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Letter to the editor

First Tropical plane arrives

By Theresa Blackwell, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

1917: A lone car travels over the 2-mile bridge connecting Clearwater to Clearwater Beach. This was the first bridge from the city to Clearwater Beach, which wasn't much developed at the time.
	[Times files]

March 14, 1928 

CLEARWATER - Without fuss or flurry, Miss Bessie Stewart and Ralph DeVore, officials of the new Tropical Airways, landed the N-C-3349 Stinson Detroiter monoplane on the Clearwater aviation field at 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon. They left from Montgomery, Ala., yesterday morning, then stopped in Detroit before flying on to Clearwater.

This is the first Tropical Airways corporation plane to reach Clearwater.

The ship is a beauty, with cabin accommodations for six passengers. There are two steering wheels set behind an instrument board similar to that of an automobile, with comfortable wicker chairs for the pilot and his assistant or pupil. Behind these are two more chairs of the porch variety, and across the rear of the cabin is a wicker lounge - all of which furnishes luxurious seating capacity for half a dozen persons. Astern of the salon is a large hold, with plenty of room for baggage, mail or freight.

Frank J. Booth is head of the concern, which will handle the Stinson planes in Florida and on the island of Cuba.

March 7, 1928

43 inmates live at county home

CLEARWATER - The report of R.R. Orcutt, superintendent of the new county detention home recently completed on Missouri Avenue south of Largo, was tendered to the board of commissioners yesterday. Highlights of the monthly report were:

Inmates were moved to the new building Feb. 4. The inmates consisted of 30 children and nine adults, five of them having been placed there just a few days before. Since then, six children have been added and five taken away, leaving thirty-one children in the home now. Six adults have been added and four released, leaving twelve adults.

Five boys were sent to Marianna. Mr. Johnson died and was buried in the county lot at Clearwater, with the Salvation Army conducting the service. Mr. Dietrich ran away. Mr. Marsh was released in care of a cousin. Mrs. Wittiker of St. Petersburg and Mr. Vickers were released by order of Dr. Groves and Commissioner Corey.

"The employees of the home are all fine Christian people and a credit to the home," the report states. Names and salaries follow:

-R.R. Orcutt, superintendent, $150 monthly.

-Mrs. R.R. Orcutt, assistant superintendent, $40.

-George Hardy, farm hand, $40.

-Mrs. George Hardy, cook, $40.

-Mrs. Smith, in charge of isolations, $40.

Livestock on the farm at present consists of one horse, three cows, two pigs and about 75 chickens. Plans have been made to buy 200 baby chicks in a few days, also seeds for planting.

Groceries are being purchased from Pinellas Wholesale Grocery Co., St. Petersburg, and Pinellas Distributing Co., Clearwater.

March, 7, 1928

Bill approvedfor tests of cattle

CLEARWATER - One of the first acts of County Commissioner S. Jack Corey, after taking his seat on the board last year, was to secure an appropriation for federal herds in this county in hopes that tubercular cows might be eliminated.

At yesterday's meeting of the commissioners, a bill for tuberculosis tests was approved and ordered paid. Handling the matter in this way makes it certain that no tubercular cattle are kept in Pinellas County and ensures a safe milk supply. Federal recognition of the fact that this county is free from diseased cows should be of particular interest to winter visitors, in the opinion of Commissioner Corey.

.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 March 8, 2008, 22:39:01]