I spent much of my early years between my grandparents’ house and our home on 1912 St. Louis. At the age of three (during these simple times), there were close knit neighborhoods and very little traffic; I like most youngsters was able to walk or take my bike back and forth between homes (grandparents as well as aunts, uncles, or friends), and felt very safe and protected no matter if it were day or night. During my third year of life (for whatever reason), I wanted to be surprised by my birthday party which was to be my fourth. I had no reason why I felt this way, but my fourth birthday was “special” to me. I figured out how to forget what day it was along with the dates; so that it would be a surprise to me. I guess I did a great job and when my aunt or anyone brought up the date, I shrugged it off to the point of the day of my birthday. I sat on the large front porch of my grandparents’ house talking to my favorite Aunt, Francis and she told me I had to go home, but did not say why. For some reason I felt it was strange for her to tell me this, as she never asked me to go home; I would go whenever I was ready and that seemed to be the norm. I just thought there must be a good reason and just went on by myself. When I arrived, I noticed bikes, cars, and the evidence of many people being at the home……….to my surprise they had somehow surprised me after all! But I do not remember telling them to do this for me. I assumed later it wasn’t their plan to surprise me, but only to have a birthday party. I do not remember the details or even who was there (I assume family members) and friends. I went to the front porch of our house thinking this is the greatest birthday ever and did not want to be age other than the age of four (as this was the greatest time in my life). Before turning five, I would say to friends that four was my favorite age, but looking back at it, I still do not know why. Somehow this age seems to be when I became “me”, if that makes sense to you.
Friends
From that time on, I began meeting new friends in the area. There was one friend down the street whose name was also Dennis. He became my first “best friend” and his father was a delivery driver for a local beer company. I do not remember his mother, and I’m not sure if she lived there or not. The friendship (over the next few years) grew in the neighborhood and we spent nights out camping in the backyard. We must have been around six or older, as I cannot remember at what age we had the friendship. We seemed to have a great time together, but soon it was over because they had to move. This (for some reason) was a great disappointment for me! For a long time after his move, I would go to his house to see if he had returned. From there, I began hanging out with two more friends in the neighborhood, Wayne Floyd and Fanno Capitano. They were great friends as a young boy and we did many things together. Running around the streets, having lunch together, talking on the front porches, and playing games such as cowboys and Indians, war, marbles, and chasing each other (just like any young boys would).
Wayne Floyd and I became “best friends”. Soon my brothers were born and since they were so young, I played most of the time with Wayne Floyd or Fanno Capitano. We spent many nights at each other’s homes, as well as even having outside sleep overs (including other friends from the neighborhood). At times, I heard others make comments about my younger brothers and I would defend my brothers by talking harshly to those who may have spoken against them. Even though we were not playing together when we were younger, I knew they were family and we must stick together.
During those years, we all seemed to enjoy building things. Although there were toys available, they were not plentiful and most parents could not buy many for their children. Due to this, I feel many of us during that era created our own simple toys that filled the need for imagination and play. At a young elementary school age, Wayne and I took a Red Flyer wagon to the local lumber yard about ten blocks away. For several days we went to the lumber yard asking for unwanted scrap lumber. From what we collected there and found around the neighborhood, we built what we called our “club houses”. We were of elementary school age and with the “club house”, we would play and sometimes spend the night camping out. One day we decided to put on a circus and preform for the neighborhood children. We decided to charge an entrance fee, but I’m not sure if we collected much money. We would perform various acts, tell jokes, and entertain. We gave rides on my go-cart (with friends riding on the wagon we tied to the back) around the neighborhood charging for the ride. Many times the Sampson family and Capitano family were our patrons. Our prices were probably not more than a few pennies, nickels, or even dimes when they paid.
Our friends expanded to include the Martino family, my brothers, cousins (Phyllis, and Roseanne), who lived on the next block. We had toys, but we loved to make and create our own. The streets would sometimes hold water during hard rains and we discovered by using a simple piece of wood and pop cycle sticks (along with a couple of nails and a rubber band); we could make boats and race them in the rain waters. We would have hours of fun doing this! Chasing each other, playing, shooting marbles, spinning tops, and riding bicycles around the neighborhood helped us pass much of the time. Also, water guns were popular toys of the time and great fun!
