Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

70 years ago…

July 26, 1936 – Charles L. Knight and A.L. Cuesta, two prominent figures in the local business community, die within an hour of the other in Tampa. Knight, 75, made his mark as a pioneer in the banking and real estate fields, playing a crucial role in the formation of the Estuary area near Ybor City and the Port of Tampa. Cuesta, 88, was one of the founding fathers of the American cigar industry. He set up shop in Tampa in 1892 and soon thereafter went into business with Peregrino Rey to form the renowned Cuesta-Rey cigar organization.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

75 years ago…

June 29, 1931 – It is announced that over 445 million cigars were produced in Tampa during the past year. This number translated into $2,098,510 (over $23 million in today’s dollars) in revenue (taxes) paid to the federal government. The bulk of these cigars were Class A (5¢ or less apiece, 55¢ in today’s dollars) or Class C (8¢ to 15¢ apiece, 88¢ to $1.66 in today’s dollars) cigars, with the majority of those cigars made by hand.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

“Sticks of Fire” refers to lightning, but it could just as easily describe cigars.  Sticks on fire, maybe? What if someone gave you a savory cigar to tantalize your palate, and you could smoke it without getting dirty looks or having anyone tell you to put it out?

Cigars & Stars is coming to The Garden at Ybor City Museum State Park located @ 1818 East 9th Avenue, Ybor City from 6:30-10:30pm on Tuesday April 25th.  All attendees will recieve: 

• Four Arturo Fuente cigars from the Tampa Sweethear Cigar Company
• Delicious gourmet food from the great folks at 42nd St. Bistro
• Open Bar, including a wide array of exotic rums.

You’ll get to meet Arturo Fuente and Arturo Fuente Jr. and many other family members.  Not to mention the beautiful women of Cigar City Magazine.  Also spend time with Tom Vance, great grandson of Ignacio Haya  and Rafael Martinez-Ybor, great grandson of Vicente Martinez-Ybor

Along with wonderful people, gourmet food, & fine spirits, there will be a silent auction to benefit the Ybor State Museum.  Bid on unique auction items including cigars, artwork, and a Buccaneer football autographed by head Buc Jon Gruden.  Proceeds from the silent auction will go to the Ybor City Museum Society.  Door prizes will be given out, too.

Come enjoy the Garden of the Ybor State Museum. ­ They will provide the Cigars and Mother Nature will provide the Stars!

The event promises to be a fun one, and is presented by Cigar City Magazine & the Tampa Sweetheart Cigar Company.  Tickets are $100 per person and must be purchased in advance - no tickets will be sold at the door.  Call Cigar City Magazine at 813-875-4929 by Tuesday April 18th.

The very first cigar produced in Tampa was created 120 years ago today:  April 13, 1886.

You might think that Vicente Martinez Ybor’s factory produced it, but you would be wrong.  Ignacio Haya beat Ybor to the punch.

Found in the Jan/Feb printed edition of Cigar City Magazine.

95 years ago…

March 25, 1911 – A fire destroys 12 houses and the unoccupied, three-story O’ Halloran and Company cigar factory in West Tampa.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

95 years ago…

March 12, 1911 – J.M. Martinez, the founder of the J.M. Martinez Company and one of the pioneers of Tampa’s cigar manufacturing industry, dies at 57.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

80 years ago…

March 10, 1926 – Angel L. Cuesta, Jr., treasurer of Cuesta Rey & Co., is nominated without opposition for the presidency of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, becoming the first representative from the cigar industry to lead the chamber as president.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.