Those who were around in the heyday of the DeSoto Hotel saw it as the giant brick block-long hotel at Zack and Marion Street.  We may recognize it from old photos or because of the many colorized postcards of it on sale to collectors.  But this giant building wasn't the original DeSoto.
	This building was built in phases over a period of three years  beginning in 1907, eventually replacing a wood frame DeSoto hotel on the same corner.

THE ORIGINAL WOOD FRAME DESOTO BUILT BY J. H. THOMAS

The first DeSoto hotel was built by James Henry Thomas, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, who came to Tampa by May of 1892.  Very little was published about him and his hotel in the newspapers during the planning and construction period.  This article above was the first mention of Thomas and the hotel, at which time it apparently had no name or at least was not made public, but it was known it would be a 60-room hotel.

The St. James was under renovation at the same time, and both were expected to be open in time for the fall and winter season when Tampa's hotels usually filled to capacity.
 

Then for two full years nothing could be found about J. H. Thomas or his hotel, including any mention of the DeSoto.    In these years the area north east of the center of town appears to have been somewhat "out there" and relatively ignored by the Tribune, and the Sanborn maps don't detail this area until 1895.

Unfortunately, there is a gap in the newspapers that runs from the 3rd page of Aug. 31, 1892 through March 28, 1893 (this was the Weekly Tribune, published on Tuesdays.)  The DeSoto likely opened during this period and so nothing could be found about it.

 J. H. THOMAS LEASES THE DESOTO HOTEL TO W. D. LEWIS

Two articles published on the same day, May 11, 1894, indicate the hotel has been open long enough for J. H. Thomas to want to lease out the hotel and petition the city to build sidewalks around it.  Thomas was probably managing it himself and once he had the business going, wanted someone else take over.   The new hotel manager,*  W. D. Lewis, had already gained a reputation of being a "splendid caterer" and the hotel one of being a "magnificent hostelry."

In the next few years, W. D. Lewis would achieve great success and notoriety as the manager.  His lavishly catered events were the talk of Tampa, and it wasn't long before his excellent singing voice caught the attention of the local papers, guests, and the people of Tampa.   In the next few years he performed yearly in dozens of local concerts with solo numbers and in a local quartet, as well as at his church. 
 

.  .

**In these times, the terms "manager," "proprietor," and "owner" were used interchangeably.  These described the owner of the business.  They may have also owned the building that the business operated from, or they may have been leasing the building from which they operated their business.  The latter being the situation here with W.D. Lewis, who leased the the building from J. H. Thomas in which the DeSoto operated.

PRAISE FOR THE DESOTO HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND TALENT

AT RIGHT:  In Jun. 1894, the Tribune wrote, Why They Flock to the DeSoto:

There is a little secret about so many musical entertainments being given at the hotel DeSoto...Mr. W. D. Lewis, the proprietor, is one of the best bassos in the country, and a fine performer.  Capt. Thomas, the owner of the magnificent building, is a musician of no mean pretensions.  He plays elegantly on the piano, as well as on the guitar and other instruments.  It is no wonder people find it a pleasant place to spend an evening.

This article claims that the former State of Florida Superintendent of Schools William Penn Haisley was Lewis' uncle.  Before obtaining that status, Haisley traveled all over the U.S. and came to Tampa with extremely high educational credentials, starting his own private school and eventually become the principal of the high school that would transition later into Tampa's first public high school.

Learn more about the beginning's of Tampa's school system and W. P. Haisley.
Was he really W. D. Lewis' uncle?

 

In Nov. of 1894 Thomas had a separate wood frame structure built on the northwest corner of the property and rented the spaces for business. In 1895, this would be a two-story structure containing a tinware shop, general store, restaurant, millinery shop (hats), mattress shop and shoe maker shop on the ground floor with tenements (apartments) on the second floor.  Over the years this building would be modified for various uses. 

 

For a number of years afterward. the two-story building at Marion & Polk was known as the "DeSoto Annex" and the 2nd floor contained sample rooms and rooms for rent in case the main building was filled to capacity.

In the 1903 photo below can be seen construction on the ground floor of the Federal building with the First Presbyterian church in the background, and the large 3-story wood frame DeSoto Hotel to the right of it.  In between the two can be seen a small portion of the DeSoto Annex.

W. D. LEWIS PARTNERS WITH CHARLES DUNN

 

In October of 1894, Lewis was joined in partnership by Charles A. Dunn of Ocala.   There were frequent articles in the local papers about various events and festivities held there, each getting great reviews for their handling of the events and facilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More accolades for Lewis's management of the DeSoto Hotel; summer was usually a slow season as the heat kept visitors in the cooler north, yet the DeSoto was booked at full capacity at this time

On Sep. 12, 1894, the DeSoto Hotel hosted a grand banquet for fifty members of the Key West Guards.  Florida Governor Henry L. Mitchell was among the guests at the affair.

