The Life & Times of John C. Blocker, Jr.

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN CROMWELL BLOCKER, JR. (1896-1957 CE)

A CHRONOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY

by Donald J. Ivey

_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I.

Title St. Petersburg Pioneer (1896-1917 CE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page

3

II.

World War I (1918-1919) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

III.

The Wanderer (1919-1925) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

IV.

Home at Last: The Young Lawyer (1925-1927) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

V.

“The Sixth Commissioner” (1928-1951) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

VI.

County Historian (1951-1957) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

EPILOGUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENDNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84 87

BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 APPENDIX 1: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX 2: GENEALOGICAL TABLES Table A: The Ancestors of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table B: The Children of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table C: The Family of Nina Mutelle (Hill) Blocker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table D: The Family of Ruby Ford (Harris) Blocker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

124 125 126 127

PREFACE

As Curator of Collections at Heritage Village–The Pinellas County Historical Museum, the question has often been posed to me as to who was our county’s first historian. It is not an easy question to answer. There are several candidates for the title: Cabeza de Vaca, whose account of the Narvaez expedition to this region in 1528 remains a classic adventure tale in Western literature; early St. Petersburg pioneer John A. Bethell, whose 1914 book History of Pinellas Peninsula was the first attempt to record a history of the area; former St. Petersburg Times publisher William L. Straub, who led the movement to secede Pinellas from Hillsborough County and who was the author of the 1929 book History of Pinellas County Florida; and longtime Times correspondent Ralph Reed, who served as the first Director of the Pinellas County Historical Museum from 1961 to 1975. But the first official historian of Pinellas County–designated as such by the Board of County Commissioners, no less–was John C. Blocker, Jr. Athlete, soldier, writer and distinguished attorney, Blocker was a man of many talents. He led a life far more active and varied than the stereotyped notion of the stodgy old historian that most people imagine. Extremely well educated by the standards of both his day and ours, he traveled widely and spoke several languages. A veteran of World War I, he served his country with honor on the front lines of that terrible conflict. Later, as attorney for the Pinellas County Commission, he won widespread acclaim for his services to the board, which included playing key roles in the development of both the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Fort DeSoto Park. In fact, so powerful and influential was he that he was commonly known as “the sixth commissioner.” And finally, his passionate love for the county of his birth led him to collect countless interviews, stories and documents which would have resulted in perhaps the definitive history of Pinellas County had not his untimely death at the age of sixty prevented him from completing it. This biography is presented in the form of an historical “time line” chronology. By tracing the major developments of Blocker’s life through time, I hope to present both a concise and readable account of his life based entirely on the facts as we know them. A biographical record on Blocker and genealogical charts on his family are also provided as appendices. In preparing this paper, I have many people to thank. First and foremost, I would like to express my thanks to Ms. Margaret Blocker, eldest daughter of John Blocker and her sisters Sallie Blocker and Joan Blocker McMullen, who generously gave of their time and lent me many photographs and other materials in preparing this work. The St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Florida Supreme Court Library in Tallahassee also provided me with full access to their records, which was sincerely appreciated as well. I would also like to thank Scott Taylor Hartzell of the Times and Jordana Bernstein, Holly McConnell, and Ann Wykoff of the St. Petersburg Museum of History for their unselfish help to me as well. And last, but certainly never least, I would like to thank my lovely wife Mylene for her undying support, patience and love, and my son John, who always inspires me to do my best.

One final note. Admittedly, this biography only scratches the surface of the life of this fascinating man who was involved in so many key decisions during the early years of our county’s modern development. Much more could-and should–be written about him. Unfortunately, however, the pressing matters of life and the ugly dictates of time demand that I end my research of Blocker with this work. So in this sense, this biography is not intended as an “end-all-be-all” treatment of Blocker, but as a starting point for future historians and researchers to explore. And so, that being said, let us begin.

Donald J. Ivey February 27, 2002

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN CROMWELL BLOCKER, JR. (1896-1957 CE) A CHRONOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY

Chapter I: St. Petersburg Pioneer (1896-1917)

1896 December 13 Birth of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr. in the family’s four-room cottage on Central Avenue near 6th Street in the town of St. Petersburg, in Hillsborough (now Pinellas) County, State of Florida, the second and youngest child of John Cromwell Blocker, Sr. and his wife Nina Mutelle (Hill) Blocker. (1) The Blocker family in America is an old one, as its progenitor is believed to have originally come from Germany to Bladen (now Cumberland) County, North Carolina about 1733. (2) John’s father, John Cromwell Blocker, Sr. was a native of Tarboro, North Carolina. In 1884, he moved with his family to Dade City in Hernando (now Pasco) County and in 1886, joined the Orange Belt Railway which in the following year, became the first railroad line to reach the Pinellas peninsula. Eventually, he became one of the first engineers to work on the Orange Belt’s run from Sanford in Seminole County to St. Petersburg. (3) John Jr.’s mother’s family, the Hills, were originally from South Carolina, but in 1884 they had moved in a covered wagon to the small rural settlement of Chipco near Blanton in what is now Pasco County. John and Marguerite’s maternal grandfather, Dr, John Ward Hill, was a distinguished pioneer of Pasco County. Writing after his death in 1911, a Dade City newspaper noted that “Dr. Hill came to Pasco County many years ago and for a long time was the leading physician of all this territory and his practice was immense. As he grew older and was unable to get in and out of his buggy, many times those he had served so well and who wanted no one else, would go to his home and assist him to a seat in the buggy and return home with him. Many families in this county owed to the skill of Dr. Hill the life of their loved ones, his name being a Christian word in many families. He was a good man and a Christian gentleman.” (4)

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Originally named John Cofield Blocker after his father and a great-uncle, William Coffield (Cofield) Blocker, John was, according to his elder sister Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, “. . . called Colie till he was half grown, when he decided he wanted to be John Cromwell [Blocker], Jr.” (5) On his birth, Marguerite also records a letter from her maternal grandmother Sarah Mutelle (Mittie) Whitmire Hill to her husband, Dr. John Ward Hill: “Well, Nina has a big boy–weighed ten pounds– all proud it is a boy. Margie [Marguerite] is so proud of her little buddy–kisses him four or five times a day.” (6)

1897 In the year following John’s birth, John Blocker, Sr. retired from the railroad because of ill health and together with his younger brother Albert (Bert) Blocker, began dairy farming. As his daughter Marguerite recalls in her history Some of the Blockers: “He sold the cottage and moved us a mile out in the country near his dairy to a much larger house with a comfortable porch all the way around it and a breeze-way through the center. He also had a truck garden, an orange grove of sorts, a small farm–and he swapped horses when he needed cash!” (7) Their new home was known as the George L. King house on 14th Street South and 1st Avenue in St. Petersburg. In an article which appeared many years later in the St. Petersburg Times, Marguerite fondly reminisced about the years her family lived in this house, recalling that the home “‘. . . was built by George L. King, owner of the lower peninsula’s first sawmill . . . He built his house on the rise above [Brooker] Creek,’ says Mrs. Bartlett. ‘It had nine rooms, and a ‘hip roof’ (gables sawed off at the ends). A distinguishing feature of the house was a porch all the way around it, and an open breeze way through the middle.’ “‘My brother John and I used to ride our bicycles around that porch,’ Mrs. Blocker said. “‘There was the clear, bubbling creek, which formed a community swimming hole, near what is now central avenue. It even had a little beach.’ “‘All the neighbors went there,’ remembers Mrs. Bartlett . . . ‘My brother and I hunted gophers [turtles] and sold them for a nickel apiece to the blacks; there was a black settlement along the railroad tracks, between 9th and 12th Streets.’” (8) Years later, John Blocker, Jr. would fondly recall his early years in the “Sunshine City.” As a member of the St. Petersburg Pioneers Association in the early 1930's, Blocker

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“. . . spoke and recalled many amusements of the yesteryear when the Sunshine City folks would go down to the Detroit hotel, then the center of all activity, to watch the bicycle and horse races. He also recalled the picnics, when the residents would kill every chicken they had on their place and, placing everything on tables, would say, ‘Eat.’ He recalled the Washington birthday celebrations, the flag pole in the center of Fourth and Central, and the exchange of eggs for merchandise. “A favorite greeting in those days he said, was ‘Howdy–get down, hitch. Come in. If I’d a knowed you were coming I would have baked a cake.’” (9)

1897-1903 During these early years, Blocker grew up amidst a large and bustling extended family centered around his maternal grandparents, the Hills. Dr. John Ward Hill was a physician who practiced first in the small rural community of Chipco in Pasco County. Later, in January 1901, he moved to Hudson, a small settlement built around the local turpentining and fishing industries about 18 miles north of Tarpon Springs. Some of the family’s adventures during these years were faithfully recorded by Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, who wrote: “Naturally I started going to Chipco as a baby, and continued as a toddler when my brother was a baby . . . He, Mama and I made this seventy-mile trip [from St. Petersburg] to Chipco twice a year. At Christmas we stayed home for Santa Claus’s visit and to spend the day with Papa. But we always caught the early morning train the next day, which was Grandpa’s Birthday . . . A few times we had to go on a freight train. This was an all-day trip and was extremely dirty because of the woodburning engine. Though it was exciting to ride in a caboose, we disliked the hard wooden benches. We much preferred the red plush seats on the day coach passenger train, with the butcher-boy selling exotic candies, such as slices of orange-flavored gumdrops in a small, round, wooden box. But any train was a shivery thrill. “One summer, when the three of us were making the trip, there was a wreck ahead of us about two miles below Chipco. The passengers walked up and down the road bed or stood off under the pines, complaining of heat and hunger. How long it would take the wrecking crew from Trilby to clear the tracks, no one knew. Suddenly we glimpsed a horse and buggy zigzagging through the trees. There was dear Grandpa,

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guiding Old Charley around pines and stumps, coming to rescue us. He had learned of the wreck when he went to meet us and wanted to save us hours of waiting. How important we felt piling into the buggy with our valises. We had to leave our trunk to be put off at Chipco. “I loved the Home Place at Stake Pond. Though I was used to chickens, farm animals and a simple country life, it was different at Grandma’s. I remember insignificant little happenings that endeared everyone to me . . . “But going to a picnic was what I remember most. There were several during the summer, but the one on the Fourth of July was the most exciting. The day beforehand was a busy one. Aunt Pauline and Aunt Pearl got out the baskets and selected their special preserves and pickles from the pantry. They baked pies and grandma made her famous fourteen-egg pound cake by her mother’s recipe. Any uncle who was home was kept busy bringing in extra stove wood. By daylight the next morning the aunts were up frying the chicken, making chicken pilau (pronounced purloo), baking biscuits, cooking string beans, deviling eggs and slicing tomatoes. It was catch-ascatch-can for breakfast; I was always too impatient to eat anyway. It took forever for my aunts to bathe, dress and primp for their beaux. Finally, we piled the baskets and ourselves in the wagon and commanded old Charley to ‘git-up’ . . . “Of course, it nearly always rained–one of those quick summer showers. There was a hasty packing away of the food and a scramble for umbrellas or buggies. Some just endured it. We children crawled under the tables for shelter. I loved the fresh, earthy smell the rain brought. But, it never lasted long. The grown-ups rested and visited, while the younger folks wandered off courting . . . “[But] No matter how hard Grandpa worked on the Home Place, it was a struggle even to pay the taxes. With three sons away all of the time, and with Uncle Holly away part of the time, there was no one to help him but Uncle Oscar, and he had begun teaching school, though only eighteen. Besides, Grandpa’s practice took a great deal of time. In 1900 an offer came from a turpentine company in Hudson, forty miles away on the Gulf, to practice there and to look after the company’s men, with a guaranteed salary of fifty dollars a month. He decided to take it . . . “. . . When the time came for our summer visit with Grandma, we rode up on the ‘short,’ arriving in Tarpon Springs about ten in the morning. We alighted there 6

because Hudson was not on the railroad. Uncle Holly, who had driven Old Charley down with the wagon, met us and took us to buy groceries for Grandma. It was so dark when we got to Hudson that Colie and I couldn’t investigate the marshes Uncle Holly told us about till morning. Grandpa’s big house faced west on the Gulf, but there were great stretches of marsh grass in front of it before open water could be reached. Colie and I spent hours chasing fiddler crabs and building elaborate houses in the wet sand. That’s where we learned about tides.” (10) During this period, John and Marguerite also began attending St. Petersburg’s first primary school, known as Central Primary, and later attended two years of high school at St. Petersburg High. Central Primary, located in a two-story brick building at the corner of 5th Street and 2nd Avenue North, first opened in the Fall of 1902. The High School (also at the same location) featured courses in mathematics, science, history, English and Latin which according to one school history “was strengthened so that graduates would be admitted into any college.” The primary school was eventually closed after the 1947-1948 school year and in 1948–through Blocker’s influence– the building was saved and moved west, where it was remodeled into part of the County Health Building. (11)

1900 June 11 United States census returns for Hillsborough County, Florida listed John Blocker, age 3, as residing in Precinct 1 of “St. Petersburg town” with his father John Blocker, 35; mother Nina, 25; sister Margarett [Marguerite], 5; and maternal grandmother Sallie Hill, 57. The elder Blocker’s occupation is listed as “Dairyman.” (12)

1903-1908 John’s grandparents the Hills moved once again, this time to San Antonia (later changed to San Antonio), a rural community about thirty miles from Hudson in Pasco County. Once again, John and his sister Marguerite were frequent visitors to their home. The years at San Antonio were later vividly recalled by Marguerite, who wrote: “[My grandparents’] home in San Antonio was very dear to me. I spent every summer there for five years . . . “The house in San Antonio is where we began our family reunions. Everyone arrived for summer vacations. It was a big occasion for two or three weeks. How Grandma slept fifteen or more of us was a wonder, except that he little ones thought it was fun sleeping on pallets. 7

“Mabel, Georgie and I were reminiscing recently about the crazy happenings at those gatherings. Uncle Joe, the prankster, once hid under Aunt Maidie’s bed and shook it to scare her when she retired. After that, everybody looked under beds, especially Aunt Pearl, who was naturally scary. Aunt Maidie’s bed had a mosquito bar over it, which Georgie pulled down one night and got tangled up in it. Mabel and Colie would slip into Grandpa’s office and steal the sugar sticks he used for coating his pills. These sticks came in round wooden boxes, like crayon boxes, about an inch and a half in diameter. When Grandpa became aware of the theft, he scolded them very gently. They also snitched Grandma’s beeswax from her sewing machine in the hall and chewed it for gum. The day before the Fourth of July, they ran away to the woods to get sap from the turpentine cups notched on the pine trees. They planned to dip bull rushes in it to make torches for the Fourth. They were gone so long that a search was organized, beginning in the well, where Aunt Maidie was sure they had fallen. Colie had practiced the sack race at home for days before the picnic. He still lost. Mabel was amused about the time Uncle Holly felt compelled to sit up late, entertaining Aunt Pauline’s suitor. Every so often, he’d excuse himself to wash his face in cold water so he could stay awake to out-sit the beau. Uncle Claude was such a clown that we all remembered his dancing the buzzard hop, a crazy step he originated, and his playing the jew’s-harp. Uncle Oscar was unable to return for this 1908 reunion, so Grandma wrote to him. ‘Nina and the children will leave tomorrow night. We will be very lonely. Colie has bought him a goat to take home with him. He is going to break him to work to a little wagon (This was the goat Colie took to church one night, without Mama’s knowledge, and tied to a tree in the back. The goat complained during the service, to the consternation of the preacher and the delight of the children). Colie is not in as much mischief as he used to be . . . ’” (13)

1906 Meanwhile, John Blocker Sr. sold out his dairy interests and, according to Pinellas historian W.L. Straub, “. . . engaged in real estate, in which he continued until shortly before his death.” He developed several sub-divisions in the area, among them being J.C. Blocker’s first and second subdivisions, and the Cromwell Heights Sub-Division. During this year, he moved his family back to St. Petersburg, where they settled at 700 4th Street North. In town, the elder Blocker established a real estate office while his brother Bert began a livery and transfer business. (14)

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1910 April 25 United States census records for Hillsborough County, Florida listed John C. Blocker, Jr., age 12 [actually, he was 13], as residing in the St. Petersburg’s 1st Ward of the 1st Precinct with his father John C. Blocker, 45; mother Nina M., 36; and his elder sister Marguerite, 16. John Sr.’s occupation was now listed as “Agent” largely involved in “Real Estate.” (15)

1913 September John Blocker, Jr., now age 16, entered the Georgia Military Academy in College Park, Georgia near Atlanta. Founded in 1900, the academy was originally established as a military boarding school for boys that “asserts the importance and uniqueness of the individual student.” While a student there, Blocker studied engineering, and served as first lieutenant and adjutant of the cadet battalion (In 1967, the school changed its name to Woodward Academy, and, as the Atlanta area’s oldest independent school, is now a co-educational institution.) (16)

