The Jungle Country Club History Project brings attention to West St. Pete history. Here are some highlights from 2023.
In The Beginning...
By the time I published the first post to this blog on May 19, 2019, I had already made some progress in researching the Azalea neighborhood's forgotten history. Many people, including Azalea residents, were not certain if we were even a part of the historic Jungle area.
By the time I published the first post to this blog on May 19, 2019, I had already made some progress in researching the Azalea neighborhood's forgotten history. Many people, including Azalea residents, were not certain if we were even a part of the historic Jungle area.
According to the tax deed, my home is in the Jungle Country Club subdivision – as are nearly all homes in the Azalea neighborhood. I was determined to raise awareness of the neighborhood's glorious but unheralded history.
Why Neighborhood History is Important:
- Homeowners care about their neighborhood’s reputation.
- Neighborhood reputations shape sentiments about neighborhood quality.
- History gives a neighborhood identity and stability.
- A neighborhood’s history can improve its reputation and instill pride.
2023 Yearend Statistics:
2023 Trending: I'm seeing an increase in Azalea neighborhood real estate listings that describe the neighborhood as being in the Jungle. In fact, almost all listings refer to the desirable Jungle Country Club subdivision. Five years ago, before I began promoting our history, very few people recognized that the Azalea neighborhood was part of the historic Jungle area of St. Petersburg.
March: Blog original – The Colorful Adventures of Babe Ruth in St. Pete. I colorized these photos using editing software.
April: From a souvenir folder in my collection – vintage St. Pete postcards from 1924.
In May and June, the blog featured articles exposing the activities of two important figures in West St. Pete history. Handsome Jack Taylor and his wife, Du Pont imposter Evelyn Taylor, were scoundrels from New York who made a big investment on the west side. Their land scheme eventually went bankrupt, but not before the Taylors played a major role in the historic architecture on the west side.
Blog views: 69,341 (up from 42,806 at this time last year)
Photo views on Google Maps: 21,903 (up from 4,377 last year). These photos are accessed via Google map labels for Jungle Country Club Creek and the Bear Creek Gateway. The labels now appear on Google maps thanks to my request.
Response to the blog has exceeded my wildest expectations. The public is becoming aware of our neighborhood's awesome history.
2023 Trending: I'm seeing an increase in Azalea neighborhood real estate listings that describe the neighborhood as being in the Jungle. In fact, almost all listings refer to the desirable Jungle Country Club subdivision. Five years ago, before I began promoting our history, very few people recognized that the Azalea neighborhood was part of the historic Jungle area of St. Petersburg.
This Year on the Blog:
February: An intact Jungle Hotel service plate was found at an estate sale in Rhode Island and is now in my personal collection, just a few blocks from where it was originally in service in the hotel – it's the only intact Jungle Hotel plate that I am aware of. It is almost 100 years old, has traveled about 4000 miles in its lifetime and is still in excellent shape.
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| View Post: Jungle Hotel Plate Returns Home After a Long Journey |
March: Blog original – The Colorful Adventures of Babe Ruth in St. Pete. I colorized these photos using editing software.
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| Babe Ruth with an alligator bagged in St. Petersburg. Click here for 27 more photos. |
April: From a souvenir folder in my collection – vintage St. Pete postcards from 1924.
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| A scene on the Jungle Country Club course. Click here for 19 more postcards. |
In May and June, the blog featured articles exposing the activities of two important figures in West St. Pete history. Handsome Jack Taylor and his wife, Du Pont imposter Evelyn Taylor, were scoundrels from New York who made a big investment on the west side. Their land scheme eventually went bankrupt, but not before the Taylors played a major role in the historic architecture on the west side.
July: Steve of the Jungle requested that a label be inserted on Google maps for the Bear Creek Gateway. The stone wall was built in 1924 and still stands as a reminder of the west side's Roaring 20s experience. The label has been added by Google with a link to this blog for more information.
View Post: Making a Grand Entrance: The Bear Creek Gateway in Pasadena
View Post: Charles K. Eagle and the Eagle Crest Dream
July: Greetings from St. Pete! Miniature Postcards from the Past
Miniature postcards from my private collection (enlarged for this article) are about the size of a credit card, too small to be mailed by today's post office standards, but completely acceptable in the 1920's. The postcards were handed out for free by the Chamber of Commerce and tourists mailed them to friends across the country, thus advertising the beauty and wonders of St. Pete.
September: I wrote of the opulent life and tragic suicide of one of America's wealthiest men, Charles K. Eagle, who landed in West St. Pete in 1925. Although his dream of building the most desirable home community in west Florida would never be realized, his improvements left a lasting impact on the character and landscape of the Eagle Crest neighborhood.
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October: I found a Jungle Hotel matchbook cover c. 1930 on eBay and added it to my private collection:
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November: A new flipbook, "The Awesome and Unheralded History of The Jungle" is published on the blog. It is a brief summary of the most important elements of The Jungle's history. Soon to be available in print format for your coffee table.
December: This 1922 photo taken by a tourist was found on eBay. It shows the 14th and 15th fairways of the Jungle golf course. Country Club Road can be seen on the right side of the picture. I ran the black and white photo through a colorization process.
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