On Saturday, May 3, 2025, runners gathered in downtown Jacksonville for the annual Great Fire Run, hosted by the Jacksonville Historical Society. The event commemorates one of the most significant events in the city’s history: the Great Fire of 1901, which tore through the urban core and reshaped the city for generations.
Bedell was proud to return as a 1901 Club Great Fire Survivor sponsor, with several team members participating in the run and showing support for the Jacksonville Historical Society.
The 1901 fire began at a mattress factory near Davis and Beaver Streets and quickly spread, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. The devastation was immense: more than 2,300 buildings were destroyed, 10,000 residents were left without homes, and much of the downtown area, including libraries, churches, and businesses, was reduced to ash.
In the years following the disaster, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie contributed $50,000 toward rebuilding the city’s central library. That building, the Carnegie Library, has housed Bedell since 1984 and serves as a daily reminder of Jacksonville’s resilience and rebirth.
About Bedell
Our firm has consistently shown support for the Jacksonville Historical Society. As the oldest law firm in continuous existence in Florida, Bedell has a long-standing history of providing exceptional legal services to our clients.
Our expertise encompasses a wide range of practice areas, including civil litigation, criminal defense law, and family law litigation. If you have a legal matter requiring a depth of experience, contact our Jacksonville attorneys at (904) 353-0211.