1915 May 28 Blocker graduated from the Georgia Military Academy with a degree in engineering, which was then the equivalent of a high school diploma. At this time according to later reports, he was planning a career in engineering, although this as subsequent events later proved, would change. (17) September 15 That Fall, Blocker entered the Academic School of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. At the time he attended, Washington and Lee University was a private men’s (today it is co-educational) liberal arts college with schools in law, commerce and journalism. Founded as Augusta Academy in 1749, it became a college in 1813 and a university in 1871. It was named for President George Washington, its first major benefactor, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who served as its president from 1865 to 1870. During his first two years at Washington and Lee, Blocker active in a variety of extracurricular activities. In his sophomore year, he served as class president, and also he served as business manager of The Calyx, the school yearbook; Staff member on Ring Tum Phi, the university’s newspaper; secretary-treasurer of the Graham Lee Literary Society; and a member of Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity. (18)

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Chapter II: World War I (1917-1919)

1917 April 2 But as Blocker continued his college studies, the clouds of war rapidly appeared on the horizon. After three years of brutal warfare throughout Europe, the United States was about to be engulfed in what later came to be known as “the War to End All Wars,” or World War I. Following Germany’s threat to wage unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships at sea, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress in a special session to issue a declaration of war. The Senate adopted the resolution by a vote of 82 to 6 on April 4, and the House of Representatives followed that same day, voting 373 for and 50 against. On April 6, the President signed the declaration, and at that moment the United States was officially at war. (19) December 21 With the war now on, a call for volunteers was made, and Blocker dropped out of Washington and Lee to enlist in the Army. Unlike many of the young men of his day, his path into the Army was not an easy one. Evidently he was determined to serve his country, as the following article of the period from the St. Petersburg Times illustrates: “To cure a defect that would prevent him entering the United States, army, John C. Blocker, Jr., who is now attending college in Virginia, has submitted to an operation for rupture and expects, when he is able to leave the hospital to stand his examination for the service. Mr. Blocker did not tell his parents, Mr. And Mrs. John C. Blocker, of this city, that he intended to be operated on. He wrote them a letter saying that he would go to the hospital that day, Thursday, and would be operated on at once. The letter was not received until after the operation. A telegram was received from Mr. Blocker this morning saying that the operation was successful and that he was getting along nicely. He was ruptured in a football game several years since and knew that he could not get into the army without an operation.” (20)

1918 January 5 John C. Blocker, Jr., now age 21, enlisted in the United States Army at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, he was selected for officer’s training and attended the third Officers Training School (OTS) at Camp Gordon, a grueling three-month preparatory course to train prospective officers for active duty. (21) 10

After attending OTS, Blocker was assigned to the 325th Infantry Regiment of the 163rd Infantry Brigade, part of the 82nd Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Eben Swift. Raised at Camp Gordon, the 82nd was formed as part of the massive growth of the U.S. Army towards a goal of one million troops in France by May 1918. Since members of the division came from all forty-eight states in the Union, the unit was given the nickname “All American”, which was the source of the division’s famed “AA” shoulder sleeve insignia. (22) April 25 Their training in the U.S. completed, the 82nd Division left New York for Europe, as part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). They were only the second National Army division to leave for the war and Blocker was among the first troops of the division to be sent overseas (23) May 7 Landing at Liverpool, England, the division moved via Southampton for ships destined for the front lines in France. But Blocker’s regiment, the 325th, was ordered to London, where it was reviewed by the British monarch King George V in the presence of a large London crowd, thereby becoming the first U.S. unit to be seen in the British Capital. According to a contemporary story which appeared on the event in the London Times: “The war has given London many scenes - some gay, some grave but few have surpassed yesterday’s when three thousand soldiers of Republican America marched through the capital to parade before the Sovereign Ruler of the British Empire. “In brilliant sunshine between serried ranks of cheering citizens, these sturdy sons of the New World tramped to the throbbing call of the drums. Very workmanlike they looked carrying their full kit; very happy they looked as they took the salute of their own Ambassador in Grosvenor Square; very proud they were as they marched past the great white statue of Queen Victoria and saw the King of England raise his hand to the Star-spangled Banner that symbolized their homeland. “It was a wonderful sight, that visible union of the two great Englishspeaking races. The King and his Queen with their Court stood at the Palace Gates; their subjects swarmed on every vantage point and cheered; and the soldiers of England and America marched past, each with their racial characteristics, each united by one common aim, all impelled by the call of the drum. 11

“From early morning Londoners had waited to pay homage to the men from across the ocean, the ‘Sammies’ as they familiarly called them - a name, by the way, which, if I remember rightly, was first suggested by Mr. Paul Derrick in The Sunday Times. The first contingent arrived at Waterloo Station shortly before eight o’clock, and by half-past nine the York Road approach was dense with a cheering crowd that gave the men their first intimation of the warmth of greeting that awaited them . . . “Tall they were, clean-shaven almost to a man; and their speech betrayed them. Yet even among themselves it was not difficult to pick out the slow Southern drawl from the clipped speech of the Yankee, while the distinctive profile of the North American Indian was the hall-mark of many faces. “Every State in the Union had its representative, for these were not men of the Regular Army, such as had ‘come across’ twelve months ago with General Pershing: they were the vanguard of the New Army, that almost numberless force which America is raising to crush for ever the evil spirit of Prussian militarism . . . “The steady roll of distant cheering grew louder, and soon the head of the column was seen approaching. The gates of the forecourt were thrown open, and, to the frantic delight of the hundreds of fortunate spectators in the vicinity, the King and Queen and their entourage stepped out into the roadway to greet the American contingent. “With a swing and a clash and a roar of cheering they marched up, steadily tramping onwards, the manhood of the free Republic saluting the ruler of the free Empire and receiving in return the salute of the King and Emperor. Londoners have witnessed many pageants on this historic spot; they have watched the incomings and outgoings of foreign sovereigns, the gorgeous pageants of crownings, and the stately trappings of death; but yesterday’s setting was something even greater than these. It was a symbol of unity, of the final healing of an old and well-nigh forgotten wound. “And that instinctive courtesy which is ever present with English Royalty was noticeable as the King beckoned Colonel Whitman, 12

commanding the regiment, to break away from the column and take up his position beside him while his men marched past . . . “And so the Americans saw the King. As they marched back to barracks they were full of the glamour of it all. Officers and men alike were delighted with the cordiality of their reception and spoke enthusiastically of the Londoners who had received them so handsomely . . . “Thus England greeted America. And America, realizing more than ever the meaning of cousinship, will send many more such troops as those we saw yesterday, to fight for freedom and justice, and peace the trinity that holds them fast for evermore.” (24) Following this, the Regiment rejoined the rest of the division in France, where the 82nd went into training immediately with the weapons they would use in combat, a training to which the nearness of battle gave an even greater sense of urgency. By June, a few officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) were receiving “on the job” combat training in the front lines with their British allies. According to one historian of the 82nd: “Although the rapid growth of the US Army caused grave equipment shortages which forced the 82nd Division initially to train with wooden rifles, the All Americans did receive intensive training in the methods of trench warfare from French and British officers as well as American officers. Shortage of machine guns and grenades also forced the doughboys of the 82nd to spend extra time training with their bayonets, always a good method to build aggressiveness” (25) June 25 In the Lagny Sector of the Woevre front northeast of Paris, units of the 82nd experienced their first taste of combat, and the 82nd suffered its first combat death when Capt. Jewett Williams of the 326th Infantry was killed in action on June 9. Four battalions of the 82nd, including the 2nd Battalion of the 325th, became the first units of the Division to occupy the front lines when they relieved BY the U.S. 26th Division. According the official history of the 82nd: “During the days and nights of life in the Lagny Sector, the intensive military education of the Division progressed in marked fashion and the men soon accustomed themselves to the details of existence in 13

trench warfare. Patrolling from the outset was conducted in an aggressive manner and the Division not only maintained an ownership of No Man’s Land, but penetrated deeply into the enemy’s positions on numerous occasions. Several of these forays without artillery help resulted in collisions, during the course of which numerous casualties were inflicted upon the enemy, and some losses suffered in return.” (26) July 18 Meanwhile, Blocker received a commission in the United States National Army with the rank of second lieutenant and was transferred to the 326th Infantry Regiment, which was also part of the 82nd Division. (27) August 4 The 82nd carried out its first combat raid at night in France, attacking German positions around Lagny. By August 10, when the division was pulled out of this sector of the fighting for rest, they had suffered staggering losses--a total of 374 casualties. (28) September 12 U.S. Maj. Gen. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, in command of 550,00 men of the U.S. 1st Army, launched the first major American offensive of the war with an attack on German forces on the St. Mihiel salient south of Verdun in Northeast France. Operating on the right flank of the southern portion of the advance, the 82nd was assigned the task of, according to their official history, “exerting pressure on, and maintaining contact with, the enemy.” All regiments of the division took part in the attack and after considerable action succeeded in driving the Germans from their trenches and dugouts. Combat patrols from Blocker’s regiment, the 326th, operated in the Bois de la Tete d’Or west of the Bois de la Voivrotte. By the end of the offensive on September 21, the St. Mihiel salient was wiped out and more than 15,000 enemy soldiers had been captured, although the division itself suffered a total of 950 killed or wounded. An incident that occurred to a patrol from Blocker’s former regiment well illustrates the danger the division faced during this period: “An event took place on August 29, 1918, in the 325th Infantry which remained a mystery until long after the Armistice. Lieutenants Wallace and Williams went out on a daylight reconnaissance with Corporals Slavin and Sullivan of Company L, 325th Infantry. This little patrol left Dombasle Chateau and never returned. When American prisoners were released after the Armistice Corporal Slavin came back to the regiment. The party had pushed across the Sielle River and through No Man’s Land to the German wire. On their way 14

back they were ambushed and all the party killed except Corporal Slavin.” (29) September 26 Meanwhile, Pershing’s 1st Army kicked off a second major offensive along 200 miles of the Argonne Forest, just west of the French-Belgian border. Known as the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the push had as its objective to cross the forest and establish bridgeheads across the Meuse River to cut the railroad that carried German supplies to the front. (30) Prior to this, on September 24-25, the 82nd moved into the Clermont area west of Verdun as a reserve unit for the U.S. 1st Army. In the reserve, the 82nd was not initially committed to the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. According to the division’s official history, “When, at 1 hour, September 26, 1918, the bivouacked thousands were awakened by the thunder of massed artillery in a barrage obviously extending from the Meuse River west across the Argonne Forest, along the front of the French Army on our left, we knew that the hour had come . . . “The following three days proved a trying period. Repeated warnings from the higher command kept all units on a continuous alert. In Division Headquarters it was known only that the division could expect two hours to a definite movement . . . “The nights were cold and periods of rain were sufficiently frequent to keep all ranks in an uncomfortable condition. Animal transport and trucks in an uncomfortable condition. Animal transport and trucks mired in the forest mud, and green, drenched wood seriously handicapped the efforts of cooks and kitchen police. Most of the men of the Division had now been in continuous bivouac in rain, and cold weather since September 16, at the end of the St. Mihiel Drive. As a result of this exposure, many men were suffering from diarrhoea, and head colds were general. Notwithstanding this situation, the morale of all units was of the highest type and the attitude of the troops indicated both resolution and an earnest desire to meet the enemy” (31) October 9 That morning, Blocker’s regiment, the 326th, was thrown into battle when they were sent to relieve the U.S. 28th Division west of Chatel-Chehery. From there, they advanced northwest towards the village of La Besogne to form a line with the battered 328th Infantry Regiment, which had made recent gains in the offensive but had been forced back by enemy counterattacks in heavy fighting. 15

A description of the countryside in which Blocker and his unit found themselves is provided in the division’s official history, which states: “This country is a desolate jungle of tangled underbrush and forest, cut by ravines and small watercourses, with here and there a farm-house and an open patch of cultivated ground. Occasionally the ground rises to an eminence of considerable height. Near La Besogne, the rolling land falls away into a sharp valley, at the bottom of which clusters a few buildings, which the map dignifies as La Besogne.” (32) October 10 The 1st and 3rd Battalion of the 326th succeeded in occupying La Besogne, with a platoon from one company in the right becoming “the first American soldiers to enter that village.” After more heavy fighting, the 2nd battalion also occupied the town of Marcq, and “[a]fter four years of continuous occupation, the enemy had been finally ejected from the Argonne Forest.” (33) October 11 The 2nd Battalion of the 326th made another attack, this time from Marcq in an effort to cross the Aire River, where it bends towards Grand-Pre, just south of St. Juvin. At the same time, the 82nd Division’s 325th and 327th Infantry Regiments attacked the ridge between St. Juvin and Sommerance east of the Aire. As the Division’s history records, “The 326th Infantry failed, but with a gallantry which will be a source of boundless pride to this Division. The other two regiments were tried to the utmost, but eventually achieved the ridge.” (34) October 13 Just south of St. Juvin, where the bulk of the 326th now found itself, according to the 82nd’s official history, “. . . At 16 hours, the enemy laid down a rolling artillery barrage and followed it with an infantry assault . . . The barrage rolled over our front line and covered our men with mud, but caused few casualties. Our artillery, in response to calls from the infantry, laid down an effective counter-barrage which fell with great promptness and accuracy. This timely assistance, coupled with the rapid fire of our infantry and machine gunners, smashed the attack before it got at hand’s grips with our line. The Germans could be seen running back, and some were observed to throw away their rifles. The enemy suffered many losses in the repulse.” (35) October 14 The following day, the 82nd mounted a counterattack of its own. The Division attacked and passed through part of the German constructed “Hindenburg” defensive position known as the Kriemhilde Stellung. As the division’s history states, 16

“This line was a series of natural positions, hills, ridges and woods which gave the enemy unrivaled opportunities for coordinated defense by artillery and cross-fire barrages with machine guns. Some shallow trenches were of course prepared and wire obstacles set up, but neither trench nor wire constituted the barrier which held the American army from the German throat during the critical days from October 11 to November 1, 1918. In front of the 82nd Division, the elements of the Kriemhilde Stellung were, first, a powerful outpost line comprising St. Juvin and Hill 182 immediately north of that town, and the ridge between St. Juvin and Sommerance known as Ridge 85.5. North of this outpost line stand the natural fortresses Champigneulle and St. Georges. The Kriemhilde Stellung was, however, the last partly organized defensive barrier south of the Hirson-Mezieres-Sedan railroad. This railroad was of fundamental importance to the Germans, running from the big center at Metz to Mezieres, parallel to the front of the battle line. Its importance was greatly increased by the fact that north of the railroad lay the Ardennes Forest with few roads and no railroads. Therefore, the retirement of a very large part of the German army must necessarily be effected along this one railroad. It was imperative that the German should hold his last defensive position south of Sedan. In the light of these facts, it is easy to understand why every prisoner captured during the month of October stated that his organization had been ordered to hold its position ‘at all costs’ The will of the American was equally resolute to break through.” (36) As part of this offensive, the 326th with the 3rd Battalion in the lead, attacked St. Juvin. According to the 82nd’s divisional history states, they “ . . . entered the eastern outskirts of the village, destroyed several machine-gun nests, captured fifteen machine guns, one cannon and about seventy-five prisoners. This successful exploit enabled the Regiment to move forward past St. Juvin to its objective.”(37) October 15 The next day, the Germans counterattacked themselves and

“. . . made a very determined infantry counter-attack along our entire Divisional front, proceeding the assault with a particularly vicious barrage of artillery and machinegun fire. “Visibility was very poor on the morning of the 15th and our men had practically no warning of the approaching enemy infantry. The German barrage held our men on the exposed ridge, flattened in fox holes, and a swarm of the gray-unformed enemy was 17

on top of our outposts before the combat groups a little in the rear could grasp the full significance of the peril. A desperate fight of an individual character followed at hand-to-hand range in all three regiments . . . “The spirit of resistance which our men everywhere evinced shattered the enemy assault and inflicted very heavy losses. In about fifteen minutes the German survivors were running back, pursued by American fire. During this encounter both sides lost in captured about an equal number of prisoners-perhaps thirty or forty.” (38) October 16 The 326th attacked once more, and after crossing the Agron River, reached a position at the Rabin aux Pierris. Here, according to the divisional history, “Intense artillery and machine-gun fire and the isolated nature of the positions forced these Companies to withdraw under cover of darkness on the night of October 16. Consequently, night found the front Battalions of the Division on the St. Juvin-St. Georges Road with outposts covering the ridge north of the Road” (39) October 31 Finally, after more than three weeks of intense fighting, the 82nd was relieved by the U.S. 77th and 80th Divisions, which continued the offensive. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive the 82nd Division had performed impressively, but at a terrible cost: more than 6,000 casualties had been sustained during the fighting, including 902 killed. (40) November 11 Germany signed an armistice with the Allied powers which finally ended the war. The end of the war found the 82nd Division assigned near Prauthoy in East-Central France, where they had been sent for training exercises following their combat tour in the Argonne. After less than seven months of service in Europe, the All Americans of the 82nd Division had spent a total of 105 days on the front lines, seeing more continuous action any other American division in the war, with a casualty rate of almost 75%. (41)

