Instructions:
1....Print this file.
2....At its end, click on "rules" to see a copy of the trail rules, print it, and then click where indicated at the end of the 3-page rules and patch order form to get back back to the list of Florida trails.
3....If you want a hand-drawn map showing the locations of all of the sites, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Steve Rajtar, 1614 Bimini Dr., Orlando, FL 32806.
4....Hike the trail and order whatever patches you like (optional).
WARNING - This trail may pass through one or more neighborhoods which, although full of history, may now be unsafe for individuals on foot, or which may make you feel unsafe there. Hikers have been approached by individuals who have asked for handouts or who have inquired (not always in a friendly manner) why the hikers are in their neighborhood. Drugs and other inappropriate items have been found by hikers in some neighborhoods. It is suggested that you drive the hike routes first to see if you will feel comfortable walking them and, if you don't think it's a good place for you walk, you might want to consider (1) traveling with a large group, (2) doing the route on bicycles, or (3) choosing another hike route. The degree of comfort will vary with the individual and with the time and season of the hike, so you need to make the determination using your best judgment. If you hike the trail, you accept all risks involved.
This community was previously named Bonifacio from 1880 to 1883, then Disston City, and then Veteran City because a Civil War veteran had built his home and planted a grove here in 1868. It was incorporated as Gulfport, even though it is neither on the gulf nor is it a port. The early citizens copied the name of a city in Mississippi because they thought it sounded good.
The first part of Disston City was platted in 1884. Hamilton Disston built a hotel, opening on December 24, 1884, to house wealthy clients on excursions here. In 1885, because there was already another Disston post office in Florida, the local post office again took the name Bonifacio and kept it until 1889.
The Orange Belt Railway bypased Disston City, and it began to decline.
The present City Hall costing $17,000 was dedicated on November 7, 1953.
James and Rebecca Barnett homesteaded the area between present 49th and 51st Sts., and built a log cabin and large two-story house at this location.
A school was built here in about 1886, and Arthur Norwood was the teacher. Since the building had three props to help keep it erect during heavy storms, it was called "Prop College".
Sophie Steinwinder's home was the location of the first Roman Catholic mass held in Gulfport, in 1909.
Naval architect Cliff Hadley formed a company here with his son in 1910. In the mid-1930s, it was famous for its world record-setting hydroplanes.
In 1864, Capt. William B. Miranda built the 26-room Waldorf Hotel here on top of the water, close to his wharf which extended into the bay a few feet east of York St. The hotel was damaged by a gale on May 3, 1901, which washed it off its foundation. It was then abandoned and its lumber was salvaged by farmers for use in building small homes.
York and 51st Sts. were the original main streets of Gulfport, extending north from here to present 29th Ave. S. When trolleys became popular, the "downtown" area shifted to Beach Blvd.
The first settlers to build a home in Gulfport were James Barnett and his wife, Rebecca Slaughter Barnett. They lived for a while in Tampa while he, a Confederate veteran, recovered from a war wound. When he was well enough, they sailed on Boca Ciega Bay to a high bluff between 51st and 54th Sts. The bluff has now been mostly leveled.
The Barnetts built a house on York St. and planted an orange grove. In 1876, they sold them to Joseph Torres.
John Dobler built the Hotel Dobler in 1922 out of wood covered with stucco. Downstairs were the lobby, entrance hall, kitchen, pantries, dining hall and sun porch. Upstairs were 42 guest rooms.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Camp bought it in 1932 and renamed it the Boca Ciega Inn. It continued as a popular winter resort and restaurant. It was torn down in 1974.
The first pier at this location was built in 1907 by Elmer W. Wintersgill out of wood with corrugated metal-covered slips. Wintersgill's pier served the community as the home of its first yacht club. It was destroyed in 1918 by high winds and waves.
It was replaced in 1918 by a public wooden pier, which survived the hurricane of 1921. It was torn down in 1932 and replaced with a WPA-built pier in 1933-34, which was later removed.
The first Casino built at this location was erected in 1905. The streetcar line ended in front of it, and it featured dancing, music, food, and the ferry boat to Pass-A-Grille.
