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Near the fork of the branch, where the oldest tree grows, could be something below.

Subdivisions in the Historic Old Arlington Area
(in numeric order by plat book and page)

From Cleve Powell Almost everyone who lives in Arlington in the year 2005 has a street address and the deed to their house will say something like "Lot 12, Block 2 of Alderman Park Subdivision as recorded in PB 43, Page 29 of the public records of Duval County, Florida." In researching the history of our area the original subdivision plats are a very valuable tool as they show historic features and provide insight into the person(s) who had them surveyed and platted. They may also reveal the origin of the names of the communities such as Arlington Bluff, Clifton, Eggleston, Floral Bluff, Arlington Heights, Oakwood Villa, Gilmore Heights and more.

After Florida became a territory in 1821, it was divided into numbered one mile squares known as sections and the lands previously granted to settlers during the Spanish period were also given a section number. Thus you could describe any parcel of land to be bought and sold by its section number. Most of the early sales were in increments of 40 acres but in the reconstruction days after the Civil War, many people moving to Florida wanted a lot only big enough to build a house and have a small garden. They also wanted to live in a community with areas set aside for parks and churches and other common areas to bind the "subdivided" land into a community.

In our research to date, the subdivision known as Arlington Bluff (originally known as Florida Winter Homes) was the first to be platted. In 1873, it was shown on a poster by Matthews with promotional literature on one side and terms for rental or purchase on the other. The area platted is now generally known as Clifton but is considered to be in the Arlington area. It was later entirely replatted into other subdivisions, but many of the original lots were sold. The name Arlington later spread to several subdivisions. As to recording, Arlington Bluff was first recorded in DB 112 pg. 323 ca. 1875. It may have been platted elsewhere as well but was not put in to the current Plat Book system until it was recorded in Plat Book 3, page 44 in 1909. This probably is the result of the Jacksonville fire of 1901, which burned the courthouse, and many records were lost. It was a practice to re-record some of the older plats. One of the features shown in the 1909 plat was the Sammis Cemetery.

The community of Eggleston began with a plat recorded in 1888 in Plat Book 1, page 75. Apparently copies of this plat were saved after the fire as portions of this subdivision remain so identified on the tax rolls. Some portions of Eggleston have been replatted in different names. This was an 80 acre subdivision which went from Lake Lucina south along the east side of University Boulevard to what is now Ansley Street. The developers name on the plat is Champlin who gained title to the land through a homestead Deed ca 1885. The plat was surveyed by J. Francis LeBaron who divided many of the early Arlington plantations into smaller parcels. This subdivision was originally a sectarian development and at one time had a church, hotel, school, and a Railroad Station for the J. M. & P. R.R. Although the original church group did not prevail, there are a number of pioneer families who still consider Eggleston as their community before being annexed into Arlington.

Alderman Realty Company subdivisions: In 1913 Alderman Realty purchased 1,107 acres from James Bours, which was originally part of the Francois Richard Grant. The land was a mushroom shaped parcel starting at the river with 700' of frontage and running east either side of Arlington Road getting wider as it approached Norman Studios. It then expanded to Strawberry Creek on the south and on the north to the northeast boundary of Richard's grant. The eastern boundary also followed the eastern boundary of Richards Grant near Terry Parker High School. When they purchased the land Arlington Heights Subdivision, which lies in the center of the tract, had been platted and recorded in PB 4 Pg. 19 in 1911. This subdivision lies either side of Arlington Road between University and Rogero (17th Street) and widens to the East. Alderman Realty platted the area between the river and University calling it Arlington Heights second subdivision and recorded it in 1913 in PB 5, Pg 83. The land from Rogero and its southerly extension and the East line of Richards grant was also platted in 1913 on PB 5, Pg. 99, and was known as Alderman Farms Subdivision, being made up of 1000' square lots. Most of this has been replatted into Alderman Park and Arlington Manor except the Tree Hill land. Cleveland Johnson surveyed and platted the land and in 1914 ended up buying the land that is now Tree Hill.