1919 February 26 After 3 months of training at Prauthoy, the 82nd began moving to the Bordeaux area, and by April, orders finally came through for the division to sail for home. Blocker, however, appears to have obtained permission to remain overseas after his regiment departed, for during this period he attended the Universite de Montpellier in Montpellier in the south 18

of France, where he took a four-month course and earned a certificate in law. Montpellier is an old and distinguished French university which has offered studies in both law and medicine dating as far back as the 12th Century. By the late 19th Century its Faculty of Law had earned a distinguished reputation, and it was the third largest such school in France. (42) August 19 Second Lt. John C. Blocker Jr. was honorably discharged from the United States Army at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He was awarded a Victory Medal for his service during the war. (43)

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Chapter III: The Wanderer (1919-1925)

1920 January 9 After leaving the Army, Blocker returned to Washington and Lee University, where he resumed his studies for a degree, having by now decided on a career in either law or business. (44) January 12 Meanwhile, United States census returns for Pinellas County listed John Blocker Jr. as residing in St. Petersburg with his father John Sr., now 55, and mother Nina Hill Blocker, 45. His father’s occupation was listed as an “agent” in “Real Estate.” John Jr.’s occupation was listed as “none,” while he was recorded as having “attended school anytime since Sept. 1, 1919.” (45) June 16 In Lexington, John Blocker, now 23, graduated from Washington and Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (A.B.). His senior entry in the University’s yearbook, The Calyx, reads: “Gentlemen and fellow ladies-look who we have here, Allaweela from the Everglades of Florida. Once before has he been upon our lovely campus; never again will you have the opportunity of seeing his manly shape. Every maiden and Jain in dear (dear in price) old Lexington has fallen for him. Don’t crowd around the wagon, boys, there’s room for everyone inside. Ten cents.” “Old Ironsides’ was a member of the 82nd Division in some capacity or other. The only difference between John and his namesake as military leaders, is that Oliver was a brewer and John ain’t. But, nevertheless, he tells us he was hero, having fought in the battles of Paris, Nice and Bouze. A hard student (this is hard to gasp), he attended the University of Montpelier to get out of guard duty. The only reason he’s back at W. & L. is because he thinks more of a degree than the $8,000 he says he could have made this Spring. No future can be predicted for him as he is planning to get married ‘toot sweet’. Ain’t it funny how they fall? Selah.” (46) Summer After graduation, Blocker took a job as office manager for the Chamber of Commerce in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Why he had chosen not to return to St. Petersburg is unclear, except that possibly he wished to strike out on his own, instead of going to work in one of his father’s various enterprises. He apparently lost interest in this job however, for shortly afterwards he left, and according to one source “he traveled on the road, representing Salt Lake City and San Francisco firms in the tea and coffee trade throughout the inter-mountain territory until 1924.” (47) 20

1921 November 21 In Utah, Blocker, now age 23, married Miss Thelma Louise Tuttle. Little is known about her or their marriage, which apparently ended in divorce prior to September 1926. (48)

1924 By this year, a huge land boom had taken hold in Florida, bringing a large influx of new residents, eager to buy land in the growing state. With this unprecedented growth, scores of new developments were created and communities were founded, and both state and local governments spent large sums to pay for the construction of new roads, bridges, schools, and other public improvements throughout the state. St. Petersburg benefited greatly from all this activity, and became one of the main centers of activity in what became known as the “Florida Land Boom.” From a base of 14,237 residents in 1920, the town’s population jumped in ten years to 40,425, an increase of almost 200%, which was one of the greatest gains made during that period by any Florida city or town. (49) Summer Meanwhile, Blocker returned to Florida and entered the University of Florida in Gainesville as a freshman law student. (50) September 9 Transferring from the University of Florida, Blocker entered the law school of Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Founded in 1842, the university is (and was in Blocker’s day as well) a private, co-educational institution. The law school, founded in 1847, boasted a host of distinguished alumni that included thirty-two governors (including four from Florida), two U.S. Supreme Court justices, U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Prize winner Cordell Hull, and innumerable judges and congressmen, including two U.S. Senators from Florida. At the time of Blocker’s attendance there, Cumberland offered a full course in law in one college year. In its intensive plan of study, there were eighteen weeks in a semester, classes meeting three hours a day, five days a week, for a total of 540 classroom hours. A selection from the University’s 1930-1931 Bulletin gives an idea of the rigorous nature of study required: “It is only by exercising the energies of his own mind that a student can qualify himself for the bar. Any plan which would propose to make a lawyer of him without his doing the hard work for himself would be idle and visionary. The virtue of any plan of instruction must consist of two things: “1. That it cause the student to work, or, in other words, to study diligently. 21

“To accomplish this the student is given a portion of the text as a lesson everyday, on which he is examined the next day. He is required to answer in the presence of the whole class, questions upon the lessons thus assigned. If he has any spirit in him, or pride of character, this will insure the closest application of which he is capable. “2. The plan should not only make the student work, but it ought so to guide and direct him as to make him work to the greatest advantage. “A man may work very hard, but still so unwisely that he will accomplish little. It is equally so with the farmer, the mechanic, and the law student. The student ought to have such a course of study assigned to him, and be conducted through it in such a way, that he will understand at the end of his course the greatest amount of pure, living American law, and will know best how to apply it in practice . . . “The law is a vast science, and a very difficult one; and the student needs every possible facility to enable him, by the most arduous labor, to comprehend its leading elementary principles. But this is not all he has to do. He has to learn how to apply these principles in practice. This is the art of his profession, and he can only learn it by practice. It is as necessary a preparation for assuming the responsibilities of a lawyer as the learning of the science. If he learns it at the bar, it is at the expense of his client; if he learns it in the school, it is at his own expense. “The advantage of the Moot Court System is that it not only imbues a student with the elementary principles of law involved in his cases, but also with a knowledge of the law of remedies. It trains him also in the discussion of facts, and to the exercise of that faculty which is so important in real practice. “Practice in Moot Court forms a part of the plan of instruction. Every student is required to bring suits in the forms adapted to all our courts, and to conduct them to final hearing. The students act as attorneys, jurors, clerks and sheriffs.” (51)

1925 May 5 In Tallahassee, Blocker was admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counselor at Law by the Florida Bar. (52) June 3 After only about a year of law school, Blocker, now age 28, graduated from Cumberland University with a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B) degree. (53) 22

Chapter IV: Home at Last: The Young Lawyer (1925-1927)

1925 July After graduating from Cumberland, Blocker returned to St. Petersburg and opened law offices in the First National Bank Building at 480 Central Avenue. His legal practice soon became a success, for according to St. Petersburg Times publisher and local historian W.L. Straub, “he has had a lucrative business, made possible by the combination of an engaging personality and legal ability of a superior quality.” In addition, Straub noted that Blocker “has large real estate interests,” no doubt passed on to him by his father, who had large real estate holdings in St. Petersburg and on Pass-AGrille Beach, an area John Jr. would later, according to his daughter Joan Blocker Mc Mullen, became deeply attached to. (54)

1926 c.June 15 Blocker was appointed an assistant attorney to the Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas County in Clearwater. (55) September 21 In St. Petersburg, John Blocker, now age 29, married Miss Ruby Ford Harris, age 22, of Aberdeen, Mississippi. A native of Aberdeen, Ruby grew up in nearby Wren, where her father (who died when she was 8) owned a cotton gin. After attending the Alabama State Normal and the Travacca College at Nashville, Tennessee, Ruby moved to St. Petersburg in 1925, where she lived with her sister, Mrs. R. H. McKean. According to family lore, Ruby had met Blocker on a blind date while Ruby was visiting her sister. The marriage, according to one account, “. . . was solemnized at 8 o’clock Tuesday evening, September 21, in the parsonage of the Trinity Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg, with the Rev. W. E. Pugh officiating.” “After a short wedding trip through Florida, Mr. and Mrs. Blocker are now making their home with Mr. Blocker’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Blocker, at 600 Fourth Street, North, St. Petersburg, awaiting completion of their new home which is now under construction.

23

“Mrs. Blocker, formerly resided in El Dorado, was and well known for her musical activities, having been on the program for piano numbers at various social and civic affairs, as well as playing the nuptial music at several weddings here.” (56)

1927 September 11 A daughter, Margaret Ann Blocker, was born to John and Ruby Maude in St. Petersburg. The couple’s first child, she graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1945 and later moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina. There, she went into real estate and was also active in the Democratic party, and worked for a time for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1960. She died in Hendersonville on June 17 , 2000, at the age of 72. (57)

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Chapter V:“The Sixth Commissioner” (1928-1951)

1928 April 3 By “Unanimous affirmative vote” Blocker was appointed attorney for the Board of County Commissioners of Pinellas County, effective May 1st, at a salary of $2,500.00 a year. He succeeded J. S. Davis, who had resigned. The county attorney served the Board to represent the county “in the prosecution and defense of all legal causes. His term of office concurrent with that of members of the board [and he] attends to all legal matters for the county which come under the powers and duties of the board of county commissioners.” (58) October 14 John’s father , John C. Blocker, Sr. was found dead at his home on 600 4th Street N. in St. Petersburg. According to an article which appeared in the St. Petersburg Times following his death, “A bullet wound in the temple was believed to have been self-inflicted . . . “Mr. Blocker, who had been in ill health for a number of years, had just recently returned from Hendersonville, N. C., where he had a summer home. His long illness had caused him to become depressed and despondent . . . “When Mr. Blocker came to St. Petersburg it was a tiny fishing village. He was an engineer on the old Orange Belt railroad, bring the first trains into the city over that line. He was active in the early life of the city, and aided in construction of the Detroit Hotel and other old landmarks of the day . . . “In a quiet way Mr. Blocker carried on a philanthropic work of which few were aware, being a steady contributor to the finances of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Children’s home in Jacksonville. “He was a man who had won for himself a wide circle of friends among the people with whom he had lived and been so intimately associated for such a long period, and his death comes as a great shock to those who knew him.”

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He was 64 years old at the time of his death, and after a funeral conducted at his home, was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Petersburg. (59) December 23 John and Ruby’s second daughter, Sallie Mae Blocker, was born in St. Petersburg. In 1949, she married Rutland Rowe, whom she later divorced, and presently, she resides in St. Petersburg. (60)

1930 June 21 The County Commission appointed Blocker as a "Special Collector" to collect all delinquent personal property taxes assessed against Pinellas County residents. Blocker had championed this cause earlier and according to an article which appeared at the time in the St. Petersburg Times, "In the agreement with the county board it was stipulated that if the amount collected was sufficient to remunerate Blocker on a graduated commission basis, he would in turn relinquish his salary now drawn as attorney to the board of commissioners ... "The following statement was issued Saturday by Blocker in explanation of his collection campaign: "'To the Press of Pinellas County: “'This is to advise you that the board of county commissioners of this county have recently appointed the undersigned as special collector to collect all delinquent personal property taxes assessed against the personality of the county. There are many thousands of dollars owed the state and county upon these delinquent personal property taxes and every reasonable means will be first afforded the delinquent tax payer to pay the amount due and avoid unnecessary and expensive litigation, the cost of which would be added to the amount of the tax. “'The people of the county who enjoy the rights and privileges and benefits from the sovereign government should have a deep sense of obligation to first pay their taxes, before paying or incurring other obligations. The payment of the tax is absolutely necessary, in order that government may function for the protection of the citizens in a systematic and orderly manner. Among many duties that the citizen owes the government is the prompt payment of real and personal property taxes when same become due. 26

"'The writer will have associated with him Mr. W.A. Bogart, who has been handling the collection of the delinquent personal property tax in the past, and an urgent campaign will be started within a few days to collect these back taxes. It is planned to establish a small office in each of the cities of Pinellas county as the work progresses . . . "'It is to be remarked that, from time to time there are many drives conducted in Pinellas county for the purpose of raising money to pay off indebtedness on certain charitable institutions, and it is found that upon such occasions many citizens reach down in their pockets and voluntarily contribute large sums of money for such purposes, and the writer would like to see a Tax Paying day drive for the purpose of having the people voluntarily pay that for which they are justly obligated, and ought to pay. “'Bond is now being drafted and actual work will be started towards the collection of the tax within the next few days, and it will be appreciated if you will give all possible publicity to this subject and if possible call upon the citizens to pay their taxes. '” (61) April 1 In addition to his work with the county commission, Blocker also served as attorney to several other governmental entities within the county-an unusual arrangement by today's standards, but one which was not uncommon at that time. According to an article which appeared in the Times, "Because of conflict with his work as attorney for the county commission, John C. Blocker yesterday resigned as attorney for the Pinellas county mosquito control board effective at once. "Action came after the commissioners asked Blocker to help draw up legislation consolidating all health work in the county. "When the board asked Blocker to approach the mosquito board with suggestion that in $30,000 annual budget be consolidated with the county health work, Blocker told the board members they were putting him on the spot since he was attorney to the mosquito board. He then decided to resign the post." (62)

1932 Spring But Blocker was not content merely to serve as an attorney. He had political ambitions as well. During this period, he announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for county judge of Pinellas County. In entering the field he faced a tough six-man race which included 27

Clearwater attorneys Lee Baker, E. B. Casler, Jr. and C. E. Ware; Pinellas Juvenile Judge Thomas Hamilton; and St. Petersburg Municipal Judge W. F. Way. In the subsequent campaign, he ran under the slogans “Born in Pinellas” and “He is worthy of your vote.” Blocker further elaborated on his platform in newspaper advertisements later in the campaign, which stated: “He will be the kind of Judge that you would like to have for County Judge. “He stands for law and order, uncontrolled by special interests and politicians. He believes that law comes from the experience of the people and should be applied by the Court in a common sense way. “He stands for the sane and sensible economy, believing that efficiency should go hand in hand with economy. “He will guard well the estates of minors-decedents and persons of unsound mind. He is unqualifiedly pledged to this trust. “If you and your attorney want a square deal-vote for Blocker. He is not controlled by any group or individual. His decisions in Court matters will be his own-uncontrolled by ‘privileged pressure.’ “A fair and impartial administration of the office County Judge is pledged.” (63) May 19 At a meeting of the county’s powerful Democratic Jeffersonian Club held at Williams Park in St. Petersburg, Blocker brought forth his platform for office. According to the St. Petersburg Independent, which covered the event, “John C. Blocker said he had no promises to make as to economy, pointing out that he would abide by whatever action the legislature took to reduce the salary of the county judge. “‘I will not oppose any legislation on reduction,’ he said. “Blocker promised he would give every case careful and serious consideration and that his decisions would be impartial.” (64) June 7 In the Democratic Primary, Blocker finished first out of six candidates for County Judge, although without achieving a clear majority: 28

TABLE 1 UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS COUNTY JUDGE PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA JUNE 7, 1932 (FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY) Candidates John C. Blocker, Jr. E.B. Casler, Jr. Thomas Hamilton W.F. Wray C.E. Ware Lee L. Baker Total Votes Cast 2239 1907 1620 1475 1227 993 Percentage of Total Votes Cast 23.7 20.1 17.1 15.6 13.0 10.5

With less than 50% of the vote, state law required that a second primary be held with the top two candidates–Blocker and Casler–which was scheduled for June 28th. (65) June 28 In the second Democratic run-off primary, Blocker narrowly defeated Casler to capture the Democratic nomination for County Judge:
TABLE 2 OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS COUNTY JUDGE PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA JUNE 28, 1932 (SECOND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY) Candidates John C. Blocker, Jr. E.B. Casler, Jr. Total Votes Cast 4704 4476 Percentage of Total Votes Cast 51.2 48.8

As the Democratic nominee, Blocker would now face incumbent Republican Judge Harry R. Hewitt in the general election in November. (66) October 5 John and Ruby’s third child and their youngest daughter, Joan Cromwell Blocker, was born in St. Petersburg. In 1955, she married 1955 to Bernis N. Collie of Atlanta, Georgia. The couple had two children before divorcing. In 1967, she married Daniel Guy McMullen of Clearwater, and now she presently resides in Pinellas County. (67) November 5 As the campaign entered its final days, the Democrats ended their campaign with a rally at Williams Park, where, according to an article in the St. Petersburg Times:

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“ . . . Emphasizing he had ‘no words of condemnation for anyone in the campaign,’ Charles J. Maurer, speaking for John Blocker, Democratic candidate for county judge, urged voters to give careful study in voting Tuesday. He lauded Blocker for his standing as an attorney and as a man capable of handling a responsible public position, and told of the heavy responsibilities that rest on the shoulders that rest on the shoulders of the judge occupying the county bench.” (68) November 6 The following day, advertisements appeared supporting the candidacy of Blocker and fellow Democrats Ernest G. Cunningham and Henry S. Baynard (candidates for sheriff and prosecuting attorney, respectively) from the “Better Citizenship Committee,” which asserted that they “. . . Represent ideals for a safer and better community which should appeal to the voter who wishes to enjoy: The liberties and freedom guaranteed by the constitutional provisions of our institutions–our business–and our homes. A freedom–a protection from the rackets of the underworld–of the confidence man and the kidnapper.” Meanwhile, Blocker’s opponent, Republican Harry R. Hewitt, shot back in ads of his own, asserting: “Harry R. Hewitt County Judge is not interested in the disqualification of any candidate. He submits his own qualification, and record as County Judge. “It is upon HIS OWN NAME and RECORD that he asks for the support and vote of Pinellas County citizens. “He has made the office self-sustaining and turned over to the taxpayers the first three years $7,457.22. A substantial amount will be returned at the end of the present year. “Harry R. Hewitt voluntarily accepted 20% reduction in salary–besides reducing office force salary. “Your Court has been kept Clean and Free from Political interference of any kind. Cases have been decided FAIRLY and IMPARTIALLY. “A VOTE FOR HARRY R. HEWITT MEANS CONTINUED ECONOMY AND SQUARE DEALING.” (69)

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November 7 In response to Hewitt, Blocker ran ads across the county attacking his opponent’s supporters and urging party unity among Democrats: “The opposition to my election is attempting by last minute propaganda to throw the fear of death into the minds of the Democratic voters-trying to cause a last minute stampede. “To achieve the above purpose the opposition has enlisted the service of a few socalled Democrats. The intelligent and forward thinking voter should be on guard against this last minute propaganda. ‘Beware of the wolf dressed in Lamb Skin.’ Be loyal to our party. “The principal opposition to my election comes from those who have had and believe in receiving ‘special privilege’–the special interest fellows that are firmly convinced that I am opposed to the granting of ‘Special Favor’ and they well know that when elected your County Judge, all people before my Court, the rich man–the poor man– the business man and the laborer will be treated equally, fairly and impartially.” (70) November 8 In a race that generated, according to one contemporary account, “the most attention” of any in the county, Blocker narrowly was defeated by his Republican rival in the county judge’s race, as Pinellas voters solidly supported the Democratic national and state tickets but split on the county ballot, re-electing two of the three Republicans incumbents elected in 1928:

TABLE 3 UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS COUNTY JUDGE PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 8, 1932 (GENERAL ELECTION) Candidates Harry R. Hewitt (Republican) John C. Blocker, Jr. (Democrat) Total Votes Cast 8418 8099 Percentage of Total Votes Cast 51.0 49.0

Defeated by less than 400 votes–or 1.9% of the total votes cast–it was a heartbreaking loss for Blocker, who henceforth never ran for public office again. (71)

1933 September After his defeat, Blocker resumed his duties as county attorney. But legal matters were not the only thing that occupied his time. According to an article in the St. Petersburg Times on this date: 31

"John C. Blocker, attorney for the Board of County Commissioners, has added to his activities the manufacture of pepper sauce. "Beautifully corrugated red bottles containing a fiery mixture were exhibited at yesterday's meeting of the county board. Research revealed that this tabasco fluid was put up by the Blocker Products Co., St. Petersburg, according to the label. "No samples of the product were furnished to the newspapermen. The sauce is said to be intended to add a special piquancy and extra kick to beer." (72)

1934 July 10 Meanwhile, Blocker's campaign to collect delinquent taxes to help fund county operations in the midst of the Great Depression got a major boost when the County Commission voted to establish a policy effective September 1st of foreclosing on tax certificates as a means to force delinquent property owners into paying their back taxes. According to a contemporary report that appeared in the Clearwater Sun, "It will be the first time the county board has ever exercised the right given by an act of 1929. This law permits individuals and the state to foreclose tax certificates which have been standing for two years or longer. "When taken by foreclosure proceedings brought by the county and state, delinquent property passes to the control of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. It is held by those until sold. Proceeds of the sale are distributed to the county and state in the proportion of their tax levies. "After foreclosure, the former owner can regain his property only by purchasing it from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. "Under the present policy of the county, delinquent property stands with a tax certificate against it until the owner redeems it or someone else buys the certificate. "Members of the commission are in the opinion that a number of citizens who are able to pay have been letting their taxes slide because they hold no fear of losing the property. A program of foreclosure will do much to end tax 'dodging,' officials believe. "Several Pinellas municipalities, including St. Petersburg and Dunedin, recently have adopted a policy of foreclosing their delinquent taxes." With Pinellas-like the rest of the nation-now deeply mired in the in the Great Depression, the move 32

was necessary to save the county from the fate of many counties and municipalities throughout the country who-like the City of Largo-went bankrupt. (73)

1935 May 3 Blocker also was active in community affairs during this period. On this date, he was elected exalted ruler of the local Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) Lodge No. 1224 in St. Petersburg . Other officers elected were St. Petersburg attorney (and later Circuit Judge) Victor O. Wehle, who was elected leading knight; Joe Mc Bath, loyal knight; M. E. North, lecturing knight; Joy Konig, Secretary; Dale C. Beatty, treasurer; D. H. V. Sbordy, Tyler; and J. B. Mc Guinness, trustee. (74)

1936 April 18 Thoughts however, of running again for the county judgeship remained as Hewitt’s fouryear term neared its end. In preparation for a possible bid, Blocker floated a unique idea to decide the contest. According to a story that ran in the St. Petersburg Times: "John C. Blocker, who lost the county judgeship four years ago by a hair's-breadth, suggested yesterday that he and two other Democratic candidates for the office sit down together and draw straws for the nomination. "Blocker has not announced for the office. Jack F. White and E. Brannon Casler Jr. are actively in the race. Casler was runner-up in the 1932 primaries. “'With the thought of promoting party harmony and preventing a recurrence of such a situation as developed during the 1932 campaigns, I sometime ago suggested to Mr. White and Mr. Casler, already announced candidates for country judge, that we work out a plan of personal elimination seeking to prevent bitter and expensive primary campaigns for the Democratic nomination,' Blocker said. “I have suggested that the simple and fair plan of drawing straws should be acceptable.' “Blocker said both candidates had rejected his proposal, but insisted the idea was advanced in all seriousness. "I don't see why it wouldn't work, and I should be entirely willing to abide by the result,' he continued. "If Mr. White or Mr. Casler was picked I should be ready to support him.' "For some time an announcement from Blocker of his intentions had been sought. He 33

concluded his formal statement yesterday by adding: “'With the hope that such a plan may be worked out with these gentlemen, it is my desire to withhold formal announcement for a few more days. '” (75) April 25 A week later, Blocker announced "that in the interests of party harmony" he would not enter the contest for the Democratic nomination for county judge. In a statement released to the press, he stated: "The time is opportune for the Democratic party in Pinellas county to solidify itself for the November election. "In my opinion a spirited and bitter contest among those seeking the Democratic nomination for the office of county judge, such as existed in 1932, will not strengthen the party. "Irrespective of the fact that I was named the Democratic nominee for that office four years ago and now considered by many the logical one to make the race, I place party success above personal ambition and withdraw from the field." Democrat Jack. F. White was eventually elected, defeating Hewitt in the general election. Blocker's decision to forgo the race in the interests of party harmony also [created goodwill, eventually making him one of the key power brokers within the county's then-dominant Democratic party organization.) (76) 1937 May 26 Blocker was admitted to practice before the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Florida headquartered in Tampa. (77)

1938 October 9 Throughout these years, Blocker’s influence continued to be felt within the halls of the County Courthouse. On this date, an action he had long advocated occurred when Pinellas County formally took possession of Mullet Key from the U.S. Government. Mullet Key had been [insert history]. The southern tip containing Fort De Soto was still retained by the War Department, although according to a contemporary article, "The tract, about a mile long and three-fourths of a mile wide may be developed as a tourist attraction. PWA project applications have been made to construct a causeway south from Maximo Point on Pinellas mainland, and to build an aquarium on the island near the now abandoned quarantine station." 34

Another article during the same period recorded a visit by the County Commission to the new acquisition, and noted "The board members and John Blocker, their attorney, with newspaper men, the county engineer, Dr. Meighen and his men, along with other special guests, lunched at the pilot station on Egmont key at noon yesterday. On the return trip aboard the Branham the 'conquerors of Mullet key' huddled around a radio, listening to the World series finale. The commissioners said they thought the $12,500 spent for the island by the county for the key, obtained from the treasury department, represented a good investment." (78)

1939 May During the state legislative session held during this year, Blocker went to Tallahassee and worked hard to promote another project near and dear to his heart-the construction of an $8,000,000 toll bridge that would span across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg south into Manatee County. According to a Clearwater Sun article which appeared on May 12th,

"Observers here yesterday believed the bill drawn by John C. Blocker, Pinellas County commission attorney to provide a bridge across Tampa Bay from Pinellas Point to Piney Point in Manatee County was more favored by legislators than the one offered by two St. Petersburg bridge backers. "The Blocker bill would provide for any kind of transportation method, financed either with government or private funds. "The bill presented by St. Petersburg councilman George W. Hopkins and Dr. H. Simmons also of that city would provide an over-water span privately financed. "Senator J. Locke Kelly of Clearwater and Senator Dewey Dye of Bradenton said they preferred to study both bills further before deciding which to introduce in the Senate. "Mr. Hopkins is opposed to the Blocker bill. He has said he did not believe that New York capitalists, to whom he had talked about financing the project, would approve it." Although the bill failed to pass the Legislature during this session, the project was eventually approved, and in 1954 the "Sunshine Skyway"-the first bridge to connect Pinellas with Manatee County-was officially opened. (79) May 13 Blocker's clout within the halls of state government was also evident during this period. On this date, Blocker was one of four Pinellas officials named to a State House committee appointed 35

". .. to tackle the problem of how to prevent cities and towns from losing much of their taxable property to the state upon expiration of the Murphy Act June 9. Pinellas members of the committee are Ray E. Green of Clearwater, clerk of Circuit Court; Mayor E. B. Casler Jr. of Clearwater; John C. Blocker, attorney for the Pinellas County Commission; and Representative Archie Clement of Tarpon Springs." (80) April 24 Blocker was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, and was presented to the Court by his longtime friend, U.S. Rep. J. Hardin Peterson (DLakeland). (81)

1941 February 18 At Blocker's urging, still another major project which he had long championed was approved by the County Commission when they unanimously passed a resolution on this date "... That a master, all purpose County Airport be created and established for the use and benefit of all branches of aviation, federal, state, county, public, quasi public, commercial and private." A total of $492,210 was allocated by the Federal Government to construct the airport. A 710-acre site adjacent to Roosevelt Boulevard was selected as the site for the new airport, and Blocker and County Engineer W. A. McMullen, Jr. were authorized "to enter into full and complete negotiations in order to acquire title to the above property with the various owners thereof and that in the event the aforesaid property, or any parcels thereof, cannot be acquired by purchase, negotiation or gift, the County Attorney is hereby authorized to institute condemnation proceedings in the proper Court in order to acquire the absolute and fee simple title to the lands comprising said site for the above named purposes through the exercise of the right of eminent domain." (82)

1943 July 4 One of the earliest indications of Blocker’s interest in local history came to light when an article which appeared on this date in the St. Petersburg Times announced that Blocker “in his new role of historian” “is preparing a history of the community.” The article went on the explain that Blocker’s history “. . . will differ from the two generally consulted [John A. Bethell’s 1914 History of Pinellas Peninsula and W. L. Straub’s 1929 History of Pinellas County Florida] in that it will collect hitherto unpublished facts and incidents and bring together all available material regarding the earliest families and their activities, regardless of subsequent prominence. 36

“Blocker, himself a native of St. Petersburg, became impressed with the fact that elderly residents with first-hand knowledge of the city’s small beginnings must soon pass on and their information with them. His collection of material, therefore, has thus far been mainly through interviewing those who remember the real founders both in high place and low. “As token of the interesting material coming to light, take the Central Avenue graveyard. In it, according to his information are buried four members of Lumpkins family, who chose to have their own burial ground on their own land. Their tract was west of Ninth street in the line of Central avenue, which then ceased at what is now one of our busiest intersections. Going west, horse-borne travel turned north at Central and Ninth and used what is now Baum avenue or turned south and went out what is now Fifth Avenue. “In the family graveyard was buried the elder Lumpkins, then his son and his son’s wife. When another son died, proposed burial there stirred up much objection, but the little town had no ordinance covering the point and the burial took place. “Subsequently, however, says Blocker, the property passed into the hands of one Buck Hannon, and the grave markers disappeared overnight and all trace of the graves disappeared next day under a plow that broke up a half-acre tract. Not long after, Central avenue was extended beyond Ninth street right over the site of the obliterated graves. “Well, if you want to shiver a bit and watch for ghosts as you bowl along Central avenue late at night, the place to do it is in the beginning of the 1200 block. The tract plowed up by Hannon, says Blocker, extended from what is now Eleventh street to Thirteenth and the burial ground was just about in the center. “‘Before there was any street railway here recognized as such,’ relates Blocker, ‘there actually was one that ran from Ninth street to Third street. The purpose of it was to fill in Central avenue, which was nothing but a swill between Third and Second streets and flooded with every rain. “‘To fill this from the higher land toward Ninth street, Ernest Norwood constructed a horse-drawn dump-cart street railway. It was drawn along the rails with a side hitch and folks got a lot to talk about now and then when getting hitch wrong caused a derailment. It was common for citizens going east on Central avenue to be requested to drive the horse down to the fill with a load.’ 37

“The real first railroad in St. Petersburg, said Blocker, was of original design and something unusual. It was a log road that brought timber out from the Lealman section, where it was cut, to the side of Booker creek, where George L. King had a sawmill close to what now is the main plant of the Pinellas Lumber company. “John Irving had been hauling logs by ox cart but apparently wearied of the slowness. First saplings were laid for rails and pegged, about half buried. For the locomotive and freight car, wheels were forged in Tampa with concave rims that fitted the contours of the ‘rails.’ The steam power car, fired with wood and operated by Sam Reddick, negro, created quite a furor, but seemed to have its outs, for it became dubbed ‘the Failure.’” “In any event, says Blocker, it well antedated the Orange Belt, whose arrival in 1888 is generally hailed as the beginning of rail transportation. “Blocker, born in a bungalow next to the Belmont hotel that is now a Round Lake residence, paints a fascinating picture of early St. Petersburg–nearly all woods and lakes, both of which have largely disappeared. “The area now enclosed by Third street, Third avenue, Fourth street and Fourth Avenue south, he recalls, was little except ponds, while north of Central there were many besides Mirror, Round and Crescent lakes. The largest, known as Plunkett’s pond, from an earlier settler in the neighborhood, extended south from Seventh avenue north to well below Fifth avenue at Seventh street. As a boy, he picked lilies there and recalls the fun lads used to have navigating on floating islands which the lake contained. This phenomenon, which St. Petersburg might have saved for another tourist attraction, is still to be seen in certain lakes in central Florida. “One whom Author Blocker has consulted at length is Charles Weihman, 4135 Central avenue, whose first view of St. Petersburg was from the deck of General Williams’ steam yacht ‘Peerless’ in 1877. Except at Big Bayou, he recalled, the only view was of woods, in which were half a dozen isolated homes. “Weihman’s story brings up one of the town’s earliest industries, growing pineapples for the market, indulged in just as thoroughly as the Belcher family raised and sold cattle. Among operators of pineries were Weihman, O. W. Gilbart, F. E. Cole and John Calvin Heard, the last of whom developed a Porto Rican type that attained a weight of 22 pounds. The industry failed on the familiar local hazard of 38

transportation. Built up on a special express rate, it attained a 3,000-crate volume– then the company hiked the rate. “In possession of a number of old photographs, Blocker has placed them in relation to present landmarks through the help of such history-wise citizens as Mrs. Ella Ward, daughter of Lottie Bumpus, who ran the first post office (about at First avenue and Ninth street south) when the railroad first came through and the Bumpus store was moved up from Big Bayou. But one or two so far have defied exact location and he is inviting older citizens to try their luck at remembering.” (83)