TAMPA TROPICAL TROUBADOURS FORMED

In Jan. 1895, a musical group consisting of about a dozen men was formed to perform along with a new vocalion obtained by the St. Andrews church. (This was a reed-organ which can play sounds similar to the human voice, gradually perfected from experiments begun in England about 1870.)  The group was under the patronage and guidance of the "Guild of the Strangers" of St. Andrews.  W.D. Lewis was chosen as the interlocutor.*  In addition to a director, assistant, and secretary being appointed, Sumter Lowry was appointed as treasurer.  In the early 1900s, Lowry would become a city commissioner and work to obtain a Carnegie grant to build Tampa's first real library.  He would also go on to be the major mover to convert land north of Tampa from its intended use as a cemetery to a public park instead.  In the mid 1920s, the park was created and named in his honor.

*One who takes part in dialogue or conversation.  A man in the middle of the line in a minstrel show who questions the end men and acts as leader.

SNOW IN TAMPA - LEWIS'S GROVE DESTROYED           During this time, Lewis had an orange grove which upon maturity was estimated to be worth $45,000.  But unfortunately for him, the entire grove was ruined by the phenomenal freeze of 1894-95, when the temperature went down to 14 degrees on Dec. 29th, 1894.      The Burgert Bros. photo below, from the Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library Burgert collection, shows a view taken from the highest point  of the new county courthouse looking NNE.  Various buildings in this photo indicate it was taken around 1895 and could be the snow fall in Tampa of Feb. 8, 1895.   JUNE     THE STREETS ON THIS MAP HAVE BEEN NARROWED TO ABOUT HALF THEIR ACTUAL WIDTH. TAMPA'S STREETS WERE 80 ft. WIDE. 1). St. Louis Catholic church building (partial view.) In 1905 this became the site of the magnificent Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 2). The original YMCA club house. In 1910 a new $100k brick structure was built at the northwest corner of Florida Ave. & Zack St. It occupied one-fourth the total area of the square block, with the gym comprising half of the building's  area. 3). St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, built here in 1883.  A new concrete-cement block structure was built in 1907 on the vacant lot seen here just south of it at Marion & Madison streets.       By 1903 this church had been moved to the north side of Zack at Marion.                                                           This house was moved and in 1903  construc-  tion began on this  entire block for the new Federal Courthouse / Post Office.     4). A key structure in this photo, the Convent of the Holy Names, a three-story brick with wood frame balconies and stairs structure completed in 1892 and occupying the whole block between Zack & Twiggs, and Morgan & Pierce St. It's completion date determines the earliest this photo could have been taken. 5). Tampa Livery Sale & Transfer - stables.   This June 1895 map shows the newly expanded facility.  This facility is also a key component of the photo because it is the only rooftop in the photo covered in white like the streets.  Evidence that this is snow and not just sand in the streets.  Why only this roof?  Being a large stable, it probably did not have heating inside.  Place your cursor on this block to see it in 1892, before the expansion. Compare the two maps to what is seen in the photo. 6). The other key structure is NOT seen in the photo, but is obviously there--it is the new brick Hillsborough County Courthouse, from where the photo was taken. The highest point would have been in the minaret at the top of the dome which was over four stories high.

THE DEATH OF DR. JOHN P. WALL
(The article below has been edited to show only the beginning and the end as it pertained to W. D. Lewis.)

During the Civil War, John P. Wall volunteered as a surgeon and was assigned to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond. His life was soon to evolve into a curious milieu of medicine, law, journalism and politics. John P. Wall became a successful physician, writer and politician. He was associate editor of the Sunland Tribune, which later became the Tampa Tribune; served as mayor of Tampa from 1878–1880, concentrating particularly on increasing the maritime trade of the city, mapping out many of the routes through the Florida wilderness that are used by the Florida highway system today; and assisting Vicente Martinez Ybor in establishing Ybor City.  

The deaths of his first wife and daughter from Yellow Fever prompted Wall to search out new paths beyond simply guiding patients through the fever’s various stages. He now devoted his life to researching and studying how it could be prevented and destroyed more effectively.  He was among the first to assert that yellow fever was carried by the mosquito. For his conclusions on the mosquito, Wall received nothing but ridicule from the medical profession and especially from the lay press.  His second wife was the beautiful young daughter of James McKay, but to receive McKay's permission, he had to successfully defeat his greatest enemy--alcoholism.   Wall also served as Tampa's health officer and successfully lobbied for the construction of a hospital to care for the people stricken with yellow fever. 

Dr. Wall collapsed and died while giving a speech to his colleagues at the annual meeting of the Florida Medical Association in Gainesville on April 18, 1895. He had gone up there with his life-long friend and colleague Dr. Sheldon Stringer.

