History & Culture of 22nd St

Several books could be written detailing the development of 22nd Street. And there are in fact a couple that can be purchased at Haslam's at 20th St & Central Ave (a book store with a history of its own).

St Petersburg's Historic 22nd Street South
by Rosalie Peck and Jon Wilson; The History Press (2006)

Voices of America: St Petersburg - An Oral History
by Scott Taylor Hartzell; Arcadia Publishing (2002)

Using the above sources as a guide a brief overview history is being written at the bottom of this page but it should be noted that . . . In 2002-2005 a number of news articles and especially a 2002 online interactive report by the St Pete Times detail the some of the success and hard times that fell on 22nd St in earlier years.

For some interesting historical perspectives you might enjoy the following . . .

People living today remember 22nd Street from a time period of the late 1920's through today.

Strong feelings about blacks and whites didn't develop until the question of voting rights came up in the 1870's and with black grade workers coming to complete the railway in 1888.

Orange Belt Railway & Pepper Town
In 1888 in connection with the final stage in completing the Sanford to St Petersburg section of the railway more than 100 black laborers came to the obscure fishing village that would become incorporated as St Petersburg in 1892. A dozen or so blacks stayed on from the rail construction crews and were joined by their families in settling and establishing the first black community, along 4th Ave. South between 7th and 9th Streets. This area became known as Pepper Town and continued to grow in the 1890's as did the young town of St Petersburg.

Cooper's Quarters
A second black community grew a few years later nearby and was known as Cooper's Quarters. It was located a couple blocks north and west on 9th Street South at 2nd Ave. South (and just east of today's Tropicana baseball field.) Men and women worked as day laborers, domestics, artisans, fishermen, and a few as waterfront stevedores and in local hotels. Boundaries of black settlement by this time were clearly identifiable and becoming inviolate.

Methodist Town
A third black community, well remembered today, emerged starting about 1904 with the building of Bethel African Methodist Episcopalian Church at 912 3rd Ave North which was notably north of Central Ave. According to the federal census by 1910 St Petersburg blacks accounted for 27% of the some 4000 population and were and essential part of the local economy.

Gas Plant Community
By 1920 the Cooper's Quarters area had expanded and was called the Gas Plant area and lay fully south and southwest across the stores of Central and the 1st Avenues. The area so name because of the two tall tanks that stored the natural gas supply for the city. Tropicana Field now sits in the space.

In 1920 the 22nd Street area - there was no 'street' yet - was little more than forest, scrub field and swamp....but the City had in 1914 annexed land at the 'top' of the soon to emerge district and Elder Jordan Sr. was busy becoming 22nd Street's pioneering developer having built some shot-gun styled homes south of 5th Ave. South within a block of what would become 22nd Street and the location of the Manhattan Casino (1925).

22nd Street Takes Shape
Elder Jordan Sr . Mercy Hospital . Jordan School
Jim Crow Restrictions . Jordan Park . Manhattan Casino

Elder Jordan Sr.
He started his business and development activities on 9th Street So. in 1904 selling produce and opening a livery stable and later a filling station and . It time he began buying tax deeds, building homes and boarding houses. He also began buying land as well and would later donate land for Jordan Park along with Jordan School and it's said he owned the land used for Mercy Hospital. Perhaps his most well known construction project however was the building as what would be at the core of 22nd St for many years - the Manhattan Casino building (1925) with stores below and a dance hall (1931-1966) above.

Mercy Hospital 1923

Built in 1923 as the primary care facility for the city's African Americans it continued operations until 1966 and played a significant role in the community. Mercy Hospital is the oldest surviving hospital building in St. Petersburg.

After moving to St. Petersburg in 1924, James Ponder became St. Petersburg's first African-American physician in 1926. Practicing at Mercy he was an active member of the Pinellas County Medical Society, was recognized as a role model to those who wanted to become doctors and was one of the most influential community leaders of the period.

Mercy Hospital was the site of protests demanding the desegregation of the City's hospital facilities during the Civil Rights movements of the 1960's. Also a rising city population had led to overcrowding at both Mound Park (white) and Mercy Hospitals (black). Full funding for the operation of two state certified city hospitals became too much by the mid 60's and Mercy was closed in 1966 as Mound Park (now Bayfront Medical Center) then became more fully integrated and the lone city funded hospital. The Mercy building was then used for other things.

In 2004, after renovations and large addition to the old Mercy Hospital it became home to the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center.

Jordan Elementary 1925
Elder Jordan, Sr., the first chairman of trustees for black schools and others spearheaded a drive to establish a school in the Jordan Park area. A Mr. Victor A. Boeke made the low bid of $40,669 on July 15, 1924, to build Jordan School. When it was occupied on September 1, 1925, by almost 1100 students, 21 teachers and G.W. Perkins as principal, a milestone in Negro education had been reached in Florida. The older Davis Academic had simply been unable to provide for all the Negro youths of St. Petersburg. Early principals at Jordan were: G.W.Perkins, Mrs. Marie Pier

source - The Olive B. McLin History Project

As a cultural landmark the original two-story section of the school is currently under reconstruction (2009) and will house the administrative offices of Project Head Start.

Jim Crow Restrictions

Jordan Park

Manhattan Casino see City of St Pete listing

In 1927 a very civic-minded businessman named Elder Jordan built the building that housed - on the second floor- what would become known as the Manhattan Casino until it's closing in 1968. Extensive reconstruction was performed by the City who now owns the building and their are hopes that it will in the future become a site for community activities.

While the Manhattan served as a dance hall and a night club with nationally famous bands and solo artists of jazz and rock'n roll (1930's - 1960') that earned it the the tag line of "The Home of Happy Feet" - it was actually a gathering place for the African American community in St Petersburg. It was used for a variety of events by organizations including the City's federated Women's Club, the Elks & Masons as well as be church groups needing a large meeting space. Gospel Caravans that performed around the country made stops at the Manhattan particularly on Mother's Day and Easter. Graduation exercises were held there for Jordan & Davis Elementary Schools and Gibbs High School plus homecoming and prom dances.

Most events were organized by Rev. Goldie Thompson and Mr. George Grogan who became the General Manager & booking agent for groups into the Manahattan that included Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, plus Ray Charles, B.B. King, Al Green & Lou Rawls, James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Little Richard, Otis Redding, Sam Cook and the Ink Spots. Bands from around Florida also performed. There were just two house bands for the Manhattan - the Fess Clark Band (1927-1942) and the George Cooper Band (1942-1969).

- Details for these Manhattan notes were provide by Mr. Al Williams Jr.

Check back with us as this overview continues - comments, corrections or suggestions welcome.

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