Oakwood Villa was platted in 1910. The parcel was shown in PB. 3 pg. 45 before it was subdivided, and among other things showed the location of the Richard Mill ruins. The subdivision was recorded in PB 3 pg. 100, and portions were replatted in PB 8, Pages 23-25 in 1924. This subdivision lies between Strawberry Creek on the north edge, Atlantic Boulevard on the south edge, Mill Creek Road on the east edge, and Silversmith Creek on the west.

[Ed Note: Sorted by Plat Book.* You may click on the headings to sort table for other uses. Use Select column to make your own sortable priorities.]

#	PB	Page	Date	Name	Location	Notes	Select
#	PB	Page	Date	Name	Location	Notes	Select
Old Arlington Subdivisions
01	(01)	(75)	1888	Eggleston Heights	(80 acres) On east side of University from Elizabeth Street to Ansley Street	By Champlin, was wife's maiden name; surveyed by J. Francis LeBaron* (Deed) (1935 Plat) (1950 Map)
02	01	96	1892	Paine & Brown's add. To Eggleston	East of Eggleston, north of Ansley Street, crossed Cesery.	Paine Homesteaded the land (J.M.& P.)
03	01	92	1887-03-01	Floral Bluff	Between University and river north of Floral Bluff Ave.	Named for Bigelow plantation. Platted by Gilbert H. Shepard (Plat) (1950 Map)
04	03	44	1909	Arlington Bluff	Covered the Clifton area from the St Johns River to Arlington River.	Original plat 1873 by Matthews (replatted)
05	03	45	1909	P. A. Holt's land	South of Strawberry Creek from Silversmith to Mill Cr.	Surveyed by Chase; Shows Richards Mill
06	03	100	1910	Oakwood Villa	Between Strawberry Creek on the north edge, Atlantic Boulevard on the south edge, Mill Creek Road on the east edge, and Silversmith Creek on the west.	Holt's land, South Shore Suburban Co.
07	04	19	1911	Arlington Heights	From University both sides of Arlington Road to Rogero (1950 Map)	First platted ca. 1890s. Bours sold to Alderman Realty in 1913.*
08	05	99	1913	Alderman Realty Farms	From Rogero and Arlington Road east to Townsend to Mill Creek.	Alderman Realty Platted earlier
09	05	11	19??	Long Branch	Mary Shane's Subdivision	Replatted as The Main Street Company's subdivision
10	05	83	1913	Arlington Heights Second Subdivision	From river both sides of Arlington Road to University (1950 Map)	Alderman Realty survey by C. Johnson
11	06	43	1914	Gilmore	On East side of Gilmore Heights from J. M. & P. R.R. ½ mile So. J.M.&P. shown as co. rd.	Jane Street/wife's name On Homestead 18 lots along Jane Street
12	06	76	19??	Thompson's Replat of Powell's Subdivision	On University by Arlington School
13	06	87	1917	D. P. Frasers Subdivision	Joins Fatio Grant on east from river 1,000' 670' wide
14	06	87	1917	Cuzner's Rep/Auburn	On east side of Hartsfield, location of old Gilmore school. Signed by Dr. Cuzner, notarized by Hawley
15	07	9	1918	Harris/Stevens Subdivision	On University adj. Powell's Subdivision (Harris Street)
16	08	3	1922	Powell's 2nd Subdivision	At Arlington School
17	08	23-25	1924	Oakwood Villa Estates	Strawberry Creek to Atlantic Boulevard; Johnson Ave to Mill Creek Rd	Owner, Standard Realty Company
18	09	9	1924	Williams Subdivision	Joins Arlington Heights, west of 17th. Street on Pottsburg Creek	Surveyed by Ellis, Curtis and Kooker
19	09	42	March 1925	Gilmore Heights "A"	West side of Gilmore Heights; Part of sec. 12	Essex's Land Co E. A. Wiles
20	09	50	1925	Clifton.	Replat of east end of the original plat of Arlington Bluff lots T & U	Owner Courtland Buckman 122/294
21	10	4	April 1925	Gilmore Heights "B"	On west side of Gilmore Heights	Essex Land Co.
