A NEW page has been added to Downtown at Tampapix           
Downtown as seen from Plant Park, University of Tampa

Solomon and Jacob Maas came to the US from Germany in 1870 and opened a general store in Cochran, Georgia.  They were soon joined by brothers Abraham, Isaac and Julius in the business.  In the 1880s, the brothers went their own ways.  Abe came to Tampa and opened his dry goods Palace on Franklin St. in 1886.  He was soon joined by Isaac, and together they became "Maas Brothers".   See Maas Brothers History

The final battle for Fort Brooke lasted over 20 years, but it was not fought with cannon, gun or sword.  It was fought with mightier weapons--the pen, the word, capital and the law.  When Tampa found out that the military was about to abandon Fort Brooke, in late 1882 many Tampans desired that this land should not be developed for commerce or industry, but instead set aside as a public park for its great natural beauty.  Read about the plan that Tampa citizens came up with to gain title to the land, and the legal battles that ensued.  Learn about the players, the plan, the fort and the land, and see many photos related to the fort, including two cannons from the fort placed in Plant Park, here at Tampapix.

Francis J. Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag in 1892, lived in Tampa from 1922 until his death in 1931.

The 1930 census of Tampa shows Francis and 2nd wife Marie Bellamy living at 2926 Wallcraft Ave. His occupation was "Advertising Manager, Public Utilities."

	Unveiling the marker from the Tampa Historical Society that honors Francis Bellamy. Six year old Colleen Griffin unveils the plaque at Curtis Hixon Convention Center on Nov. 21, 1974. She’s held up by Hampton Dunn, past president of the Tampa Historical Society, as County Commissioner Betty Castor, who gave dedicatory address, and MacDill Air Force Base color guard look on.

Francis Julius Bellamy (May 18, 1855 – August 28, 1931) was an author, editor, and publicity director born in Mount Morris, New York in 1855. He attended Rome Free Academy in Rome, NY, the University of Rochester (1872–1876) and the Rochester Theological Seminary (1876–1880). He was an American Baptist minister who wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance in 1892. It was published in the Youth's Companion, which was a nationally circulated magazine for adolescents, and by 1892 was the largest publication of any type in the United States, with a circulation around 500,000.

Including his years at previous journalism jobs, Bellamy had spent nineteen years in advertising in New York City. He had played a part in the development of the advertising industry from its infancy to a fabulous world of signboards, neon lights, double page color ads, and the beginnings of radio commercials. The "Madison Avenue" advertising world had arrived in New York City with his blessing and help. Bellamy believed in high pressure advertising but believed it still could be truthful advertising. He believed that advertising should create the demand for the increasing output of American industry. He saw selling as very important to business and saw advertising copy as his specialty.

In 1922 he decided to leave New York City for the remainder of his life in Tampa, with his second wife, Marie. His first wife, Harriet Bellamy, had died in 1918. In 1920 he had married Mrs. Marie Morin, who had been a successful business woman in the women's hat business in New York City.

In 1926 Francis Bellamy began working part time as the advertising manager for the Tampa Electric Company after he convinced the management that the company needed systematic publicity and advertising that he could develop. On July 15,1931, he was fired from this part time job at the Tampa Electric Company and on the same day he applied for and received a similar job with the Tampa Gas Company. He died on August 28, 1931, in Tampa, Florida, at the age of seventy-six.

The Pledge of Allegiance, which is inscribed on his tombstone in Rome Cemetery, Rome, NY, was originally "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  It has been modified four times.

 

DID YOU KNOW?  Miss Tampa of 1930 became Miss Florida and went on to become "Miss America".  Margaret "Mickey" Ekdahl was more than a pretty face; she came to America from Sweden as an infant and eventually went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Rio de Janeiro.  But her Miss America title in the midst of the Great Depression was not achieved without controversy.

Read about Mickey Ekdahl --Tampa's Miss America--her rise to fame, and her shocking decision in the midst of her success.  See photos of Mickey, her 1930 Census in Tampa, and newspaper clippings detailing her life and tragic death.

Before the Florida State Fair was located at its present location at US-301 and I-4, but after it had moved from the old fairgrounds at North Blvd. and Cass St., it was held at an interim location until the present grounds were ready.  That location was the parking area of Tampa Stadium, 1976.  Area for the midway increased from 3 acres to over 10 acres, but space for the exhibits was severely curtailed and limited to the area under the east stands.  The interim location also resulted in no sprint car races that year.

Above left:  The full moon over the midway of the Florida State Fair, Feb. 1976, viewed from across Himes Ave. at Ivy Street.
 Above right:  Al Lopez Field stadium in the background.

See Jan. 30, 1976 Evening Independent newspaper article, "State Fair Move Has Its Benefits."
 

