THE
LOST
CITY
TH
E LO
ST CITY
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(5
maginegoing
goingtotovisit
visitthe
the neighb
neighborhood
yougrew
grewup
upininand
andit's
it's
orhood you
'f magine
not ,t"t.!
there! Not
Not one single house,
house, grocery
grocery store,
store, bakery
bakeryororchurch
church
L,ot
everythinggone!
gone!InIna apanic,
panic,you
yourush
rushtotoyouï
yourhouse
houseand
andthen
then
I- —"u"ryth
I
ing
your
yourgrandp
grandparents'
house and
and all
all you
you fïnd
find are
are empfy
empty lots
lots full
full of
ofsand
sand
arents' house
family dinners
and rocks.
rocks. Your
Yourmind
mindraces
racesback
back to
to a time of
dinners,
and
blg family
of big
,
especially
aroundthe
the holiday
holidays.
Youthink
think of
of the
the playgro
playground
where
especia
und where
s. You
lly around
you
you and
and your
your friends
friends played
played stickba
stickball
and Bernar
Bernardo's
Grocery
Store
ll and
y Store
do's Grocer
and Garage
Garagewhere
whereyou
youwould
wouldhang
hangout,
out,drink
drinkCoke,
Coke,and
and chew
chewon
on
and
penny
pennybubble
bubblegum'
gum.The
The city
city you
you remem
remember
no longer
longer exists'
exists. IfIf you
you
ber no
grew
grewup
upininRobert
Roberts
City,then
then this
this is
is your
your story'
story.
s Ciry,
To
To help
help unders
understand
what happe
happened,
let'sgo
goback
back to
to when
when
ned, let's
tand what
Roberts
Citybegan.
began.In
In Arman
Armando
Mendez's
book cuidnd
Cuidad de
de Cigars:
cigars:
Roberr
do Mende
z's book
s ciry
\VestTa
mPa
welearn:
learn:
West Tampawe
N
oo_
o
Jo3
o
o
O
In 1893
West Tamþa
Tampa busines
business
leaderswere
were busy
busy seeking
new
1893 West
seeking new
In
s leaders
('o
the
Tòp:
Top:Ranón
RamonBemarào
Bernardosønds
standsininfront
frontofofthe
manufacturers
to entice
enticetotothe
thearea,
area. In
InJanuar
January
1893, George
George Beryan
Benjamin
mmurta
in
cturers to
y 1893,
familybusiness,
business,Bemardo
Bernardo's
ServiceStation'
Station.
's Seroice
fami\
and Phitlþ
Phillip collins
Collins successfully
lured brothers
brothersJulius
Juliusand
and Ernest
Ernest Ellinger
Ellingertoto
successfulþ lured
ønd
Above:Mswuel
Manuel"BabY
"Baby Ra1"
Ray"l-oÞez,le
Lopez, left
Aboue:
ft
move theiT
their operations
fromKey
Key West
West to
to West Tampa.
Tanpa'
oþerations from
moue
(hotiing
(holdinga abaf
loafofofCubm
Cubanbread)
bread),
andhis
his
, ønd
fatherAntonio
Antonio outside
outsideofofthe
theBuenaV
Buena Vista
ísta
father
Hotel in1942.
1942.
Hotelin
32
37
CIGAR CITY
CITYMAGAZ
MAGAZINE
CIGAR
INE
The Ellinger
Ellinger
The
Company
was
the
second
largest
manufacturer
of
Havana
cigars
in the
the
largest
mønufa
Comþan1 wds
cturer of Hawma cigars in
took at
anoffer
offerof
of sixty
sixty buíldin
building
lotsand
and$5,000
$5,000 cash
cash
United states,
States,and
and itit took
unned
glots
for Collins
Collinscntd
andBeniam
Benjamin
to Þersudd
persuade
the Ellinger
Ellingers
move.
in to
s totomove'
for
e the
I
I
l
i:
¡
:
:
could purchas
purchase
fresh baked
baked Cuban
Cuban bread
bread -—hot
hotout
out of
of
could
e fresh
Poultry Market
Latteri's Poultry
the oven. Then there
wasLatteri's
Market
therewas
the
where custom
customers
could stop
stopin
in to
to pick
pick out
out aa plump'
plump, live
live
where
ers could
chicken
forthat
that evenin
evening's
dinnerand
andhand
handititto
to the
the
chicke
g's dinner
n for
butcher
walk! This
This was
was the
the day-to'
day-to-day
life
for a walk!
butche
day life
r to take for
in this
this small
small commu
community.
in
nitY.
