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Letter to the editor

1945: Bay-side park is proposed in Clearwater

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 29, 2008

MID 1930S: Members of Tuckers Band Florida Favorites pose with a variety of musical instruments near the old band shell in what is now known as Coachman Park in Clearwater.
	[Mike Sanders]

CLEARWATER - Initial action toward the establishment of a downtown park on the heights overlooking Clearwater Bay was taken by the City Commission last night.

The board, by unanimous vote, instructed City Manager F.L. Hendrix and City Attorney Ralph Richards to open negotiations for the purchase of a hilltop tract from E.H. Coachman, with the understanding that the park will be named in Coachman's memory.

The Coachman property is on Osceola Avenue, just north of Cleveland Street, and commands a view from the top of a hill that slopes sharply down to the mainland approach to Memorial Causeway. It has been described as one of the most ideal park locations along the Florida west coast.

With the acquisition of the Coachman tract, the city will own a complete parcel extending from Osceola Avenue to the shore of the bay, including the broad field along the waterfront that was used as a parade ground when the Army Air Forces training school was located in the two downtown hotels.

In approving negotiations for Coachman park, the City Commission followed the recommendations of Mayor Seavy's recently appointed citizen postwar planning committee. Developing new parks was one of the committee's first projects, and the property will be available as the site for a proposed community hall commemorating the community's heroic dead in World War II.

Jan. 16, 1945

Wounded captain back in action

CLEARWATER - Relatives of Capt. Albert D. Barry, with an infantry regiment attached to Lt. Gen. George Patton's Third Army, have been advised by the War Department that the officer was wounded in action Nov. 9 in France, but has completely recovered and is now back with his outfit.

Capt. Barry was born in Clearwater, graduated from Clearwater High School and the University of Florida, and was commissioned a lieutenant Jan. 12, 1941. After several months' training in this country, Capt. Barry served 18 months in Newfoundland, leaving there last August for England, where he was attached to the Third Army and participated in the landings on D-Day. Capt. Barry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Barry, 1356 South Fort Harrison Ave.

Jan. 16, 1945

Market trade gains

CLEARWATER - Operating Clearwater's farmers market two days per week instead of one has increased profits sufficiently to make the new schedule permanent, managers said today. The market opened on Fridays only more than six months ago. As trade increased, the added day was tried as an experiment. The impetus is toward moving the market to a county-owned lot adjoining police headquarters on North Garden Avenue.

Jan. 6, 1945

County preparesfield for use

CLEARWATER - Contracts for $20,000 worth of improvements at the Pinellas master airport were awarded by the Board of County Commissioners late yesterday to the W.H. Armston Company of Dunedin. Only one bid was received, and it included Armston's check for $2,000, covering 10 percent of the total contracts.

When construction is completed, National Airways will be ready for commercial operations as soon as the War Department gives the final green light. The work involved includes building a new field office, laying storm drains and paving a large taxiway and parking area. The site of the new field office will be up to the War Department, said County Engineer W.A. McMullen Jr., who will supervise the work.

"The application of National Airways for partial occupancy of the field as a commercial air terminal," McMullen said, "is now before high governmental authorities, and final action is expected soon."

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 January 28, 2008, 21:14:00]