22	10	6	1925	Silver Lake Terrace	On south side of Atlantic Boulevard across from Johnson Ave.
23	10	17, 18	1925	No. Arlington Heights.	SW corner of Merrill Road & Townsend (Plat shows J. M. & P. R.R.) (1950 Map)	Lakeshore Est. by R. Chase, Tr.
24	18	90	1945	Tanglewood	Homes south of Arlington Expressway, and east of University Boulevard	Platted 10-19-1945 by the Hulls; Clearance Hull (Plat)
25	19	54	1946	Lake Lucina	South of Lake Lucina, west of Cesery to Almira, along Marquette (now Dickson)	History Column on Lake Lucina
26	19	60	1946	Lockwood's Subdivision	Homes south of Arlington Expressway and south of Tanglewood subdivision, and east of University Boulevard by Arlington Expressway Off Ramp	Platted by Langdon Lockwood
27	20	13	1947	Arlington Estates	Area of Bigelow Planation home that burned on New Year's Eve, 1950	Filed by Stacy Bailey and J. W. Bingham, surveyed by Johnny Young, and was known as
28	21	47	1949*	River Forest Unit 1	Between River Bluff and Chaseville by Arlington Heights.	F. L. Fort & O. Roy Dixon
29	22	27	1950-07	River Forest Unit 4	Arlington Estates and Chaseville Road	Subdivided by Lawrence Pearce; surveyed by R. L. Croasdell.
30	22	35	1950*	Lake Lucina Unit 1	East side of University by Lake Lucina	Cesery & Liddell History Column on Lake Lucina
31	22	49	1950	Lake Lucina Unit 2	South of Lake Lucina, west of Cesery to Almira, along Marquette (now Dickson)	Cesery & Liddell History Column on Lake Lucina
32	22	61	19??	Tanglewood Annex
33	22	84	19??	Lake Lucina Unit 3	South of Lake Lucina, west of Cesery to Almira, along Marquette (now Dickson)	Cesery & Liddell History Column on Lake Lucina
34	23	18	19??	Lake Lucina Unit 4	South of Lake Lucina, west of Cesery to Almira, along Marquette (now Dickson)	Cesery & Liddell History Column on Lake Lucina
35	23	43	1952*	Arlington Manor Unit 1	N.E. Corner of Lone Star and Rogero (behind the cemetery)	Platted Apr 8, 1952 by Frank Ubile (and L. Pierce)
36	23	64	19??	Arlington Manor Unit 2	North of Unit 1	by Frank Ubile (and L. Pierce)
37	23	83	1952	Lake Lucina Unit No. 5	Homes along Maple Leaf and Green Hill Lane, east of Lake Lucina	History Column on Lake Lucina
38	23	85	1952	Lake Lucina Unit No. 5	Homes along Maple Leaf and Green Hill Lane, east of Lake Lucina	Cesery & Liddell History Column on Lake Lucina
39	24	7	19??	Arlington Manor Unit 5	[Ed note: unknown location, also units 3 and 4 missing]	by Frank Ubile (and L. Pierce)
40	24	14 A	19??	Arlington Hills	[Ed note: unknown location]
41	25	88	19??	Arbemarle	East of Tanglewood

[Ed-RSS]: Notice there are different spellings of names, i.e. Egleston Heights, Eggleston.  I asked Cleve about these differences.

From Cleve Powell The reason for the different spelling is that it was different on the plats.

[Ed-RSS]: Where is Newcastle, Beacon Hills, Cosmo, Greenfield, Oak Harbor, Wonderwood, ?  The community of Ft. Caroline is just east of Chaseville, like at the intersection of Winding Bridge Drive and N. University Club Drive.

[Ed-RSS]: What other comments should go with this document?

Names on this page (search using Ctrl+F):

• Matthews
• Sammis
• Champlin
• Francis LeBaron
• James Bours
• Francois Richard
• Cleveland Johnson
• Holt (Holt's land)
• R. Chase
• Archibald Gilmore
• Jane Gilmore
• Paine
• Brown
• Thompson
• Harris
• Stevesn
• Fatio
• D.P. Fraser
• Cuzner
• Powell
• Williams
• Ellis
• Cutrtis
• Kooker
• Courtland Buckman
• Hull, Clearance Hull
• O. Roy Dickson
• Lockwood
• Cesery
• Liddell
• Frank Ubile
• L. Pierce

* Move the mouse pointer over any asterisks (*) in the text for the explanation.