Read the article published in the Tampa Morning Tribune on April 19, 1895 about his life and his death.
(When the image opens, click it again to see it full size.  It is large.)

Read about the amazing life of Dr. John P. Wall here at TampaPix.  Also see    "They Exalt Humbug at the Expense of Science and Truth": Dr. John P. Wall and the Fight Against Yellow Fever in Late-Nineteenth Century Florida by Larry Omar Rivers, at USF Scholar Commons. (Source for the above oval portrait.)

Although the United States had not yet entered into war with Spain, Cuba had been fighting for its independence for several years.  There was a small contingent of Spaniards in Tampa who quietly favored control of the island by their homeland, but not the imprisonment and mistreatment the Cubans were being subjected to.  Most in Tampa sympathized with the plight of the Cubans and the horrible conditions they were subjected to by the Spanish rulers and military leaders.  Read more about this at Clara Barton in Tampa, here at TampaPix.

Here in late May, a "Grand Concert" was held at the Cuban opera house (in Ybor City) for the benefit of wounded Cuban soldiers, assisted by "some of the musical talent of Tampa."  "The DeSoto Duo" of W. D. Lewis and James H. Thomas teamed up for a duet, as well as each performing a solo with their instruments of expertise.
 

BACKGROUND OF CHARLES A. DUNN

Described here as one of the best, best-looking and best-known hotel men in Florida.  Formerly the owner of the Carleton and St. Simon's in Tampa, he previously owned the Ocala House in Ocala.  He received his training at the hotels in New York City and was an "up-to-date" man in every respect.

Every room at the DeSoto was newly furnished (the hotel was about two years old) and lit by electricity.

In early 1896, about six months after his rave review in the Tribune, Charles Dunn retired, leaving W. D. to claim all the future profits (and bills.) 

Read the entire obit of J. H. Thomas
When it opens, click it again to see fulll size.

DEATH OF JAMES H. THOMAS, OWNER OF THE DESOTO HOTEL BUILDING

J. H. Thomas, builder and owner of the DeSoto Hotel building, died in his apartments at the hotel on Apr. 1, 1896.  He was an Ohio naive, born in Chillicothe in 1833 and came to Tampa in 1892.  "He had a deep abiding faith in the destiny of Tampa that no calamity could disturb, that never slept, and which proved contagious to all who came within its influence..."

LEWIS LEAVES THE DESOTO IN JANUARY 1897, SELLS TO THE WILLIAMS BROS. OF WALDO

On Jan. 30, 1897, W. D. Lewis ended his connection with the Hotel DeSoto after a supper there that evening, having sold the hotel to the Williams brothers, experienced caterers from Waldo, Fla..  The Tribune says "Mr. Lewis has made a jolly good host and retires with the good wishes of the traveling public."  The Williams brothers planned a lavish feast with a number of imported dishes to celebrate. 

The next day, it was announced that Lewis had formed a partnership with a Mr. Keyes in Louisville as a merchandise brokerage firm in the name of Lewis & Keyes,* which would start business immediately.

*Nothing of the Lewis & Keyes partnership could be found.  Perhaps the plan fizzled.  Mr. Keyes may have been the president of the Keyes-Gallrein Music Co. in Louisville, who advertised as "We are the Largest Music Supply House in the South.  Manufacturers, Publishers and General Dealers."  This Louisville partnership between John W. Keyes formerly of Nashville and Herman Gallrein of Louisville appears to be short-lived; it advertised only from July to early Sept. of 1897 in a Hartford KY newspaper.  In mid-Dec. 1897, Mr. Keyes sold his interest in the company and on Jan. 1, 1898, took charge of the manufacturing and wholesale business of Wulschner Music House.

In May, 1897 Williams & Co. became H. A. Williams Co. when R. M. Williams retired.

WHO WAS W .D. LEWIS? How did he obtain the reputation of being a fine caterer before managing the DeSoto?  Where and how was his vocal talent refined by the time he came to Tampa?  What happened to him and his wife after he left the DeSoto? Find out more about W. D. Lewis, including what the W. D. stood for!  Here at "Who Was W. D. Lewis?"

H. A WILLIAMS RETIRES, MRS. B. S. HANKINS TAKES CHARGE OF THE DESOTO

Mrs. Hankins was formerly the owner of the Gold Hotel in Bartow, and the Commercial boarding house in Tampa.  Nothing more is said about her in the Tampa newspapers other than her name, which was always "Mrs" and her husband's initials, and Hankins. This article goes on to describe the DeSoto and the plan Mrs. Hankins had to improve the hotel, such as offering special rates to Tampa people.  Special attention would be given to the cuisine, "and the table will at all times be supplied with the best the market affords."

The Desoto opened on Apr. 5, 1898 with Mrs. Hankins as the new manager, formerly owner of the Commercial house in Tampa.  She is credited with having "a considerable amount of management of hotels in Florida."

