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= Sugar Hill = Sugar Hill is an African-American neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida that impacted Jacksonville's African-American history through their residents and nearby significant buildings. The neighborhood was split due to the construction of Interstate 95.

Summary
Sugar Hill's location is sandwiched in between the African-American neighborhoods, Springfield and Durkeeville. The neighborhood contained residences that occupied 8th Street, Davis Street, Jefferson Street and Moncrief Road. LaVilla and Downtown were connected through Davis Street.

The neighborhood included Brewster Hospital and Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts, institutes that served African-Americans in a time of segregation.

Sugar Hill housed significant residents such as Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida's first African-American millionaire and the establisher of American Beach, the first beach in the South that served African Americans.

Wilder Park, Jacksonville's largest public park for African-Americans, was Sugar Hill's community center.

History
Sugar Hill flourished with African-Americans in Jacksonville around the late 1800s-1960s. The neighborhood's growth was because of the Cookman Institute, currently known as Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts, and the Brewster Hospital.

The Great Fire of 1901 burned down the Cookman Institute, but was rebuilt due to Reverend Alfred Cookman's efforts of raising money. Reverend Alfred Cookman's actions for the reconstruction resulted in the rename to Darnell-Cookman. The medical school is located on Davis and 8th street.

The Brewster Hospital was originally located in the LaVilla neighborhood, and was built as a private residence in 1855. The hospital was opened in 1901, and received more than 1,230 house calls. In 1910, the hospital relocated to Sugar Hill. The effects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 determined the closing of the Brewster Hospital; however, in 1967,the hospital would reopen while being recognized as the Methodist Hospital. The growth of the Methodist Hospital resulted in expansion, and the removal of Sugar Hill residents. The expansion of the Methodist Hospital is now known as UF Health Jacksonville. The old Brewster Hosipital building moved to 915 West Monroe Street.

In 1960, city leaders constructed an expressway known as Interstate 95. The expressway's construction destroyed residences in Sugar Hill while dividing the neighborhood. Wilder Park Community Center was destroyed in the construction of the interstate. In addition, the interstate divided the library and the western residences with a concrete barrier.

The failed revitalization of the neighborhood by the city Department of Housing and Urban Development resulted in the remaining community dispersing into the nearby African-American neighborhoods.

Abraham Lincoln Lewis
Abraham Lincoln Lewis was Florida's first African-American millionaire. He was the founder of American Beach, and the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, insurance for African-Americans. Lewis was a resident of Sugar Hill.

Brewster Hospital
Brewster Hospital is a hospital that served African-Americans in Sugar Hill from 1901-1966. The Civil Rights Act and expansion led to the closing and the removal of Sugar Hill residents.

Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts
Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts is a school that originally educated African-Americans in Sugar Hill. Its former school, the Cookman Institute, burned down in the Great Fire of 1901.

Wilder Park
Wilder Park was Sugar Hill's community center that included a library, a track, and a baseball and diamond field. The construction of Interstate 95 destroyed the community center, and divided the library and nearby residences.

Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is one of the factors that caused the population of the neighborhood to become sparsed. The construction of the expressway divided the neighborhood, and destroyed residences.