The icon
icon busines
business
of the
the city
city was
was the
the Buena
Buena Vista
Vista
The
s of
Hotel which
whichstood
stoodtall
tall on
on the
of
corner of
the southeast
southeast corner
Hotel
LaSalleStreet
Streetand
and Garcia
GarciaAvenue
Avenue.
This beautif
beautiful
hotel
LaSalle
' This
ul hotel
was the
the focal
focal point
point of the
with aa
complete with
city, complete
the city,
was
pool
swimming
andhealth
healthclub
club used
usedby
by many
many of
of the
the
swimm
ing pooland
cigarworkers
workersafter
afteraalong,
long,hard
hardday
dayofofwork'
work.The
Thehotel
hotel
cigar
alsohad
had an outdoor
were held'
held.
outdoor patio where dances
dances were
also
There was
was also
also a boxing
There
boxing
gym
gym that
that drew
crowds
drewcrowds
o
oo
depending
on what
what famous
famous
depend
ing on
a
.9
boxer
was
working
out at
at
workin
was
out
boxer
g
-9
õ
()
the time.
Professional
time.Professional
E the
o
ê
boxerslike
likeChino
Chino Alvarez
Alvarez,
,
u) boxers
ð Carl
d
(Red) Guggino,
Carl
Tony
TonY
Guggin
o,
I
=q Lopez
Lopez "Half-Pint",
"Half'Pint", Joe
Joe
E
.õ
F
Ficarotta,
Max Baer,
Baer,or
orthe
the
Ficarot
ta, Max
Cî
!.E
(TonY
Leto
brothers
(Tony
and
brothe
Leto
and
rs
-9
L
t
Jimmy)
could be
be seen
seen
Jimmy
) could
a
U)
getting
getting readY
readyfor
fortheir
theirnext
next
Bridging
book Bridgrng
¡'nn his book
bout.
outdoor
boxing
An
boxing
outdoo
bout.
I the
W.
r
the Gao
Gap Rober
Robert
W
t
o
'e
ring was
was also
also located
located at
at
l
ring
Saunders,
Sr., talks
talks
ls"un
d"ìr, Sr.,
LaSalle
Market
and
LaSalle
Market and
about growin
growing
up in
in
g uP
about
J.W.
W Roberts
Roberts€l& Son
SonCigar
CigarCo.,
Co., 1954
1954
l.
Streets.
This ring
ringattracte
attracted
Streets
d
. This
Roberts
City.
"My
family
familY
Ciry.
Robert
"MY
s
local amateu
amateur
boxers who
who
local
r boxers
had neighbors
from àa
neighbors from
had
going
good
with
few
could
make
good
money
going
a
few
rounds
with
one
rounds
a
one
money
varietyof
ofethnic
ethnic groups
groups,
including
Cubanand
and Italian'
Italian, could make
' includi
variety
ng Cuban
another.
Boxingwas
wasaamajor
majorform
formofofenterta
entertainment
in
anothe
aswell
wellas
asBlack
Blackand
andCaucas
Caucasian
families.
Localchildre
children
inment in
r. Boxing
n
as
' Local
ian families
RobertsCity
Cityand
and fights
fightswere
wereaapopula
popular
pastime.
'
r pastime
playedtogethe
together,
ateinineach
eachother's
other's homes,
homes,fought
foughteach
each Roberts
played
r, ale
other,urrd
andprotect
protected
eachother'
other.On
Onthe
the other
other hand'
hand,
ed each
àth"r,
what happen
happened
to Roberts
City? Why
Why does
does itit
Roberts City?
Florida's
segregation
lawsand
andtraditio
traditions
didkeep
keep us
us
ed to
ñt oo what
Florida
ns did
tion laws
's segrega
not exist
exist any
any longer?
longer? Simply
Simplyput'
put, itit was
wasdestroy
destroyed!
ed!
fromattendi
attending
the same
same schools
schools,
eatingin
in the
the same
same
from
, eating
ng the
\ not
Not
by
fire
or
a
natural
disaster,
but
by
something
someth
by
but
\.-rl
disaster
natural
No,
fire
ing
a
by
or
restaurants
and
even
drinking
from
the
same
water
water
,
the
from
restaurants and even drinking
farworse
worse-—Urban
UrbanRenew
Renewal.
Thisugly
uglymonste
monster
beganits
its
far
r began
al. This
fountains."
fountai
ns."