The 1921 major hurricane severely damaged it, and a new one was built in 1923. It was torn down only two years later. The present Casino was built in 1935 as a WPA project, and became the center of social life in Gulfport.
This building was the home of Drs. Grace and Colin McLellan, who also used it for their naturopathy office. It was known as The Gulfport Clinic.
Gulfport's first Community Hall is now the home of the Historical Society. In 1966, this new Community Center was built here to replace the old one.
Until about 1957, no streets existed here, in what was a tidal swamp. In the early 1900s, it was used as the town dump. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Dixie Hollins seawalled and filled in the area.
This building was erected in 1905, and served as a resort hotel, veterans' haven, boarding house, and nursing home. For a time, it was known as the Bayview Hotel. In 1950, it was bought by Florence Round and upgraded to a hospital. She sold it in 1964. Bill and Jane Scheblin bought it in 1978 and had it licensed as a congregate living home. Later, it became the Suncoast Inn.
Alex Cussen acquired this land on June 15, 1912, and built a grocery store on it with an apartment upstairs for himself and his family. On June 6, 1921, it was purchased by Leora D. Lewis of St. Petersburg. During the 1930s, it was remodeled and became the home of Florida Playthings, Inc., the company of Frank and William Moulton which manufactured toys and buttons. In the 1940s, it was remodeled into four apartments.
On this corner, Walter O. Brooks built his home in 1925. That same year, he moved it east, facing 30th Ave. S, to make room for the Holiday Inn on the corner. A portion of the home contained a grocery store and post office, and a portion of the veranda of the inn was used as an outdoor post office. To the east was a barber shop, and to the south was the real estate office of Brooks and Swift.
This building, now converted into a residence, served as the second post office of Gulfport, when it was located on the corner of Beach Blvd. and 29th Ave. S. It replaced the first one, located on 51st St. between 28th and 29th Aves. S in a general store building. It was later replaced by the third post office, located in the former Hickman office building.
This five-room bungalow was owned by Joseph Kane until he traded it to the city for a one-story office building in 1941. The city used this as its library, and is once again a home.
Under an oak tree at this corner, Courtney Sawyer built boats powered by old Studebaker engines.
Prior to 1910, Methodist services were being held in Prop College and in the Casino. In 1910, two lots were bought here from Jacob M. and Anna B. Zodges, and a crudely furnished building was built. The present sanctuary was built in 1951.
When this building was located across the street, it was the home of the Methodist Church. When the present church was built, this one was moved here and given to the city for use by youth and community groups. It later became the home and museum of the Gulfport Historical Society.
On this site in 1913 was built the yellow painted Gulfport City Hall, for a cost of $1,259.75. In 1953, it was given to G.S. Wynns who agreed to destroy it and sell the windows and frames.
The building now here was the former Community Hall, originally built as a Pentecostal church of hard pine cut locally. While it was used as a church, it was located in the 2600 block of 49th St. In 1937, it was donated to the city for public use, and was later moved to this location. It was used for community activities until the new Community Center was completed in 1964. In that year, it was turned over to the Boy and Girl Scouts.
The park is named after Capt. John F. Chase, a co-founder of Veteran City.
Rev. James T. MacLean organized this church on January 27, 1917, and financed the sanctuary himself. Ground was broken for a Sunday school annex on July 2, 1950, and that building is now the Fellowship Hall. The present sanctuary was begun in 1962 and the first service was held in it on January 27, 1963. The name was changed from the First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport on August 25, 1966.
The present library was built in 1970-76, and it dedicated to former librarian Marie Bryan.
During the 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Steele arrived in Gulfport and made their home here. They planted trees and flowers, and wood ibis nested in a huge dead pine tree on the site. It was later dedicated as a park.
The First Bank of Gulfport was chartered in 1950 and located here. It was later bought by the Royal Trust Bank of Canada, and subsequently became a branch of Florida National.
Six acres of land here were purchased by the Diocese of St. Augustine in 1958. This church was built, and the first mass in it was on April 14, 1962.
