Historically St. Pete w/Rui Farias & Dr. Basha P. Jordan, Jr.

Welcome to Historically St Pete, a weekly conversation where we explore the truths, and sometimes the myths of the people and events that created the Sunshine City.  Thanks for joining us today, my name is Rui Farias, and I have the best job in town – the Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History. The Museum of History has been sharing the stories of the Sunshine City for 103 years and we are happy to share those stories with you here on Radio St. Pete. When we discuss African American pioneers who helped build St. Petersburg, a number of names always rise to the surface quickly.  Joining Rui Farias today in studio on Historically St. Pete is a very special guest. Here to talk about his new book, The Legacy of Elder Jordan, Sr.: From Slavery to Philanthropy, is the grandson of Elder Jordan, Sr., Dr. Basha Jordan. Like John Donaldson, the first Black permanent resident of St. Pete. John, his wife Anna Germain and their 11 children owned a 40-acre farm near Lake Maggiore. Or Chester Lucius James Sr. who arrived in 1911 and worked to improve the living conditions of residents in Methodist Town, later renamed Jamestown in his honor.  But none reached the status of Elder Jordan, Sr. A successful businessman and developer, Elder Jordan acres of real estate, businesses, and even a bus line. He owned land in various parts of south St. Petersburg, including Campbell Park and then 9th Street. But his claim to fame came when he started building a town within the town of St. Petersburg, along 22nd Street South.

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