This rare photo below shows the original wood frame DeSoto Hotel in 1903, remodeled and refurbished by Webb & Parker.  This was about six years before it was completely replaced by a new brick & block four-story structure. It is the upper right portion of the previously displayed photo showing the Federal Courthouse construction.  At the far left of the photo can be seen the improved two-story annex to the DeSoto, which ran along Polk St. between Marion & Morgan.   The water tank at upper left is at Tampa's first waterworks pumping station located at the corner of Estelle & Jefferson St.

The original wood frame DeSoto Hotel, Feb. 1, 1903.  The two-story DeSoto annex can be seen at far left.
BURGERT BROS. HIGH-RES SCAN WAS PROVIDED BY THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

TAMPA FIRE DEPT LT. WILLIAM C. ECKLES FATALLY  INJURED EN ROUTE TO DESOTO FIRE   In the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 27, 1906, a fire was discovered at the DeSoto, having started in the ceiling between the first and second stories.  Stations 1 (from City Hall) and 5 (from Palm Ave & Fla. Ave.) responded and quickly extinguished the fire.  All the guests were safely evacuated and damage was about $200.  But a fireman was fatally injured en route to the fire.
Lt. Eckles was filling in for the regular driver who had the day off. While coming down Fla. Ave. from Station 5, his wagon hit a hole in the street at 7th Ave. and was thrown "with great force to the pavement, receiving a number of internal injuries and having his right leg passed over by the heavy vehicle."  The engineer driving the rear of the vehicle did not know that Eckles was thrown off, as the horses continued down Florida Ave. for several blocks to Hillsborough St. (now named Royal St.) where the horses turned west and then at Franklin St. proceeded to go north back toward Tampa Heights.  It was at this time that the rear driver called to Eckles that he was going the wrong direction and upon getting no response, climbed up over the rear, saw there was no driver, and took charge turning the horses back toward the DeSoto.  Meanwhile, a man residing where Eckles was thrown, discovered the injured fireman, and took him into his home for medical attention.
Lt. Eckles was described above as "one of the oldest firemen in Tampa having served well and efficiently here for more than six years."  He was regarded by Chief A. J. Harris as one of the most resourceful and aggressive fire fighters of the department.  The entire city was upset about the accident and were taking up donations to help Eckles. On Jan. 31, it was reported that Lt. Eckles had not improved and that his mother had arrived from Winter Haven and was with him.  The next day, it was reported that Lt. Eckles had died at 1 a.m.  Previously, his leg had become infected and had to be amputated after being placed under an anesthetic which lasted two hours. On Friday, Feb. 2 it was announced that the funeral would be Saturday at his home at 9:30 a.m.  A large detail of firemen and every police officer available was expected to attend, as well as other city officials.  Eckles was survived by his wife and two sons, a two-year-old and a three-month-old, his parents, four brothers and a sister. William Cooksey Eckles, "one of the oldest firemen in the department" was 30 years old.  The Tribune urged that the whole city mourn with the closing of city offices and the attendance of public officials at the funeral  It also suggested a collection be made for the benefit of Eckles's widow.

Eckles's funeral was conducted by Rev. B. K. Thrower who paid the fireman a beautiful tribute at the home and graveside services.  In the procession to the cemetery could be seen Mayor Solomonson, City Auditor Hansborough, Chief and Mrs. A.J. Harris, Chief of the West Tampa Fire Dept. A. J. White, a squad of 15 firemen  under command of Capt. J. D. Ross of Sta. 3, twelve patrolmen commanded by Capt. W. A. Johnson, members of the City Council including Pres. Elmore Webb, and many long-time friends of Lt. Eckles.  He was buried at Woodlawn cemetery. William Eckles was the second oldest man in the department and the second to die in the line of duty at this point. At right, a tribute by his grieving father, Joseph David Eckles. The City Council appointed a committee to draft a resolution on the death of Lt. Eckles, and continued his salary while a pension for his widow was being discussed.   MRS. ECKLES RECEIVES A PENSION In late March, Mrs. Eckles asked the City for compensation in the loss of her husband in the line of duty.  She asked for total $3,000 in monthly payments.  This was granted by City Council on April 24 in the amount of $50 per month for five years.  (In 2019 dollars this would be like $1,440 per month.		The 1910 Census in Tampa shows at 209 Oak Ave.,  31 year old Dora Eckles, widowed, born in Georgia, with sons William (6) and Gray (4) both born in Fla.   Dora has no occupation.  In 1940, Dora was listed on the census as a Circuit Court deputy clerk.

In the weeks that followed this great tragedy, several committees in Tampa organized and raised funds and necessities to send to San Francisco's earthquake victims.  The following is a summary of those committees funds they raised. 
The whole article listed each committee and the individual contributions it collected.
CLICK THE ARTICLE TO SEE ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS AND AMOUNTS.
When the image opens, click it again to see it full size.

