Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Tampa’s Oldest Automobile Now On Display

What is believed to be Tampa’s oldest automobile, a bright red 1908 REO Roadster, recently found a new home at the Tampa Bay History Center. Donated to the museum in 1992 by Jane Cralle Hall Witt and her family, the REO was stored at the Ferman Motor Car Company dealership on Kennedy Blvd. until its transfer to the History Center. The generous gift was the third artifact ever given to the History Center.

Built in Lansing, Mich., the automobile was likely purchased in Tampa from the James Brothers Dealership. At one time, the date “1904” was painted on the “hood” of the car, signifying the year REO founder Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded Oldsmobile and the City of Oldsmar, started the company. One of two versions manufactured by REO, this southern Roadster has a smaller wheel base which was designed for poorly developed roads commonly found in the South.

Photographs of the automobile, also donated by the Hall family, show the car in a downtown Tampa parade circa 1936 with many of the blemishes found on it today. Another photograph shows Ransom E. Olds as a passenger in the vehicle during the same time period.

In 1970, the Roadster almost burned in a fire at the Cralle-Hall dealership on Adamo Drive but survived thanks to David Hall and Eddie Wall who pushed the car to safety. Still in remarkably good condition, the Tampa Bay History Center hopes to restore the REO to its original beauty for all to enjoy.

36 years ago…

January 26, 1971 – Edward Mueller, Florida’s Secretary of Transportation, recommends the Courtney Campbell Parkway bridges closed to vehicles and boats using the draw spans, calling the bridge “dreadful” and “among the most horrible in Florida.”

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

51 years ago…

January 25, 1956 – Elizabeth Spencer Ferman, a member of the pioneer Tampa family, dies at 73. Ferman was the mother of W.F. Ferman, Jr., and widow of W.F. Ferman, as well as the sister of William C. Spencer, a three-time sheriff of Hillsborough County.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

66 years ago…

January 24, 1941 – President Roosevelt grants initial approval for a nearly $5 million Works Project Administration sewer system initiative in Tampa.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

51 years ago…

January 23, 1956 – William Edward Culbreath, produce broker and member of the prominent Hillsborough County pioneer family, dies at 72.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

61 years ago…

January 22, 1946 – Peter Oliphant Knight, organizer of the Tampa Electric Company and its president for 53 years, steps down from his position at the age of 80. Knight founded the company in 1893 and brought Florida its first electric streetcars. Francis J. Gannon is named unanimously as his successor.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

51 years ago…

January 21, 1956 – Prince Rainier of Monaco, fiancé of film star Grace Kelly, passes through Tampa before boarding his National Air Lines flight to California during his first ever visit to the United States.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

26 years ago…

January 20, 1981 – The bell in the tower of City Hall rings 52 times shortly after the moment of the release of the 52 American hostages who had been held in Iran for 444 days.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

81 years ago…

January 19, 1926 – Nearly 10,000 automobiles and countless pedestrians are delayed when the Lafayette St. Bridge (now the Kennedy Blvd. Bridge) draw span gets stuck in its raised position, snarling traffic on both sides of the Hillsborough River for nearly 90 minutes.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.