1960s'
annihilation
of Rober
Roberts
City in
in the
the early
early 1960s.
grew, numero
As the
the city grew,
numerous
businesses
openedto
to annihi
ts City
lation of
As
us busines
ses opened
homes
of
wiped
clean
Large
areas
of
Tampa
were
being
wiped
clean
of
homes
being
of
were
include
Tämpa
support
the
needs
residents.
They
included
S.
areas
Large
S'
its
residen
They
d
needs
of
the
support
ts'
and busines
businesses
to make
make way
wayfor
forwhat
whatwas
wascalled
calledatatthe
the
your
Conte Groce
Grocery
Store where
where you
you could
could buy your
and
ses to
Conre
ry Store
its
victims
time
"progress".
Roberts
City
became
one
of
its
victims.
'
groceries
forthe
theweek
weekand
and La
La Popula
Popular
Bakerywhere
whereyou
you time "progress". Roberts City became one of
grocerie
r Bakery
s for
University of SouthFlorida, Tampa Library, SpecialCollections Dept
I
I
The Ellinge
Ellingers
built their factory —
the first
first brick
brick
The
rs built
- the
building
in Vest
WestTämpa
Tampa-—
thecorner
cornerofofGreen
GreenStreet
Street
ononthe
buildin
g in
and Garcia
Garcia Avenu
Avenue.
They
then
constructed
small
They
small
constru
then
and
e.
cted
cottages
near the
the factory
factory for
for over
over 400
400 cigar
cigarworkers
workersand
and
cottage
s near
became known
known as
as "Ellinge
"Ellinger
City",or
oras
asthe
the residen
residents
itit became
ts
r City",
Barriode
de Elinch
Elinche.
It
was
bordered
by
the
by
the
was
calledft,
it, EI
El Barrio
bordere
called
e,It
d
Hillsborough
River
thenorth
north and
and east,
east, North
North
ononthe
Hillsbo
rough River
Boulevard
onthe
thewest
westand
andCass
CassStreet
Streeton
onthe
thesouth'
south.
Boulev
ard on
Ellinger
&
Co.
operated
as
a
cigar-producing
6r
cigar'pr
as
Co.
a
operat
Ellinge
oducin
ed
r
g
factorybut
butfell
fellon
onhard
hard times
timesafter
afterthe
the death
death of
of Julius
Julius
factory
Ellinger
in 1902.
Aftermerging
mergingwith
withanothe
anotherr compan
company,
Ellinge
y'
. After
r i¡L902
its operali
operations
moved to
to Ybor
Ybor City'
City. The
The origina
originall brick
brick
iß
ons moved
building
satempry
emptyuntil
until 1909
1909when
when the
the firm
of J'
J. \üZ
W.
firm of
buildin
g sat
Roberts
& Son opened
oPened
Robert
s &.
their own cigar
factory.
cigar factory.
their
Soon thereaf
thereafter,
residents
Soon
ts
ter, residen
begancalling
callingtheir
theirneighneighbegan
borhood
"Roberts
City".
borhoo
d "Rober
ts CitY".
Around
that, time
time the
the
Aroun
d that
Bridge
Garcia
Avenue
Bridge
Garcia Avenue
was built,
built,providing
\Mas
Providing
quick
quick access
access across
across the
the
Hillsborough
River.
River.
Hillsborough
I
S
"It was
natural
but by
by
or (La natu
disaster, but
Not by
by fire
fire or
rcú disaster,
wcrs destroyed!
destro¡Ìerjl l,lo¿
-
something
far wars
worse
Urban
Renewal."
wctL'"
some
n Rene
e — Llrba
thing fctr
33
33
MARCH- -Arml
APRIL2006
2006
M¡ncH
RobertsCitl
City Grocers
Grocers
Roberts
Men toting
toting cans
cans of
of paint
paint used
used their paintbr
paintbrushes
to
ushes to
Men
place
placeaadeath
death mark
mark on
on the
the outside
outside walls'
walls. URX
URX stood
stood for
for
"Urban Renew
Renewal
Removal".
Thenewly
newlybuilt
builtInterst
Interstate
"Urban
ate
al". The
al Remov
project
s
275 cut
cut throug
through
Unfortunately,
both projects
city. Unfort
775
unately, both
h the city.
occurred
with the
the blessin
blessings
of many'
many.
occurr
ed with
gs of
ghost town
failed...I
remember
the ghost
town dÞþeara
appearance
oftheneig
the neighh'
nce of
failed,.
