Want a New Year’s resolution that doesn’t require a diet? Perhaps consider getting to know and appreciate some of our city’s historic buildings a little better. Only one percent of the city’s buildings is designated a local historic landmark, however many residents and visitors know little about them. Let us take you on a virtual tour of a few.
Detroit Hotel (215 Central Avenue)
It is said that the history of a city may be read on its buildings. That is certainly the case with the Detroit Hotel, the first building constructed in the city. The Detroit was built in 1888 by Peter Demens, one of the three founders of the city (along with John and Sarah Williams). Peter was a Russian immigrant who brought the railroad to the city. The idea of the hotel was to jumpstart development by providing a hotel for tourists, businesspeople, and prospective residents and investors. The Detroit served as the city’s social and cultural center into the 1920s. Demens and Williams split the cost of the hotel, and it was named after Williams’ hometown. (Demens previously had the honor of naming the city – after his hometown in Russia.) The hotel was built in the Victorian style and originally included 40 rooms. Two brick wings were later added, but the original building may still be seen between them. The hotel included three and a half stories, a steeply pitched roof, and a full-width front porch. The block includes many other buildings of historic interest, and it’s been proposed to designate the entire block as an historic district. The hotel was unanimously approved as a city landmark by the city council with support of the mayor in 2009.
Open-Air Post Office (Corner of 4th Street and 1st Avenue N)
Two blocks from the Detroit is the open-air post office, designed by postmaster and environmentalist Roy Hanna and architect George Stuart. This building is truly magnificent and a must see. Built in 1916 in a Renaissance or early Mediterranean Revival style, it was inspired by the Ospedale degli Innocenti (Hospital of the Innocents) designed by Filipp Brunellschi in 1424 in Florence, Italy. Functionally, it was “open air” so that box holders could take advantage of our city’s mild climate and get their mail any time, day or night. The south side of the building was subsequently enclosed. It is said to be the first open-air post office in the US, but it was actually St. Petersburg’s second open-air post office located on that site. The first, built in 1905, was much smaller and lacked the architectural interest of its 1916 replacement.
Snell Arcade (405 Central Avenue)
Just south of the open-air post office, and across the street from our city’s tallest tower, is the Snell Arcade. Perhaps our city’s most beautiful building, the Snell Arcade was designed by Miami architect Richard Kiehnel and M. Leo Elliot for developer C. Perry Snell. Kiehnel is credited with creation of Florida’s distinctive Mediterranean Revival architecture beginning with his design of El Jardin in Miami in 1910. He also designed the Rolyat Hotel in Gulfport, one of the best-preserved landmarks in the county, which now serves as the campus of Stetson Law School. Constructed in 1926, the Snell Arcade was the city’s finest boom-era office building and included a cafeteria in the basement (yes, basement!), shopping arcade on the first floor, and roof-top restaurant and night club. Architectural features include rare Cuban-style tile flooring, polychromatic terra cotta, first-floor copper canopy, and Italianate rounders. Snell mortgaged the building to finance development of Snell Isle and eventually lost the building to foreclosure during the Great Depression.
McCrory Building (433 Central)
Constructed in 1904 this building was later the home of McCrory 5 & 10 Store on the first floor, with the 40-room Preston Hotel on the upper floors. McCrory’s presence in St. Petersburg dates from about 1911. It was subsequently updated in the 1920s. The McCrory Stores were a national chain of Five and Dime stores originating in Pennsylvania in 1882. Location of a store from the national McCrory chain as early as 1911 speaks to the growing economic viability of our city at that early date.
Kress Building (475 Central)
The Kress Building was completed in 1927 at the end of the city’s 1920s’ boom. H. S. Kress & Co. was another national chain of Five and Dime stores. In the first half of the 20th century, there were Kress stores with a variety of distinctive ornamented architecture, inspired by company founder Samuel H. Kress, throughout the nation. The Kress company became known for its distinctive architecture and uniform signage. The St. Petersburg Kress presents interesting Beaux Arts classical detailing including glazed terra cotta architecture. Having two Five and Dime stores almost side by side also speaks to the historic economic vibrancy of our downtown at the time.