Top picture from left to right: Raymond, Dennis, and Bobby.
From a young age, I was allowed to go to my grandparents’ home and loved to spend time and weekends there. I had two close friends who lived nearby: Joe Diaz and Louis Motto. We would get together and play outside with water guns (one of our favorite toys), as well as magic sets. Sometimes, we would just sit at each other’s home and just talk or take walks across the street into a wooded area down the street from my grandparents’ home. The creek them was a great place to explore. This was the time when some of our favorite television shows were on: Zorro, Roy Rogers, and others. Much of our playtime included acting out our favorite television characters.
About this same time, I was beginning to interact with my brothers. But, I still wanted to play with friends..
La Playa
Various places along the beaches have always given me peace!
My parents began taking our family to where our grandparents and Uncle Meme owned duplexes on Anna Maria Island. It was and still is a beautiful area with wide sandy beaches and clear water due to many shells in the water and tons of tropical plants (such as coconut and other tropical palms and plants). The area is was in its infancy and no commercial buildings (even today) are allowed on the island of Anna Maria. (I feel that could change soon.) I believe this is where I was introduced to the beach and became so captivated with all it had to offer. I am sure we had gone to other beaches, but for some reason this one left me spellbound. We would love to go on weekends and I would rarely miss the chance to go with my grandparents, Aunt Francis and Pepe, or with family to spend a couple of days. As a young child, I was never a sleeper and did not even like to take naps. I awoke early while everyone was still sleeping and I’d go to the beach alone. This was not a good practice and was not allowed but I did not know better and felt it was a natural thing to do. Since everyone was asleep, and I thought this was a tranquil and safe place. Many of the mornings, I would find myself alone walking the beach and admiring what the ocean had to offer.
While at the beach one of my favorite things to do was body surf. Early one morning, I decided to take a morning swim. I wanted to body surf, even though I was told of and was aware of undertows and dangers of swimming alone. My parents, as well as all relatives, would “preach” this often.
While surfing that early sun-filled morning, I remember the waves being just a little larger than normal. I still thought it was safe to go body surfing; thinking in a little while I would head back to the duplex (everyone would be up) and enjoy morning breakfast. I began body surfing and everything seemed normal. I would watch for a wave, hold my breath, and catch the wave; body surfing to wherever the wave would carry me, giving me a ride that was fun and exhilarating. One of the waves I caught must have been larger or more powerful than the ones I had been used to. I was held under the water longer than what I felt comfortable and felt I was running out of air. Then by instinct or fear I began praying to God that if he let me up from the surf, I would no longer go alone. Shortly after my prayer (God answered), as I finally came up for air and from that time on I would no longer go out in the water by myself. I learned my lesson and remembered my promise and prayer to God. From then on I continued to get up early, go to the beach, walk along the beach, explore, look for shells, and catch my first fish (due to fishermen netting some fish along the shore). The fisherman were there casting their nets enabling me to pick up a fish. Therefore I felt I caught it. I remember the fisherman asking me for the fish back, but I told him that I caught it; he just looked at me, smiled, and moved on. Whatever happened to that fish is beyond me. I think I took it back to the duplex or may have even returned it, but to this day I still cannot figure out what I did with it.
The water, sun, blue skies, and the pure white sand from that time on has always captured me (even as a young child);d nothing gave me more pleasure than swimming and enjoying the crystal clear warm waters of Anna Maria.
Anna Maria Island and Holmes Beach is where I would stay. The area was sparsely populated during that time.
Picture of the area I took in 2013 very much as it was in the 1950’s.
The Anna Maria City Pier juts into Anna Maria Bay. At the time, coconut palms were seen close to the pier.
