TRANSIENT RELIEF ADMIN CAMP at LOWRY PARK

THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF TRANSIENT CAMP AT LOWRY PARK

In Jan. 1934, work began on on building a Federal Emergency Relief camp on the grounds. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) was the new name given by the Roosevelt Administration to the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA) which President Roosevelt had created in 1933. Under Roosevelt, the agency gave loans to the states to operate relief programs during the Great Depression.

FERA's main goal was to alleviate household unemployment by creating new unskilled jobs in local and state government. Jobs were more expensive than direct cash payments (called "the dole"), but were psychologically more beneficial to the unemployed, who wanted any sort of job, for self-esteem, to play the role of male breadwinner. From May 1933 until it closed in December, 1935, FERA gave states and localities $3.1 billion (60.4 billion in 2021). FERA provided work for over 20 million people and developed facilities on public lands across the country.

Photos from Florida Memory at Florida State Archives.
The cabanas were part of FERA project 29-B4-255, a part of the Lowry Park Transient Camp.

Group of FERA cabanas on the grounds of Lowry Park, north of Sligh Avenue in April, 1935.
Photo from Florida Memory at Florida State Archives.

Initially, Barritt park had been chosen for the camp, but due to criticism it was changed to an undeveloped area of Lowry Park. Barritt Park surrounded the City's waterworks station on the Hillsborough River.

THE PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAMP

The camp would care for about 400 single men who would work on park beautification and recreational jobs. The camp was expected to cost about $12,000 to build, with the cost of equipment for the camp at $10,000 and $10,000 a month to operate. This would all be federally funded.

The article claims that the camp would be under "semi-military discipline, and there was at first some fear by those living in the area the the men would be troublesome vagrants and allowed to move around freely in the area. This was not so, and the claim that the camp would be under semi-military discipline was later also denied. It may have only been a rumor started to ease the worries of the residents of the area.

The articles claim that the camp would be under "semi-military discipline, and there was at first some fear by those living in the area the the men would be troublesome vagrants and allowed to move around freely in the area. This was not so, and the claim that the camp would be under semi-military discipline was later also denied. It may have only been a rumor started to ease the worries of the residents of the area.

FRIENDLESS TRANSIENTS FIND RELIEF, HOPE FOR NEW LIFE
The Tampa Tribune, Jan. 16, 1934

Since winter weather has set in up north, Tampa has seen about 2,000 transient visitors who came friendless and dollarless, but hopeful. At this time, about 850 were in town, stated Miss Emily M. Bullitt, Director of the transient organization in Tampa. Some were being sent to Welaka near Palatka, and more in the next coming days.

Fifty workers were at Lowry park working in two crews, one laying a water line extension along Sligh Ave. to the camp site, and the other clearing the site. Costs of construction are given, and report of a delay receiving materials.

The camp provided more than just a shelter and food, it provided moral support. Miss Bullitt said,

"We aid all kinds of persons, many are good, perhaps a few are bad, but many are very much worth while. Some are bewildered mentally by the struggle they have been through; they need stabilizing. That is to be expected in dealing with many men and women who have slipped the moorings of home. The big job is to send them home, when we can. Some have no homes. The camps will be good for them, steady them down and give them a grip"

They come in all ways and in all conditions, some ill, some in rags. At the camp they will be introduced to a life of self-respect. They must be neat and clean. They will not be allowed to go in rags, no more run-over heels. They will be required to do reasonable work, and they will have good food. At the end of the week each will receive 90 cents for spending money.

Previous week there were 842 registered in the camp. From 150 to 200 a day apply at the headquarters at 1306 1/4 Franklin St. Police records show little crime in Tampa these days and the transient service is given credit for much of the decrease. CCC camps have also helped, as weel as other government services. But if 2000 persona had been allowed to drift about the streets of Tampa since Dec. 1, with no way to live except by crime or begging, police records would have known about it, and criminal court as well. READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

THIS SECTION IS IN PROGRESS

1934-Jan. 16