TAMPA, Fla. \u2013 Drivers passing River Tower Park in Tampa\u2019s Sulphur Springs district are likely to spot a massive tower standing alone amid a bunch of trees.<\/p>\n
The tower stretches 21 stories high (making it almost impossible to miss) and was installed nearly a century ago, establishing itself as a historic landmark for the area.<\/p>\n
But what passersby might not know is the tragic tale surrounding it.<\/p>\n
(Right) View of the Sulphur Springs Water Tower from East Bird Street and US-41; (Left) View of the Sulphur Springs Water Tower near its base at River Tower Park (Anthony Talcott)<\/p>\n
This marker \u2014 the Sulphur Springs Water Tower \u2014 was first built in 1927 for developer Josiah Richardson, who wanted to use it to supply water pressure to his nearby Sulphur Springs Hotel and Apartments<\/a> and Maves Arcade, the latter of which was a major shopping plaza for its time.<\/p>\n As historians tell it<\/a>, the area initially became popular thanks to its eponymous mineral springs along the Hillsborough River, which drew in visitors from all over thanks to its rumored \u201ccurative powers\u201d (much like other springs in the state<\/a>).<\/p>\n Sulphur Springs Hotel and Apartments (1926) – The downstairs portion served as an arcade, and the upstairs featured hotel rooms and offices (Public Domain)<\/p>\n Richardson had capitalized on the springs\u2019 popularity, buying 100 acres of land in 1904 and using his business acumen to transform the area into a bustling resort destination.<\/p>\n In addition, he planned to expand his enterprise with his Sulphur Springs Resort Spa, a toboggan flume, an alligator farm, restaurants, tourist shops and much, much more.<\/p>\n And for his expansion to take root, Richardson would need to be able to supply fresh water to the area \u2014 hence the massive water tower.<\/p>\n Toboggan Water Slide at Sulphur Springs (c. 1920) (Florida State Archives (Public Domain))<\/p>\n But Richardson\u2019s entrepreneurship would prove to be his downfall.<\/p>\n When Richardson commissioned the construction of the $180,000 water tower, he was forced to mortgage all of his properties to come up with the necessary funds, historians explain. He did so, believing that the long-term gains would be worth the risk.<\/p>\n A treeline divides the Sulphur Springs Water Tower from the nearby Hillsborough River (Anthony Talcott)<\/p>\n Cue the 1933 Treasure Coast Hurricane.<\/p>\n According to the NOAA<\/a>, that year\u2019s hurricane season was incredibly active, with 20 named storms and 11 hurricanes in total.<\/p>\n Path of the 1933 Treasure Coast Hurricane (NOAA)<\/p>\n The Treasure Coast Hurricane was particularly severe, bringing catastrophic flooding to the region that ultimately caused the local dam to collapse, swamping the arcade and Richardson\u2019s other attractions.<\/p>\n If the intense floods weren\u2019t bad enough, the impacts of the Great Depression made their way to the area, crippling the local economy and leaving Richardson without the money he needed to pay the mortgage on his arcade.<\/p>\n Josiah Richardson and his family riding across the Hillsborough River at Sulphur Springs (c. 1917). Richardson can be seen in the back seat with his wife. (Public Domain)<\/p>\n As a result, Richardson lost his vast fortune and had to sell his property \u2014 including the tower \u2014 and the arcade was eventually mowed down to make way for a parking lot.<\/p>\n Richardson\u2019s ambitions for Sulphur Springs went unachieved, and he died in Tampa a few decades later.<\/p>\n Sulphur Springs Hotel at 8122 N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa (1975). The hotel was situated near the “miraculous” mineral waters of Hillsborough River and represents an excellent example of a resort recreation facility of early 20th century. The most distinguished feature of the hotel was its first and second floor front arcade in classical style. (Library of Congress (Public Domain))<\/p>\n Over the following decades, the tower continued to pump artesian well water for local customers (the grounds surrounding the tower played host to a short-lived drive-in movie theater during the 1950s).<\/p>\n However, the city of Tampa ultimately forced the tower to stop piping in the 1970s so that the city could maintain a monopoly over supplying water for its residents, historians claimed.<\/p>\n (Left) A postcard of the Sulphur Springs Water Tower (1946). The top of the tower reportedly had a tank that held over 130,000 gallons of water, which was supplied via a spring at the base of the tower. (Anthony Talcott)<\/p>\n During the 1980s, plans arose for developers to construct some high-end condos and apartments around the tower, though the project reportedly ceased after pushback by the community.<\/p>\n