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 Times Staff Writer
Published October 23, 2005
Oct. 21, 1930: Smoke from burning wood draws city's fire
CLEARWATER - With winter approaching, hotel and restaurant keepers will again revive the old custom of burning pitch pine, or light wood, which throws off an immense volume of carbon.
So during a somewhat lengthy session last night, the City Commission took up the issue of passing an ordinance that would prohibit the making of smoke.
It was thought wise to take precautions against the usual complaints from merchants and other businessmen who object to soot being blown into their establishments.
City Manager Riddle told of the Sherman screen, used for measuring smoke in the begrimed northern factory cities, and Attorney Jones was instructed to prepare an ordinance that would provide penalties for the smoke nuisance.
Oct. 20, 1930: Several experts to speak at county's first two-day farm school
LARGO - The first county farm school ever held in Florida, the Pinellas County farm school, will open tomorrow morning on the fairgrounds at Largo and will continue until Wednesday afternoon.
The school will be conducted for the benefit of all persons in Pinellas County who are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and this includes women interested in economics of the home.
Several noted authorities on agriculture and home economics will be in attendance, including speakers from the University of Florida and the Florida State College for Women.
County agent William Gomme and Mrs. Joy Belle Hess, home demonstration agent, have both worked very hard for weeks in anticipation of the opening of the farm school and they are most anxious to see it a success. They urge everybody who is at all interested to attend the two-day session. Coffee will be served free during the education sessions, but persons are expected to bring their own lunches.
Oct. 21, 1930: Man jailed for making improper call to telephone operator
CLEARWATER - Herbert Brasfield, local manager for the Peninsular Telephone Company, told this morning how his men caught a man in the act of sending an improper telephone message to a phone operator from a filling station in Belleair.
The man who did the telephoning, a dry cleaner, is being held under $100 bond for trial in police court Friday morning.
Oct. 22, 1941: Officials gather to see 400 men start work on county's master airport
CLEARWATER - County Engineer W.A. McMullen Jr. headed a delegation of county commissioners and newspaper men who visited the county's million-dollar airport near Cross Bayou yesterday.
The Marion Construction Company of Ocala started work yesterday at noon, mixing asphalt and shell for the runways. They will operate the huge mixing machine on a 24-hour basis.
Residents of the county are invited to visit the master airport where approximately 400 men are at work.
Oct. 11, 1930: Clearwater may be forced to cut city employees for lack of funds
CLEARWATER - In a speech before the Clearwater Kiwanis Club yesterday noon, as a part of a program observing Fire Prevention week, Mayor H.H. Baskin declared that unless the taxpayers of the city realize the importance of paying their tax assessments, it is probable the city will be compelled to reduce the personnel of the fire department, as well as the police force.
Clearwater is exceptionally well-equipped for fire protection, with three pumping engines capable of throwing 2,200 gallons of water a minute and two chemical outfits. The chemical trucks extinguish about 85 percent of the fires in Clearwater, Fire Chief L.B. Martin told the members of the club. Seven men are on duty at the first station 24 hours a day.
Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at 727 771-4305 or blackwell@sptimes.com