.1reme
mber the
Roberts City's
CitY's
he Bernardos were one of Roberts
well-known families. Gilbert
Bernardo grew up playing
with
the
other kids
kids in
in his
his neighb
neighborwith the other
orhood,and
and enjoye
enjoyed
hanging
outat
at
hood,
g out
d hangin
hisfamily'
family's
store.His
Hisgrandp
grandparents,
arents,
his
s store.
Ramó
Ramon
and
Emilia
Bernardo,
had
Bernar
Emilia
n and
do, had
movedto
toRobert
Roberts
Cityininthe
the earlY
early
moved
s CitY
1900s
from Asturias,
SPain'
Asturias, Spain.
19OO
s from
Gilbert's
father
Ramon
was
one of
of
one
father
was
Ramón
Gilber
t's
their seven
seven childre
children.
Gilbert
wasso
so
their
t was
n. Gilber
affected
bywhat
whathaPPe
happened
to his
his
affecte
ned to
d by
urban
of
neighborhood
as
a
result
of
urban
result
neighb
as
a
orhood
express
renewal
thathe
he had to
renew
to express
al that
following
himself
in writing
writing.
The following
himse
lf in
. The
excerpt
fullof
ofthe
the emotio
emotion
he
excerp
n he
t isisfull
experienced
thetime:
time:
experie
nced atatthe
andget
get buckets
bucketsof
of fßh
fish heads
headsfrom
fromthe
the frh
fishmarket
marketand
and iust
just
and
dogsand
and cats
catsinin þacks,
packs,as
as pets
petshad
had
borhood,
no þeoþle,
people, but
but dogs
borhood
, no
beenabatdo
abandoned.
Animall Contro
Controll quickty
quicklyrounde
rounded
up the
the
been
d uþ
ned' Anima
dogs,but
butdid
didnothnrg
nothingabout
about
dogs,
the cats.
recall cats
cats frantica
frantically
the
cats' II recall
lþ
scaleþower
power poles
polestoto catch
catchaa bird
bird that
that had
had lighted
lighted
tryingtotoscøIe
trying
onthe
thewire.
wire. Such
Such wøs
was the
the hunger'
hunger. II would
would go
go across
the riuer
river
on
dcross the
T
dumpthem
themin
in the
the fields.
Cats would
would
dtnnp
fields' Cats
rushfrom
from all
all ouer,
over,grab
grabaa fish
fish head,
head,
rush
andrace
raceto
to some
somefar
farcomer
cornertotodeuour
devour
mtd
theirþrize,
prize.Slowly
Slowlythe
the cats,
cats,too,
too,disaþ'
disaptheir
peared.Then
ThenaII
allwas
was silent.
silent.
þeared.
memory
of Robert
Roberts
City
s CitY
ry of
f-flhe he memo
I liu"r
liveson
onin
in the
the minds
minds and
and
hearts of
of those
those who
who once
once
I hearts
T
34
34
CIGARCITY
CITYMAGAZ
MAGAZINE
CIGAR
INE
GilbertBernardo
livedin
in this
this thïivin
thriving
citybY
by the
the
lived
g city
dver.
river.One
One such
such Person
person is George
George
"Yoye"Lopez,
Lopez.LoPez
Lopezhas
hasspent
spent aa
"Yoye"
great
greatdeal
dealof
oftime
timeat
at his
his home
home in
in
o
E
6
Seffne
Seffner
documenting
memories
of
ries of
r docum
enting memo
c
o
dl
growin
had
I
up
CitY.
growing
up
in
Roberts
City.
I
had
Robert
in
g
s
Ë
o
€ read
read about George's
passion
for
George's Passio
n for
õ
preserv
preserving
the memo
memory
of Robert
Robert's
ing the
's
ry of
TheBemardo
Bernardofamiþ,
family,from
fromleft,
left,Møwet,
Manuel,
The
City
in
old
Tampa
Tribune
in
Tribune
Tamþa
old
City
an
Firstthe
the houses
houseswere
werebought
boughtuP
up
First
Raman,Tbrry,
Tony,Nick
Nickand
andJoe
Joe
Romón,
article.
spoke of
of the reunions
reunions
article
and families
movedout,
out.Withno
With nohous'
hous. ItIt sPoke
andfom
ilies moued
group
Georgeand
and aa group of
of friends
friends from
from Robert
Roberts
Citywould
would
George
esand
andno
no þeoþle,
people,there
therewas
wasno
noone
one toto suÞÞort
support' the
the neighbo
neighbors City
es
r'
article'
The
hold
to
reminisce
about
their
neighborhood.