I remember a time Uncle Pepe and Aunt Francis mentioning they were going one weekend to the beach, but I had not been invited. The day before I had an argument with my middle brother, Ray, and told my parents and neighbors (along the way) that I was moving out of the house. I was saddened that I had an argument with my brother, who had broken one of my toys, resulting in me breaking one of his. The guilt of doing that to this day still bothers me and I wish it had never happened, but it did. This I felt gave me an excuse to go to the beach. I packed a suitcase, took it over to my Aunt Francis’ house and asked if I could go. They said yes, giving me another weekend at the beach. When I returned the argument was forgotten and never mentioned again.
Many other weekends and trips as a young child were spent there. Sometimes with just my grandparents, sometimes with my family, but it was always a specular time in my life. I remember how plentiful the crabs were and our Aunt Jennie loved to be in the water. I use to play tricks on her and go underwater and pretend I was a crab and pinch her foot or leg. She would become so nervous about it and would chase me or “bless me out” and then we would laugh. It was a time when crabs were plentiful along with other sea life and the chances of being pinched each day was expected. They had quite a pinch and once they latched on to you; about the only way to get them off was to shake your leg or foot until they would let go and fall off. Some days the water was very clear and you could see them, but the days the water was stirred up you knew they were there and it was a matter of time.
Later when my brothers became older, I began spending more time at home playing, building tents under chairs, running, and playing kickball in the dining room, playing on the play sets we had outside, and spending time at my grandparents.
In February 2013, I took the above picture which could have been Nonno’s duplex in Anna Maria. It was being remodeled and looked different, but was in the “right location” in my mind.
The Sunday Rides
Our parents would take us to other beaches including Clearwater and we would go on what was affectionately called a “Sunday Ride”. It just meant getting in a car and going. One of those trips took place when the Sunshine Skyway first opened.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was completed in 1954. After many years of Ferry service, construction began on the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge in 1950 and it was completed in 1954. The 4-mile-long bridge carried two lanes of US 19 traffic over the Tampa Bay, between St. Petersburg and Bradenton. It cost $22 million, and had a maximum height clearance of 150 feet and a shipping channel clearance of 864 feet, which was adequate for ships of that era. The name for the bridge was decided from a “name the bridge contest” that had about twenty thousand entries. The winner was Virginia Seymour who said, it just came to me, out of the blue.”
Our parents decided to take another Sunday ride and this time over the bridge. Our youngest brother, Bobby, had a problem keeping his food down and this trip was before the problem was diagnosed. (He had to have surgery for his sphincter muscle in front of his stomach.) I clearly remember the pain and agony he went through since he was so hungry and could not hold down food. He had one such episode while we were on the bridge. There were so many cars there that day due to the recent opening of the bridge. Traffic was moving very slowly and it took a long time for us to get back home. I can remember him crying and there was not much we could do about it other than to try to make him comfortable. Our parents still had no idea what the problem was (until later); then he had an operation to correct the spinster muscle that kept contracting which would not allow food to get to his stomach. The trip seemed to take forever as the traffic was backed up along the entire bridge. He did get an operation for this later on and things for him improved greatly. I remember as a young child how large his scare was on his stomach.
On another trip to Clearwater Beach (where our parents would take us frequently), they would talk about purchasing a motel, but could not get the money. This seemed to be one of their dreams, but they never could get it done. On each trip, they would speak about it with affection. My mother spoke of our grandparents traveling there before the Causeway Bridge or the Howard Franklin Bridges were built. They would have everyone travel together in their store truck and when they got to Clearwater they played on the beach; Nonna prepared a meal of pasta and “succo” for everyone to eat. Nonno and others thought that beach property was worthless.
Clearwater Beach as it was in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Clearwater Memorial Bridge
By looking at the picture below that was taken in 1935, you will see major changes from what it is today. The bridge has been replaced and across the
area (which is called Sand Key) are all high-rises. On the southeast side, I would launch my boat by pushing it across the sand without using a car for launching. There were no boat ramps and that was the normal launch for a small boat. From there, we would boat ride or ski.
A view of the bridge taken in 2013 from Sandkey.
An aerial of Clearwater Beach during the 1940’s showing Everingham’s Pavilion,
The focal point of socializing and bathing before Pier 60 displaced it in the 1960’s.