Tramor Cafeteria (123 4th Street S)
Dating from 1929, the Tramor was designed by prominent architect Elliott Hadley in the Spanish and Mediterranean Revival styles, one of the city’s two signature architectural styles (the other being Craftsman). The building was constructed using 70-foot-long hangar trusses left from an abandoned airport construction project on Weeden Island (yes, Weedon Island had an airport!). The Tramor was one of the many city cafeterias catering especially to seasonal tourists. (To provide customer appeal, a man posing as a dummy stood by the cash register; if you could make him laugh you got a free meal.) The Tramor later served as a cafeteria for the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times), and then as the Hoffbräuhaus German beer hall. The property is currently for sale ($15M).
Crislip Arcade (645 Central Avenue)
Completed in 1926, the Crislip Arcade is one of the few remaining buildings designed by the city’s first professional architect, Edgar Ferdon. The building is in the commercial vernacular masonry style. Note the original red-and-yellow tile imported from Cuba. It is one of four remaining 1920s arcades in the city.
Judicial Building (545 1st Avenue N)
The St. Petersburg Judicial Building is the newest selection on this list, constructed in 1968. Designed by Glenn Quincy Johnson, its architecture is in the mid-century Brutalist style and was constructed using textured concrete. Rough sawn lumber was used to make the forms for the concrete to give it texture; changing light angles during the day changed the play of shadows on the building. Also note the “Face the Jury” sculptures by Douglas Kornfeld on the northeast corner and other artwork.
Orange Blossom Cafeteria (220 4th Street N)
Another of the city’s many early cafeterias is the Orange Blossom. This building reflects Mission-inspired architecture and was constructed in 1925. Originally a store, it was converted to a cafeteria in 1933. Notable elements include yellow brick, shaped parapets, decorative patterned tile, and a bracketed visor roof with barrel tile.
Flori de Leon Co-op (130 4th Avenue N)
The Flori de Leon Cooperative Apartment was completed in 1926, also built in the Mediterranean Revival style. It is believed to be the first housing cooperative on the west coast. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig famously rented penthouses there.
Henry Veillard Home (259 4th Avenue N)
This unique cottage was built in 1910 and is a blend of Queen Anne and bungalow-style architecture. It was designed by architect Henry Dupot for pioneer resident and civic leader Ralph Veillard. Dupont also designed the Casa de Muchas Flores on Park Street and the Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach. Veillard was a city council member who advocated with St. Petersburg Times editor William Straub for the downtown waterfront parks and the Carnegie Library at Mirror Lake. In 1979, preservationists saved the building by moving it to its present location from a nearby construction site.
Comfort Station #1 (2nd Avenue Northeast & Bayshore/Entrance to the Pier)
This elaborate public restroom dates from 1927 and has been nicknamed “Little St. Mary’s” due to its resemblance to St. Mary’s Catholic Church (515 4th Street S). Both were built in the Romanesque style by architect Henry Taylor, who also designed the Vinoy Hotel and Admiral Farragut Academy (originally the Jungle Country Club Hotel). The Comfort Station has an octagonal shape that derives from the Greek-cross plan used in early Roman churches. There is the story that St. Mary’s delayed in paying Taylor for his work and Taylor retaliated by using the church plans for the comfort station. Actually, the comfort station was built first, perhaps as an architectural model for the church.
Says Chamber of Commerce President Chris Steinocher, “The secret of our city’s current livability is the vibe created by offering a natural mix of wonderfully built historic structures and districts, seamlessly connected and complemented with new development and dwellings.” To this we may add that appreciating St. Pete’s historic buildings and landmarks is also a great way to know our city’s story and sense of place. Want more St. Pete landmarks and history?
Check out the African American Heritage Trail in St. Pete…