The
article,
about
hold
reminis
neighb
to
their
hood busines
businesses.
So,
for
the
most
part,
the
businesses
business
the
So,
the
hood
orhood
ce
es
ses.
'
for
Þdrt,
written in 1968, was about their third annual reunion
with 1,500 people showing up at rhe American Legion
Hall at Macfarlane Park. These large reunions have
ceased, but George and his buddies still get together at
El Gallo de Oro Restaurant every Monday and Friday to
stay in touch and have café con leche. I knew I had to
E
u¡
tx
ñil
fl
n
contact George to find out more about Roberts City.
I found George's number and called him. We spent
a great deal of time talking over the telephone that day,
with George speaking about the neighborhood
he
remembered with so much passion and love. We set up
a meeting the following Monday morning at El Gallo to
meet and talk. I arrived right at 10:30 a.m. and the place
was crowded with all the tables occupied. I looked
around, wondering how I was going to find George since
I didn t know what he looked like. I saw a large table of
six men and thought this might be George's friends that
he called "The Roberts City Boys". I walked over and
asked if they knew George Lopez. One of them said,
- why are you looking for him?"
I introduced myself and told them I was meeting George
to talk about Roberts City. One of them pointed to the
chair at the corner of the table and said, "George is next
door having a hair cut; sit down right there in that seat
- that's where George sits". lØith that, they continued
on with the conversation I had interrupted. "You don't
know what you are talking about," one said to another
across the table. "Oh, I don't know what I'm talking
about, huh? What do you know? Nothing - absolutely
nothing", he quipped back. This banter continued back
and forth between all of them and when it had subsided
a bit, one said, "Can I buy you a cup of cøfé con leche?"
"Yes, thank you, that would be nice," I said. Then the
taunting and teasing continued at rhe table.
"Yeah, we know George
ffi M
I
M
E IN
Buynns o SnllnRs
Molo .
.
trñttrEñ
IV¿,nn¿.NTY
R¡\DON . Tll¡;nlvlnl -Iol:tcrnc
Free Estimate & Limited Home Warranty
I
El Galla de Oro Restaurant in 2005.
(fromleft sittíng) Orløndo Salinero, Emest Rodrígr'tez, Richørd Sanchez,
Roberts City Boys outside of the
Armanda Castíllo, Ríco Oliuera, Emilio Espinola, TonJ Castellana, Joe
Dario. (from left standing) Lou Matassini and George InpeT
(8f3)
928,-ÃUr|,6,
www.ocrei nspeciions.com
M¡.ncu - Apnr
200ó
35
As II sat
hotcoffee,
coffee,
cup of
As
my cup
of hot
there drinking
sat there
drinking my
Boys" have
realized that
that these "Roberts
have been
been
"Roberts City Boys"
II realized
RETvIEMBER
ROBERTS
CITY
ROB
ERTS CITY
Buena Vsta
VistaHotel
Hotel
Buena
Tomassino Grocery
Grocery
Tomassino
Store
Store
J.W.
W.Roberts
Roberts&.
& Son
Son
J.
Cigar Factory
Factory
Cigar
Matassini Fish
Fish Market
Market
Matassini
Bernardo Grocery
Grocery
Bernardo
Store &.
& Garage
Garage
Store
Latteri Poultry
Poultry Market
Market
Latteri
BigCigar
CigarCompany
Company
Big
Bretton Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Bretton
Desoto Battery
Battery
Desoto
Poultry Market
Hunt Poultry
Market
Hunt
Ray Williams
WilliamsFuneral
Funeral
Ray
Atlantic Marble
Marble
Atlantic
and Tile
Tile
and
Home
Home
Carver Theatre
Theatre
Carver
Butter Krust
Krust
Butter
Agliano Fruit
FruitStand
Stand
Agliano
Juan Garcia
Garcia Cigar
Cigar
Juan
Factory
Factory
Tampa Linen
Linen
Tämpa
La Prinsa
Prinsa Caft
Café
La
Paradise Café
Café
Paradise
E. Domingue
Dominguez
E.
z
\Vholesale
rs
Wholesalers
Fonte Cleaners
Cleaners
Fonte
ABC Café
Café
ABC
Harry's Cookies
Cookies
Harry's
Happy Tony
Tony
Happy
BillyMoore
Moore
Billy
Brisa
Brisa
La Popular
Popular Bakery
Bakery
La
E Garcia
Garcia and
and Brothers
Brothers
F.