On one of those trips to Clearwater, when we stayed close to the Palm Pavilion our youngest brother, Bobby, ended up “exploring” the area and became engaged or lost. (Something we share even to this day.) For the sake of this story let’s say lost! The fire department is still on the corner next to the Pavilion (where adults changed clothes) was told of Bobby’s disappearance. Miraculously, they found him before night fall and to this day he has declined to say where he was! It was on a recent visit there with Dennis and Carolyn in 2012, that we found out that one of (Dennis’) friends now works at the same fire department.
Palm Pavilion
The Palm Pavilion still exists in the same spot as when we were children, except it now hosts a restaurant and bar that has become very popular in the area. Also, the same wood floor structure still exists. The wood floor had space between the planks so you could see the beach sand below. I believe it was done in order for the sand to fall though eliminating much sweeping of the sand. It’s a design that still works today with its much larger crowd using it.
(The primary purpose for building the Palm Pavilion then was for changing rooms and sometimes to get a snack).
This picture I found in November 2012 of the Palm, was hanging at the Countryside Mall in Clearwater.
I found it by accident and a few others showing Clearwater during the 1950’s.
Notice how narrow the beach was in compared to today.
The above picture was taken in October 2012 was when Dennis N. and Carolyn visited. The Palm Pavilion is now a trendy restaurant where many people eat daily watching sunsets, people watching, and sun bathing.
This picture of Dennis and Carolyn (October 2012) shows the difference in the width of the beach from the older photograph of the Palm Pavilion.
Click Above Picture for a beautiful song…it expresses how I feel while I’m in the area… (Maybe you’ll Be There)
Clearwater Sand Dunes as shown in 2012.
Notice the sand dunes which help maintain the beaches.
and the nice looking couple!
Shown here is the restaurant with Dennis and Carolyn eating. (Of course, Dennis does not like fish or anything related!) Lucky for me Carolyn and I love seafood! 2012
Frenchy’s South Beach Restaurant:
Situated on a beautiful Beach Walk, Frenchy’s South Beach Café boasts a Key West bistro atmosphere with open-air dining, a large sidewalk patio, and an unbeatable view of the sparkling ocean.
Gina, Bode, and Lily:
Just to the south of the Palm Pavilion is Frenchy’s restaurant which has been around for many years. Gina with Lily (on her lap) and Bode looking on, enjoy a seafood feast at French’s in Clearwater Beach. They both were amazed at the birds that would go under the table and look for food, as they had never seen that before and found it interesting to watch! The picture of Bode, Lily, and Gina was taken in June 2011. What a great addition to their beautiful family.
Bobby, Gladys and Michael enjoying a meal and a sunset at the Palm!
To this day we continue to go to places that we grew up with. When in Clearwater we frequent the Palm Pavilion as shown in this picture.
Florida Attractions
At other times, we would travel to Webb City in St. Petersburg, go to Silver Springs or Lorry Park and have a picnic.
Silver Springs was quite a treat as it was the first time I remember going out on a glass bottom boat. I remember having a camera and being with our entire family (our mother enjoyed the trip as well). I was amazed with the clarity of the water and the abundance of fresh water fish.
Silver Springs
An aerial shot of Silver Springs and its glass bottom boats.
Silver Springs of Marion County in central Florida is the largest and one of the more well-known of Florida’s first springs. With an average discharge of over 550 million gallons per day Main Spring, Blue Grotto, and The Abyss are known as The Silver Springs Group and form the headwater of the Silver River. Below the head spring area, numerous smaller springs add additional discharge within the first half-mile of the Silver River. This scenic river is the single largest tributary of the Ocklawaha River.
Timucuan Indians settled around Silver Springs in the early 1500s. They were soon invaded by the Spaniards and eventually succeeded by Seminole Indians. The Seminoles, led by Chief Osceola, eventually retreated to southern swamps when pressed by the US Government in 1835. By the 1850’s, barges carried cotton, lumber, and nonperishables up the river to the growing community of Ocala. In 1860, the first steam boats made their way upstream, and from that point on, people flocked to visit the natural beauty of Silver Springs.
Shown below is an actual photo taken by me during our visit to Silver Springs.