1944 May 20 Meanwhile, Blocker continued to play an active role in the local Democratic Party. During this period, he served as campaign manger in Pinellas County for U.S. Rep. Lex Green (DStarke), who was seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida. In an article which appeared on this date, Blocker, "... Pinellas campaign manager for Lex Green, last night attacked Millard Caldwell's record in the congress and state legislature in a talk over WSUN. He declared that Caldwell had opposed a teachers' pension bill and an appropriation of funds for the University of Florida while at Tallahassee. He said that Green had promised many things to Pinellas including many things to Pinellas including completion of the Gulf Coast highway, but that Caldwell 'has promised Pinellas nothing.' "In conclusion, he offered to pay for radio time for editors of the two local newspapers, to answer the charges he made against Caldwell. They have conducted a disgraceful, mud-slinging campaign against Green,' Blocker declared. He also invited Allen Grazier and Perry Marsh, member of the local Caldwell-for-Governor club, to answer his statements." (84) May Though Blocker was not above tough campaigning, he nevertheless demonstrated an ability to put aside personal interests in favor of party loyalty, a trait which would appear again and again though out his career. On this date, after Caldwell had handily defeated Green in the statewide run-off primary, according to an article which appeared in the Times, "In a caustic 'poor loser' statement, Lex Green yesterday reluctantly congratulated Millard Caldwell, who defeated him Tuesday for the Florida Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Sincerity of Green's congratulations were minimized by his statement, 'it is a temporary setback for the masses. The cause of the people lives 39

on.’ "Meanwhile John C. Blocker, Green's Pinellas campaign manager, refused to echo the Starke politico's attitude. Blocker, in his statement, thanked Green's supporters here and congratulated Caldwell without reservation. He promised Caldwell 'our support and in influence in the November election.' 'Blocker's Statement: "'To the voters and citizens of Pinellas county: On behalf of Congressman Lex Green we wish to thank all of those who voted for him in the second primary. Thanks are also extended to all those who supported, worked and helped in the campaign. It was a spirited contest. We congratulate the winner, Millard F. Caldwell. He is now our Democratic nominee for governor and will receive our support and influence in the November election. Again we congratulate him and all of you who voted for him.'" (Caldwell went on to win the general election in November, and served as the Twenty-Ninth Governor of Florida from 1945 to 1949.) (85) June 23 Blocker's skills as an attorney also received notice during this period when he was elected President of the Florida County Attorneys' Association at their annual meeting at the George Washington Hotel in Jacksonville. He succeeded Hillsborough County Attorney John M. Allison of Tampa. Other officers elected were Henry L. Lilienthal, Palm Beach County Attorney, Vice President; and Charles Luther, Volusia County Attorney, Secretary-Treasurer. (86)

1947 January 6 As control of the County Commission was transferred from north county to the more populous St. Petersburg area, Blocker was named to serve on a committee with City Councilman Cy Harrison of St. Petersburg, "to work out complete plans for the new county building to be erected on Fifth street north, opposite the city hall." (The building was subsequently completed and dedicated in 1949, and served as a courthouse location until it was demolished in 2000.) (87) April 2 Meanwhile, Blocker continued to broaden his perspective as an historian, making public speeches on various topics dealing with state and local history. On this date, he spoke at the spring program meeting of the Florida Historical Society held at the University of Tampa and according to the Times, which covered the event, Blocker "... spoke on the contribution to Florida growth made by the empire builder, Henry B. Plant who, by his purchases of small railroads and construction of new railroads opened up new territory. With the advent of his railroad south from Jacksonville to Tampa in 1884, this sleepy fishing village of 800 people grew to 10,000 population 40

with five years, Blocker said. "Blocker told of the development in central and south Florida with advent of transportation facilities. The railroad installed boat service to Cuba from Tampa, and the west coast saw a new era ushered in. "Tampa, with its 36 miles of railroad tracks, according to Blocker, made it possible for troop sailing from that port with the opening of the war with Spain in 1898. It was the largest concentration of troops from [the] United States ever to leave one of our ports up to that time." (88)

1948 February 3 In recognition of his lifelong interest in local history, the Pinellas County Commission unanimously passed a resolution appointing Blocker as the first official County Historian of Pinellas County. In creating the new office (to be held “without pay”), the Commission provided that: “It would be the duty of the County Historian to devote time to historical research in Pinellas County, to prepare manuscripts and other papers of historical interest of the happenings and occurrences of those persons who have gone before and those things which have happened before the present, in order that future generations may be apprized of the great historical store existing here on Pinellas peninsula.” (89) June 15 But Blocker was not content merely to hold an empty title. He worked hard to promote the interests of the historical and museum communities in the area. On this date, according to the Times, “County Attorney John Blocker yesterday went before County Commissioners with a proposal which appeared likely to solve, in one fell swoop, St. Petersburg’s critical Public Library and City Museum problems. “Blocker told the Commission he believed it possible to move the Defense Building and Central Primary School Building opposite City Hall rather than demolish them to make room for a proposed new County Office Building and the extension of Second Avenue from Fifth Street to Mirror Lake Drive. “Blocker said that on a recent visit to Chicago he had talked with a contractor who was able to move a three-story brick building. He asked for, and was granted, 41

permission to bring the contractor here to figure the possibilities of moving the two buildings. “Blocker said he thought it possible to turn the Defense Building around to face south and then move it far enough to the north to make way for extending Second Avenue. The school building would be turned around to face south and then moved to the west. The shifts would leave ample room for the new County Building which would face Fifth Street. “Value of such shifting of the structures, Blocker said, would be that, with remodeling, both would be available for conversion to Library or Museum use. Present Library and Museum facilities are overcrowded and have been inadequate for some time. “Blocker last night said he felt certain that county and city officials could work out the details of such planning and the remodeling of the buildings to new purposes with a minimum of expense. Engineers have stated [that] for less than $25,000 the Defense Building could be remodeled to a point where it could not be duplicated under present day building costs for less than a quarter of a million dollars.” Although Blocker’s plan does not appear to have been carried out, it illustrates his continuing passion for preserving the area’s dwindling historical resources, while attempting to strike a balance between the needs of modern progress and historic preservation. (90) August 11 Mullet Key was sold to Pinellas County for $26,494.54, under the provisions of Public Law 666 of the 80th Congress, which had been approved June 17. So ended a long series of struggles between the county and the U.S. government which began during the build-up preceding America's entry into World War II. In 1940, the War Department requested that the county return its holdings on Mullet Key, and on June 23, 1940, Pinellas sold its portion for $18,404.54 for use as a bombing range. After the war, interest on the county's part in repurchasing the island was renewed when word came that other parties were interested in the site. According to an article at the time, "Alarmed by reports indicting 'outside interests apparently interested in atomic research' are negotiating with the federal government for the purchase of Mullet key, once owned by the county and sold back to Uncle Sam for the $30,000 purchase price, Pinellas county commissioners early last night authorized County Attorney John 42

Blocker to defend the county's priority rights to repurchase, 'if necessary to go to Washington for a showdown with the war department.' "County Attorney Blocker did not elaborate on his report concerning the atomic research report but the belated discovery that the war department has declared Mullet key surplus and that the island, located at the entrance to Tampa bay, has been advertised for sale by war assets administration, touched off a prolonged discussion. "In bringing the Mullet key situation to the commission's attention, County Attorney Blocker went back into early history, beginning in the days when the key was a part of Hillsborough county. It was about that time that Pinellas cast envious eyes on mother Hillsborough's small piece of insular real estate. "But the opening of negotiations between Pinellas and the federal government, according to Attorney Blocker, caused so much hub-bub in Tampa that a bill was rushed through the state legislature making Mullet key part and parcel of Pinellas. "Things dragged along, with the federal government owning the key, until Pinellas county fathers decided to buy it, with an eye eventually of transforming the island into a recreation center. And so the deal was closed and the county bought Mullet key for $30,000 from Uncle Sam. "When the second World War came along, according to the county attorney, the federal government wanted to buy back the key for just what the county had in it and the deal was signed, sealed and delivered. "So the war department transformed Mullet key into a bombing range for MacDill Field planes and the government spent about $41,000 putting up buildings and general improvements. "But the agreement between the county and the federal government when the county sold the key back to the war department,' County Attorney Blocker advised the commission last night, 'gave the county first priority rights in buying back the island at any time the federal government was through with it. and that's why I think the county should insist upon compliance with the terms of its sale contract with Washington.' "Commissioner Ed Beckett took the ball from this point, insisting that the board by resolution clothe the county attorney with full authority to protect they county's interests in Mullet key 'even if he has to go to Washington and lay the matter before the highest governmental officials." (91) September 8 In formal dedication ceremonies, Mullet Key was turned over to Pinellas County by the Federal government and dedicated as a county recreation area. 43

Among those who attended the ceremonies were Blocker, all of the members of the Board of County Commissioners, U.S. Sen. Claude Pepper (D-Miami) and U.S. Rep. J. Hardin Peterson (IDLakeland), all of whom according to an Evening Independent article "praised the island's possibilities as a 'playground of unrivaled natural beauty. '" According to the Independent, "Despite the heat broiling down from an intense summer sun, untempered by breezes, a crowd of approximately 1,000 persons went to the island by boat and airplane. "With the Pinellas county board of commissioners acting as hosts, refreshments of ham sandwiches and soft drinks were served to all visitors prior to official ceremonies during the early afternoon at the flagpole near the shore approach to Mullet key dock. "The island officially became the property of Pinellas county when a deed was presented to County Commission Chairman Ed Beckett by C. Raymond Vinten of the U.S. department of the interior. "Shortly before the deed presentation, Pinellas county's flag, specially designed for the occasion of the dedication by Bonnie Wilhelm, was raised over the island. Taking part were the five commissioners, Beckett, John Chesnut, Henry Belcher, Andrew E. Potter and D. Orville Harris. County Attorney John Blocker assisted. ". . . Visitors to the island enjoyed visiting the site of historic Fort DeSoto at the southwestern tip of the island while waiting for the ceremony to begin. Buildings on the island, placed there many years ago when it was used as a quarantine station for ship entering Tampa bay were jammed with people seeking shade from the heat. "And although many commented on the present undeveloped condition of the island, it seemed the censensus [consensus] that nature had supplied the spot with the resources to make a wonderful recreation area-with a little development." (92) During this period, Blocker was also busy compiling a history of Mullet Key and collecting reminiscences from some of the former military personnel who had been stationed there. As far as is known, it was he who was the first person to begin documenting the history of the key, and this invaluable material now offers a fascinating glimpse of early life at Fort DeSoto. One such memoir collected by Blocker came from a Mr. Charles A. Story of Chicago. Excerpts from Mr. Story’s letter to Blocker follow: “I . . . Took examination for Q.M. Engineer and was sent to Ft. De Soto, 1906. Was there 2 ½ years - then sent to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. 44

“My oldest boy was born in DeSoto, the other two were born at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. That was the whole experience in Ft. DeSoto, but there was plenty to be seen there. “Fishing was swell for those that liked it - but the soldiers would catch them, big Mullet, Red Snapper, King Fish and Tarpon - till I got sick of them. “At mean low tide we could walk from one island to another on dry sand and knock the oysters from the branches or roots, with a stick. We fooled with the pelicans and with some sharks, which were not very wild. “We used to go over to Bradenton on the small steamer Lieut. Wm. C. Shipp for fresh vegetables, fruit, etc. and sometimes used the big Steamer Wm. E Pickering and went way out of sight of land to fish for Red Snappers which were sold for benefit of the soldiers mess. “Their big steamer General Pickering was 110 feet long and made the trip to Tampa 6 days per week so we got fresh grub and milk, also mail which was always welcome. “We had a visitor once - a small alligator about 5 ft. long right by the pumping station where there was a small pond and they put a collar and chain on him. Then [when] they had target practice this alligator would climb out of the water and roar like a bear. “This target practice was funny. They would come around and tell us to put all the pictures and windows on the bed and then wait [for] results. Those 12" Mortars had an awful recoil and if you were leaning against something you were liable to bet a bump. I got kicked clear across the room from one blast, as the charge from the mortars was awful - 43 lbs. each shot. 4 mortars are still in place and the 15 lbs. guns are sitting out in the water, abandoned because of the high cost of such work . . . “We had to drink rainwater as the water from the artesian well had a bad taste of sulphur and would eat the clothes. “Every building had tanks for the rainwater, and there was a tank down by the dock which they could fill every night from the big steamer at St. Petersburg. “Sergt. Dennis and Sergt. Fagin used to go fishing every day and then send the 45

surplus to town . . . and they could catch fish when no one else, so they had the lighthouse keeper build them a nice 14ft. boat with a Sears-Roebuck engine and they did a regular land office business by loading a barrel or so every day. “One Sergeant went to town and brought home a barrel of oysters and as he could not eat them he had one of the Buglers open them and peddle them around the Post . . . “You talk about seasick- I had been on boats on Lake Michigan but to get the real stuff, just take the ground-swell; not a ripple on the water, then a sudden jerk, or jump, and you parted company with your insides, The sickest I ever was, was while repairing the pump of the small steamer while tied to the dock. That ground-swell was a high as 3 feet. I had to move off the boat, wait a bit, crawl back on the boat and put in a couple of bolts, then off the boat again. The whole gang sat there on the dock and laughed at me. “They used to fish for Mullet with dynamite. They would take a piece of dynamite about 1" long and tie it to a piece of board for a float and let out about 80 feet long and as the fish came along under the dock they could watch them and as they passed the dock the charge was set off and the fish were collected by men in boats. The fish were only stunned so any that got away soon ‘woke up’ . . . “The real ‘shark’ for catching was Sergt. Dennis, the Post Electrician: he could go down to the dock, sit down between two men who did not have a nibble, and pull in fish right along. He could not bear the taste or smell, yet he would fish every day. If they had fish for supper in the Mess, he would go over to the P. X. and buy his supper. “There were numerous snakes there and, of course, the men would have to stand guard, so the recruiter would cover the whole territory. One guard ran back to the guard-house and reported the big snake he had killed. The whole Guard went out to see and saw a small coil of rope and a few bricks which held the rope in place. “After they had been there a while they had drill with Range tower, target practice and after they had drill in the Range-finder the Capt. asked if there was anything they wanted to know - just ask it; this raw recruit said, ‘How do you let the enemy know when it is time to turn around and come back?’ 46

“One Lieut. was so easily mixed that he hollered, ‘B.Pit FIRE.’ ‘No don’t fire, don’t fire.’ He was relieved and put in the rest of his hitch as Quartermaster on Ft. DeSoto. The first time that happened it was caught in time to close the breach-block, but the next time the man in charge of the lanyard just stood there, as the breach-block was OUT and it would have wrecked the whole works if it had happened. “One day the Electrician was working with melted lead and his helper was melting the lead. He asked the ‘boss’- ‘How do you know when it is hot enough?’ and was told to spit in it! He did and the ceiling was coated with lead in a second. “They had some great ideas in the Q.M. Department. “When they put in the water system the Fire Plugs were off-set as much as 10 feet, then they put the paving right on top of the water main, same way with the sidewalks. “The Searchlight cement foundation was also built that way. The 2" pipe was under there also as the pictures show. “They had big covers, or Tompions, to put on the end of the mortars and one night at target practice they forgot to take it off on one mortar and there sure was a roar and the Tompion was blown to bits. “I have a picture of a rifle that was wrecked by a recruit. The young man had a rag stuffed in the rifle and we could not drill it out so he was told to put in some blanks and blow it out. The Blanks did not do it so he used up a clip of regular cartridges and he took it out to the Target butts and backed it up against a tree and pulled the tree and this is what happened. Funny, he was not hurt.” (93)

December 11

According to an Independent article of this date,

"A ruckus broke out yesterday when The Evening Independent came out with a headline half-a-page wide that John Blocker, county attorney, was to receive a fee from a bond house for helping in the validation of $1,250,000 bonds to build the BelleairIndian Rocks causeway. "Blocker and other county officials promptly pointed out that such practice is an old Florida custom with part-time attorneys for such government bodies. All the facts 47

were in the contract which was a matter of public record, and includes this information: "Shields and Co. is the bond house which is to receive 3 percent or $37,500 for selling the toll bridge bonds at 100 cents on the dollar at an interest rate which is to average less that 4 percent. Shields agrees to buy the bonds at this price if it can sell them at a better price for the county. "Out of its $37,500 Shields agrees to pay the Chicago and local attorney fees, printing costs and all sales costs. "This system of paying the local attorney has been going on in Florida a long time in cases where a government agency like the county commissioners has a part-time attorney. Blocker receives $5,000 a year from the county to handle its routine business. For extra service like the bond issue he gets extra fees. For instance, he received $1,500 extra for handling the water bonds of the county. "Ray Green, county clerk, immediately rose yesterday to defend the manner in which the county handled the financing of the proposed bridge. "This included, in addition to the bond contract, the fact that the county had the state road department prepare the plans for their bridge and will have its engineers in charge of construction so that it will meet all qualifications when the state is later asked to take it over and make it toll free." A later editorial also opined: "John Blocker and/or the County Commissioners should be subject to no criticism for the Shields deal. The contracts were all open and a matter of public record. "But the system of government agencies having a passel of part-time attorneys should be changed. Pinellas County Commissioners, school board, utility board, sheriff and other agencies all have their part-time attorneys. The City of St. Petersburg has a staff of full-time attorneys, but its Port Authority has its own attorney who will receive $20,000 for his work on the Pinellas-Manatee Bridge bonds which have never been sold. "This system is as bad as the old fee system when sheriffs, county clerks and other officials were paid according to the fees that their respective offices collected. "Now is a good time to start agitating for some basic changes in the laws which the 1949 State Legislature should consider." (94) 48