NEW at Tampapix--Three video excerpts from Pete and Paul Guzzo's documentary on Tampa crime figure Charlie Wall have been added to the sights and sounds of Tampa in the 1940s!   See these videos at the bottom of this page.
 

Read about Tampa from the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, through the 1930s, Tampa's recovery and involvement in World War II through the 1940s, Tampa's Hollywood actress Mary Hatcher, Warner Bros. filming of their movie "Air Force" at Drew Field, and a page you just can't refuse...the darker side of Tampa--from the Prohibition years to organized crime of the 1940s.  Turn on your speakers and get ready to swing!   All at Tampa in the 1940s

Verne's illustration on p.66 shows Tampa town "previous to the undertaking."
Verne's illustration from page 83 shows "Tampa town after the undertaking."  A veritable boom-town.  Except for the mountains, he pretty much nailed it.

DID YOU KNOW?
Tampa is mentioned in science-fiction writer Jules Verne's book, "From the Earth to the Moon."  Published in 1865, a portion reads:
 

Previous to the undertaking:  "After coasting along a series of creeks abounding in lobsters and oysters, the "Tampico" entered the bay of Espiritu Santo where she finally anchored at a small, natural harbour, formed by the embouchure of the river Hillsborough..."  "Barbicane has scarcely set foot on shore when three thousand of the inhabitants of Tampa town came forth to meet him..."  "Declining ovation, he ensconced himself in a room of the Franklin Hotel."  Read more

"The Frenchman and two Americans entered the enclosure reserved in the center of the multitude...Ten o’clock struck. The moment had arrived for taking their places in the projectile...thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty!!! Instantly, Murchison pressed the key...An appalling, unearthly report followed...An immense spout of fire shot up from the bowels of the earth…The earth heaved up...spectators obtained a momentary glimpse of the projectile cleaving the air in the midst of fiery vapors...The glare of the flames lit up the whole of Florida..."

After the undertaking: "After the 23rd of September, the enclosure of Stones Hill was thrown open to the public, and it will be easily imagined what was the concourse of visitors to this spot.  There was an incessant flow of people to and from Tampa Town, and the place, which resembled a procession, or rather, in fact, a pilgrimmage."  Read more

Verne describes the exact launch location as "Stones Hill", at latitude 27 deg, 7 min north, longitude 5 deg, 7 west of the Washington (DC) meridian, which would make it longitude 82 deg, 9 min W.  

"Barbicane wrote down the result of his observations.."  "On that plain will be raised our magazines, workshops...and here, from this very spot, hence shall our projectile take its flight into the regions of the Solar World!"

This location is not too near Tampa, see blue circle on map.  He also describes it at 1800 feet above sea level, an elevation not found in Florida.  But keep in mind, this was written in 1865, and it was fiction.

A hundred years after the prophetic author who never left France wrote those lines, U.S. space projects were being launched regularly from Florida, not too far away from what Verne called "Tampa Town." There were many curious parallels between his story and the actual moon shots of today.

Jules Verne is not a prophet without honor in Tampa Town. An official marker at the approach of the Ballast Point Pier tells of the park at this scenic point being named Jules Verne Park in honor of the French writer who did so much to publicize Tampa.

The Cinchett Neon Sign company operated in Tampa for 50 years.  New at Tampapix--Read about Frank & John F. Cinchett's legacy in Tampa and see 2 newly discovered photos of John F. Cinchett's last neon sign which is still around today.   

NEW:  See an amazing video showing color footage shot by Frank Cinchett, showing dozens of their signs in action at night!

TAMPA'S BRAVEST
tampasbravest.com is dedicated to the men and women who place their lives on the line everyday for the City of Tampa and its citizens. This unofficial website is intended to provide information about the history of the City of Tampa Fire Department including pictures and information of apparatus and stations, past and present.

Visit Tampasbravest.com now!

Tampa's Bravest on Facebook

NEW at Tampapix - TFD resonding to a West Tampa fire

See West Tampa Fire Station No.9 here at Tampapix

Tampa in the 1950s, in LIVING COLOR with the sounds of the 50s!

See some beautiful color photos of Tampa scenes in the mid to late 1950s, scanned from color slides.  Scenes include Franklin Street ablaze in neon, two night views of Ayres Diner in Seminole Heights, the US Navy submarine SS Spikefish on display at the Port of Tampa, the SS Ybor sailing down Ybor Channel, the Gandy Bridge, and Fairyland at Lowry Park.  All photos courtesy of Tampa native Yvonne Colado.

See it here 

What does U.S. Army Brigadier General William H. Bisbee have to do with legendary pirate José Gaspar?  They both had a three-masted schooner named after them, in fact, the same ship. 

The schooner William Bisbee was built in 1902 in Maine, and after over 30 years of service as a cargo ship in the Atlantic, she was sold in 1936 to a Tampa freight broker in the interest of the Gasparilla Festival.  Read about the José Gaspar's previous life as the William Bisbee, and see images of the Bisbee, and a beautiful photo of her as she sailed up the Hillsborough River in 1938.

