Chronological History of Clearwater

Transcription

1 Chronological History of Clearwater 1528 A Spanish explorer, Panfilo de Narvaez, entered Clear Water Harbor with 400 soldiers and five ships in search of gold. The Timucuan Indians called the area Pocotopaug meaning Clear Water. Most of the indigenous people were gone when the Seminoles came to Florida around The U.S. Government established Fort Harrison just south of the west end of Turner Street in what is now the Harbor Oaks neighborhood. The fort was abandoned later that year and parts of it were disassembled and moved to other installments Congress enacted the federal Armed Occupation Act. James A. Stevens, Father of Clearwater, was granted the first land title. Circa 1850 The first of the seven McMullen Brothers, Captain James Parramore McMullen, came from Georgia The first post office was established with David Turner as postmaster. Clear Water Harbor is the first point on the Pinellas Peninsula to become a community Midway Baptist Church was organized. It was renamed Clear Water Baptist Church in 1878; became Calvary Baptist Church in A school district was created and Jennie Reynolds Plumb was the first public school teacher in Clearwater The first homesteader on Clearwater Beach, then called Clear Water Island, was Prudence Shafer Clearwater Primary School opened on South Fort Harrison Avenue. It was later renamed South Ward School The Episcopal Church of the Ascension was built on the corner of Haven Street and South Fort Harrison. It is one of the oldest churches in the county. It was later relocated to its present location The Orange Belt Railroad (a narrow gauge railroad) brought its first train to Clearwater Clear Water Harbor became Clearwater Harbor. The original structure of the Presbyterian Church was built on the current location of Peace Memorial Ernest Tate bought Clearwater Island for $200 and built a dwelling. The island became known as Tate s Island. [GM /158433/1] 1

2 1905 The Bank of Clearwater received its charter. An electric light franchise was granted to J.N. McClung The word Harbor was dropped from the name Clearwater Harbor. South Ward School was completed on South Fort Harrison Avenue and called The Public School The first Clearwater High School graduation was held. On June 24, the Big Fire of 1910 destroyed the entire business block on the north side of Cleveland Street, between Fort Harrison and Osceola Avenues. One private residence was not destroyed Pinellas County officially became Florida s 48 th county. A two-story frame courthouse went up overnight, and Clearwater was designated the county seat. A High School building was added to South Ward School The first issue of the Clearwater Evening Sun was published. The Harbor Oaks development was begun. May 27, 1915 Clearwater was chartered as a municipality A second primary school was built on North Fort Harrison Avenue and the names of North Ward and South Ward were now used to distinguish the schools With a grant from Andrew Carnegie, Clearwater built a free public library. Solomon Smith (S.S.) Coachman constructed the five-story Coachman Building in downtown at the corner of Cleveland Street and Fort Harrison Avenue. Morton Plant Hospital opened its doors. Women received municipal suffrage and voted in the October election. A bond issue of $10,000 was voted upon to aid in the building of a bridge across Clearwater Harbor A new courthouse was completed. Clearwater Beach was platted for the first time for development by the Bridge Company. The wooden Rickety Bridge, was completed from Seminole Street on the mainland to the east side of Clearwater Beach. The Clearwater Beach Hotel, the first hotel on the beach, was built. The Pinellas County Home Guard was organized as part of the World War I effort. Taylor Bayly was Commander of Clearwater s Company D The first Capitol Theatre opened as a venue for vaudeville shows and silent films. On October 25, the unnamed hurricane of 1921 cut across Hog Island forming Hurricane Pass and splitting the island into the current Honeymoon and Caladesi islands. The hurricane killed at least six people The Brooklyn Dodgers agreed to train in Clearwater. They trained here from and from City Hall was located in a new building at 323 South Fort Harrison Avenue. This building was used until L.B. Skinner platted Mandalay Subdivision on Clearwater Beach. [GM /158433/1] 2

