 |
| Frank Allston Davis |
F.A. Davis ushered St. Petersburg into the twentieth century. He introduced electricity and set in motion the projects that brought a trolley line and brick roads to the Jungle. These improvements led to the construction of the Jungle Hotel, the Jungle Prado building, Mediterranean style homes and a golf course that attracted Babe Ruth and other celebrities to the neighborhood. The Jungle Hotel was converted to Admiral Farragut Academy ‒ a school that graduated two of the twelve men who walked on the moon. Almost every significant historical event in Jungle history since the turn of the twentieth century is the result of the groundwork laid by Davis.
Two names that loom large in Jungle history ‒ H. Walter Fuller and Walter P. Fuller ‒ owe their fame to F.A. Davis, who hired H. Walter Fuller to manage many of his business operations. When Davis' empire collapsed due to an economic downturn, an investment company bought the foreclosed businesses and put Fuller in charge. Fuller and his son went on to complete many of the projects that Davis had started or envisioned.
Davis became interested in the Pinellas Peninsula in 1885 when he was in New Orleans for the American Medical Association conference. He owned a printing company in Philadelphia that specialized in medical books and pamphlets. Dr. Washington Chew Van Bibber presented a paper at the conference in which he concluded that the Pinellas Peninsula had the healthiest climate in Florida and was the best location for a "Health City," a place where “invalids and pleasure seekers, from all lands, will come to enjoy the delights of a winter climate, which, all things considered can probably have no equal elsewhere.” |
| Pinellas Peninsula. Map credit: St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation |
It was at this moment that F.A. Davis realized his purpose in life. He set about to develop the Pinellas Peninsula for the benefit of those in failing health and he used his medical printing business to promote the "Health City." Davis himself had health problems ‒ he suffered from rheumatism. He moved to Tarpon Springs in 1889. His health improved and before long he was completely cured.
F.A. Davis of Philadelphia ‒ a man whose sole individual efforts have done more for the upbuilding of St. Petersburg and Pinellas Peninsula than those of any score, or hundred, of all others ‒ whose sacrifices of time, money and energies to his enthusiasm for Pinellas Peninsula very few can know, and probably none realize. He has never received one dollar of profit in return yet, but his labors have provided a livelihood for hundreds here, and very profitable investments for scores.
‒ St. Petersburg Times, April 27, 1907.
While in Tarpon Springs, he began collaborating with a businessman/developer from Philadelphia, Jacob Disston. In 1881, Jacob's brother Hamilton Disston had purchased a large portion of Florida including most of the Pinellas Peninsula. Davis and Disston established an electric plant in Tarpon Springs and moved it to St. Petersburg in 1897. Five years later, Davis was granted a trolley franchise by St. Petersburg and in 1904 the trolley began operations. By 1913, the line extended to St. Petersburg's west coast and the rest is Jungle history. If not for F.A. Davis, the Jungle would be a very different place ‒ there would be no "Jungle Prada" neighborhood, no brick roads and no historic buildings. The Roaring '20s would likely have passed us by.
Davis would not witness the fruition of all his plans ‒ he died in 1917. The town of Davista (now part of St. Petersburg and Gulfport) was named after Davis ‒ current tax records list property in that area as the "Davista subdivision."
The Country Club at Davista was the original name of the Jungle County Club. The "boat landing" in the postcard is now the boat basin at Admiral Farragut Academy on Park Street.
Where is Davista?
 |
| Map of the Town of Davista filed March 15, 1913. Some streets have been renamed ‒ 7th Av N is now 5th Av N. Boundaries: 7th Av N (north), 76th St (east), 5th Av S (south), Boca Ciega Bay (west). The jungle neighborhood is adjacent and north of Davista. |
Ads for Lots in Davista and the Jungle
 |
| St. Petersburg Times March 19, 1914 |
 |
| St. Petersburg Times March 19, 1914 |
 |
| St. Petersburg Times April 30, 1915 |
 |
| Source: Wikipedia |