Your assistance is requested in identifying the students in a photo of the Helen Hill School kindergarten class, taken May 31, 1951.

See the full size photo here or click on the photo at right.

In the 1940s, Ybor City's Cuscaden Park was THE place to go on a Sunday afternoon or Thursday evening to catch a baseball game between teams of the Inter-Social league.  The result of one of Roosevelt's WPA projects in Tampa, Cuscaden was home field for many baseball players from Tampa who went on to the major leagues.  For many West Tampa and Ybor City youths, the public pool at Cuscaden was where they first learned to swim.  Boxing on Florida's west coast had its revival at the Cuscaden boxing arena in the 40s.  The park was the focus of athletic social interaction during the war years, and served as a respite from the solemn news that WW2 brought to the forefront in those days.

Read about the ballpark, pool, Arthur W. Cuscaden, the events and event-makers of Ybor's Cuscaden Park

TAMPA CHANGING!
Tampa has come a long way in 100 years, and Tampa Native Bryan Weinstein has a creative and interesting method of sharing this fact.  Bryan has created a website using "Re-photography." 

On his site, he has exhibited various sights of Tampa.  Each location has two photographs, a historical photograph, taken up to one hundred years ago, and the re-photograph, taken within the last couple of years. Bryan uses a slideshow blend effect so that the old photo morphs into the recent photo.  He has so exactly captured the scenes from the same vantage point, it's like instant time travel.  Bryan brings to mind how much Tampa has changed and how much has stayed the same.  Visit Bryan's site at TampaChanging.   Bryan seeks assistance by way of support and re-photography of your own to display on his site!

JOSEPH ROBLES - The Robles are an old and important family in the history of Tampa beginning with Joseph Robles, an immigrant from Madrid, Spain who came to the United States in the nineteenth century. Robles was born in 1817 and migrated as a stowaway at the age of 15 from his native Spain. He is said to have jumped ship in 1832 in Georgia and headed to Florida after marrying in Georgia.  Read about the Robles and see original land surveys of Tampa that show where the Robles properties were located.  If you work in downtown Tampa, chances are you drive through it every day. 

The Robles Family at Tampapix    NEW: Photos of Judge Francis Robles

Blanche Armwood was a Tampa native and the first African-American woman from Florida to graduate from an accredited law school--Howard University.  Armwood High School in Seffner, which opened in 1984, was named after her.

An early 20th-century Renaissance woman, Ms. Armwood steadfastly held the values of hard work, religious morality, and judicial equality before the American consciousness. She used diplomacy to present these ideals to the American public. Called a "Female Booker T. Washington," Armwood served as liaison between the black and white races. She was administrator, educator, innovator, writer, and poet.

Read about Blanche Armwood at Tampapix

See T-38 Talon, F-5A, C-5 Galaxy, P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-24 Liberator, P-51 Mustang, A-7 Corsair, F-4 Phantom & F-111 Aardvark
Also, read about the history of MacDill AFB, from before site selection at Catfish Point through World War 2.
See photos of life at MacDill Field from WW2 era, published in Drew Field's weekly news, "Drew Field Echoes"
 

Shortly before 7 a.m. on May 19, 1944, a four-engine B-17 bomber crashed on Abdella Street in West Tampa just east of Drew Field, the giant wartime base where today's Tampa International Airport is located.  Read about the heroic efforts of neighborhood residents to rescue the 9-man crew from the flaming wreckage.

Read about Butterfly McQueen's life and career and see her parents' 1910 census in Tampa

Nothing says "Tampa" like a mouth-watering Cuban sandwich

Ask 10 people what goes into making an exceptional Cuban Sandwich and you'll likely get ten different responses that vary in ingredients, preparation and appearance. The debate can get as hot as the bread just out of the oven--not just over the ingredients, but even on the order they're stacked, the cut and pressing.  It may depend on your interpretation of "Cuban"  --traditional as it was in Cuba, or how Tampa/Ybor City's rich ethnic mix caused it to evolve early on.  Either way, there's not much variation in the recipe and preparation. 

But it is the bread that makes or breaks a Cuban sandwich; as with any building, the foundation is important.  See Cuban Bread - first baked in Ybor City's "La Joven Francesca" bakery, 1896.

The following are excerpts from his article "Welcome to Cuban Sandwich City" which appears in Volume 1, Issue 2 of Cigar City Magazine. 

Beginning in 1886, immigrants from Spain, Italy, and Cuba fled poverty and warfare to seek new lives in Tampa.  An erratic cycle of feast and famine continued in Ybor City for fifty years. The Cuban sandwich rose in popularity during the 1920s, when electric sandwich presses and toasters became more common.  During tough times, Ybor City had the example of Cuban bread to follow. When Cuba struggled for independence from Spain in the late 1800s, citizens there faced hunger and hardship. Cuban bakers responded by stretching their bread into long, thin loaves to provide small slices for rationing. The practice never changed in Tampa; but today, bread in Cuba (when it can be obtained at all) is short and more round.

