A look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 27, 2004
June 30, 1919: Skinny guys infiltrate Florida Fat Men's club
OLDSMAR - The Florida Fat Men's club had a semi-occasional convention in Oldsmar Saturday, and the big men are having large troubles.
Early in the weighty deliberations, a lot of thin, toothpick-shaped men walked into the hall. They were so thin no one saw them coming. Before the fat men knew it, the thin men came pretty near having a majority of those present. They demanded membership in the club on the ground that they are prospective and potential fat men. As the candidates are jolly good fellows, it was decided to admit them with the provision that they patronize the grocery stores more liberally and fill up to their eye-brows at every meal.
A 66-foot tape line was used to measure the girth of some of the portly candidates. One of the colossal ones confessed he had a backache from carrying his stomach around.
It was recommended that the name of the organization be expanded, in harmony with the growth and size of its membership. The national organization, therefore, will be the Improved Order of Fat Men of North America. Subsidiary to this will be the Florida Fat Men's Club, and the Oldsmar Fat and Lean Baseball Association. Invitations to join have been sent to Hon. William Howard Taft, Fatty Arbuckle, Charlie Chaplin and Irvin S. Cobb.
June 19, 1919: Big celebration at sponge city
TARPON SPRINGS - This city is preparing for a big Fourth of July celebration that will surpass anything in that line ever held here before.
The program will be launched with the usual sunrise gun, to be followed by all kinds of sports and games. A monster parade is being prepared, in which will be a fine display of floats of all kinds, for which prizes will be offered. The water sports will form a very attractive portion of the program, consisting of swimming, diving and rowing matches, and an illuminated fleet at night with a sham battle.
A doubleheader baseball game will be played, a field meet held and many miscellaneous sports given. A large order for the latest in fireworks has been placed in Chicago and the program will terminate with a masked street ball at night.
Returned service men in uniform will be the special guests of the city. The ladies of the Civic Club will serve box lunches at the tourists' building. A big crowd is expected.
June 25, 1941: Runway paving bids to be opened
CLEARWATER - Bids for paving of runways at the county's master airport will be opened by the war department in Jacksonville next Monday, bringing the prospect of sustained progress on the big project, according to County Engineer W.A. McMullen.
The engineer stated that clearing of the runway areas has now been completed and workmen are readying them for paving and grading by army engineers.
June 17, 1941: City dads okay airport hangar
CLEARWATER - Last night, city commissioners authorized the construction of the first hangar at the new Clearwater municipal airport. E.H. Hurlebaus, local flying instructor, proposed to build the $500 structure with the agreement that it revert to the city after 10 years.
Hurlebaus' application for the permit was granted on a $1 per year rental basis. The structure, the builder said, would house about six light planes.
In a discussion of progress of the city's airport, City Manager F.L. Hendrix announced that planes would probably be using the field within the next 30 days.
- Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at 727 771-4305 or blackwell@sptimes.com