3 1923 A new charter was adopted. The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce was organized. The first game was played at Clearwater Athletic Field The municipal gas plant was completed in Clearwater. In May of 1925, 275 gas meters were in service The Fort Harrison Hotel, the City s first skyscraper, was completed. The Palm Pavilion opened Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard opened. The Morning Herald was purchased and merged with The Sun. The first Memorial Causeway was dedicated. Its name was chosen to honor those who died in World War I. The Turner-Brandon Post No. 7 of the American Legion donated two E.M. Viquesney statues, a soldier and a sailor. The statues were placed at the causeway entrance, where they still stand The post office at 650 Cleveland Street opened Construction of the Ben T. Davis Causeway from Clearwater to Tampa was completed and opened to traffic. The causeway was later renamed to honor Courtney Campbell, a local road board member. Construction on the Carlouel subdivision at the northern end of Clearwater Beach began. Carlouel Yacht Club opened Clearwater Airpark officially opened The Clearwater Bombers, a men s fast pitch softball team, became active and continued competing for the 60 years that followed. The record-setting team won 10 national titles and more than 4,000 games. They have 24 players in the National Softball Hall of Fame The United States Marine Corps began using Donald Roebling s Alligator, the first amphibious assault vehicle, which played an important role in World War II. The war brought many military service personnel to Clearwater and all the major hotels were taken over by the military The federal government forced selling of the bridge connecting Tampa and Clearwater, and tolls were lifted under the War Powers Act. The Clearwater Beach Association was established and is Clearwater s oldest civic association The Philadelphia Phillies came to Clearwater and began their long-standing relationship with the city Bob Heilman s Beachcomber restaurant opened and remains a Clearwater landmark The city s first African-American librarian, Christine Morris, was appointed. [GM /158433/1] 3

4 1950s A drawbridge (also called a bascule bridge) replaced the original Memorial Causeway Bridge The North Greenwood Library opened its doors at Pennsylvania and Cedar Street The White Way Drugstore on Cleveland Street became Jack Eckerd s first drugstore. A 450-foot long fishing pier was constructed at the end of State Road 60 on the beach. The Yacht Basin and Marina began operations The first Fun n Sun Parade was organized by the Chamber of Commerce. Clearwater Athletic Field closed after the grandstands burned down Jack Russell Stadium opened for the Phillies Clearwater s Sister City relationship with Nagano, Japan began. 1960s Morningside Meadows was developed. Small branch libraries were constructed and the Friends of the Library organized Maas Brothers opened at the corner of Cleveland Street and North Osceola Avenue. A renovated Main Library was dedicated. The Beach Branch Library opened. Police Headquarters began operations at 644 Pierce Street The original Sand Key Bridge (also called the Clearwater Pass Bridge) opened. A new building for the North Greenwood Library opened on Palmetto Street, next to Pinellas High School Fire Station 46 was built in 1964, and is the oldest active Clearwater Fire Station The Carpenter Field Complex was completed, home to the Philadelphia Phillies for Spring Training The Seminole boat launching facilities opened. Sunshine Mall was dedicated The Clearwater Marine Science Center was incorporated by a group of volunteers who wanted to establish a permanent marine biology learning center Clearwater Mall was completed at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Gulf to Bay Boulevard Fire Station 45 opened at 610 Franklin Street. Fire Station 47 was built at 1460 Lakeview Road Judge Joseph W. Hatchett, a native of Clearwater, became the first African American to be appointed to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. U.S. Coast Guard [GM /158433/1] 4