Ivan M. "Jack" and Evelyn Taylor turned what had been the Davista Subdivision, extending from here to Boca Ciega Bay, into the successful Pasadena-on-the-Gulf. The Taylors also built themselves a Moorish palace of a hotel, the Rolyat ("Taylor" spelled backwards).
The hotel was designed by Paul Reed, an architect from Miami. He patterned the octagonal tower after the Torre Del Oro, the "Tower of Gold", located in Seville, Spain. The roof tiles, made during the 16th century, came from a Seville monastery. Inside is a reproduction of the studio fireplace of El Greco. The lobby tiles are said to have been made in 900 A.D.
In 1929, it was purchased by Col. Walter B. Mendels, who converted it into the Florida Military Academy, which had been founded in Green Cove Springs in 1908. It operated here from 1932 until 1951, when the facility became vacant. Stetson Law School bought the property for $200,000, and after some remodeling opened for classes on September 20, 1954.
Originally called 58th Street High School, this was built in 1953 for a cost of $1,520,209. The 40 acres on which it sits were purchased from Aymer Vinoy Laughner, a member of a wealthy Pennsylvania oil family and the developer of St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park Hotel.
This church was organized as the Gulfport Community Church by Rev. John Swentzel in 1957. The early services took place in the old Community Hall. During 1976, the present church building was dedicated and the church was renamed the Gulfport Church of the Nazarene.
A combination passenger/freight station was built here for the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railroad, an independent operation. Its motto was "The Orange Belt Route", but was not affiliated with Peter Demens' Orange Belt Railroad. It was out of business by 1931. The tracks were taken up and the right of way was converted to the Pinellas Trail for walking, biking and skating.
This church was founded by William Roe during the 1920s. Their first building was located at the corner of 9th St. and 10th Ave. N, and seated 150. Their second church building sat 400 and was located at the corner of 10th St. and 10th Ave. N. After 1929, they moved into a store owned by Roe on the corner of 49th St. and 1st Ave. S. Later, they moved here and became the Disston Ave. Church of Christ.
Prior to the 1920s, 49th St. was known as Disston Ave. Streets ran east and west, and avenues ran north and south.
This school was built on 8.57 acres in 1926 for the cost of $116,300. On June 22, 1927, it was renamed Disston Junior High School. Its main building was dismantled during 1983.
This congregation held its first service on July 4, 1965, in the old Community Center on 28th Ave. S. In 1966, it moved into three store buildings located on Gulfport Blvd. A house was built here in 1969, and in 1973 the present sanctuary was built.
This congregation was incorporated in 1951 as the Jewish Center of Gulfport, Inc., and during the following year acquired two lots from Max and Minnie Emsig. The synagogue was dedicated on March 8, 1953. It was renamed Congregation Beth Sholom on June 6, 1967, and Morris H. Kobrinetz was elected the first rabbi in May of 1970.
In 1907, Mr. Singlehurst built a sawmill here, at the curve of the old streetcar line. After three years, the mill was moved to find new trees, as the local ones had been cut.
Eric Clauson built this school with 16 rooms in 1926 for $95,000. Its original building showed a Spanish style with a long, arched veranda.
On February 5, 1939, the Gulfport Community Church was organized, and the following year was renamed The Community Bible Church of Gulfport. A sanctuary was built at the corner of 22nd Ave. S and 55th St. for $3,500, and was called "The Little White Church of the Singing Pines". The congregation held its first service in it on August 6, 1944. After 1980, the congregation moved to Largo and the church building was moved here.
This park was dedicated in March of 1976, and was named after the then mayor of Gulfport.
Florida's Pinellas Peninsula, by June Hurley Young (Byron Kennedy and Co. 1984)
Our Story of Gulfport, Florida, by Gulfport Historical Society (1985)
St. Petersburg and Its People, by Walter P. Fuller (Great Outdoors Publishing Co. 1972)
Stetson University: The First 100 Years, by Gilbert L. Lycan (Stetson University Press 1983)
The Story of St. Petersburg, by Karl H. Grismer (P.K. Smith & Company 1948)
Surf, Sand & Post Card Sunsets: A History of Pass-A-Grille and the Gulf Beaches, by Frank T. Hurley, Jr. (1977)
Click here for a copy of the trail rules.