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As the 1970s turned into the 1980s, the Sulphur Springs water tower stood blighted with graffiti and superficial deterioration. No longer a tourist attraction, it became a make-out spot for teenagers. They scrawled graffiti, drank beer, smoked pot and had sex. A couple of kids climbed to the top but were afraid to climb down. The fire department had to rescue them. A high fence was built around the property. Workers sealed tower doors with concrete. However, it remained an important and historic monument in the eyes of Tampa residents.
Owner of the property, McDill Columbus Corp., announced plans in the 1980s for the tower, a $120-million complex of office space and a 275-room hotel. The company never found a major tenant and abandoned the project. In 1989 the tower was pressure washed and painted with 150 gallons of "graffiti proof paint" donated by Sherwin-Williams Co. with labor donated by Service Painting Corp.
In 2000, a local movement called Save Our Tower gained ground and managed to gain numerous supporters and a significant voice in preventing the commercial redevelopment of the site by the McDill Columbus Corp. who wanted to sell the corner property to Walgreens. The city, seeking to buy the property, and the owners were miles apart on the price for the 13-acre site. The city won state and local grants to buy 13 acres, including the historic Sulphur Springs water tower, for a botanical garden, open fields and fishing docks on the Hillsborough River. Mayor Greco envisioned a garden filled with native Florida plants, a rare patch of green among the liquor stores, cheap motels and pawn shops on Florida Avenue. He talked about connecting the park under I-275 to the new Sulphur Springs pool. The owner's attorney heard from company officials that the city offered $1.6-million -- half or one-third of what his clients say the 13 acres are worth. "Walgreens would pay about that much for the 2-acre corner."
McDill Columbus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors in 2000, and in 2002, the city of Tampa was successful in buying the tower, and 13 acres around it, from McDill Columbus Corp. for $2.85-million.
In 2003, Cornerstone Abatement & Demolition, a Tampa business, was hired to clean up the tower. Rafael Morales, 46, their operations manager, is expert in asbestos removal, lead abatement, mold remediation and demolition. What they found inside was worse than a science-fiction movie. Read the story here at "Tower of Terror."
Lights were installed in 2005 so that the tower can be illuminated at night. Plans to refurbish the site of the Sulphur Springs water tower as River Tower Park - a "passive park" with open grassy areas, treed walkways, and views of the Hillsborough River and the Sulphur Springs water tower were underway.
Sulphur Springs Park
Among its many amenities, Sulphur Springs Park offers views of the well-known springs, picnic areas and a sand volleyball court. There is a playground and observation areas for watching fish and manatees that sometimes swim in the Hillsborough River and the lagoon that feeds into the river from the spring. The 7,300 square-foot Sulphur Springs City Pool has four lap lanes. The outdoor pool is heated and open year-round. A glass mosaic by artist Bruce Marsh illustrates some of the history of Sulphur Springs. Popular with children, spray and splash-area features in the pool include a waterfall. There is also a slide. Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call the pool for the schedule for open and lap swimming. The pool is handicapped accessible.
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There is Sulphur Springs, which flows at the rate of 30,000 gallons per minute and is the largest of the mineral springs in Tampa's vicinity, but there are many others of lesser size that are as important or even command more importance by some of the people. Tampa, Today & Tomorrow 1906
In 1920 The river is dredged to a depth of 24 feet to all docks, narrowing to a 13 foot channel from the Lafayette street bridge up to Tampa Steam Ways. From there to Sulphur Springs the estimated depth of high tide is seven feet. This distance is about nine miles. The river is navigable for small craft some six miles farther to the Tampa Electric Co. (Rinaldi guidebook) • 1920 Federal Census: Total population of Sulphur Springs is 591 people – White: 82.74%; African American: 16.92%; “Mulatto”; 0.33% • Richardson transforms Sulphur Springs Park into a tourist mecca featuring walking paths, elaborate bath houses, an alligator farm, a restaurant, dock, and toboggan slide. 1925 Richardson begins construction on the Arcade. • 1927
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In 1986, high coliform bacteria counts forced the city to close the spring to swimmers, along with the lagoon that carries the spring water to the river. The city built a 7,400-square-foot concrete pool at the spring in 2000.
Josiah Richardson's Dream - Video
Newspaper articles
1910 ad for 4th of July fireworks at Sulphur Springs under new owners Gaither and Henderson
1911 Richardson passing through "The Local Roundup"
Jul 1, 1918 Richardson son-in-law Tampa salesman commits suicide
Dec. 16, 1925 Richardson risks life on plane flight to save wrongly convicted friend
Feb 3, 1926 Bondsman Richardson fights forfeiture for escaped convict
Feb 11, 1926 Richardson prepares to contest forfeiture of bond
Feb. 19, 1926 Richardson offers to clean up speakeasies at his own expense
May 27, 1926 Richardson attempt to recover $7,000 bond
March 13, 1931 Robbers get $8,000 loot from Sulphur Springs Bank
March 14, 1931 Sulphur Springs bank robbed
Aug. 19, 1931 Richardson wants vote on dog track in Sulphur Springs
Dec 7, 1931 Richardson attys file suit to prevent Jan 20 vote
Sept. 8, 1933 Sulphur Springs flooded as huge dam bursts open - page2
Sept 9, 1933 Sulphur Springs Flood Subsiding
Sept. 11, 1933 Flood Refugees Appeal for Aid
May 10, 1936 Richardson buys Superior Hotel on Central Ave in St. Pete
July 28, 1945 Swollen River Floods North Tampa, Dam Holds
Sept 19, 1948, Richardson to submit plan to supply water to St. Pete and Tampa
Sept. 25, 1948 Richardson asks for lease of Weeki Wachee spring to build pumping station, 1948
Oct 5, 1948 Announcement made turning down Richardson lease of Weeki Wachee
Sept 18, 1949 City water supply adequate, Richardson proposal failed to reach presentation
Sept. 10, 1950 Sulphur Springs Flooded
Feb. 25, 1956 newspaper article about his death
Dec. 7, 1967 Tampa's I-75 Grows Three Miles
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