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Davis Islands, It’s Elementary, My Dear. October 10, 2011
By Kortney Gentry
 

At the mouth of the Hillsborough River, you will find one of the most sought after places to build a Tampa home, Davis Island.  While many now know the area for the quaint, pet-friendly business district and the reported future 7 bedroom, 9 bath waterfront home of baseball phenomenon, Derek Jeter, among other celebrities, Davis Island possesses quite the historical back drop.

Davis Island Country Club

In the 1920′s, at the peak of Florida’s land boom, mud was dredged from the bottom of Tampa Bay in order to build two man-made islands atop two small natural islands.  What was once known as “Little Grass Key” and “Big Grass Key” (they were grassy, I would presume) would now be called Davis Islands.  This project was started by Tampa native D.P. Davis (pictured below) who purchased the newly dredged land for a whopping $350K with the intentions to build an elaborate resort community consisting of several hotels, a golf course, airport and swimming pool.  Right as the land boom wound down, Davis sold 306 of the original lots for $1,683,582.  Quite the profit.

D.P. Davis

The story gets interesting surrounding Davis’ alleged death on October 12, 1926.  The last place D.P. Davis was seen was aboard The Majestic, a sister ship to the Titanic and the largest ship in the world at her time (pictured below), en route to Europe.  Some claim he was at a party when he was blown overboard through one of the ships large portholes.  Others claim he was alone with his girlfriend and it couldn’t have happened without force.  Few think he was looking to jump.   And, as a body was never recovered, many of us believe he was a modern day Machiavelli studying the Art of War and looking to free himself of his debts.

The Majestic

Many of the original Mediterranean-syle homes & structures still grace Davis Island and have been nationally deemed as Historical.  As for D.P. Davis, if he isn’t still walking the Islands, unbeknownst to the world, may his soul rest in peace.

(Historical Photos courtesy of www.DavisIslandCivic.com)

 

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History Appreciation: The Tampa Theatre September 26, 2011
By Kortney Gentry
 

I cannot walk through downtown Tampa without taking pictures of the ever so amazing Tampa Theatre. (literally…EVERY time)  As I look at the brick walls and well lit vintage sign, I can’t help but Tampa Theatrerevert back to my younger ways of make-believe and pretend it is the 1920′s.  My hair is perfectly put together in a tight knit finger wave bob, I have my 25 cents and my husband and I are going on a date to see the silent film.  Well, I declare!

So, when I  come back to reality and realize it is 2011, we are walking to Pizza Fusion in the Skypoint building, and I am daydreaming in the middle of the street, camera in hand, tourist style, I quickly come to.  I do however continue to appreciate the beauty that one historical building can bring to an area filled with modern luxuries.

According to an article in the October 15, 1926 Tampa Tribune, Theatre architect John Eberson was quoted on how he got the magnificent idea for the design of the Tampa Theatre.  “I have been wintering in Florida for the past several years, and it is from this state that I got the atmospheric idea.  I was impressed with the colorful scenes that greeted me at Miami, Palm Beach and Tampa. Visions of Italian gardens, Spanish patios, Persian shrines and French formal gardens flashed through my mind, and at once I directed my energies to carrying out these ideas.”  And we sure are glad he carried them out.  A city is always much more fun when filled with history and beauty- just another amazing reason to appreciate our Tampa Bay home.

A few fun facts & vintage photos I found on the Tampa Theatre website:

Opened: October 15, 1926The Tampa Theatre
Architect: John Eberson
Architectural Style: Florida Mediterranean (includes touches of Italian Renaissance, Byzantine, Spanish, Mediterranean, Greek Revival, Baroque, and English Tudor)
Original Construction Cost: $1.2 million
Restoration Costs, to date: $2 million
First Movie: “The Ace of Cads” starring Adolph Menjou (silent film)
Opening Night Ticket Price: 25 centsTampa Theatre
Acquired by the City of Tampa: 1976
National Register of Historic Places: 1978
Tampa City Landmark: 1988
Longest Employment Tenure: 45 years 1926-71 (Blondelle Gladney, box office cashier)
Seats: 1,446
Annual Events: 600+
Average Annual Attendance: 150,000+
Programming: specialty film, classic movies, concerts, special events, corporate events, field trips, weddings, graduations, production location, tours

If you are looking for something to get you out of your Tampa home,  support local history.  Check out the upcoming events at the Tampa Theatre by visiting their site at www.TampaTheatre.org.

Have you ever been to the Tampa Theatre?  What is your favorite historical monument in the Bay area?

 

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Once Upon a Time…Tampa History Tidbits September 19, 2011
By Kortney Gentry
 

Have you ever wondered what Tampa was then before it became what it is now?  Well, thanks to Tampa Realtor, Robert Anderson, I received a pretty awesome history lesson today & of course, I am going to share…

Clewis Estate
Once upon a time, circa 1900, Bayshore Boulevard was graced with a beautiful mansion larger than any other Tampa home of it’s time.  Situated on a large waterfront plot of land, the solid brick home boasted 8 monstrous white pillars holding up a beautiful upstairs patio fenced off with white wood while a similarly fenced terrace sat atop the home.  This beautiful landmark was the the Clewis Family Estate. (pictured above circa 1925)

AC Clewis was a Florida Pioneer and entrepreneur far ahead of his time.  In the 1890s, Clewis made way to Tampa from Tallahassee to build a rail way that would be used to transport sugar cane.  This was around the same time HB Plant came into town to build the Rail Road Hotel.

His presence and Rail Roads are not all Mr. Clewis graced South Tampa with.  He also owned Tampa Abstract Title, sat as President of Exchange National Bank which is now Bank of America and developed Myrtle Hill Cemetery.  It is in Myrtle Hill that AC Clewis as well as many of Tampa’s most prominent residents of that era are burried.

In March of 1964, the Clewis Estate (then belonging to the late George B Howell), caught fire.  The flames originated in the attic and descended, destroying the entire top floor, leaving the home with an estimated $100,000 worth of damage.  (I cannot imagine what that amount would be now!).

Rather than repairing the home, it followed Howell’s previous intent.  The land was used used for a waterfront condominium community.  Where once sat the ruins of a demolished estate, we now have the Howell Park Howell Park Condos.  (pictured right)

I absolutely love hearing about the historical aspects Tampa has in her past & would have loved even more to experience old Tampa firsthand.  What is your favorite historical monument on this side of the Bay?  If you could go back to any time period, when would it be?

 

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