5 Station Clearwater was established and operated from a houseboat moored at Island Estates. Countryside Mall opened U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater was constructed at St. Petersburg- Clearwater International Airport The first Clearwater Jazz Holiday was held. The city donated an abandoned water treatment plant on Island Estates to house the Clearwater Marine Science Center. Fire Stations 48 and 50 opened Clearwater received the official Tree City USA designation for the first time. The first exhibit room at the Clearwater Marine Science Center opened Ruth Eckerd Hall opened. The original Hooters restaurant opened in Clearwater 1985 Coast Guard Station Clearwater on Sand Key opened. Later the name was changed to Station Sand Key to alleviate logistic problems with the Coast Guard Air Station. The East Library was dedicated at 2251 Drew Street The Countryside Library opened The first Penny for Pinellas one cent sales tax was approved by voters for a 10 year period starting in Opening Day Ceremonies were held for the Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road Maas Brothers closed Pier 60 was rebuilt in a Tropical Seascape Theme and extended to 1,080 feet The Clearwater Marine Science Center changed its name to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. C-VIEW TV, the city s television channel, began cablecasting. The first Sunsets at Pier 60 festival was held on Pier The high level fixed span Sand Key Bridge opened, replacing the older toll bridge. The convention center at the Harborview Center opened for business. Clearwater received the original federal Brownfields designation. The Municipal Services Building at 100 S. Myrtle Ave. was dedicated. The City s first world wide web site went online New Police Headquarters opened at 645 Pierce Street. A 10-year extension of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax was approved by 65% of voters Marine Max opened a corporate office in Clearwater and was later ranked as the nation s largest recreational boating and yachting retailer. Clearwater s area code was changed from 813 to 727. The Clearwater, Florida/Nagano, Japan Hospitality Center [GM /158433/1] 5

6 called The Pavilion in the Sun, was located in the Nagano Tokyu Department Store during the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Sunshine Mall was shuttered and demolished Clearwater was named the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach. The Entryway to the Beach Celebration was held for the Clearwater Beach Roundabout Voters authorized the city to issue bonds for a new Main Library, which was designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern, Dean of the Yale University School of Architecture USATODAY.com readers ranked Clearwater Beach in their 2001 Top 10 list of Best Beaches from Maine to Hawaii. The Tampa Bay Tour of Turtles was organized and directed by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and included more than 90 turtles Fire Station 44 was finished at 950 Gulf Boulevard on Sand Key. A Visitors Information Center opened near Pier 60 as a partnership between the city and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. Fire Station 44 opened on Sand Key Clearwater won Sports Illustrated s 50 th Anniversary Sportstown USA designation. The Happy Feet Plus store was completed and became the first Gold LEED certified retail building in the country. The Jolley Trolley began operating. The Phillies christened Bright House Networks Field by beating the Yankees 5-1 before a crowd of 8, The new Memorial Causeway Bridge opened to traffic The Ironman World Championship came to Clearwater The Clearwater Beach Hotel was demolished and the Sandpearl Resort was built on the same site The South Ward School which had opened in 1906, closed. Beach Walk was completed Clearwater Harbor Marina opened. The Aging Well Center opened at the Long Center The 3D movie Dolphin Tale was released, based on the story of Winter, a dolphin with a prosthetic tail residing at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The first Natural Gas Fueling Station opened on Hercules Avenue. Congress endorsed the designation of Clearwater as the 14 th Coast Guard City. A portion of the World Trade Center North Tower was presented to Clearwater Fire and Rescue by the New York/New Jersey Port Authority. [GM /158433/1] 6

7 2012 The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the city hosted an exhibit of 50 fiberglass dolphins at Pier 60 Park. Later, the relocated dolphins became the Dolphin Trail USA Today named Clearwater Florida s Best Beach Town. Tampa Bay Buccaneers field opened adjacent to 905 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Michael McDonald was the first artist to perform at the newly renovated Capitol Theatre. Clearwater Marine Aquarium was announced as the winner of the Best Florida Attraction by USA Today in their Readers Choice travel award contest The Pinellas County School Board approved leasing of the South Ward Elementary School on South Fort Harrison Avenue to the nonprofit Clearwater Historical Society for use as a museum. Clearwater Beach was rated #1 on WiFi s list of Top U.S. Beaches with Fastest Wi-Fi. The movie Dolphin Tale 2 was released introducing a baby dolphin named Hope. [GM /158433/1] 7