Since the back to back hard freezes of the mid-1890s, Orange Park had been in a slow but steady decline. Affluent winter residents with their mini-mansions that graced River Boulevard moved on to flee harsh northern winters on Mediterranean cruises or just traveled further south to Miami. The stately homes attracted hobos and termites and periodically erupted into flames that bucket brigades failed to even slow.

Orange Fever and the dream of instant, easy riches were gone and many settlers simply went economically belly up and were forced to move back home to family and friends and try to survive.

The decade of the twenties promised hope of a change for the better. There were no raccoon coats or flappers but, the pace of life gradually picked up.

The Loyal Order of Moose, electricity, telephones, and the first fire engine came to town along with “the bob” haircut, syncopated rhythms, mah-jongg gaming and a wayward flagpole sitter (immediately discouraged by Deputy Marshall Alan Harrington).

The absolute biggest event of the decade was the coming of electricity. Woman’s Club members enthusiastically went door to door enlisting guaranteed subscribers to satisfy the minimum required by the City of Jacksonville Electric Co. The required number would never have been reached had new arrival, Moosehaven not committed to purchase over half the required number of kilowatt hours.

It was a big deal. Everyone – man, woman and child – had something to do in preparation for the big day, February 28, 1924. After weeks of preparation, the festivities began at 2 P.M. on the Moosehaven grounds with speeches by visiting dignitaries including Mayor Alsop, representing the City of Jacksonville. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts demonstrated their skills in athletics.

After sunset, Mrs. Marson, widow of a former councilman and deemed to be the longest resident of Orange Park, pressed the switch to bring electricity to Orange Park and, with the street lamps lighting the way, the crowd adjourned to the town hall for an oyster supper with all the trimmings and dancing into the night.

Buildings were built during the twenties instead of just occasionally burning down. Miro Rio, a Mediterranean Revival mansion started the decade’s building boom. It was followed by a new town hall, a new jail on the southeast corner of Reed and McIntosh, a fire station and the beginnings of the Woman’s Club building.

In 1921, Caleb Johnson retired as president of Palmolive Soap Company and selected property on the St. Johns River adjacent to his sister, Karrie Ferguson, to build the fabulous Miro Rio. Grand in proportion and opulent in furnishings, it was the perfect setting to entertain their wealthy and influential friends. Locals vicariously lived the real “Roaring Twenties” through their observations of the “goings on” at the Johnson’s estate.

The other big time newcomers in town, The Loyal Order of Moose, caused just as much stir but were far more restrained. Arriving in the early twenties, representatives of this powerful group of northern movers and shakers purchased the Marion Hotel complex on the river, the entire southwest corner at Kingsley and Park Avenue – then known as Barrett Street – and continued to collect assorted other parcels. The large buildings on these properties were remodeled to become retirement homes for members of the Moose organization and their wives.

Sadly, by the end of the decade, residents would again be revisited by hard times but this time they would be joined by the entire country.