1949 January 4 As Republicans began to make inroads in the county, Blocker's tenure as county attorney now came under fire, as the Commission split 3-2 on retaining him. According to an article that appeared at the time in the Evening Independent, two new Republican Commissioners on the Board expressed their inalterable opposition to Blocker's continued service as county attorney: "Employment of all county department heads, serving by appointment from the board of county commissioners, was put on a day-to-day basis here this morning in a precedent-shattering move made with the unanimous vote of the reorganized commission, which includes Republican commissioners Joseph Cramer and Edward LaVoie. "Pursuant to the strict definition of the blanket appointment motion, developed by questions asked by Commissioner Cramer, the commission at any future meeting can terminate the services of County Attorney John Blocker; Dr. James Mooney, director of aviation; County Engineer W. A. McMullen, Jr.; Myron Koch, welfare director; Keith Simmons, superintendent of the county home and many other subordinate officials. "Before the reorganization meeting convened, Commissioner LaVoie told The Evening Independent that he and Commissioner Cramer were unalterably opposed to the reappointment of County Attorney Blocker. '"We will accept anyone except Blocker,' La Voie added. "But this was before the commission swung into its annual reorganization meeting that also highlighted the expected election of Clearwater Commissioner John Chestnut as new chairman, replacing the veteran and retiring Ed Beckett and the selection of Commissioner Andrew Potter as vice chairman. "With this business out of the way, Chestnut called for action on the appointments of department heads and Commissioner Belcher responded: "I move that all present department heads be reappointed.' "Thereupon Commissioner Cramer inquired: "I wish to clear up one point Mr. Chairman. I want to make sure that all of these appointments shall be with the distinct understanding that the appointees shall be continue to serve but only at the will of the board.' 49

"There was a moment of silence. Then Chairman Chestnut replied: “Yes , that is the way it will be. These appointees shall serve at the will of the board.” (95) February 6-March 20 Meanwhile, as Blocker’s political position began to deteriorate, he redoubled his efforts to record the history of the county. In a series of articles that appeared over the course of the next seven weeks in the St. Petersburg Times Sunday Magazine Section, the first installment of Blocker’s “History of Pinellas County” was published. The series was planned as part of at an ambitious three-volume history of Pinellas. An insert which appeared as part of Blocker’s article provides some interesting insight into the work: “You’d look a long long time-perhaps forever- before you found a man as well qualified to write the history of Pinellas County as genial, John C. Blocker, lawyer by profession, historian by choice . . . And his three-volume history, when finally published, will fill in many of the gaps that riddle some of the earlier works on the county . . . “Blocker’s personal background is ideal for the monumental task he has undertaken ... “Young John arrived in 1896, born in a little cottage next to where the Belmont Hotel now stands at 575 Central Avenue. As the village became a town and then a city, the youngster grew up too. He hooked the first ride on the first St. Petersburg street car, saw daring balloon ascensions made on the waterfront . . . “He watched prominent businessmen supplement their income during the Summer by catching fat mackerel off the Orange Belt Dock and selling them to fish dealers at 4 [cents] per pound. “And he grew up with the old-timers of today. His intimate knowledge involves many of these first families, and partly inspired his present work. “Says Blocker:

50

“‘I wrote the history because I was impressed with the fact that many stories about St. Petersburg have left out so many important events and individuals, particularly pioneer families who had contributed to the growth of the peninsula.’ “Since 1943, the local attorney has been doing extensive research into the dim, distant past when Central Avenue was paved with sand and Florida was just another way of saying wilderness in most of these Unites States. “He has personally interviewed dozens of early-day settlers, people to whom Pinellas history was a living, breathing thing. He has examined countless yellowed documents and letters of all kinds. His neat, thorough legal mind has sifted out long-buried, fascinating facts which should make his history one of our finest, once complete. “In this prologue to his work, dealing with early visitors to Pinellas County, you will see the results of his painstaking search for facts on the much disputed De Soto landing site. In assembling this material, Blocker checked the archives of the New York Public Library to secure a photostat of the famed Munez copy of De Soto’s letter of July, 1539, written from Tampa Bay at a site which Blocker contends was the present location of Phillippe Park. “The first portion of the history, covering the Spanish Period, will appear each week in The Times Sunday Magazine. Later sections of follow include the Indian War Period, (embracing Fort Harrison at Clearwater Harbor), a sketch of early settlers who came into the peninsula under the Armed Occupation Act, the Civil War Period and recent Pinellas History.” (96) In his Prologue to his history, Blocker begins with this bold statement: “The lives of Hernando De Soto and Panphilo de Narvaez are of great similarity and touch upon each other at many points. Their exploits create one of the astounding historical coincidences of Florida. Independent of each other, and eleven years apart, they sailed thousands of miles through uncharted seas, and arrived upon Pinellas Peninsula in Pinellas County, Florida, at a spot on the land not more than approximately ten leagues apart.” Following this–like a lawyer addressing a jury–in clear and precise language Blocker sought to establish a case for his contention that the two Spanish conquistadors had both landed in Pinellas. In 51

particular he closely examined the 1939 report of the Commission headed by Dr. John R. Swanton, which concluded that the site of DeSoto’s landing was Shaw’s Point in Manatee County. He then took direct aim at the Swanton Commission’s report and in a lengthy discussion, undermined its conclusions while making an intriguing argument for Pinellas as the landing site for both Narvaez and De Soto. Due to its importance, Blocker’s conclusion on the subject is reproduced here in full: “The foregoing facts give us the following conclusions: “(1) De Soto in looking for the port, actually entered it, and sailed up into Tampa Bay. That he entered the mouth of Tampa Bay much nearer to the Pinellas side than the Manatee side, and that in all probability he spent the night at ‘Ocita’ the village of Ranjel, and where Narvaez landed, or down around Pinellas Point, or he could have spent it in the vicinity of Big Bayou. (2) As to the landing place of the army on the Pinellas side, there are several alternatives. (a) It could have landed near Pinellas Point, and then lost itself meandering through the marsh, swamp and underbrush in the vicinity of Lake Maggiore, and then could have continued its wanderings until it came to the south bank of Big Bayou. The mouth of Big Bayou would constitute the roadstead, which it could not cross. On the other side of the Bayou there are remains of shell mounds extending from that point westwardly and somewhat northerly to the Booker Creek section in the vicinity of Mound Park Hospital. “I am rather inclined to discount Big Bayou as a site of Espiritu Santo, due to the fact that it is too far from Mucoco’s village. “(b) The next alternative is that the army could have been landed somewhere along the shore of St. Petersburg proper, and then could have used up twelve leagues (claimed by Ranjel) meandering around and floundering in the marshlands, fresh water ponds and swamps surrounding Coffee Pot Bayou, Smack’s Bayou and Papy’s Bayou until it came to the south bank of Papy’s Bayou at its mouth. On the opposite bank of this Bayou they would have perceived what is now Weeden’s Island, and undoubtedly the Indian village then located upon this island. Swanton discounts this theory, due to the fact that Papy’s Bayou at its mouth shows shallow water, but it is 52

to be remember that when the army reached the roadstead that it was unable to cross. It is not clear that this inability to cross was because of the depth of the water, or because night came on. Anyway, none of the narratives tell us how the army got across this roadstead, whether it was ferried across, or later found a way by land. Weeden’s Island at this particular point, is located upon a part of the land which you could term ‘cape’, and if Buckingham Smith’s translation of ‘Al Cabo’, as meaning ‘cape’ is correct, then the Weeden’s Island site is justified. This site places the village of Espiritu Santo a little far from Mucoco’s village. “(c) Now another alternative is that the army could have been landed somewhere north of St. Petersburg, and had wandered in behind the bayous mentioned, and then continued north, mission the Indian village on Weeden’s Island, and coming in and around the arm of Old Tampa Bay, which bounds the present International Airport of Pinellas County on the north, then around that, and up through the Bayview section and the present Safety Harbor section, until it reached an arm of the land swinging east and south of the present Phillippi Mound, which Pinellas County recently acquired as a historical site. Had the army gone out on this small arm of the land, which is hardly large enough to call a cape, although it was called ‘Kelly’s Point’ a great number of years ago, and by looking north across the water the army could have readily seen the high mound on Phillippi Point- and upon it the village Ucita.* (*Considerable confusion is injected into the subject by the use of different names for some of the chiefs and the main village of the Indian Chief Ucita. Garcilaso informs us that sometimes the name of the province, its High Chief and its principal village all bore the same name. Ucita is called by him ‘Hirrihigua’, and he speaks of the town as ‘Harriga.’ ‘Ucita’ is to be distinguished from ‘Ocita’, the latter being the place where De Soto spent Sunday night. According to Ranjel this village was named Ocita. I place this village at the present site of Gulfport.) The body of water enclosed by Phillippi Point and Kelly’s Point is not sufficiently large but what an army could have doubled back and around it without any difficulty, unless darkness fell upon them and they did not have time because of this to make the swing around into the village of Espiritu Santo located on Phillipi Point. “([d]) In locating the site of the landing of De Soto’s army in the present St. Petersburg area, at a point on the shore approximately two leagues from the Glenoak Mound site, there is sufficient deep water in Tampa Bay opposite St. Petersburg for the ships of his fleet to maneuver close enough to shore to effect a landing. Present charts show fifteen feet in the vicinity of the eastern end of the Municipal Pier. This anchorage area also extends south a considerable distance. Placing the landing site at 53

a point on this shore line does, however, cut the distance from Glenoak a little short of two leagues. Then, in order to account for the twelve leagues of march and wandering, as related by Ranjel, the army could have consumed the distance in marching first inland to the ‘Harriga’ village of Garcilaso (the Glenoak Mound site). It will also satisfy the requirements of Elvas that they disembarked on land two leagues from the town of an Indian chief called ‘Ucita’. He did not say that the village was called ‘Ucita’. Then the army could have gone north along the coast, meandering in and out and around the Smack’s and Papy’s Bayou sections, then north-west, crossing many creeks, then winding around Old Tampa Bay, and reaching Bay View, and then continuing north, and winding around what is now shown as the harbor of Safety Harbor, then down to Booth’s Point. This would approximate about thirty miles of march of the army, as required by Ranjel. It would meet the requirement of two days march of Elvas, and it would place the army at a place on the land across the roadstead from the port of Espiritu Santo. “I do definitely place the village of Espiritu Santo and the port of same at Phillippi Point. The larger boats constituting De Soto’s fleet could have, without great difficulty, come have, without great difficulty, come up fairly close to this site. The maps show a variable depth from eleven to fifteen feet off this point. From Phillippi Point in a southeasterly direction a sizable body of much deeper water is reached between Weeden’s Island and Port Tampa, and then further south is found a greater body of water with depth from twenty to thirty-two feet. The largest ships, in all probability, would have struck bottom on the ten foot bank south-east of Point Pinellas before the greater depths were reached about midway between Pinellas Point and Piney Point. Had the ships gone from this last mentioned deep area north-easterly along what is now the main ship channel, they would have experienced no difficulty had they followed the natural channel until they got into an area just south-west of Gadsden’s Point. There are shoals along there, but once the main channel between Papy’s Bayou and Port Tampa was reached they would have no more difficulty except occasionally scraping the bottom of the bay working up into the arm of Old Tampa Bay at Phillippi Point. From the narratives it is clearly presented that they spent considerable time working up the bay. Ranjel said that it took five days, Elvas, seven days. As pointed out before, it would not take this time to bring the fleet from the entrance of Tampa Bay to Terra Ceia Island. The Phillippi Hammock site clearly meets the requirements from the data of the narratives, and is the site which best reconciles the various distances of the narratives. Westerly from this site you have the Anclote River, and its Indian habitations. This is a sizable body of water. This, in my opinion, is Mucoco’s territory, and in all probability extended South on the coast. 54

His village was located on this Anclote River, but he ruled the country up and down the coast from Clearwater to the mouth of the Kootie River. It is also to be remembered from the narratives that his domain extended to the sea. This location of Mucoco’s village would justify the westerly march of the army the first day after it left the port of Espiritu Santo at Phillippi Point. De Soto and his men probably spent the first evening out visiting with Mucoco, telling him goodbye, and urging him to be friendly with and aid Calderon, if he needed it, who was left in Phillippi Point with a detachment. To substantiate Garcilaso we need a great plain bounded on one side by a forest, and we have a place bounded by forest on one side, north-east of Phillippi Point, in the vicinity of Oldsmar. After leaving Mucoco’s village, they continued to go north-east to a number of little villages until they reached Ocale. I don’t believe there is any doubt in anyone’s mind but what Ocale is the present site of our Ocala. It lies almost due north-east from the Anclote River section (Tarpon Springs). It is more of a north-east line than a line from Ocala to any point on the east side of Tampa Bay Manatee Section, or Charlotte Harbor, or from the Caloosahatchee. “Another thing which supports the Phillippi Point site as being the site of the port of the Holy Spirit, is that in 1566, not so many years after De Soto’s sojourn in this vicinity, certainly within the memory of one life, it is related by Meras in his Memorial on Pedro Menendez de Aviles, that this Spanish colonizer, after having visited with Carlos, the Indian Chief down in his kingdom, ‘He sailed with all six brigantines in the direction of Tocobaga: he took Carlos with him and twenty of his principal Indians: he arrived at the harbor the second day, at night. The cacique lived twenty leagues inland, and one could sail up close to the site of his house by a channel of salt water; an Indian of those who came with Carlos, steered in such a manner toward the North, although it was night and there was no moon, that with a prosperous wind the Adelantado arrived one hour before daybreak near the house of Tocobago, without being discovered, and he ordered the brigantines to anchor with great secrecy.’ It is conceded by informed thought that Tocobago was located on what is now Old Tampa Bay. There is no point on Old Tampa Bay more clearly meeting the fulfilment of the Menendez story than Phillippi Point. A brigantine could have sailed right up to the point; in fact it can be so done today. Dr. Phillippi, who was the first modern settler on this point, in locating there, brought his schooner right up to the harbor adjacent to the Point. It had been frequented by John Gomez, the pirate, many years before. In fact it was Gomez who sent Phillippi to this site. Now, the point is that if an Indian guide of Carlos could direct Menendez and his group in sailing up Tampa Bay during the night and stay in the channel, it could not have been any extraordinary feat for De Soto and his men to have sailed up the 55

waters of Tampa Bay to the waters of Old Tampa Bay and on to Phillippi Point in the daytime, taking several days to do so, as hereinabove told. An unstrained construction of the language used and the facts given in the various narratives and other historical documents which shed light on the subject, as well as the letter of De Soto and its various narratives and other historical documents which shed light on the subject, as well as the letter of De Soto and its various translations, lead to the conclusion that Phillippi Point was the site of Ucita, and became the village and port of Espiritu Santo. It at least clearly shows that De Soto and his army moved inland from this point, first going westerly by Mucoco’s village on the Anclote River, and then bearing north-easterly to Ocala. “I appreciate the fact that the conclusion reached by me is speculative, as well as all conclusions reached by other students and writers on this subject. The particular spot is yet to be determined, and will only be determined when sufficient research has been conducted by archaeologists in the vicinity of the various sites championed by writers on De Soto. From the artifacts yet to be unearthed by the archaeologists will come the final and complete story. Yet there are certain potent facts existing in the historical documents mentioned above, when given a reasonable and fair interpretation and translation, that lead one to believe that Phillippi Point was the site of the village and port of Espiritu Santo of De Soto. “I place the landfall of De Soto off shore about opposite to where the present Johns Pass is located, and that De Soto entered what is now known as Boca Ciega Bay in his pinnace, and that the following day they discovered what is now the Egmont Channel, or one equivalent to it as then existed, and that the fleet entered this main channel and proceeded northerly, skirting the east side of the Pinellas Peninsula. “As to the approximate place of the landing of the army on the Pinellas Peninsula, I select a stretch of beach which formerly existed just south of Little Bayou, about where the Bahama Beach Development now is being pursued, and from the facts presented, I believe that the army swung inland and westerly, encountered the marshes surrounding what is now Lake Maggoire, and swung around the west end of it to the Glenoak site. This I believe to have been a village of Hirrihigua where Narvaez also went, and from this point the army proceeded northerly, meandering to and from the coast line, to observe the ships, if possible, until it had wound around and reached Booth’s Point, opposite Phillippi Point, in the manner which has been herein above outlined. 56