Cigar Factory
Factory
Cigar
Saunders Funeral
Funeral
Saunders
Home
Home
Ice House
House
Ice
Guggina Grocery
Grocery
Guggina
backwards he
and then, with
he
with his
cap tipped
baseball cap
tipped backwards
his baseball
and
leaned back
back in his
his
his chair,
across his
folded his arms
chair, folded
arms across
leaned
chest, and said,
"Beforewe
we talk
talk further,
further,II want
want you
you to
to
said, "Before
chest,
pages of
read this."
this." He
He handed
handed me ten
handwritten
of handwritten
ten pages
read
(sic)
notes
that
were
titled,
"Robert
(sic)
City
4/1/05".
City 4lll05".TThen
notes that u/ere titled,
hen
he got
got up and went into the
me
leaving me
the other
room, leaving
other room,
he
alone. So,
So, here I was left with
which
task —
assigned task
with an
an assigned
alone.
- which
gladly
I
gladly
accepted
—
and
I
began
to
read.
I
I
accepted - aird began to read.
Clara Frye
Frye Hospital
Hospital
Clara
Sanchez Ship
Ship RePair
Repair
Sanchez
Ice
Ice Plant
Plant
Store
Store
Gusmano Filling
Filling
Gusmano
Guida Grocery
Grocery Store
Store
Guida
Station
Station
Papia Grocery
Grocery Store
Store
Papia
Lores Grocery
Grocery
Lores
Cardinale Grocery
Grocery
Cardinale
Store
Store
Fernandez Sandwich
Sandwich
Fernandez
Shop
Shop
La Cooperati
Cooperativa
La
va
Grocery Store
Store
Grocery
Buckeye Cigar
Cigar
Buckeye
North Boulevard
Boulevard
North
BaptistChurch
Church
Baptist
Businesses:
Businesses
:
Mistretta, BlasBlasMistretta,
Rodriguezand
and
Rodriguez
Salaniro
Salaniro
Cagnina Grocery
Grocery Store
Store
Cagnina
and others...
others...
and
36
36
CIGAR CITY
CITY MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
CIGAR
I
\ü/e spoke
table. We
and directed
directed me
me to the kitchen table.
awhile
spoke awhile
and
Stadium Inn
Inn
Stadium
Cigar Factory
Factory
Cigar
afternoon'
arrived at
at Georqe's
George's home
home in
in the
early afternoon.
the early
'v arrived
I H"
He and his
wife live in
in a beautiful wooded
wooded area
area in
in
hi, tif"-lirr"
^r",d
just
Seffner
outside of
of Tämpa.
Tampa.George
Georgeinvited
invited me
me in
in
r., just outside
IS.ff
Roberts Ciry
City Garage
Garage
Roberts
S. Conte
Conte Grocery
Grocery
S.
F.Garcia
Garcia&.
&Brothers
Brothers
F.
youngsters' so
around each other since
so
wereyoungsters,
since they
theywere
around
picking
pickingon
on one
one another
another was
was something
something they
they had
had been
been
doing for
for years.
years. II could
could picture
picture them
them playing
playingin
in aa
doing
makeshift baseball
baseball field
fieldin
in Roberts
Roberts City
City with
with one
one yelling
yelling
makeshift
yeah? Just
. . " "Oh yeah?
out, "Bet
"Bet you
youcan't
can't hit
hit this
this curve
curve ball.
ball..."
Just
out,
shut up
up and
and throw
throw the
the darn
darn ball!"
ball!"
shut
When George
George finally
finally arrived
arrived around
around 11
11 a.m',
a.m., "the
"the
When
boys"were
weregetting
gettingup
upto
to move
move to
to their table outside.
outside'
boys"
later discovered
discovered they
they move
move to
to the
the outside
outside table
table because
because
II later
that's when
when the restaurant's
arriving
restaurant's lunch crowd
crowd starts arriving
that's
café con
con
finished with
and, by
by that
that time,
with their
their café
time, they are finished
and,
and Cuban
Cuban bread.
bread. George
Georgeand
and II talked
talked for
for aa bit
bit
leche and
Ieche
quiet
home
his
later
outside
but
we
decided
a
quiet
meeting
at
his
home
later
we
at
but
meeting
outside
decided a
that next
next week
would be
be better.
