Sites designated as having historical significance speak to an understanding that to allow 'progress' to remove what came before can also mean losing the cultural atmosphere of not just a location but also a space in time. Each era sees different trends in everything from clothing and hairstyles to vehicles and architecture. Many of these time capsules are lost to us; fashion of era's gone by most certainly comes to us through literature and paintings and does not necessarily speak to every day life. This is what is so amazing about architecture. If carefully preserved, a structure can stand as an example of what went before, often imparting a sense of what life might have been, once upon a time.
Pass-a-Grille is rich in this aspect of significance, with the most recent Pass-a-Grille Historic Sites Survey underscoring how very lucky residents and visitors are in being able to look back in time by simply walking around the neighborhood. The survey states that the approximately the approximately 40 acre historic district had 97 contributing resources with a period of significance of ca. 1890-1922. Below are some of the different styles of home that you will see as you journey the one block wide and 31 block long expanse that is our shining gem of past and present. Much of this information comes from the incredible story told at spbftp.stpetebeach.org site which details the story of Pass-a-Grille being listed as National Historic District.
The Single Family Detached Home-Early in the history of Pass-a-Grille,often built between 1900 and the late 1920's were often made pre-cut lumber though prior to that builders would sometimes use 'found' or native building materials. Homes built during this time were often of similar size and construction and were decidedly plain, being created for security and protection rather than adornment.
Photo courtesy of spbftp.stpetebeach.org
Craftsman Bungalow-After 1920, residential architecture became influenced by this style of homes that included wide or small porches, tapered columns and overhanging eaves as well as brick chimneys. This style was often incorporated into older homes to update their look.
Photo courtesy of spbftp.stpetebeach.org
Spanish/Mediteranian- During the same time the bungalow became proper, the economic climate was experiencing a certain prosperity and this brought some larger, showier houses to the area. This included the Spanish and Mediteranian influenced buildings that were popular in Florida due to Spanish tradition that included churches and hotels, often with red tiled roofs. Though not as common onn Pass-a-Grille as the other styles, these buildings all play an imortant role in telling history.
Photo courtesy of spbftp.stpetebeach.org
Typical World War Two Era Masonry Home- This almost ubiquitous style often comes to mind when thinking of Florida homes. The pink color is another characteristic often associated with Sunshine State residences. This type of housing became popular as Florida became a more 'hospitable' state with the advent of indoor air conditioning; the masonry construction kept the houses cooler more efficientl than the previous fram cottages.
Photo courtesy of spbftp.stpetebeach.org