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Letter to the editor

City drivers cautioned to adhere to fire rules

Headlines through the years: A 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.

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published December 27, 2004

Dec. 23, 1924 - CLEARWATER - A small grass fire south of East Turner Street may be the cause of great reform in Clearwater and the means of saving property in the future.

As soon as the fire alarm sounded last week, it seemed that every motorist who could hear the whistle started for the fire. East Turner Street between the two railroad tracks was soon crowded with automobiles. Fire department members in one of the trucks had a hard time reaching the fire.

Happily, the prairie was burning with more smoke than flame. Engineer Luke Martin, however, was annoyed to see so many drivers in motor cars who had no business on the scene. He directed the attention of the chief of police to the automobile nuisance. A section of the revised code of the city was revisited and published for the information of the public.

The code says that any vehicle meeting or being overtaken by fire apparatus shall immediately draw near to curb and stop. The vehicle overtaken by the fire truck shall not proceed on its way until the fire apparatus reaches a point at least 200 feet beyond the point where the vehicle stopped. When the vehicle proceeds, it shall not approach or follow the fire apparatus at a distance closer than 200 feet. It is unlawful for any vehicle to approach within 200 feet of the burning building or the fire apparatus while the fire department is engaged in extinguishing the flame.

The chief of police has given notice that this ordinance will be enforced to the letter.

Dec. 27, 1924

Gray Moss dining room ready on Jan. 1

CLEARWATER - The new dining room of the Gray Moss Inn, occupying the addition to this popular hostelry on the Pierce Street side, will be finished and ready for reception of guests on New Year's Day. The new room will be three times as large as the old dining hall and will have a capacity of over 400. This will give the Gray Moss Inn the second-largest dining room on the west coast, with the largest at the Belleview Hotel.

A new system has been inaugurated at the Gray Moss. It will be run on both the American and European plans, with guests choosing whichever suits them. Transient guests can thus be served as they wish.

Dec. 26, 1924

Christmas celebrated across city

CLEARWATER - Yesterday was a regular Christmas Day in Clearwater. The sky was overcast as it is supposed to be on Dec. 25. There was little rain in the forenoon and in the afternoon, a wind came out of the north with a "kick" in it.

The day must have been devoted to feasting and home life, for there were few people on the streets. The crowds usually to be found along the waterfront, at the beaches and in the pavilion at Espiritu Santo Springs on Sundays were noticeably absent.

Homes of the county capital were decorated with mistletoe and holly. Boys brought in and sold great amounts of mistletoe about the streets and thus provided themselves with Christmas money. Most of the festivities occurred in the homes. While there was some shooting of firecrackers, this manner of celebrating Christmas was less observed than in former years.

The various churches of Clearwater presented programs. At the Calvary Baptist Church, members of the Sunday school classes and congregation gathered about their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. They gave gifts to the children while the elders enjoyed songs and recitations. Presbyterians celebrated Christmas last night in the social room of the Peace Memorial Church with a tableaux, The Three Wise Men , one of the features of the evening.

Several organizations donated clothing, toys, candy and other little presents to the few children of the county seat who otherwise might not have been remembered to any great extent.

Taken altogether, the Christmas Day passed as one of the merriest Clearwater ever saw. Everybody was happy - and doubly so because of spending the day in this marvelous climate.

-- Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at 727 771-4305 or blackwell@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 27, 2004, 00:57:19]