We are not in the picture, but you can see the amount of activity in the 1950’s.
Many other times we spent having a wonderful meal at home and would use the mornings for church.
The Church we attended most was Wells Wood Baptist Church, but when we were young we attended New Orleans Baptist Church, close to where our parents had the first store and where I first lived. Later that church, would give us comfort when our brother passed and it’s the church where Carol and I married. The minister when we were young, up to the time Carol and I married was Pastor Thorpe. We had attended others (including different dominations) during our childhood, but remained with the Baptist religion for the time. I attended Catholic Churches with my cousin, Chuck, and attended Baptist churches with one of my friends, Wayne Floyd. One of the best things about church was Sunday school. There you would learn about God, Jesus, and Bible studies. At a young age we would attend church with our father, but at that age it did not interest me as much as Sunday school.
This is how the house on St. Louis looked in 2012, which is very different from when we lived there.
The 1950’s I Remember
· Milk was delivered to the front door
· The age of ice boxes were gone
· Phone used were party lines and you had to share
Although there were many more items discovered and invented during the 1950’s, the following are items I was cognizant of as a child.
1951
· Color TV Introduced
1952
· Car Seat Belts Introduced
· Polio Vaccine Created (in school we would walk to places to take the vaccine, such as the fire department in West Tampa from Cuesta)
· Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen at Age 25
1953
· DNA Discovered
· Hillary and Norgay Climb Mt. Everest
· Joseph Stalin Dies
1954
· Britain Sponsors an Expedition to Search for the Abominable Snowman
· First Atomic Submarine Launched
· Report Says Cigarettes Cause Cancer
1955
· James Dean Dies in Car Accident
· McDonald’s Corporation Founded
· Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat on a Bus
· Disneyland Opens (we visit it in 1969)
1956
· Elvis Gyrates on Ed Sullivan’s Show (we watched live)
· T.V. Remote Control Invented
1957
· Soviet Satellite Sputnik Launches Space Age
1958
· Hula Hoops Become Popular (most people had one but Jr. knew how to burn them! LOL)
· LEGO Toy Bricks First Introduced
· NASA Founded
1959
· Castro Becomes Dictator of Cuba
· A parade goes down Albany next to St. Louis and we were there, with Cuban protesters
· The Sound of Music Opens on Broadway
I have mentioned my friend, Fanno Capitano, and I played many times at his home when I was young. 
The house at the time was all white, but now has been painted a different color. It was at the end of the block, so playing with friends was an easy task due to many kids living in the same area.
I took this picture in September 2012. Although the trees have grown and the street 
has been paved many times, the water on the street still stands very much as it did in the past. The kids in the neighborhood would meet at our house in the garage. We would build our rubber-band powered boats and take them to the flooded street to operate them. They were simple to build; we used scrap wood such as a 1 x 3 or so,
a couple of nails in the back that would hold a rubber band from side to side, and then usually a popsicle stick that was either cut or broken in half to fit in-between the rubber band. We would paint the boats (if we had paint available) or just leave them bare. When it rained for any length of time, this was a popular place to meet during the rain or after; as this is the location where we would race or show off our boats. It was fun to watch the boats when cars traveled through the rainwater and see how they would handle the waves. It gave us hours of fun, (both the building and racing) our boats. The water may have been only a few inches deep, but plenty deep to float and support our small scale “paddle” boats!
These three photos show a beautiful building called the Centro.
Front Entrance South Side
The Centro was centrally located in the area of West Tampa. It was primarily used by the Latin community of the area although others may have visited as well. The building provided locals the abilitity to socialize using the main building to meet, play dominoes, take a drink, and in the back section there was a movie theatre. 
One time Uncle Pepe and Aunt Francis took me to see a movie that they chose. It was entirely in Spanish and I can remember not being happy with it, as I did not know what was going on. I guess I complained enough to make Pepe speak to someone to make me feel better. To this day, I do not remember if it was a drama or what kind of movie it was, but still have fond memories of the event.
Later on, while attending elementary school I would walk home, but usually it was to Nonna’s house after stopping at the Centro. Uncle Pepe was usually there playing dominoes with his friends