From September 19, 1999: A look back

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Welcome to Turn

There is a point in virtually every day where the routine turns into a memory.

It may be as trivial as spilling coffee on yourself before a big meeting: “So, I head to this conference, reeking of French roast. . . .” Or the wonderfully curious: “They’re such purists, they charged me extra for putting ketchup on my hot dog!” Or the once-in-a-lifetime: “I was this close to Kennedy, when his motorcade came through Tampa, and a week later he was killed.”

Such moments, large and small, are what Turn is all about.

Turn is a special section that marks the odometer of time as it clicks from the 1900s to the 2000s. This first issue, Images of the Florida Century, is dedicated to capturing memories along the way, some as momentous as integrating a St. Petersburg lunch counter, others as serene as that perfect point when the sun sits down on the gulf.

At the heart of this special issue are photographs, culled from the archives of the St. Petersburg Times, that chronicled Tampa Bay through the years. An exhibition of these and many others will be touring the area soon. Exhibit schedule

We have attempted to marry these rich photos with a few words about the march to the moment. How did the people in the pictures get to that very point when the picture was taken? Could they have turned another way? Is there a lesson beyond the story?

Turn will appear monthly for the rest of the century (four times!). In the coming issues we will examine the evolution of Florida, and we’ll engage a little debate about the people who sculpted the state’s character and culture.

In the final issue we will peek ahead to daily life in the next century. After all, when the hoopla of 2000 fades away, there will be plenty of the routine from which to make another century’s worth of memories.

Let us know what you think.

— Neil Brown
Managing Editor