Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

1949: Hard times come to Tarpon Springs

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published June 17, 2007

JUNE 13, 1949

TARPON SPRINGS - Unless congress hikes the duty on imported sponges and something is done to increase the demand for domestic sponges in the American market, this upper Pinellas municipality will wither and die on the economic vine.

Out of the 85 boats in the Tarpon Springs sponge fleet, only 20 are in service and an average of only 10 are making trips to the Gulf of Mexico sponge beds.

Tarpon Springs has fallen into such a quagmire of utter despair that you hear it everywhere you go and some of the stories would turn hearts of stone.

This writer Howard W. Hartley remembers the Tarpon Springs of the days of World War II when sponges brought fabulous prices and the men of the sponge fleet were literally rolling in "folding money."

Last night, a shocking picture in reverse unfolded in talks with the few fishermen along the quays and a half-dozen dispirited coffee shop proprietors.

"Look around town, " said a cafe operator. "You will discover the young men are gone. You want to know where? They are up north trying to find work in the steel mills at Gary or the automobile factories of Detroit. They have left Tarpon Springs to the old people, the women and children."

A sponge boat owner, holding a majority share in two schooners, took this writer to the quay where his craft was moored.

"I am ashamed to show you my boats, " he said. "Look at them. They are dirty and not well kept. We have not been out now in nearly three weeks, " he said.

"There is no use to go out. If we bring back the sponges, we cannot get enough for them to pay the expenses of the voyage. But I am an old man, as far as the age to work in the steel mills is concerned. I am 58. If I go north, the boss will tell me 'Sorry, you are too old to stand the work, " he said.

A coffee shop proprietor nearly wept as he described his personal problem in a community wherein the spark of hope seems all but extinguished.

"It cost me $6 to open my place this morning and operate it today, " he said. "Counting the 10 cents you have just spent for a cup of Turkish coffee, I have taken in a little over $3. The people cannot patronize my place. They have no money. You may not believe this, my friend, but there are women and children who will go to bed hungry in Tarpon Springs tonight."

When asked how congressional approval of a higher duty on imported sponges might affect the local economy, the merchant said it might help a little, but the real problem is not foreign competition.

"There are too many synthetic sponges on the market, " he said. "The Du Ponts and the big rubber companies have put us out of business with a cheaper sponge that the people seem to prefer to the real article."

June 7, 1949

Chemical Workers union wins hearing

TARPON SPRINGS - Workers of this city's big Victor Chemical Co. plant on the north bank of the Anclote River today won the first skirmish of their efforts to organize a union with the announcement of a National Labor Relations Board hearing, scheduled for June 16 at the Tarpon Springs city hall.

Plant officers declined to comment on the NLRB bulletin, but spokesmen for the employees explained that the hearing was requested some time ago after negotiations for the formation of a branch of the International Chemical Workers union (AFL) collapsed.

JUNE 9, 1921

Blueberry growers showing profitability

OLDSMAR - Fruit growers in this section who last year began to commercialize the production of blueberries report they are realizing profitability from their efforts and plan to develop the industry on a larger scale. The berries are retailing at 45 cents a pint on the local market and the demand is said to be strong.

Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com

Looking back

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.

[Last modified June 16, 2007, 19:35:05]