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SCOTT TAYLOR HARTZELL"White hair and 5-foot-10 ... On the portly side and universally respected," Paul Jorgensen shaped and modernized its image.
ST. PETERSBURG - Shortly after arriving here in 1933, Paul J. Jorgensen rescued the Million Dollar Pier.
"The then young engineer literally sawed the pier into three sections" to install expansion joints into the cracked structure, read a tribute to Jorgensen. "When it comes to assuming the label of builder, nobody in St. Petersburg could more fittingly wear it."
After salvaging the pier, Jorgensen designed City Hall and Al Lang Field. Mound Park Hospital, the police station and nearly every municipal structure into 1965 exemplified his expertise. As the city's chief engineer, Jorgensen's staff grew from four to 76 personnel. The main library and its grounds at Ninth Avenue N bear his name.
"There was never any question when Jorgensen was involved," said Eli Jenkins, 72, former vice mayor. "He was totally reliable."
"White hair and 5-foot-10," ex-Mayor Don Jones, 78, said of Jorgensen. "On the portly side and universally respected."
Jorgensen was born in Denmark on Aug. 29, 1901. In 1924, he graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Copenhagen.
By 1933, he had served as electrical engineer for the Copenhagen Telephone Co. and, after immigrating to the United States, as structural engineer with three American companies.
During the Depression in 1933, Jorgensen arrived in St. Petersburg and was confronted by signs discouraging job seekers. He was hired as a city structural engineer.
The Million Dollar Pier - bearing surface cracks and piling damage caused by extreme heat - caught his attention. "The Pier was going down," said former City Manager Lynn Andrews, 90.
Jorgensen introduced expansion joints and repaired the structure's underside. Traffic during construction went uninterrupted; Jorgensen was hailed.
On Nov. 28, 1939, hundreds of residents witnessed the 3:30 p.m. dedication of the Jorgensen-designed City Hall at 175 Fifth St. N. The street was roped off and filled with green benches. Officials praised Jorgensen and the nearly $400,000 structure.
"Jorgensen had a possessive feeling about City Hall," said former employee George Webb, 67, who was chastised by the engineer for writing on the structure's elevator shaft wall. "He made me grab a scrub brush to make sure there were no marks of my presence left there. He didn't expect any nonsense."
In 1939, Jorgensen married resident Verna Jessie Clyde. They lived at 720 35th Ave. N.
Jorgensen resigned his $3,600-a-year position in 1943 to work in local defense contracting. He returned two years later and became chief city engineer.
Over a major sewer trunk line in 1947, Jorgensen successfully designed Al Lang Field. He positioned the stadium's playing surface over the line, which couldn't be built upon. Away from the sewer, he placed the grandstands.
In 1962, Jorgensen refused a county engineer position. "I like St. Petersburg," said Jorgensen, who was offered many opportunities in other cities.
Jorgensen often spent vacations inspecting public facilities. "Jorgensen is combining his vacation again with his quest to expand his knowledge of public works," the press wrote in 1964 when Jorgensen traveled Europe.
On Dec. 6, 1965, Jorgensen died at home while sleeping. He was 64.
"Jorgensen's credited with the long-range planning which has led to modernization of the city's public utilities," the Evening Independent wrote.
In 1968, after a promised memorial to Jorgensen hadn't materialized, the Independent wrote: "Jorgensen died more than 25 months ago, yet there's little more to show for the council-ordered tribute than rejected proposals."
On Sept. 21, 1968, the Paul J. Jorgensen Memorial Center on 3745 Ninth Ave. N was dedicated. The library, grounds and lake comprise the center. Part of a granite marker there reads: "In commemoration of Paul J. Jorgensen's many contributions to city development."
- Scott Taylor Hartzell can be reached at hartzel@msn.com