When was tarpon springs established

Blum, postmaster. Was first settled in Situated on Anclote River, 27 miles northwest of Tampa, the county seat and nearest express, telegraph and banking point. Tampa is also the shipping point. Has eight stores, two hotels, the Tarpon Springs and Tropical, steam saw mill, public school, and Universalist and Methodist churches, white and colored.

Oranges, vegetables and lumber are the principal shipments. This place is located in a fine fruit and vegetable section, and the yield is remunerative. Blum Adolphus, warehouse and wharf. Blum Edward A. Blum R. Boyer J. Cannon William, boat builder. Chase F. Fernald G. Fernald House. Fernald House, G. Fernald, prop. George A. Gilmore W.

Gleason G. Harlow J. Keeney James A. Gulf Coast Land Co. Kendall S. Jacksonville, Fla. See cover card. Lake Butler Villa Co. Meres W. Tropical Hotel. Murphy D. Murphy J. Patten N. Payne Samuel, furniture. Phillips W. Safford Mary J. Tarpon Springs Hotel. Snyder D. Sweetser A. Tarpon Springs Bakery, bakers. Tropical Hotel, W. Meres, prop.

Vinson J. Walton T. Weber G. Webster H. Whitcomb F. Whitcomb S. This article appeared in the Tampa Morning Tribune on July 15, Tarpon Springs is one of the prettiest, most prosperous and up-to-date little cities on the West Coast.

It is situated on the Sanford and St. Petersburg division of the Plant System and Anclote river, about twenty-eight miles northwest of Tampa. It is also within two or three miles of the Gulf coast, being about that distance from Sponge Harbor, noted all over the country for its fine sponge fisheries. The finest sheep-wool and grass sponge in the world are taken off Sponge Harbor, and Tarpon Springs is rapidly developing into the leading sponge market of the state.

This honor, up to a few years ago belonged to Key West, but owing to the great distance to that port, and to the enterprise and activity of the leading citizens of Tarpon Springs this large and profitable industry is rapidly going to this point. The population of Tarpon Springs is about The municipal officers are: Mayor, Willis Castaing; city clerk, J. Buckman; tax collector and marshal, J. Brown; town council, H. Webster, former mayor , V.

Castaing, W. Decker, L. Vinson and A. However, the latter has recently removed to St. Petersburg, and the vacancy will have to be filled by a special election, which will probably be held in a month or six weeks. The office of tax assessor is also vacant and will be filled at the approaching special election. The Methodists, Baptists and Catholics, respectively, have handsome houses of worship; also the colored Baptists and Methodists are well provided for with church houses.

Tarpon Springs has four or five large general stores, two drug stores, one grain and feed store, four hotels, the largest and finest of which is the magnificent Tarpon Springs hotel, H. Marvin, proprietor. This hotel is one of the largest and finest on the West Coast, which is noted for its fine hotels. It is situated on the principal street of the town, about yards from the famous Tarpon sulphur springs, which throw out the largest volume of water of any spring in the state.

It is about feet in diameter, nearly round in shape, and walled up with brick and cement all around. Large fishing smacks and yachts frequently run up into the spring, where they turn around without difficulty. The spring is very deep in places, particularly just west of the boiling spring, where no bottom has ever been found. The waters from the spring flow into the Anclote river, a short distance down, through a beautiful bayou, which is also walled up for a distance of about yards.

Large tarpon fish are frequently seen swimming and playing in the bayou and spring, but they are seldom disturbed by the citizens. Meres, proprietor; Topliff House, G. Gleason, proprietor; and the Russell House, Mrs. Gracie Neligh, proprietress. The Russell House is an all the year round hotel, and is conveniently situated near the depot and business centre of the city.

It is hardly necessary to say that this hotel is filled with guests year round. The leading business houses of Tarpon Springs are: C. Webster, drugs; established in by the present proprietor. This firm was established in by Mr.

Vinson, who removed to Tarpon Springs from Tallahassee, and in he admitted his brother, Mr. Vinson to the firm. Vinson, the junior member, is a town councilman of Tarpon Springs, and has done much to secure modern improvements and conveniences for the city. McArey is the popular proprietor of the Tarpon Springs Drug Store, established in by the present proprietor. McArey is one of the oldest and most enterprising citizens of Tarpon Springs and is always to be found in the front ranks among those who are endeavoring to build up their town.

Beekman is the enterprising head of the firm of J. Loucks conducts an extensive general merchandise business near the passenger depot of the Plant System, and while he has only resided at Tarpon Springs something over a year yet he has succeeded in winning the confidence and respect of the entire community and in building up a a large and lucrative business. Longstreet has recently removed from St.

But his prices are low and the people recognize this fact. In Mr. He has thoroughly identified himself with the people and is esteemed for his honest dealings, and courteous and impartial treatment of all.

The Fernald Bros. This enterprising firm also bears the honorable distinction of having built in Tarpon Springs one of the finest opera houses on the West Coast, which can seat, comfortably, about ? After the Civil War the fund became mired in debt and by state statute, could not sell land until the debt was cleared. Approximately 20, acres of the purchase were located in what are now Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties. Disston formed the Lake Butler Villa Company and selected Tarpon Springs as the base of operations because of its location.

Gradually the town grew. In a post office was open with Ed Blum, a Russian Jew, serving as the postmaster. Within a few years, the town had attracted about residents. On February 12, , Tarpon Springs became the first incorporated city on the Pinellas peninsula. The second major event of was the arrival of the first railroad, the Orange Belt Railway.

Petersburg for a railway. The City of Tarpon Springs granted the railroad the land to build a depot. The right-of-way for the line was donated by Disston.

Before the trains, the only way to get to Tarpon Springs was by train to Sanford, overland by horse and buggy to Cedar Key, then by steamboat to Tarpon Springs. Transportation advances in also included the construction of the lighthouse on Anclote Key. Disston chose Anson P. Safford, a business acquaintance of long standing, to head his activities here.

Safford was born in Vermont and grew up in Illinois. At age 20 he moved west with the Gold Rush and was elected to the California Assembly six years later. He was appointed to be surveyor general of Nevada and in was appointed territorial governor of Arizona. One of his major accomplishments was the establishment of the Arizona public school system. Visiting this area is tops on everyone's lists when they vacation locally or when residents have friends and family in town. It's a fun day out in the Florida Sunshine, strolling up and down Dodecanese Avenue shopping and tasting some of the local Greek food.

Tarpon Springs is a melting pot of cultures. The downtown area boasts of unique streetlights and antique shops, art galleries, wineries and curio stores. The Cheney Sponge Company sold almost a million dollars worth of sponges that year. In the next few years, experienced divers from Greece were brought to Tarpon Springs. By using rubberized diving suits and helmets, they increased harvests.

By , over Greek sponge divers were at work using 50 boats. The early sponge divers created a need at the docks for eating places for the boat crews. Then as news of the industry grew, people began coming to the docks to see the sponges.

Shops opened so people could buy the sponges and other souvenirs. Sponge buyers created the Sponge Exchange in A building with a courtyard was erected in which each sponger could store his catch while awaiting the auctions that took place twice a week. With the perfection of deep-sea diving equipment, the dollar amount of sponge harvests continued to increase. Divers were able to go deeper into the sea for longer lengths of time.

By the s, sponging as a profitable industry was nearly wiped out. However in the s, new sponge beds were found. All aspects of the sponge industry are available to view in Tarpon Springs, from the harvesting of the sponges, all the way to the auctions that are now held weekly at the Sponge Docks. In addition to seeing the history of sponge harvesting, visitors can experience the Greek influence. Greek restaurants and shops are scattered throughout the area.