Historically St. Pete with Rui Farias - Domenico Pontoriero, Roser Park
Season 1, Episode 7766, Jul 23, 04:26 PM
Rui Farias is the Executive Director, St. Petersburg Museum of History and his podcast Historically St. Pete is a weekly conversation exploring the truths (possibly the myths) of the people and events that created the Sunshine City. Located on the St. Pete Pier, the Museum of History has been sharing the stories of the Sunshine City for 102 years.
7/29/2024 Rui's guest today is Our guest today is Domenico Pontoriero, president of the Roser Park Neighborhood Association! Radio St. Pete listeners know Dom from his Car-Free Conversations podcast, but he is the resident expert on Roser Park. St. Petersburg is blessed with a number of unique neighborhoods, some over 100 years old and some fairly new as far as history goes. But definitely none as unique as Roser Park. This historic gem is tucked away just outside the downtown corridor and unknown to many residents. Growing up on the edge of the Roser Park neighborhood, Rui loves guiding SPMOH trolley tours through Roser Park, known for its unique Halloween and Christmas celebrations as well.
A shrewd businessman, Charles M. Roser purchased 12 acres of mostly orange groves outside the city limits for $12,000 – an unheard-of sum in that day and starts to build what he plans on being America’s most beautiful neighborhood, and people who live there or visit still agree. Roser had to be one of the City’s favorite developers. Donated the park to the city, donated the land to build Roser Park Elementary; build a dorm for nurses; moved the original hospital to 22nd Street to construct Mercy Hospital for the Black residents when the city was incredibly segregated.
Roser’s investment in Florida wasn’t restricted to St. Petersburg. In 1911 he traveled by boat to a barren key named Anna Maria Island. Partnered in the Anna Maria Beach Company to develop the property by laying out streets and selling lots. Since the only access to the island then was by boat, Roser built a pier in 1911 at the end of Pine Avenue to accommodate the boats bringing the expected influx of visitors and potential residents. Roser had a real estate office within easy walking distance of the pier on the south side of Pine Avenue. In 1913 as a memorial to his mother, he built Roser Memorial Community Church, which was the first church on the island. It has been enlarged and still serves the people of Anna Maria Island.
Located on the St. Pete Pier, the Museum of History has been sharing the stories of the Sunshine City for 102 years and we are happy to share those stories with you here on this podcast. https://spmoh.com/ Visit St. Petersburg Museum of History here.
#history #ruifarias #stpetersburgmuseumofhistory #HISTORYicallystpete #sunshinecity #floridahistory #stpetersburghistory #roserpark #domenicopontoriero #tampabay #radio #stpete #radiostpete #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete
7/29/2024 Rui's guest today is Our guest today is Domenico Pontoriero, president of the Roser Park Neighborhood Association! Radio St. Pete listeners know Dom from his Car-Free Conversations podcast, but he is the resident expert on Roser Park. St. Petersburg is blessed with a number of unique neighborhoods, some over 100 years old and some fairly new as far as history goes. But definitely none as unique as Roser Park. This historic gem is tucked away just outside the downtown corridor and unknown to many residents. Growing up on the edge of the Roser Park neighborhood, Rui loves guiding SPMOH trolley tours through Roser Park, known for its unique Halloween and Christmas celebrations as well.
A shrewd businessman, Charles M. Roser purchased 12 acres of mostly orange groves outside the city limits for $12,000 – an unheard-of sum in that day and starts to build what he plans on being America’s most beautiful neighborhood, and people who live there or visit still agree. Roser had to be one of the City’s favorite developers. Donated the park to the city, donated the land to build Roser Park Elementary; build a dorm for nurses; moved the original hospital to 22nd Street to construct Mercy Hospital for the Black residents when the city was incredibly segregated.
Roser’s investment in Florida wasn’t restricted to St. Petersburg. In 1911 he traveled by boat to a barren key named Anna Maria Island. Partnered in the Anna Maria Beach Company to develop the property by laying out streets and selling lots. Since the only access to the island then was by boat, Roser built a pier in 1911 at the end of Pine Avenue to accommodate the boats bringing the expected influx of visitors and potential residents. Roser had a real estate office within easy walking distance of the pier on the south side of Pine Avenue. In 1913 as a memorial to his mother, he built Roser Memorial Community Church, which was the first church on the island. It has been enlarged and still serves the people of Anna Maria Island.
Located on the St. Pete Pier, the Museum of History has been sharing the stories of the Sunshine City for 102 years and we are happy to share those stories with you here on this podcast. https://spmoh.com/ Visit St. Petersburg Museum of History here.
#history #ruifarias #stpetersburgmuseumofhistory #HISTORYicallystpete #sunshinecity #floridahistory #stpetersburghistory #roserpark #domenicopontoriero #tampabay #radio #stpete #radiostpete #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete