{"id":686,"date":"2013-12-06T12:47:39","date_gmt":"2013-12-06T12:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/?p=686"},"modified":"2016-07-18T02:49:13","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T02:49:13","slug":"the-history-of-the-port-tampa-city-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/the-history-of-the-port-tampa-city-library\/","title":{"rendered":"The History Of The Port Tampa City Library"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n\tclass=\"ngg-galleryoverview\"\n\tid=\"ngg-gallery-28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b-1\">\n\n    \t\t<!-- Thumbnails -->\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-0\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7780_1_2.jpg\"\n               title=\"Located on south Westshore Boulevard, the original incarnation of the Port Tampa City Library opened in 1926 and was called the First Bank of Port Tampa.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7780_1_2.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7780_1_2.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"235\"\n               data-title=\"img_7780_1_2\"\n               data-description=\"Located on south Westshore Boulevard, the original incarnation of the Port Tampa City Library opened in 1926 and was called the First Bank of Port Tampa.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7780_1_2\"\n                    alt=\"img_7780_1_2\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7780_1_2.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-1\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7795.jpg\"\n               title=\"The Toffaletti Brothers Grocery and General Merchandise Store occupied the building starting in 1935.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7795.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7795.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"236\"\n               data-title=\"img_7795\"\n               data-description=\"The Toffaletti Brothers Grocery and General Merchandise Store occupied the building starting in 1935.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7795\"\n                    alt=\"img_7795\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7795.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-2\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7808.jpg\"\n               title=\"J.G. Yeats spent $125,000 to import the Georgian white Italian marble used to construct the fa\u00e7ade of this Neo-classical structure commonly referred to as the \u201cCommerce Bank.\u201d\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7808.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7808.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"237\"\n               data-title=\"img_7808\"\n               data-description=\"J.G. Yeats spent $125,000 to import the Georgian white Italian marble used to construct the fa\u00e7ade of this Neo-classical structure commonly referred to as the \u201cCommerce Bank.\u201d\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7808\"\n                    alt=\"img_7808\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7808.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-3\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7825_6_7.jpg\"\n               title=\"The library is built with Neo-classical architectural principles. The fa\u00e7ade was constructed with Georgian white marble imported from Italy.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7825_6_7.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7825_6_7.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"238\"\n               data-title=\"img_7825_6_7\"\n               data-description=\"The library is built with Neo-classical architectural principles. The fa\u00e7ade was constructed with Georgian white marble imported from Italy.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7825_6_7\"\n                    alt=\"img_7825_6_7\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7825_6_7.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-4\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7828_29_30.jpg\"\n               title=\"The library is the only building in Tampa that features the extensive exterior use of terra-cotta tile, which is primarily glazed clay.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7828_29_30.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7828_29_30.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"239\"\n               data-title=\"img_7828_29_30\"\n               data-description=\"The library is the only building in Tampa that features the extensive exterior use of terra-cotta tile, which is primarily glazed clay.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7828_29_30\"\n                    alt=\"img_7828_29_30\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7828_29_30.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-5\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7831_2_3.jpg\"\n               title=\"The building sat vacant until February 1993, when the Port Tampa City Woman\u2019s Club began raising funds to save the building and turn it into the new Port Tampa City Library.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/img_7831_2_3.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7831_2_3.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"240\"\n               data-title=\"img_7831_2_3\"\n               data-description=\"The building sat vacant until February 1993, when the Port Tampa City Woman\u2019s Club began raising funds to save the building and turn it into the new Port Tampa City Library.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_7831_2_3\"\n                    alt=\"img_7831_2_3\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_7831_2_3.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-6\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0101.jpg\"\n               title=\"The Port Tampa City Woman\u2019s Club founded the original Port Tampa City Library and were instrumental in the restoration of the bank building.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0101.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0101.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"241\"\n               data-title=\"potl_0101\"\n               data-description=\"The Port Tampa City Woman\u2019s Club founded the original Port Tampa City Library and were instrumental in the restoration of the bank building.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"potl_0101\"\n                    alt=\"potl_0101\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0101.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-7\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0110.jpg\"\n               title=\"A view of the head librarian&#039;s office on the second floor.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0110.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0110.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"243\"\n               data-title=\"potl_0110\"\n               data-description=\"A view of the head librarian&#039;s office on the second floor.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"potl_0110\"\n                    alt=\"potl_0110\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0110.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-8\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0114.jpg\"\n               title=\"The floor is terrazzo and marble. During its days as a bank, the tellers occupied the terrazzo floor and the marble floor was the public area.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/potl_0114.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0114.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"244\"\n               data-title=\"potl_0114\"\n               data-description=\"The floor is terrazzo and marble. During its days as a bank, the tellers occupied the terrazzo floor and the marble floor was the public area.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"28850c1f738b5c9bebf8dbd44911994b\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"potl_0114\"\n                    alt=\"potl_0114\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/port-tampa-library\/thumbs\/thumbs_potl_0114.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Pagination -->\n\t<div class='ngg-clear'><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Port Tampa City Library<\/p>\n<p>Built 1926<\/p>\n<p>Then: The First Bank of Port Tampa<\/p>\n<p>Now: Port Tampa City Library<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Located on south Westshore Boulevard, the original incarnation of the Port Tampa City Library opened in 1926 and was called the First Bank of Port Tampa. J.G. Yeats spent $125,000 to import the Georgian white Italian marble used to construct the fa\u00e7ade of this Neo-classical structure commonly referred to as the \u201cCommerce Bank.\u201d The bank lasted for only seven years before closing its doors for good.<\/p>\n<p>The Toffaletti Brothers Grocery and General Merchandise Store occupied the building starting in 1935. They\u2019re said to have held onto it until about 1960, when a fire badly damaged the building.<\/p>\n<p>The building sat vacant until February 1993, when the Port Tampa City Woman\u2019s Club began raising funds to save the building and turn it into the new Port Tampa City Library. From 1951-1961, volunteers from the Woman\u2019s Club staffed and operated the original Port Tampa City Library, which was then located at the corner of Interbay and Westshore Boulevards. The City of Tampa absorbed Port Tampa City in the early 60s and the Tampa Library System took over the library in 1962.<\/p>\n<p>By July 1993, the ladies of the Woman\u2019s Club had raised the first $1,000 for the restoration of the bank building. Four years later, the building was restored, renovated and ready for operation. The building was officially dedicated in 1998. Nearly 18,000 books where transferred to the new library, the last being the \u201cHistory of Port Tampa City.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the Details<\/p>\n<p>The floor is terrazzo and marble. During its days as a bank, the tellers occupied the terrazzo floor and the marble floor was the public area.<\/p>\n<p>The library is the only building in Tampa that features the extensive exterior use of terra-cotta tile, which is primarily glazed clay.<\/p>\n<p>When the Toffaletti Brothers used the bank as a grocery and merchandise store, they\u2019re said to have used the bank\u2019s vault as a freezer.<\/p>\n<p>-information provided by architect Jan Abell, FAIA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Port Tampa City Library Built 1926 Then: The First Bank of Port Tampa Now: Port Tampa City Library &nbsp; Located on south Westshore Boulevard, the original incarnation of the Port Tampa City Library opened in 1926 and was called the First Bank of Port Tampa. J.G. Yeats spent $125,000 to import the Georgian white Italian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1759,5,1764],"tags":[1563,1566,1561,1565,1562,1564],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}