61 years ago…
January 12, 1946 – An explosion believed to have come from a drum of glue causes $150,000 in damage to the Consolidated Box Company, a three-story brick building at 3300 Armenia Avenue in West Tampa. Although the building was declared a total loss, there were no deaths as the fire occurred in the early morning hours.
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
65 years ago…
December 9, 1941 – The 116th Field Artillery honored its commander with the dedication of Fort Homer Hesterly, at Benjamin Field in West Tampa.
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
35 years ago…
November 2, 1971 – City Water Department workmen laying water pipes along the 3400 block of Columbus Drive break an eight-inch gas main, sending an invisible stream of gas throughout the residential and commercial neighborhood. Policemen, at the request of the fire marshal, evacuate businesses in the 3300 and 3400 blocks of Columbus Drive and all the homes on the corresponding blocks of Kathleen Street, which runs just north and parallel to Columbus. Some 15 minutes after the valve was closed, the odor of gas could still be detected in the air several blocks from the leak.
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
30 years ago…
September 14, 1976 – During a campaign stop in the Tampa Bay area, Vice-Presidential candidate Walter Mondale calls on President Ford to “explain his incredible record of failure” in solving the nation’s unemployment and economic problems. While speaking at the Crystal Lakes housing project in Pinellas Park, Mondale attacked Ford’s record on Medicare before a crowd of nearly 300 senior citizens. Mondale also visited assembly line workers at the Busch Brewery, mingled with tourists in front of Busch Gardens, and took in a cigar rolling demonstration at the Villazon & Co. cigar factory in West Tampa during his tour of the area.
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
45 years ago…
September 4, 1961 — Police officers fire eight shots through the windshield of their patrol car in a madcap high-speed chase through West Tampa before catching a man wanted for reckless driving. Beginning at LaSalle and North Boulevard, the chase spun through city streets without slowing down for stop signs or lights. It ended when officers forced the motorist’s bullet-riddled car into a sand bank a block north of the west entrance to the Columbus St. Bridge. Officer J.B. Beckner drove and shot at the same time, and his partner, Officer J.R. Hawkins, suffered cuts on his right arm from the flying glass. Inspector Leon Powell said in response to the incident that “No, we’re not supposed to shoot through the windshields. All I can say is that they were so intent on doing this job that they neglected the safety aspects of how they were doing it.”
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
80 years ago…
August 7, 1926 – George Benjamin, one of the earliest developers of West Tampa, dies. Benjamin served as mayor of West Tampa from 1897 to 1900 and Benjamin Field, now the site of Fort Homer Hesterly, was named in his honor.
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.
According to SoHo Bill of TampaGold and SoHoTampa, the Review Committee for the Requests for Proposal for the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory recommended the Heritage Proposal.
The recommendation will now go to the National Guard, then on to Tampa City Council. Find more details on SoHoTampa.com.
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