Mandarin, FL

Mandarin,  FL is a neighborhood located in the southern most portion of Jacksonville.  It is located on the eastern banks of the St. Johns River.  Mandarin was named after the mandarin orange in 1830 by Calvin Reed, a prominent resident of the area.  The Mandarin area is marked with history, ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss, beautiful parks, marina and more water views than any other area in Jacksonville.  In the 19th century Mandarin was a small fishing village that shipped oranges, grapefruit, lemons and other fruits and vegetables to Jacksonville and points north on steamships that traveled the St. Johns River.  In 1864 the Union steamship, the Maple Leaf, hit a confederate mine and sank just off Mandarin Point.  In 1867 Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", bought a cottage in Mandarin and named Mandarin 'a tropical paradise'. Stowe spent 17 winters in Mandarin.  She use to welcome and greet the tourists getting off the steamers and then charge them 75 cents to meet her and see her property.  In 1968 the city of Jacksonville and most of Duval county formed a consolidated municipal unit and Mandarin became a part of Jacksonville.
I went into Mandarin with my friend, Debbie, to pick up some items for the TLC Dinner Theater.  We had lunch at Panera then checked in a few more shops to try and find some items we were looking for.
Even though Mandarin is just across the river from Orange Park I seldom go to Mandarin but probably should; there are a lot of stores Orange Park doesn't have and it is a totally different atmosphere than Orange Park has, not better - just different!  Today, I will be working on more props and scenery after having lunch with a TRU friend, Frances and tonight I have choir.  So, it will be another busy day!