The grand total of $7,207 would be like $210,507 to us today.

DEATH OF ROBERT FULTON WEBB

R. F. Webb died on July 20, 1904, from a stroke which partially paralyzed him on July 19th.  He was in "unusually good spirits that afternoon, feeling so well that he decided to walk home from the Cuesta-Rey factory, a distance of about half a mile.

The article contains a little about his past and circumstances of his hotel endeavors before the DeSoto.  More about this is presented toward the end of this feature, after the section about Thomas Edison and the section about the destruction of the DeSoto in 1955.

See "History & Heritage" article by Leland Hawes, who presents details provided by a Robert & Nancy Webb's great-granddaughter, Nell Trice Roberts. 

PARKER SELLS DESOTO TO HIS ASSOCIATES, BIG NEW HOTEL IS RUMORED

In the fall of 1906, Walter L. Parker sold the DeSoto to a number of Ocala developers who were associates of his.   The new expanded ownership planned to replace the old wood structure with a four story brick and stone building.  The improvements were scheduled to begin after the State Fair in November.  The planned improvement of $150,000 along with other construction projects in Tampa set a one-month record high of $210,432 for November, topping Oct. 1906 by just over $125,000.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT AMONG TOP FOUR LARGEST IN TAMPA HISTORY

The new construction was touted as the largest permit in the history of Tampa, with the possible exception of H.B. Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel, the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and the new Federal Building.  The hotel would be known as the "New DeSoto" which would be built fireproof with steel beams, with its own electric power plant and steam laundry.  It would take up the whole block between Polk, Zack, Morgan, and Marion Streets and have three entrances.  The new building would be 210 feet square, eventually taking up the whole block, with a space for a courtyard of around 50 x 100 feet.

The whole project would be done in phases, with the original building remaining until the greater part of the new hotel was completed. It was expected that Elmore Webb would oversee the project.  Architect of the Tampa Bay Hotel, J. A. Wood, was hired to design the the new hotel.

THE ANNEX BITES THE DUST	NORTH WING FOUNDATION LAID	FINE INK WELL ARRIVES FOR FRONT DESK
The first to go was the two-story wood structure along Polk St. that was built as an annex with extra rooms for the original wood frame hotel.	By the end of Feb. 1907, a new foundation had been laid along Marion St. and Polk St.  This was for the north wing on the northwest corner of the lot and the main building that fronted Marion Street.	As construction on the main building progressed rapidly, a fancy ink well trimmed in silver with onyx pedestal and silver pole supporting incandescent lamps was received from the American Hotel Supply Co.
OLD DESOTO TO BE MOVED TO BACK OF LOT	OLD BUILDING MOVED, THIRD PHASE BEGUN	OLD BUILDING NOW IS THE DESOTO ANNEX
Owner of the DeSoto W.L. Parker announced in late July 1907 that the old DeSoto would close on Sat., Aug. 3.  He originally planned to keep it open longer but work was progressing so quickly on the new hotel that they needed to start the next phase of construction:  moving the old building to the rear of the lot to make room for the south wing of the main building.	By Sep. 1907, the old structure had been lifted, rotated 90 deg. counterclockwise, and moved to the rear of the property along Morgan Street.  This second phase, the annex, would be completed as soon as possible so as have space for temporary offices, some rooms could be refurbished on the upper floors and a large dining room created on the ground floor.	By the end of Oct. 1907 the concrete floor, roof and cornices of the new building were being worked on.  A probably opening of January was a highly optimistic guess.  The old three-story building was to reopen next month; this was another optimistic prediction.

In mid-November 1907 the projected completion dates of the main building and the annex were pushed back due to difficulty in obtaining some building materials.  A portion of the main building "will in all probability" be ready for occupancy by Jan. 1 and the annex was expected to open in early December.  J. A. Wood was expected to flip the switch on the lighting at night within a short time.

1910 Construction nearly completed on DeSoto Hotel #2 -- the "New DeSoto."

1921 - Company B of the Hillsborough Co. Home Guards

Burgert Bros., Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library digital collection.

The Desoto Lobby
1924 Burgert Bros. photo courtesy of the Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System
MOUSE OVER THE PHOTO TO SEE THE CIGAR STAND CLOSE UP

Below: a close up from the above photo.

Notice the brass spittoons on the floor and tables visible through the cafe windows.