better. That
That way
he could
could show
show
week would
way he
that
me all
all the
the informatio
information
he had collected about Roberts
Roberts
me
n he
City.II said
said goodbye
goodbyetotothe
the guys
guysand
and aa couple
couple of
of them
them
City.
waved,but
but the
the others
others were
were too
too focused
focusedon
on the
the new
new
waved,
battle that had begun.
realizedthat
that
away, II realized
As II walked
walked away,
begun' As
battle
these old
old friends
friendshave
have aa genuine
genuine respect
respect and
and love
love for
for one
one
these
another and they show
with their teasing.
teasing.
show itit with
another
My name
name is
is George
George Loþez.
Lopez. II was
was bom
born in
in Robert
Robert City
City
My
(sic)
l-aurel
west
of
(sic) in
in 1928 —
Laurel
1
block
west
of
the
La
St.,
806
block
the bt
PopularBakery.
Bakery.There
Therewere
were 12
12 in
in nry
my family;
before
diedbefore
Poþular
faríb; 2 died
father'sna'ne
name wds
was Antonio
was bom,
born. ltþ
My føther's
Antonío Lopez (cigar
II was
þigar
Key West,
maker), born
born in
in Cuba. Mother
was born in Key
West,
Mother wds
maker),
Guillermina
Delgado(housewife)
(housewife)...
Guillermm
ø Delgado
' ,.
He wrote
wrote about the
families
mixture of
the mixture
He
immigrant families
of immigrant
who had
had come
come to
to the
the United States
States looking
for aabetter
better
who
looking for
way of
of life
lifeand
and who
who had
had settled
settled in Roberts
City. As
As II
Roberts City.
way
how
read,
I
was
amazed
by
how
much
George
remembered.
remember
George
amazed
was
reacl, I
much
by
ed'
"Where Roberts
Roberts City
PresbyterianVi\lage,
BlakeHigh
"Where
Village,
Cityonce
HighSchool,
areBlake
oncestood
stoodare
School,Presbyterian
Tampa Preþararory
Preparatory Sch
School
and Julian
Julian B,
B. I^ane
Lane Riverfront
Park."
Tinnpa
Riverfront Park."
ool and
University ofSouthFlorida, Tampa Library, Special Collections Dept
page, he would
who lived
lived in
in his neighborhood
neighborhood -families who
He had listed
listed families
As he turned each page,
little bit of
As
would tell me a little
Bernardo, Conte, Dario,
Darrigo, Salinero,
Dario, Darrigo,
Bernardo,
history
each
serviceman
—
his
name,
where he
he
setviceman
each
name,
history
about
Salinero, Cardosa,
Cardosa,
where
- his
lived in
in Roberts City,
City, what
what his parents did for a living
living or
or
Papia, Flores,
Flores, Fonte,
Fonte, Castellano,
Castellano, Contreras, Cardinale,
Cardinale,
lived
Papia,
some story
story he
he remembered.
remembered. George
George later
later told
told me
me there
there
Espinola, Matassini,
Matassini,Sanchez,
Sanchez, and
and Carbajal.
Carbajal. II recogsome
Espinola,
recognized many
many of
of the
the names
names of "the boys"
were two
two guys
guys that didn't
make ititback
had
were
nized
home—
boys" he had
backhome
didn t make
- Nick
Matassini
Matassini and
and Oscar Ramos.
introduced me
me to at
El Gallo
introduced
de Oro.
Gallo de
George wrote
wrote
Ramos.
at El
Oro. George
good
passed quickly
quickly as
and
memories and
Time passed
about all the good memories
âs
that had
George shared
shared his stories
stories with
with me,
me,
community that
active community
the active
George
existed in
in Roberts
Roberts City.
His
existed
City. His
time to head back
but it was now time
back
got
the traffic
descriptions took
took me
me on
on aa mental
mental
Tämpa before the
descriptions
to Tampa
traffic got
o
ô bad. I thanked George
journey
journey to this
this part of
of Tämpa
Tampa that
that
spendGeorge for spendc
-9
II knew
ing the afternoon with me and we
knew so
so little
little about.
about.
ing
we
o
o
o
()
When
I
finished
reading,
agreed we
we would
would stay
stay in touch.
agreed
When I finished reading,
touch.
d
'at
o
Before
I
left,
George
handed
me aa
George came
came back
back into
into the room
left,
room
George
George
handed
me
I
Before
è
ct)
*
you
copy of
of his writing
and said,
writing and said he
copy
he
said, "Alright,
'Alright, so now you
E
!
you
wanted
me
to
keep
I
knew
read
what
had
to
say,
and
you
it.
keep
I
me
I
what
say,
knew I
read
to
to
=o6 wanted
E
wasn't the first
receive aa
first person to receive
know about Roberts City".
