History of Tampa, Florida, USA

Grew from earlier military post Fort Brooke.

Fort Brooke, site of the present-day city of Tampa, was nearly destroyed by two hurricanes that hit the area within a month of each other.

Hurricane timeline: The 1800s
Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.sun-sentinel.com

Tampa, a small post-village, capital of Hillsborough co., Florida, at the head of Tampa bay, (navigable by large vessels,) about 40 miles E. from the Gulf of Mexico.

It was sixteen feet three inches long, six feet wide, and weighed five hundred pounds. The saw was over four feet long.

Tampa, a city and port of entry, capital of Hillsboro co, Fla., is situated at the head or NE. end of Tampla Bay at the mouth of the Hillsboro River, 240 miles SSW. of Jacksonville, on the Atlantic Coast and the Seaboard Air Lines. Among its points of interest are De Soto Park and the Convent of Holy Names. The city, which is connected through Port Tampa with the principal Atlantic and Gulf ports, is an important shipping point for phosphates, naval stores, subtropical fruits, lumber, fish, and cattle, and has extensive cigar-factories. Tamp has recently become a favorite winter-resort. Pop. in 1890, 5532; in 1900, 15,839.

Blaze Fanned by Strong Wind Wipes Out Many Buildings; Cuban Woman Drops Dead From Excitement

[By Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.]

Tampa, Fla., March 1.—The entire extreme northeastern section of this city was destroyed by fire which broke out in a boarding house early today and raged uninterruptedly for four hours. The area burned covered fifty-five acres or eighteen and one-half city blocks and three hundred and eight buildings were destroyed with a total loss estimated a $600,000 and one woman is dead from excitement.

The burned section includes four large and one smaller cigar factory and numerous restaurants, saloons, boarding houses, and over 200 residents occupied the cigarmakers. The factories burned were:

M. Stacheberg & Co., loss $100,000; M. Perez & Co., loss $50,000; Gonzales Fisher & Co., loss $40,000; Esberg Gunst & Co., branch of Stachelgerg, loss $40,000; and Ferdinez & Co. loss $20,000.

All factories carried large stocks of tobacco and cigars. The...

Tampa, Fla., Dec. 31. - Two blocks in the wholesale district, bounded by the river and by Tampa, Whiting and Washington streets were destroyed by fire late yesterday. Early estimates placed the loss between $350,000 and $500,000.

The business section was cut off from electric lights and power, and special police protection was provided merchants last night, thieves having robbed offices at the Citizens National Bank of small amounts while the fire was in progress. The Tribune was preparing to issue last night by [illegible]

Capt. J. D. ROSS and several other firemen were burned while fighting the flames, which spread so rapidly almost 1,000 feet of hose had to be abandoned.

Sparks, falling on the roof of the Home Line Office from a bay steamer, getting up steam under a forced draft, are believed to have started the fire.

Lakeland, Fla., Oct 26. South Florida spent today in recapitulating the damage estimated to run well into millions of dollars caused by the gulf hurricane which tore northeastwardly across the Florida peninsula yesterday. At times attaining a velocity of 70 miles an hour, the gale wrought destruction to smaller obstacles in its path, but only in a few instances, according to reports, causing a loss of life.

While there have been only three or four isolated cases of deaths from the storm it is feared the clearing away of the debris in Tampa's wrecked portions might add to the list. Of the cities and towns within a radius of 40 miles of Lakeland that could be reached by automobile today. Tampa appears to have suffered the greatest damage. The Bay Shore drive residential section from Franklin street to Port Tampa is a panorama of destruction. Trees are down, houses with roofs torn away and foundations weakened from the tidal wave that swept in over the sea wall from Tampa bay have...