OLD DESOTO ANNEX BURNS FOUR TIMES IN LESS THAN A WEEK IN 1928
Three suspicious fires broke out in the old DeSoto annex on Mar. 7, 1928.  The article stated that the annex had been closed to guests for two and a half years and was being used for storerooms.  This puts the closure around Sept. 1925.  An employee named Bill Main who was occupying a room in the annex was questioned and denied any knowledge of the fires, but he was ordered held at the city jail anyway.  The article appears to say that the third fire started over an hour after the first fire, and after the suspect had been locked up.  The damage was estimated at $5,000 which in 2020 dollars would be $75,675.	The suspect was released the next day when no evidence could be found against him.
Just four days later, on Mar. 11, 1928,  another fire started on the north end of the old annex, causing est. damage of $2,000.  It tooke the firemen over an hour to put out the fire. Most of the damage was confined to old furniture stored there.  Firemen and insurance adjusters were unable to determine who was starting the fires. Those $2,000 in 1928 would be like $30,270 in 2020.

REAR VIEW (MORGAN ST. SIDE) OF THE DESOTO c.1936 Photo by Robertson & Fresh from the USF digital collections The sunken building with the smokestacks and firewood is where the hotel's steam heating system was located.
	The photo is dated 1936 but might be from a few years earlier.  The O-Kay Shoe Shop seen at left appears to have been in business from 1931 to 1933 judging by their ads in the classified section of the Tampa Times.  Nothing could be found about the Hot & Cold sandwiches shop.

1936 - Main entrance on Marion St.
Photo by Robertson & Fresh from the USF digital collections

1936 - South entrance, Zack Street

1936 - Rooftop sign
Place your cursor on it to switch it on.
Photo by Robertson & Fresh from the USF digital collections

In 1937 the DeSoto Tire service station moved from across Morgan St at 715 Morgan to their location behind the DeSoto on the corner of Morgan and Polk streets.  This photo appears to be from the early 1940s.

The hut on top of the pole seen at right was for the railroad lookout.

1950 - Entrance to Indian Room Bar & Grill at 721 Marion Street
Burgert Bros., Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library digital collection.

Nov. 4, 1946 - Lobby at the DeSoto Hotel
Photo by Robertson & Fresh from the USF digital collections

June 3, 1949
Burgert Bros. photo courtesy of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library System
Notice the rooftop sign is gone.

Below, close up of above photo showing the various shops.  Notice the woman in the window of the Hollywood Beauty Salon.  The OKAY shoe repair shop, formerly along the Zack St. Side near Morgan St. was now in the front of the hotel.  The barber shop was operated by Mike Sperandeo (see window sign) since 1912.  Read about him below.

June 3, 1949.

Zack St. entrance to DeSoto Hotel and Club Chateau.

June 3, 1949.

Front veranda and entrance to the Indian Room Grill
June 3, 1949.

Elevated view,   June 3, 1949.
Burgert Bros., Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library digital collection.

"And then there is the story about Thomas Edison" (apparently not from Sperandeo's memory) which claims that Edison waited in the lobby for hours one evening while clerks "searched frantically for a room, but to no avail."  Eventually, "a friendly guest offered to share his room if the distinguished-looking visitor would use a mattress on the floor."  He ends the story stating that it wasn't until the next morning that the visitor introduced himself as Thomas Edison.

Knight also discusses when the present structure was built, stating most say 1907, which is correct but that's when construction started.  It took a few years in phases to complete.  The reporter also  claims that the old wooden structure it replaced was built in the late 1890s by H. B. Plant.  (Not so for both.)  This was may have based on the writings of historian Karl Grismer, whose history of Tampa was recently published in 1950.  Not only was Grismer incorrect on its builder, he assumed that its architect, J. A. Wood (architect of the Tampa Bay Hotel and county courthouse) built it with Moorish domes.  Clearly not the case.

He also mentions a number of modern-day ownership changes which haven't been verified by TampaPix.

JUDGE W. C. BROOKER SAYS HE'S HEARD THIS STORY, NAMES THE HOSPITABLE GUEST BUT DIFFERENT HOTEL

County Judge W. C. Brooker read Knight's story above and wrote the Tribune to say that the Edison incident took place at the Almeria Hotel, not the DeSoto.  Judge Brooker's account was from his memory of his 1922 dinner with John Sutton and Herbert J. Drane.  Drane was a congressman, and Brooker claimed that Drane told him and Sutton about the time Edison slept on a pallet in Drane's room in a Tampa hotel on Franklin St.  He further stated that Drane claimed it took place around 1885, and to Brooker's memory the Almeria Hotel was open in that time, which was also the period that Edison was perfecting his light bulb, and that "Almeria" was the name of the hotel Drane mentioned.  Judge Brooker's memory also recalled that Drane said he was asked by the hotel manager if he would allow this man to occupy his room.  Agreeing, a mattress was brought in and placed on the floor.  The next morning, the man made an inquiry concerning passage to Ft. Myers and it was then that Drane learned it was Thomas Edison.

So at the time Brooker was having lunch with Drane, Drane's memory of the event was 37 years old, and now in 1955, Brooker was recalling a 33 year old memory of the 1922 lunch with Drane.  He ends with "This story made a deep impression on me and except for a few details it has remained vividly in my mind ever since. 