City". He
wasn't
Ê
d
p
paper
pulled out aa sheet
copy, and
and II surely
would not
not be
surely would
of paper
copy,
sheet of
then pulled
-9
L
the last.
last.George's
on which
he had
drawn aa
mission has
had drawn
has
the
which he
George's mission
on
=
o
(n
willbe
be to
to educate
educate
makeshift map.
map. Lines
intersected
makeshift
Lines intersected
been and always
always will
o
people as
as he
he can about
names of
about
as many people
showing the names
one another showing
'ø.
o
'- his
his beloved
beloved Roberts City.
streets: Short Main,
Main, Main,
Main, Green,
Green,
streets:
City.
On the
LaSalle, Nassau, Arch,
from
homefrom
drivehome
Arch,
thedrive
On
Laurel, LaSalle,
The only
City,
reminder of Roberts
The
Roberts Citl,
onþ reminder
Seffner II decided
detour
Cass, and
and Garcia
fire ladrant.
hydrant.
decided to
to detour
Seffner
Cypress, Cass,
Grace, Cypress,
aa fire
through where
where the
the city
Avenue. A corresponding
through
city once
Avenue.
once
corresponding list of
looked left
stations,barbershops,
Boulevard and looked
North Boulevard
cigar
barbershops, cigar
stood. I drove down North
stores, cafés,
service stations,
cafés, service
get
a feel
there.
factories
feel for what was once there.
factories and
and other businesses
were numbered,
numbered, indicatindicatbusinesses were
and right trying
trying to
how George
ing their location
that
location on the map.
drawn the
the
map. George
George had drawn
I tried
toremember
ing
tried to
George explained
explained that
remember how
intersecting streets
streets and I slowed
slowed down
down to
to read
read the
the street
street
different today
today with
with most
most
significantly different
intersecting
the landscape is significantly
signs,
trying
to
imagine
how
they
all
ran
together.
had
of the streets still
there, but no longer running as far as
as
they
ran
imagine
how
still there,
together. II had
all
signs, trying to
driven down
down this street many
many times
today
they once
once did.
did.
driven
times before but today
they
sadness overcame
overcameme.
me.II thought
thought about
about one
one of the last
Standing where Roberts
Roberts City once stood are Blake
Blake
Standing
sadness
questions
questions I asked George.
George. II wanted to know if
Tampa Preparatory
Preparatory
was
if there was
Presbyterian Village, Tämpa
High School, Presbyterian
anything left of Roberts
Roberts City.
City. He
He paused for
for a minute,
minute,
Boys
Riverfrcnt Park. The
anything
The Boys
School and Julian
Julian B. Lane Riverfront
looked down
down and
and then back at
smile and
me with
soft smile
was recently
recentlybuilt
built on
on the corner of
with aa soft
at me
looked
and Girls Club was
said, "Only
"Only aa fire
fire hydrant."
hydrant."
and Arch
Arch Street.
Street. George
George told
told me
me that
that
said,
Boulevard and
North Boulevard
workingon
on putting
putting aa plaque
plaque at
at this
this location
ciry is working
the city
Bemardo
Special
thanks to George Inpez
Lopez ond
and Gilbert
Gilbert Bernardo
Roberts City.
City.
to honor Roberts
Speciøl thar*s
photographs for this
who prouided
provided valuable
valuable information and
George next
next pulled
pulled out
out an old picture album
thß
and photographs
filled
George
album filled
who
Boys" for
photographs of
article.
want to thank
ofmen
men in
in their
thdnk all
the"Roberts City Boys"
article. II also
also wont
II
ølI the"Roberts
their World
with photographs
World War
\Øar II
Oro
de Oro
Gallo de
all the
the mornings
of café
café con
con leche
leche at
at El Gallo
uniforms. He
He has collected
collected aa number of
pictures of
of men
men
aII
uniforms.
mornings of
of pictures
Restdurdnt,
Restaurant.
country bravely.
from Roberts
Roberts City who served their
from
bravely.
their country
@
2006
MencH
MARCH-- Aprul
APRIL 2006
37
37