The hotel was situated near the "miraculous" mineral waters of Hillsborough River and represents an excellent example of a resort recreation facility of early 20th century. The most distinguishing feature of the hotel was its first and second floor front arcade in classical style. Josiah T. Richardson was the original owner of the property. In the late 1920s Richardson defaulted and the building was sold to South Carolina tobacco grower J.F. Hendrick. At his death the property passed to his five grandchildren. As estate holders, they exerted control over leases for the ground floor stores. In order to bring in new businesses, they refused lease renewals for many of the original shops.

Hotel in 1929
Hotel 2nd floor porch in 1930
Pool, 1930
Remarkable 1934 photo
Hotel Lobby 1934
Hotel Circa 1940
Sulphur Springs Hotel Historical

Sulphur Springs Water Tower

In recent years the City of Tampa took over the swimming pool and turned it into a public facility. The hotel and the shops remained until 1975. The following year the entire building was demolished. Original plans & construction: The second floor had thirty-nine hotel rooms and fourteen apartments and offices. Original number of downstairs shops is not known.

Delia Cinchett poses under one of her husband's masterful creations; a giant neon hanger. 

Note Allied Linoleum in the background, another Cinchett creation.  The vertical "Linoleum" section is a giant neon carpet roll.

The sign company operated here from 1948-1992.

It is now the site of an antique shop with an ice cream shop at the corner of North Florida Avenue and Osborne.

Place your cursor on the photo to see the shop in color in 1957.

The Dinette was located just south of the Cinchett Sign Company.  The youngsters here are probably Hillsborough High School students.

Now the corner of N. Florida Avenue and W. Hilda Street.

The building behind Joe's sign housed the Oldt Waring Company, Lee Duncan Insurance and a tropical fish shop.

This “striking” neon sign for Steele Electric is actually a giant neon lightning bolt.  Hopefully none of their customers were superstitious!  

This circa 1956 view of the 500, 600 and 700 block of Franklin St. was taken by Hector Colado and provided courtesy of his daughter, Yvonne.  Cinchett Neon Signs built many of the colorful neon signs in this photo, including the elaborate Duval Jewelry Store "diamonds" that adorned the front facade of the store.

See a much larger version of this photo
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Frank Cinchett

• Pepsi-Cola bottle cap

• Golden Brown Diner, 1957, Hillsb. Ave.

• Alpaugh Plumbing Supply, Fla. Ave.

• Ayres Diner, Fla. Ave., Seminole Hts, 1957

• Lowry Park, Sligh Ave., 1961

• McDonald & Sons Construction Co, Nebraska Ave.

• Weedeater Mowers, Broadway

• Mary Carter Paint Factories, Broadway

• Tillman 1hr Cleaning, downtown

• The Key to Better Business, Grand Central Ave.

• Safety Motors, 3700 Columbus Drive, 1959

• Joseph of Tampa (hair salon), Fla. Ave.

• U-Haul Trucks & Trailer Rental, Hillsb. Ave.

• Alaska Motel, Nebraska Ave.

• General Finance Loans, Franklin St., 1959

• Florida 1 hr. Cleaners, 3 hr. Laundry, Grand Central, 1957

• Ohio Bar, Polk St, downtown

• Cummins

• Jersey Trailer Park, US 41

• Dixie Tile & Terrazzo Co., Armenia Ave.

• Holsum Bakery, Hillsborough Ave.

• Films Developing & Printing

• Mary Carter Paints, Nebraska Ave., 1959

• Duval Funeral Home, Nebraska Ave.

• Flaming Buddha Restaurant in Hotel Windsor, Franklin St., 1957

• Col. Sanders' Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1st one in Tampa, N. Florida Ave., 1962

• Capri Motel, Nebraska Ave., 1957

• Jimmie White's Lounge, Grand Central Ave., 1957

• Vesuvio's Italian Restaurant,

• First Federal Bank, Franklin & Lafayette St.

• Burger Queen 15c Hamburgers, Hillsb. Ave.

• Sunoco service station, Fla. Ave.

• Atlas Lighting Electric Supply, Fla. Ave.

• Louis Pappas' Restaurant

• The Key to Better Business, Grand Central Av

• Gulf Coast Business Machines, Grand Central

• Chez Louie Night Club, Grand Central Ave.

• Bel Air Motel, Dale Mabry Hwy.

• Cinchett Neon Signs shop, Fla. Ave, 1957

• Gulf Supermarket, Dale Mabry Hwy., 1957

• National Trailer Rental, Hillsborough Ave., 1957

• Folding Doors, Lafayette St.

• Roy's 5c & 10c Clothing, Shoes, Toys, Lafayette St.

• - Jewlers

• Stuart's Eff. Apts. & Motel / Tennessee Motor Court, Nebraska Ave.

• Chicken restaurant, Fla. Ave., Seminole Hts.

• Alan Parker Auto Loans

• Dutch Motel, Hillsb. Ave.

• John F. Cinchett building Pepsi-Cola billboard, Fla. Ave., downtown

• Garcia Brothers

• Allied TV, Grand Central Ave.

• Oak Park Cleaners & Laundry, Broadway

• 1st Federal, downtown

• Dairy Queen, Hillsb. Ave

• Christen Drugs, Columbus Drive

• Lindale Motel, Nebraska Ave., 1957

• Travel Lodge, Grand Central Ave @ N. Blvd

• Cinchett Sign shop, N. Fla. Ave., Cinchett's truck, John F. Cinchett and employees building a neon sign, Cinchett Neon Signs founder Frank Cinchett in front of shop.

The establishments below can be seen in the above video with neon signs in action.

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken location in Tampa, N. Florida Ave. at Yukon St., 1962
Col. Sanders was present at the opening and can be seen in the video above.

Crowds would line up outside the bakery at Christmastime to see Santa Claus, who would give out delicious mini-loaves of fresh baked Holsum bread.

A Tampa girl enjoying a slice of delicious Holsum bread in 1954

Move your cursor over the photo below to see this Christmastime scene.

Read some of the memories of Holsum Bakers posted by Tampa Natives

Owned by Roger Cavallo, you can hear him call in on the Nov. 17, 2010 Tampa Natives Show and talk about his place, one of only two Italian Restaurants in Tampa when he opened.  He used to draw in the customers by making his pizzas in the window, tossing the crust in the air.  Advance to the 34:38 time on the video of this entire show. (Look for the background image of Morrison's Cafeteria.)
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Casa Rosa Apt. & Motel
US 41 in Lutz, 1957
(This sign is not in the Cinchett movie.)