“As to whether or not Tampa Bay was the bay from which De Soto landed, we might accent a few of the facts herein above set forth, supporting the conclusion that Tampa Bay and vicinity constituted the landfall and port of debarkation, not only or Naarvaez but that of De Soto. “At no place on the West Coast of Florida is there a bay and a topography which will meet the requirements of the landing of Narvaez, other than the Pinellas Peninsula and Old Tampa Bay, and as has been stated, students of this subject have readily conceded that Narvaez landed on the West side of the lower Pinellas Peninsula, and went northerly inland until he reached the arm of Old Tampa Bay extending northwestwardly. “The story of Juan Ortiz, the Spanish nobleman captured from the Narvaez expedition, in my opinion, conclusively proves that De Soto landed in the immediate vicinity of this capture, that is to say, within a few leagues, approximately ten. “There is no bay on the West Coast of Florida other than Tampa Bay which meets the requirements contained in the De Soto letter, for it is the only bay which extends for twelve or more leagues to the sea. “Tampa Bay has sufficient depth of water, as a general proposition, to attract the attention of the first observers, which led some of them to call it ‘Baya Honda’, as it was called by Biedma, one of the narrators of the De Soto expedition. The decision favoring Tampa Bay is further strengthened by the expedition of Menendez and the Indian Chief Carlos of the village of Tocobaga. The facts contained in the narrative of this escapade should clearly convince anyone that at that time Phillippi Point was the site of Tocobaga. “Tampa Bay as the favored site is further strengthened by the story of the Spanish Missionaries, headed by Father Luis Cancer - the story of Magdalene, and the escape of the Spanish slave of the Indians, Juan Munoz. “When you weigh the value and significance of all the facts, particularly those facts which are necessary to meet the requirements of the various narratives, although some clash with others, nevertheless the over-all picture leads you to the conclusion that the vicinity of Tampa Bay is the locale of the landing sites respectively of Narvaez and De Soto. This writing concludes making the claim that both landed on the Pinellas Peninsula.” (97) 57

February 19 In addition to employing his research and writing skills to promote the county’s history, Blocker also worked hard to preserve the area’s historic and pre-historic sites. One site of particular interest to him was the Indian shell mound near Mound Park Hospital in downtown St. Petersburg. In an article by Times correspondent Dick Bothwell, Blocker outlined an elaborate plan to save the mound: “Mound Park shell mound could be enclosed in the lobby of the proposed new hospital, Attorney John C. Blocker suggested yesterday. “Blocker said plans could be revised to encompass the historical Indian observation mound in the lobby with a high, vaulted ceiling. Around the walls murals would depict early St. Petersburg scenes. “‘This would be a new and novel idea and would prove of great publicity value to the City. It would not detract from the efficiency of the hospital if plans were redesigned to make this the main entrance,’” Blocker declared . . . “. . . As an alternate idea, Blocker suggested, the hospital could be constructed around the Mound. He says plenty of land is available at the site. “He said he has pictures dating back to 1888 showing the Mound located at the present site. Several other mounds in the vicinity were torn down by residents and used for fill or sidewalk purposes. “There are no bodies in the Mound. It was used by Indians, for observation purposes only, Blocker explained. “Litigation against the City may be started should the shell mound be torn down to construct a hospital. “A Feb. 3rd. decision of the State Supreme Court holds that once property is conveyed or dedicated for park purposes the City cannot change use. Any resident may enjoin the City from changing the use . . . “The land on which the mound stands was dedicated to the City in 1910 by F. E. Cole and wife, James S. Norton and wife and J. C. Blocker and wife. (Father of the County commission attorney.) 58

“A clause in the legal agreement stated that said lots were to be used ‘only for public park. If they are used for any other purpose they shall at once revert to grantors.’ “St. Petersburg recently obtained release agreements from heirs to the property which would allow any of the land to be used for any purpose the City deemed necessary. Blocker says the new court ruling would make this agreement invalid. “It was predicted that the City may encounter litigation if the Mound is not preserved but that no trouble would arise if the Mound was enclosed or protected. “Many persons, including doctors and members of the St. Petersburg Historical Society, are opposed to destroying the Mound, Blocker said. “‘I think it would be a big mistake. The City has received a great deal of favorable publicity from the Indian Mound in the past and many cities would do most anything to have an attraction of this sort,’ he declared. His ideas for the lobby-mound combination include display of other historical objects. “‘Something on the order of the ‘Battle of Atlanta’ displayed in the Cyclorama Building in Atlanta,’ Blocker explained. “He said he was not opposed to the construction of a hospital on the site. ‘On the contrary,’ he said, ‘it would be a wonderful site.’” Unfortunately however, Blocker ultimately lost this battle. In the end, the mound was not preserved and was eventually demolished to make way for what is now the Bayfront Medical Center. (98) April 7-9 Blocker also increased his efforts to preserve and promote history on a state-wide level as well. As chairman of the Florida Historical Society’s Legislative Committee, he worked unsuccessfully to obtain for the Society a state-owned building in Tallahassee. According to the official minutes of the Society, “. . . Under the leadership of past-president Boyd, who registered as a lobbyist for the Society, and through the able and continuous efforts of Mr. John C. Blocker and Mr. Velma Keen of our Legislative Committee, and the indispensable work of our friends in the in the Legislature, a bill was passed against seemingly insurmountable difficulties on the next to the last day of that unusual session. It was thought that a 59

permanent home for the Society might in time be the result, but after adjournment Governor Warren vetoed the bill.” (99) September 22 But Blocker's interests were not confined solely to law and history. A notice in the St. Petersburg Times on this date announced that "John Blocker, who writes about Pinellas County history, now is a yachtsman of the first water. His magnificent ship, purchased in Miami and now moored at the Yacht Club, will be noticeable by her presence among the Bunces Pass week-enders of the future." (100)

1950 April 10 Blocker presided as Master of Ceremonies over the dedication of a new $50,000 History Museum for St. Petersburg on Second Avenue NE near the Municipal Pier. He had long been involved in the efforts to establish an historical museum in the city, and no doubt also present at the ceremonies through Blocker’s influence was his friend U.S. Rep. J. Hardin Peterson (D-Lakeland), Chairman of the House Public Lands Committee. According to a Times article on the event, “Peterson said he will give Civil War bonds, Confederate money and some geological specimens to the museum and will aid the St. Petersburg Historical Memorial Society in every way possible . . . “Peterson said the committee has jurisdiction over parks, historic sites, mining, irrigation reclamation and irrigation affairs in addition to Indian affairs . .” (101) April 15 Blocker’s clout in state historical circles also continued to grow during this period as well. On this date, he was elected 2nd Vice President of the Florida Historical Society at the Society’s annual business meeting held in Gainesville. He also worked to have the Society schedule its next annual meeting in Pinellas, and according to the minutes of the meeting, “President Tebeau presented the request of St. Petersburg, as forwarded by Mr. Blocker, for the 1951 meeting of the Society. He reminded the members that St. Petersburg had graciously stepped aside, although it had first claim for the 1950 meeting, and allowed the Society to come to Mr. Yonge at the University. Doctor Boyd moved the invitation be referred to the Board of Directors with a favorable recommendation. After Mr. Havee seconded, the motion received unanimous approval.” 60

Other officers elected were Dr. Charlton W. Tebeau, Chairman of the University of Florida’s History Department, who was re-elected president; Richard P. Daniel, Jacksonville, re-elected first vice president; John B. Stetson Jr., Elkins Park, Pa., re-elected honorary vice president; Dr. R.W. Patrick, University of Florida, retained as recording secretary; and Mrs. M.A. Johnson, St. Augustine, who was named corresponding secretary and librarian. (102) June In this month's edition of Florida Highways Magazine, Blocker wrote an article on the opening of the newly completed $1 million Belleair Beach Causeway. Looking back on the history of the project, he noted that: "The opening of the Belleair Beach Causeway will afford another connecting link to the vast stretch of insular possessions of Pinellas County from its mainland. The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners has been cognizant of the urgent need existing for many years of connecting its mainland to the islands and in planning the growth and development of the beach and island area of this sub-peninsular county. This need has received its fullest consideration. "It was during the middle twenties that the then County Fathers began the bridgebuilding program and soon the Corey Causeway extending from Gulfport to the Pass-aGrille section of Long Key was completed. This replaced the old William D. McAdoo wooden bridge which had served as a transportation facility since 1916. There soon followed the early completion of the Welsh Causeway - again connecting the Pinellas peninsular with Treasure Island in the vicinity of the present Bay Pines Veterans' Hospital. The Clearwater Causeway, originally sponsored by the City of Clearwater but due to a lack of finances was converted into a county proposition and was completed on that basis and then turned back to the City of Clearwater which has maintained it and beautified it, was another bridge facility completed during the ante-depression days. "In 1948 the County Fathers of Pinellas were convinced of the necessity of again bridging the waters separating the development at and north of Indian Rocks with the mainland at a point approximately due west of the Town of Largo and began a plan toward constructing the proper bridge and causeway facility. Being mindful of the fact that the other bridges and causeways above mentioned were built at a cost to the taxpayers, all of which during the lean years of the depression became most burdensome, the Board of County Commissioners decided some time ago that all

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future bridge connections from the mainland to its islands would be financed wherever possible through the issuance of revenue bonds ... "In preliminary matters the State Road Department assisted Pinellas immeasurably and on a number of things. It made available the result of its traffic studies made in Pinellas County for the traffic experts, Messrs. Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Hall and MacDonald, whose report of traffic conditions indicated that the Pinellas area would support, service and ultimately liquidate a bridge facility costing a million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The traffic survey indicated that the county could construct a much better facility than originally anticipated. "Being encouraged by the traffic reports, the county, together with the State Road Department, began the drafting of plans and specifications which were soon completed under the auspices and guidance of the State Road Department. In the meantime, $1,250,000 worth of revenue bonds with the average interest rate of a fraction under four percent were promptly validated by the county attorney. These bonds were offered for sale at public sale. Shields and Company and R. W. Spragins & Co. of Memphis, Tenn., were the successful bidders, bidding the sum of $1,187,500 representing a bid of 95% of par value, plus accrued interest. "The completed bridge and causeway is approximately six thousand feet in length. It consists of a hydraulic fill embankment and relief bridges with twenty-four feet of roadway and vertical-lift span electrically operated. It spans small-boat channel into the entrance to Clearwater harbor. The draw-bridge is of the double-life bascule type with a completed horizontal opening of eighty feet. "W. H. Armston Company, Inc., a construction corporation of Dunedin, Florida, was the successful bidder obtaining the contract for $1,011,038.60. W. J. Howard, Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, was associated with the W.H. Armston Company Inc., for the construction of the bascule bridge. "Due to fine weather the contract was completed some 270 days ahead of schedule. "The official toll is twenty-five cents per passenger car and slightly more for trucks of various grades; pedestrians and operators of bicycles and motorcycles will pay ten cents." (103) October 2 Blocker also tried his hand at archaeology. On this date, a Times article announced that 62

“Discovery of an Indian shell mound on Mullet Key, not mentioned in any of the authoritative works on the subject of such formation in the Tampa Bay area, has been announced by John C. Blocker, county historian and attorney for the Board of County Commissioners. “Blocker, who made the discovery, regards it as an important find and one which will be a decided asset as a tourist attraction to the county’s fast expanding park system. “Blocker first noted the peculiar formation on the Northwest prong of Mullet Key, abutting Bunce’s Pass channel, while on a fishing trip in the Fall of 1949. At that time, he called it to the attention of this reporter, who was with him on the boat anchored in the channel, and studied it through a telescope, resolving to come back later for a thorough investigation. “. . . Blocker describes the main mound as consisting largely of huge conch shells, in which holes had been punched to remove the meaty content. It is covered by a considerable growth of vegetation, and is surrounded by a moat from which earth was undoubtedly obtained to make the ‘kitchen midden’, a small mound on which the Indians did their cooking, standing East of the big mound. “The Bunce’s Pass channel, says Blocker, has eroded part of the mound, and many shells similar to those contained in it may be found submerged in the water and extending several feet toward the channel. “Ruins of a fisherman’s house, destroyed by fire many years ago, show that the kitchen midden was a popular rendezvous for fisher folk some time after the mound was built, according to Blocker. He and Fuller found native tobacco plants growing in the vicinity as well as a number of small pine trees. Heretofore, it was thought that no pines existed on Mullet Key. “‘In all probability,’ Blocker theorized, ‘the place was a favorite fishing ground back in the days before the Spanish discovery of the Tampa Bay section, as it is today. The location [was] ideal for [the] establishment of [an] Indian village, since it was only near deep water, but was a stone’s throw [away from the shallow flats] extending North and East. On these flats there was an abundant supply of conches, scallops and other crustaceans, of course, varieties of fish . . .’ 63

“Blocker has reviewed all published works on Indian mounds in the Tampa Bay area but finds no mention of the existence of the mounds on Mullet Key. He will make a formal report at the next meeting of the County Commission, which has jurisdiction over the island, and which will also certify the discovery to the Park Board. He believes that in all probability a state archaeologist will be requested to review the site and prepare a pamphlet on it. “The newly found mound is one of hundreds in the Tampa Bay area, all considered important from the standpoint of study of prehistoric man.” (104) November 7 In the general election, Republicans wrested control of the County Commission from the Democrats for the first time since 1928, when three Democratic incumbents were defeated by their Republican challengers to give the G.O.P. four of the five seats on the Commission. With the Republican majority, Blocker’s time as county attorney had run out. A strong and influential member of the local Democratic party for many years, he had been the target of G.O.P. attacks ever since the election of two Republican Commissioners to the board in 1948. Tagged for replacement in favor of a Republican appointee, he knew it was time to go. (105) December 19 In anticipation of the upcoming takeover of the Board by Republicans, set to occur on January 2, 1951, Blocker tendered his resignation as county attorney effective on that date. It was, according to an Independent reporter who covered the scene, accepted by the board “without comment with three Republican commissioners-elect setting on the sidelines.” In his letter of resignation, Blocker wrote that “. . . You and the personnel constituting the former Board of County Commissioners and the people of Pinellas County have bestowed upon me a great privilege and honor in permitting me to serve you and them as County Attorney, for a period of time now entering my twenty-fifth year of service. “I am humbly grateful of having had this opportunity to serve so long the people and the community in which I was born. It is particularly gratifying to me, in going out of office to feel that I have been publicly identified with the constructive growth and development of our County. “I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank the many co-workers, attaches and fellow employees in County Government, past and present, for their 64

courteous treatment of me and their whole hearted cooperation in all endeavors and mutual problems that we have been confronted with over many years in the past. I thing the esprit de corps among the employees of the public officials having charge of County Government of the Community is the finest of any that I have been in contact with throughout the State of Florida.” (106) December 29 The last session of the Commission before it passed over to the Republicans was held at the County Courthouse in Clearwater. There, the outgoing Democrats bid farewell to public life. There, the outgoing Democrats bid farewell to public life. Retiring Chairman Andrew E. Potter spoke for the board when he stated that “. . . It has been a privilege to have worked with a board of such high caliber and when the history of the county is written I am satisfied that this board will rank high for its contribution to the public welfare.” Blocker himself reflected on his years of service to the Board, saying “There’s not much I can say to [complement] what’s already been said, I consider the 24 ½ years I’ve spent in public life as a distinct honor. I appreciate the opportunity that has been given to me to be of service to the people of my county.” Following this, the Commission adjourned sine die. “And” the Independent wrote, “the stage was set for a new era in county government.” (107)

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Chapter VI: County Historian (1951-1957)

1951 January 30 Meanwhile, as Republicans began to solidify control over county government, Blocker’s retirement as county attorney continued to create controversy. Tensions began when the lone Democratic holdout on the board, Commissioner John Chesnut, objected to the manner in which Lester Ulm, Manager of the Pinellas Airport, had been fired by the Republican-dominated board. Blocker himself was drawn into the controversy, and according to the Clearwater Sun, “The hand-to-hand verbal battle yesterday between republican members of the County Commission and the lone democrat on the board, John Chesnut, was accompanied by a long-range artillery duel between former county attorney John Blocker, democrat, who held the office for 25 years, and the new county attorney, republican Clair A. Davis. “Blocker, who sent up from his St .Petersburg office a massive load of files and papers referring to county business, stated in an accompanying letter that: ‘From the press notices in the papers since the first of the year, I gather that the new county attorney has been ‘sniping’ at me and trying to create the impression that I was withholding vital information from the Commission and from him, so that the county’s business was retarded. “‘However,’ the letter to the commission continued, ‘I have never been called upon by Mr. Clair Davis to answer any questions pertaining to county business since he took office. I would have been only to glad to assist him in any way I could . . .’ “‘I think his remarks are so preposterous and asinine that they don’t even require an answer’, snapped Davis, as reading of Blocker’s letter was concluded. “‘As a matter of fact,’ David added, ‘Mr. Blocker sat here at the last meeting in December, just before I took office, and refused to speak to me. I came face to face with him on several occasions and he never spoke.’ 66

“The Davis-Blocker duel was set off two weeks ago when the new county attorney complained to commissioners that there were no records available on airport business, and asked that Blocker be requested to turn over whatever files he might have relating to county business. The Commission took up the matter by vote, authorizing a letter to the former attorney in which he was allowed 10 days in which to turn over the records. “Blocker’s letter included the statement that he had asked a clerk to have some member of the county patrol pick up the files at his office in St.Petersburg, but that no one had appeared.” (108) March 30-31 But with his retirement from public affairs, Blocker was now free to concentrate on his love of history. During this year, largely through Blocker’s urging, the Florida Historical Society held its annual meeting at the Suwannee Hotel in St. Petersburg, a meeting which was subsequently described in the Society’s journal, the Florida Historical Quarterly, as “a success in every way, in fact, it was one of the most successful we have had.” As a further mark of his influence within the organization, at the Society’s annual board meeting, Blocker was also elected 1st vice president of the Society. (109)

1952 January 28-29 And yet, his battles with the county were not entirely over. On this date, Blocker initiated a lawsuit against the Pinellas County Budget Board, an entity which was created in 1949 to oversee the county’s budget, and one which Blocker had long been at odds with. According to the Times, “Two points are involved in the suit. They are: “1. Whether the special Pinellas Act of 1949 which created the Commission is unconstitutional because of conflict with Article 3, Section 20 of the State Constitution, which defines and regulates the powers and duties of elective officials. “2. If the special Act is unconstitutional, whether or not the Budget Commission is properly created by virtue of earlier general Acts of the Legislature that allowed creation of County Budget Commissions . . .

