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THERESA BLACKWELLA look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.
Aug. 31, 1925
CLEARWATER - The last day of August, and from the crowded streets, hotels and apartments, one would think it the middle of the tourist season.
The streets of Clearwater are so blocked with motor car traffic that it takes a skillful driver to negotiate the thoroughfares and it is almost impossible to find a parking space. Ways which were unpaved, weed-infested alleys a short time ago are now busy business streets. Where bulrushes and sawgrass flourished a little over a year ago, there now stand commercial establishments.
One of the important arteries of trade is S Garden Avenue.
Two years ago, this street south of Park was unpaved and on it was a tangle of weeds. Sparks from Coast Line trains often set the grass on fire. Flames would cross S Garden Avenue and on several occasions jeopardized the wooden building occupied by the Morning News.
Today, S Garden Avenue is as busy as any street in the city. The Scranton Arcade, Williamson Office Building, J.D. Baskin's new stores, completed and projected, have helped to make the section of Garden Avenue south of Cleveland Street a desirable business district. Further improvement is now going on by the erection of a two-story building for the Morning Herald in the block next to the office of the Evening Independent.
When this plant gets into commission, there will be a noteworthy addition to a district now devoted largely to the graphic arts. In a row there will be the Evening Independent office, Pinellas blueprinting plant, photostat finishing department, Sun commercial printing establishment and the office of the Morning Herald, this being the new name of the Morning News, which appeared for the first time under the new title Sunday morning.
According to information at hand, a photo-engraving plant also is to be installed along this row.
Aug. 22, 1928Concrete to be poured for strictly modern Fort Harrison Hotel starting next week
CLEARWATER - Forms have all been set above the foundation of the Fort Harrison Hotel on S Fort Harrison Avenue at Pierce Street and, first thing Monday morning, the work of pouring the concrete mix will begin.
Hotel Fort Harrison is to be of fireproof construction throughout. It is to be a strictly modern eight-story hotel. Robert F. Smallwood, prominent New York architect, prepared the plans and the Parklap Construction Company is doing the work, promising to complete the building by the first of the year.
The hotel will have 215 rooms, each with bath, closet and the very latest in furnishings and equipment. Rooms will be so arranged as to be used singly or en suite. Plans call for a building to cost about $1-million, although cost estimated in the permits recently issued by the state of Florida and the Clearwater building inspector is $900,000. The G.L. Miller Company of Atlanta is financing the construction, with Ed A. Haley and Associates backing the project.
Location of the hotel is the southwest corner of Fort Harrison Avenue and Pierce Street, directly opposite the Gray Moss Inn and its beautiful grounds, perhaps the most central spot available in the entire city.
With the insistent and growing demand for first-class hotel accommodations in Clearwater, the success of the Fort Harrison Hotel is assured. Ed Haley, chief backer of the enterprise, has long been one of the county seat's most substantial businessmen and he is entitled to great credit for his enterprise.
Aug. 27, 1925Netters pulling in young, harmless octupi from the waters of Clearwater harbor
CLEARWATER - Clearwater harbor is full of small octopi.
Cast-netters who have been casting for small fish for bait have been hauling up in their nets at least a third as many babies of the dreaded octopus as they have minnows and other members of the finny tribes.
These octopoda, as their name would indicate, have eight feet or legs, or arms, which are united to each other by a membrane stretching between their bases. The arms have two rows of suckers. A prominent head is joined to the body by distinct neck, and the body itself is short, generally more or less rounded and unprovided with side fins.
These creatures have attained notoriety from fabulous tales circulated about their ferocity and the existence of gigantic members of the species. All of the genus are naturally timid and inoffensive. Most of the specimens caught in Clearwater harbor have been only a couple of inches across. Larger ones from the Gulf are considered great delicacies by the Greek spongers of Tarpon Springs.
-Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at 727 771-4305 or blackwell@sptimes.com