	A. J. Schleman biting into loaf of Cuban bread at Independent Life and Accident Insurance Co., 1950

Tampa's most famous sandwich would not be possible without the stretched Cuban loaf. Ybor City split the loaf and filled it with mojo roast pork, sugar-cured ham, salami, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. Each of the main ingredients came from Ybor City's dominant ethnic groups: the Spaniards supplied fine glazed ham; bread and mojo pork came from the Cubans; and the Italians supplied salami.   Below:  "La Joven Francesca" Bakery where the first Cuban bread was baked, 1896.  It is now the Ybor State Museum.

When one examines the labor that went in to making an old-fashioned Cuban, it is more under-standable that today's sandwiches fall short so often. Like so many simple things in early Ybor City, the Cuban sandwich was elevated to an art and craft. Restaurateurs prepared every ingredient in painstaking fashion. If modern sandwich slingers take some short cuts, it is hard to blame them. Their profits may not suffer, but the cult of the Cuban does.

Tampa's Cuban sandwich is a dying culinary breed. By the time it became a recognized and revered tradition in the 1940s, the real thing was already fading fast. The true Cuban sandwich – conceived in Cuba and perfected in Tampa – lived and died with Ybor City. And for the uninitiated, Ybor City died some time between the Great Depression and urban renewal's bulldozers in 1965. Wet, cheap boiled ham and processed pork loaves give us little indication of what a real Cuban sandwich should taste like. It doesn't help that most places pile on lettuce, mayo, and tomato, which is like adding a glass of water – it dilutes the flavor. When done right, the sandwich showcases the contrast between the dry crust of Cuban bread with the rich mingling of melted fats within. The bold combination of salty ham and salami, the garlic and vinegar overtones of the roast pork, the sharp taste of pickle and mustard – are all married by the bread and subtle charm of Swiss cheese.

Manuel Torres making Cuban Sandwiches the old fashioned way, 1957

A long-time Ybor restaurant worker, Manuel Torres,  made Cuban sandwiches in 1957 in what even then was known as the "old fashioned way".  Torres soaked a select pork roast overnight in a mojo marinade of lemon juice, salt, fresh garlic, oregano and vinegar. He then parboiled the pork with onions, celery and garlic and then roasted it. A whole smoked ham was then parboiled in the same mixture. Torres trimmed excess fat from the ham and coated it in sugar. He then melted the sugar onto the ham with a hot iron. The resulting caramelized sugar gives the ham a distinctive taste. Drawn by the irresistible aroma, salivating onlookers gathered around the storefront as the sugar transformed into a thin amber glaze. Torres then carved the meat into thin slices: pork, ham and peppered Genoa salami. Imported Swiss cheese, sour dill pickles, mustard and Cuban bread rounded out the sandwich. He layered the ingredients onto the bread in traditional order: first the ham, then pork, salami, cheese, pickle, and mustard spread only on the top slice of the sandwich. "It is always done that way," Torres said.

Richard Gonzmart, president of the world-famous Columbia Restaurant, gets a fresh burst of energy as he describes the way his grandfather, a second-generation owner of the restaurant, used to make it. This sandwich isn't just a sandwich. It's his history, his legacy, a signature of his family's labor for four generations. Richard has recently decided to recreate the Cuban Sandwich of his grandfather's day.  "It started with fresh-baked Cuban bread from La Segunda Central Bakery. Then a layer of ham, sweet on the edges, from a sugary rub that caramelized as it baked. Then thin-sliced pork, which bathed overnight in mojo marinade before it was roasted to savory tenderness. Then salami, oh, the salami, studded with peppercorns and sitting high so its fat could infuse the other meats. Then a slice of aged Swiss cheese that supported rounds of sour pickle. And under the lid, a single layer of yellow mustard. Press this into an inch or two of crusty, buttered warmth, and cut on the diagonal. Bite."  This quote and photo from a St. Pete Times article by Becky Bowers.  See the whole article  here.

Original Cuban sandwiches come from Ybor City; everything else is just a sub. --Andy Huse
From Andy's article in Cigar City Magazine

Six videos have been added to the Columbia Restaurant at Tampapix!  See behind the scenes with Richard Gonzmart.

Read how it took an act of Congress to keep Chef Pijuan's great Spanish food at the Columbia and see photos of Chef Francisco Pijuan and his successor, Vincenzo "Sarapico" Perez.

The father of a Tampa Mayor and Florida Governor worked as a waiter at the Columbia for almost 40 years...See a 1966 photo of him and the Columbia waiters staff