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Headlines through the years

By Times Staff
Published February 28, 2005

Feb. 27, 1909 Board of Trade favors Clearwater as county seat At the meeting of the Board of Trade last night, the campaign to divide the Pinellas peninsula from Hillsborough County was given special and extended consideration.

At the suggestion of Tarpon Springs representatives, and with a view to thoroughly harmonize and solidify the Pinellas forces, the following resolution was offered by Mr. W.L. Straub of the joint committee:

"Whereas, we believe that the sentiment for County Division is stronger in this vicinity than ever before, and,

"Whereas, we wish to assure the people of the West Coast that we are ardent advocates of County Division for the great benefits to come to the Peninsula in common from home rule, and not from any desire for a county seat or other special advantage, be it,

"Resolved, That this Board of Trade declare its belief that Clearwater is the logical and rightful location for the county seat of the proposed county, and that in so far as this body may speak, St. Petersburg is not, and will not be, a candidate for the permanent county seat."

The discussion was frank and earnest, and the sentiment was almost unanimous in favor of the adoption of the resolution. Mr. Straub made a clear statement of the situation and an earnest appeal for harmony.

President Hanna stated that he had interviewed several leading citizens, not active members of the board, with a view to learning the wishes of the people, and that nearly all of them said that St. Petersburg did not want the courthouse here.

Judge Frazier said that from his long experience in the law he felt that a courthouse here, with its criminal trials and legal battles, would be a detriment to the city. He said that simple justice and fair play to the people of the West Coast demanded that the county seat should be at Clearwater, the logical central location.

Mr. A.F. Bartlett said that St. Petersburg was now famous for its pure moral atmosphere, for its high type of citizenship, for its freedom from the rougher elements of mankind such as inebriety and brawls. He felt that such character should be jealously guarded and earnestly maintained. He asserted that the future of the city was so bright along better lines of growth that we could well afford to dispense with court proceedings and purely commercial interests that would bring into our midst undesirable citizenship.

The question upon the adoption of the resolution was called for, and it was passed without a dissenting vote.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pinellas County separated from Hillsborough County on Jan. 1, 1912. Clearwater became the seat of a county with a population of 13,000.

CLEARWATER - Navy Lt. Arthur W. Jordan Jr., who was aboard the ill-fated U.S. carrier Ammanney Bay when the warship was sunk by enemy action off Leyte recently, telephoned his wife from San Francisco last night that he is safe and will be home as quickly as transportation will permit.

The message quieted fears that the young officer, who closed his law office here shortly after Pearl Harbor to enter the service, might have been killed or wounded in the disaster. Lt. Jordan has been in the Pacific war theater several months.

CLEARWATER - R.R. Orcutt, chairman of the local economic development council, said the pamphlets the group plans to distribute to Clearwater businessmen as the basis for postwar re-employment of veterans have been endorsed by the upper Pinellas Veterans' Council.

The literature, Orcutt said, seeks from businessmen their views on finding jobs for returning servicemen as well as how many jobs local firms expect to have open after the war.

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

[Last modified February 28, 2005, 01:04:17]