HISTORIAN THEODORE LESLEY PROVIDES THE REAL STORY

Theodore Lesley wrote the Tribune in May 1955, having read the previous story by Knight and the resulting letter by Judge Brooker.  Lesley was a grandson of Tampa Pioneer John T. Lesley, whose civic, business, and political contributions to Tampa's early history are far too many to summarize.  Theodore Lesley was Tampa's highly-regarded historian, having lived much of the period of the later pioneer days.  He opened with his view of the previous article and letter, and three reasons why they couldn't be correct.

1. Lesley heard it straight from Drane who said it happened at the Orange Grove Hotel in Feb. 1884.

2. The Almeria Hotel had not yet been built in 1884 when Edison was in Tampa.

3. With him and Drane was a daughter-in-law of Dr. Howell Lykes and his wife Almeria McKay Lykes, who would have spoken up had it happened at the Almeria.

Lesley provided a detailed story, with details not mentioned in the previous articles.  He told the story as he got it straight from U.S. Congressman Herbert J. Drane, who was a "warm personal friend of my grandfather, John T. Lesley."    Lesley commented from notes he took in 1940** when he met with Drane at a convention in Ft. Pierce. With them was Mrs. H. T. Lykes, daughter-in-law of the builder of the Almeria Hotel. 

**1940 was 55 years after the Edison incident, but Lesley is referring to notes he took at the time, whereas Judge Brooker was relating from memory.  This leaves the possibility that Drane's account was the same both times, but that Brooker's memory of it changed over time.

Lesley stated, "The following is an abstract of Congressman Drane's reminiscence of the Edison episode.  It is presented in this form because in the Congressman's own words it would be too long to record here."

"In February of 1884 Drane was on a trip from Lakeland to Tampa.  As this was just following the advent of H. B. Plant's railroad into Tampa, the town was in the throes of a boom and rooms for tourists were at a premium.  Drane realized this and got off the train at its first stop east of the city limits and hurried on foot to the Orange Grove Hotel located on the block bounded by Twiggs, East, Madison & Jefferson Streets..

Sheriff D. Isaac Craft was then proprietor of the hotel and assigned Drane a room on the second floor.  It was not long before he knew he was to have a roommate and a mattress was brought in and placed on the floor for the newcomer.  As his roomer was deaf, little conversation passed between the two and Drane did not catch his name.

Next morning, Judge Henry L. Mitchell, later Governor of Florida, and at that time a year-round resident at the hotel, stopped Drane and asked him if he knew who the man was that was just leaving the hall entrance.  Drane replied it was his roommate but didn't know his name.  Judge Mitchell convinced Drane that he was justified in thinking him a "suspicious character," and asked that he follow him and find what he was up to in Tampa.

Later in the day, Drane reported back to Judge Mitchell that their "character's" name was Thomas Edison and that he had just hired a fisherman's boat on the Hillsborough River to deliver a cargo of Maine pine lumber to Ft. Myers that he had consigned to this port some weeks before.

This lumber was delivered in time to Ft. Myers and erected into the laboratory where Edison proved and released to the world many of his famous inventions."

Notice that Lesley has provided the reason why there were no rooms available; why Tampa was so filled with visitors at the time, who owned the Orange Grove Hotel at the time, what floor the room was on, why the two men had little or no conversation, who met Drane in the lobby, and specific detail on how it was discovered that the guest was Thomas Edison, where he was going, and why he was there.

CORRECTION ON LESLEY'S ALMERIA HOTEL OPENING DATE The Almeria Hotel was one of Tampa's leading hotels for several years.   But it was built in late Dec. 1889, and opened in Jan. 1890, not Oct. 1886.
Glogowski was four-time mayor of Tampa, Florida in the later 1880s and early 1890s. He was first elected mayor on August 13, 1886, and served until July 15, 1887. He was elected again to a second term on March 8, 1888, and served until March 6, 1889. He was re-elected two terms and served from March 5, 1890, to March 4, 1891, and from March 4, 1892, to March 10, 1893.  He was killed in a tragic horse and buggy accident in Tampa on December 3, 1909. Tampa Riverwalk Bust of Herman Glogowski	It was the Lykes BLOCK that was built in Oct. 1886. Newspaper articles of the period indicate this, as well as the Sanborn maps seen below.  (Karl Grismer also incorrectly states the Almeria opened Oct. 29, 1886.)  Later, the hotel would take over the upper floor of the adjacent Lykes block brick building. In late 1889 to early 1890, Lykes had the hotel built behind the brick buildings of the Lykes block, and had the two connected with stairs and hallways to the top floors of the older building, thus becoming part of the hotel.  Dr. Howell T. Lykes named the hotel after his wife, Almeria Bell (McKay) Lykes.  She was a daughter of Tampa pioneer James McKay. (Dr. H. T. Lykes photo courtesy of Fla. Memory State Library and Archives of Florida.  Mrs. Almeria Lykes photo courtesy of the Hernando Sun "Mama Allie." Below: May 9, 1889 - The first mention of Lykes possibly building a hotel on the Lykes Block but still undecided. Nov. 28, 1889 - Work is progressing on the brick laying for the Lykes hotel.   These articles show that construction on the Almeria, which was yet to be named, probably started in July 1889 continuing through to Dec. of 1889.  In December Lykes petitioned the city to allow him to lay an underground sewer line from his hotel to the river, which was granted so long as he paid the City Engineer personally while the work was being done.
	Plans for Lykes's hotel were drawn in early May, but it was late Jun. when Lykes decided to go ahead with it.  The hotel would be built behind the brick building on the Lykes block and joined to it, converting it into hotel space as well.

