there, 1524,” Cudd said, gesturing down the street. “That’s where Oliver Hardy used to live. As in Laurel and Hardy. He rented there during the four years he was making movies.”
But for many, the real draw isn’t the buildings — it’s the people.
Cherri Picard, one of Springfield’s newest homeowners, said she felt destined to live in the neighborhood.
“I drove by this house for 13 years,” Picard said. “Every time I came to Springfield, I’d park across the street and say, ‘That’s my house.’”
Today, it is.
Inside, she’s preserved pieces of its past. Near the front door hangs a gallery wall featuring black-and-white portraits of the original owners.
“They were the Fitch family,” Picard said. “This little girl here was born in my bedroom in 1910.”
How did she learn the history?
“From a previous owner. They met the family’s grandkids and passed along these old photos and stories,” she said.
In Historic Springfield, the homes are old — but the spirit remains vibrant.
Because here, you don’t just live in history — you become part of it.