TRANSITION OF THE LYKES BLOCK FROM 1887 TO 1892

BELOW: This 1913 Burgert Bros. photo from the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library System shows the Lykes Block at lower left corner.  This is a view looking south along Franklin St. and the intersection at the Lykes Block is Washington St. 
MOUSE-OVER THE PHOTO TO SEE THE LYKES BLOCK/FORMER ALMERIA HOTEL LARGER

THE ORANGE GROVE HOTEL
WHERE THOMAS EDISON SLEPT ON "THE FLOOR"

The Orange Grove Hotel was located near the present day intersection of Madison St. & Jefferson St. The hotel was built in 1859 as the home of cattleman William B. Hooker, Florida's pre-Civil War "cattle king." During the Civil War, it was used as confederate headquarters and was where Tampa pioneer Joe Robles reportedly marched his captive Union soldiers to in the winter of 1863.  In 1866-67, Hooker converted the home into a hotel. Judge Henry L. Crane and his wife (Hooker's daughter) operated the hotel, then later, the hotel was run by Isaac Craft.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORANGE GROVE HOTEL, AND THIS PERIOD IN TAMPA HISTORY,  here at Tampapix

THOMAS EDISON SLEPT HERE

The Orange Gove Hotel, claimed to be taken in the 1870s.
The photo above is courtesy of William LaMartin, with the ultimate source being the
Florida State Archives Memory collection.

The Thomas Edison myth is repeated.

Sep. 23, 1955 - Demolition of the 45 year old DeSoto Hotel #2.

Burgert Bros., Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library digital collection.

Leland Hawes's article below presents a history of the DeSoto with information on one of its owners, R. F. Webb.  He uses information from a book on Tampa hotels history by J.J. Gordon, presents some info from Grismer (showing how it differs from Gordon's research and already presented here in this feature as mostly incorrect), along with photos and info from a Webb descendant.

ROBERT F. WEBB BEFORE THE DESOTO

Hawes states that the Webbs came to Tampa "110 years ago" (1886) from New Mexico and bought the City Hotel at that time.  Then they made a "quick switch that year" and bought the Palmetto Hotel.  

This "quick switch" year is incorrect.  The articles below show that Webb owned the City Hotel for just over four years.  His purchase of the City Hotel was made on Mar. 29, 1886 and he sold it May 1, 1890.  Hawes then mentions that the hotel had a number of owners before the Webbs, citing George C. Munro.  Munro's ad of Feb. 10, 1886 indicates he had recently bought the hotel, which already enjoyed an excellent reputation "in the short time it has been opened to the public."  So the hotel was relatively new when Munro bought it.   Later articles indicate he didn't own it for much more than a month-and-a-half before selling.  Whether or not he sold to Webb on Mar. 29 or there were intermediate owners in that short time who sold it to Webb hasn't been researched.

THE CITY HOTEL

The City Hotel was near the Hillsborough River and had a rooftop overlook.  It catered to travelers in the 1880s,
when Tampa was just beginning to grow, after the Plant System railroad arrived.

Today, the site of the City Hotel is a part of the parking lot for the GTE Financial building.

 

THE PALMETTO HOTEL

The Palmetto Hotel on Florida Avenue, with its five-story tower, was considered one of Tampa's best in the 1880s.
In 1914 the City Council wanted to buy this property for $145,000 and build a new City Hall on it.
Mayor D. B. McKay had a better location in mind, and it cost a whole lot less.
 

The Sanborn Maps below show the Palmetto Hotel was being built in 1884.  In 1887 Monroe St. was renamed Florida Avenue.  At right:  The Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse building occupies the former site of the Palmetto Hotel.

 

THE DESOTO HOTEL

The DeSoto catered to many traveling salesmen, providing them with free space to display their samples.

Today, the Robert Timberlake Federal Building and the Timberlake Annex occupy the former site of the DeSoto Hotel.