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“The plaintiff put four witnesses on the stand, three of them in an apparent endeavor to show that the Budget Commission has usurped powers of their bodies over funds they spend. “Tax Collector Lester W. Lambert testified that he controlled his own budget until 1949 when the Budget Commission took over. R. P. Templeton said the Commission deleted an item to hire an attorney for the Mosquito Control Board, and former Commissioner Andrew E. Potter told how the Commission had refused to okay an item for $8,000 which would have enabled the County to build the Goose Pond Health Center with heavy use of federal funds. “Acting County Clerk Morrison Pearce told the Court he served as secretary of the Commission and had charge of records.” Although Blocker won his case before Circuit Judge Orvil L. Dayton Jr., eventually the decision was reversed by the State Supreme Court. But even in this, Blocker eventually prevailed: by the next decade, the Budget Board was disbanded. (110) April 25-26 At the Florida Historical Society’s annual meeting held this year in Jacksonville, Blocker was elected president of the Society, succeeding retiring President Richard P. Daniel of Jacksonville. Other officers elected with Blocker included Dr. Chas. T. Thrift of Fla Southern College, Lakeland, 1st vice president; J. Velma Keen, Tallahassee attorney, 2nd vice president; Dr. Rembert W. Patrick, Chairman of the Department of History, University of Florida, recording secretary; and Mrs. M. Johnson, recording secretary and librarian for the Society, treasurer. On taking office, Blocker outlined a bold program of revitalization for the Society based on four principal objectives: “(1) We must increase the membership of our Society; “(2) Our State’s history should be taught in more of our schools; “(3) A fellowship program should assist worthy students; [and] “(4) We must encourage local societies throughout Florida.” The minutes of the Society further record Blocker as stating that “He was distressed and alarmed by the loss of membership during the past year. He promised that he would work to increase the membership of the Society, to create additional local historical societies, and bring them in close accord with the state society. He believed the Florida Historical Society should identify itself with some 68

good cause. In his opinion such a cause would be encouraging the study of Florida history in the primary and intermediate grades and in the high schools. He knew that among the members of the Florida Historical Society there were individuals who had the talent to write the necessary textbooks and to get these textbooks accepted by the public schools. President Blocker asked for support from the members of the Society, and promised that he would work industriously to promote the welfare of the organization.” (111) December 3 Meanwhile, Blocker continued an active and important involvement within his profession. On this date, he was elected president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association at their annual meeting held at the Detroit Hotel. Other elected officers included James S. McClure, Jr., vice president; George Coit, Jr., secretary; and Charles W. Burke, treasurer. Blocker served as president of the St. Petersburg Bar until January 6, 1954. (112)

1953 March 27-28 During this year, the annual meeting of the Florida Historical Society was held in Lakeland. Planned in conjunction with Florida Southern College, the event was, according to a recounting of the event in the Florida Historical Quarterly, “…one of the most successful we have ever had. Members came from many parts of the State, and all were pleased with the hospitality extended them, and gratified with the reports of our officers which showed the continued increase of activity and the noteworthy growth in membership in our Society.” (113) Prior to this, on March 26th , the Board of the Society met (according to the official report “with twelve directors in attendance from Miami and Pensacola and all [other] sections–another indication of the present vitality of the Society”) and Blocker was re-elected president by “a unanimous ballot,” becoming the first person ever to serve a second term as President of the Society. In his annual report to the Board, Blocker noted that “On taking office a year ago, after having heard the report on membership which indicated that our Society was losing ground in point of members, I resolved to initiate an aggressive membership campaign throughout the state as one of the objectives of my administration.

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“The basis of the campaign was a personal appeal from the office of the President to each member, urging that particular member to bring in one new member. The response was most gratifying and I want to thank each and every member who brought in one or more new members. “Thus has the Society made large and substantial gains in membership for the year just ending. This progress, however, should not lull us to inactivity during the coming year. Each member should be conscious of the need for augmenting our strength by obtaining additional members, particularly the citizens of Florida who, by their achievements and capabilities, will be a contributing factor to the intellectual growth of our Florida Historical Society. If we do not continue to grow in membership, ultimately we will cease being an active, cultural body of our State . . . “Another objective of the present administration, was to stimulate an interest among the local historical societies. We have had reports of local activities published in each issue of our Quarterly and this will be continued. Your President has attempted to have established, or re-activated, local societies in Manatee, Lake and Pasco counties and it remains to be seen if we see the bloom from the seeds planted in those areas. The local societies of Hillsborough, Dade, Duval, Escambia, St. Johns, Leon and Volusia counties have been functioning and in a most interesting manner throughout the year.” The Treasurer’s report for the period April 1, 1952-March 24, 1953 substantiated Blocker’s optimism, showing a surplus of $1795.06 with a gain of 189 members, resulting in a total membership of 711. In other actions, Blocker appointed a committee to develop a plan to establish a state historical commission, and urged retiring Society Librarian Mrs. M. A. Johnson to complete a first-ever index of the Quarterly. The Board also approved an endorsement of a “Pascua Florida Day” which was “to be established on a day that the legislature shall determine;” passed a resolution “Calling upon the Secretary of State of Florida to prepare a memorial petitioning the legislature to pass an act authorizing an appropriation for the preservation of the Confederate battle flags;” and went on record “as favoring cooperative rather than competitive collecting” of historical materials within the state. (114) May 7 Blocker (who according to one source spoke both French and Spanish) also traveled widely during this period. On this date, Blocker and his wife Ruby departed aboard the SS Ile de France for London, where they witnessed the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Following this, they toured 70

Great Britain, Ireland and Europe, and then returned to the U.S. aboard the Ile de France on July 28th. (115)

1954 January 5 Blocker was elected president of the St. Petersburg Historical Society. Other officers included local notables Walter P. Fuller, who was elected 1st vice president; Marvin E. Kaniss, 2nd vice president; Mrs. Annie Hutchinson, secretary; Mrs. J. T. Bonney, coresponding secretary; and Miss Susan Hallowell, treasurer. (116) January 14 As the featured speaker at the 48th Program Meeting of the Historical Association of Southern Florida held at Coral Gables Elementary School in Dade County, Blocker presented a paper entitled “Piracy in Southern Waters,” aptly described by one source as “a dramatic account of the many incidents, during the period of 1800 to 1830, in which ships of all nations were preyed upon by ruthless gangs and pirates who infested the South Florida coast.” Notably, it is one a the few completed works of Blocker which survives. In a lengthy (fifty-page) exposition on the subject, Blocker meticulously recounted the brutal and often savage exploits of these desperate bands of men. His style, like that of his Prologue to the history of Pinellas, is both lucid, exciting, and unforgettable. Excerpts from this paper follow: “Following the successful revolt of Spain’s south American colonies and the establishment of their independence, the newly formed republics soon commissioned fast sailing vessels, adequately armed, equipped and staffed with efficient officers and men, as privateers to seize and plunder the Spanish merchant ships plying the Gulf, Caribbean Sea, and neighboring waters, during the period of time in which we are interested, viz, 1800-1830. Hostile, notorious and open acts of piracy followed in the wake of these newly equipped privateer vessels . . . “The Geo- physical of land and sea in the vast area of this east central portion of the Western Hemisphere gave to piracy a strategic advantage in the exercise of many tactical forays upon the well accustomed travel lanes of the commerce of the nations upon the high seas of the Gulf and Caribbean area. The coastline of many islands and that of the peninsular of Florida, as well as the mouth of thee Mississippi that compose this broad expanse of sea and land, indented by innumerable bays, bayous, lagoons, coves and inlets, many of which were partially concealed by tropical growth and protected against larger naval vessels by outer reefs and shoals, gave freedom of movement, the advantage of surprise attack, and a hit-and-run for shelter procedure to 71

the pirate ships and inflicted great handicap upon the pursuing larger naval vessels of deeper draft of the nations banded together to suppress piracy in this area of Western Hemisphere . . . “By this time, piracy in southern waters had degenerated from its former highly regarded and legalized position as exploited by the French, English, Dutch and even American Privateers which swarmed the West Indian area long prior to, and during the Revolutionary War, into common piracy and wilful murder and exploited by the lowest form of sea rogues who made innumerable sorties from their concealed harbors to strike at and loot the helpless merchantmen; murdering where it was not necessary; and waging a toll of fire and disaster wherever they struck . . . “To acquaint you with the technique of operation of these latter day pirates, who infested our coastline and neighboring Indies, a few selected piratical exploits, as exemplary of others will now be given: the first is an eye witness account of a passenger who sailed aboard the schooner “Mary” on a voyage for his health, from Philadelphia to New Orleans ( American Monthly Magazine, February-1824) and who had concealed with him considerable wealth. “The Account “‘I was the only passenger on board. Our voyage at first was prosperous, and time went rapidly. I felt my strength increase the longer I was at sea, and when we arrived off the southern coast of Florida my feelings were like those of another man. “‘It was towards the evening of the fourteenth day, two hours before sunset, that we espied a sail astern of us. As twilight came it neared us with astonishing rapidity. Night closed, and all around was impenetrable darkness. Now and then a gentle wave would break against our bow and sparkle for a moment, and at a distance behind us we could see the uneven glow of light, occasioned by the foaming of strange vessel. The breeze that filled our canvas was gentle, though it was fresh . . . “‘At the time it was unaccountable to me but I now believe it to be occasioned by the schooner behind us, coming rather near in the darkness of the night. At midnight I went on deck. Nothing but an 72

occasional sparkle was to be seen, and the ocean was undisturbed. Still it was a fearful and appalling darkness, and in spite of my endeavors I could not compose myself. At the windlass, on the forecastle, three of the sailors, like myself, unable to sleep, had collected for conversation. On joining them, I found our fears were mutual. They all kept their eyes steadily fixed upon the unknown vessel, as if anticipating some dreadful event. They informed me that they had put their arms in order and were determined to stand or die. “‘At this moment a flash of light, perhaps a musket burning priming, proceeded from the vessel in pursuit, and we saw distinctly that her deck was covered with men. My heart almost failed me. I had never been in battle, and knew not what it was. Day at length dawned, and setting all her canvas, our pursuer gained alarmingly upon us. It was evident that she had followed us the whole night, being unwilling to attack us in the dark. In a few minutes she fired a gun and came alongside. She was a pirate. Her boat was lowered, and about a dozen hideous-looking objects jumped in, and with a commander at their head. The boat pushed off and was fast giving her a broadside. Our whole stock of arms consisted of six muskets and an old swivel–a small revolving ship’s cannon in use in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries–used as a signal gun, belonging to the “Mary”, and a pair of pistols of my own, which I carried in my belt. The pirate boat’s crew were armed with muskets, pistols, swords, cutlasses, and knives; and when she came within her own length of us we fired five of our muskets and the swivel into her. “‘Her fire was scarcely half given when she filled and went down, with all her crew. At this success we were inclined to rejoice, but looking over the pirate schooner we observed her deck still swarming with the same description of horrid-looking wretches. A second boat’s crew pushed off, with the same distance as the other, we fired, but with little, if any effect. The pirate immediately returned the fire, and with horrid cries jumped aboard us. “‘Two of our brave crew were lying dead upon the deck, and the rest of us expected nothing better. French, Spanish and English were spoken indiscriminately and all at once. The most horrid 73

imprecations were uttered against us, and threats that fancy cannot imagine. “‘A wretch whose black, shaggy whiskers covered nearly his whole face, whose eyes were only seen at intervals from beneath his busy eyebrows, and whose whole appearance was more that of a hellhound than of a human being, approached me with a drawn cutlass in his hand. I drew one of my pistols and snapped it in his face, but it flashed in the pan, and before I could draw the other, the pirate, with a brutality that would have disgraced a cannibal, struck me over the face with his cutlass and knocked me down. I was too much wounded to resist, and the blood ran in torrents from my forehead. In this situation the wretch seized me by the scalp, and thrusting his cutlass in my cravat cut it through completely. I felt the cold iron glide along my throat, and even now the very thought makes me shudder. “‘The worst idea I had ever formed of human cruelty seemed now realized, and I could see death staring me in the face. Without stopping to examine the cravat, he put it in his pocket, and in a voice of thunder exclaimed, ‘levez vous’; I accordingly rose to my feet, and he pinioned my hands behind my back, lead me to the vessel’s bulwark, and asked another of the gang, in French, whether he should throw me overboard. At the recollection of that scene I am still staggered. I endeavored to call the prospects of eternity before me, but could think of nothing except the cold and quiverless apathy of the tomb. His infamous companion replied, ‘Il est trop bien habille, pour l’envoyer au diable’, and led me to the foremast, where he tied me with my face to the stern of the vessel. The cords were drawn so tight around my arms and legs that my agony was excruciating. In this situation he left me. “‘On looking round, I found them all employed in plundering and ransacking everything we had. Over my left shoulder one of our sailors was strung up to the yardarm, and apparently in the last agonies of death; while before me our gallant captain was on his knees and begging for his life. The wretches were endeavoring to extort from him the secret of our money; but for a while he was firm and dauntless. Provoked at his obstinacy, they extended his arms and 74

cut them off at the elbows. At this human nature gave way, and the injured man confessed the spot where we had concealed our specie. In a few moments it was aboard their own vessel. To revenge themselves on our unhappy captain, when they had satisfied themselves that nothing else was hidden, they spread a bed of oakum on the deck, and after soaking it through with turpentine, tied the captain on it, filled his mouth with same combustibles, and set the whole on fire. The cries of the unfortunate man were heartrending, and his agonies must have been unutterable, but they were soon over. All this I was compelled to witness, Heartsick with the sight, I once shut my eyes, but a musket discharged close to my ear was a warning sufficient to keep them open. “‘On casting my eyes towards the schooner’s stern, I discovered that our boatswain had been nailed to the deck through his feet, and the body spiked through to the tiller. He was writhing in the last agonies of crucifixion. Our fifth comrade was out of sight during all this tragedy; in a few minutes however, he was then conducted to the muzzle of the swivel and commanded to kneel. The swivel was then fired off, and his head was dreadfully wounded by the discharge. In a moment after, it was agonizing to behold his torments and convulsions–language is too feeble to describe them; I have seen men hung upon the gibbet, but their death is like sinking in slumber when compared with his. “‘Excited with the scene of human butchery, one of those wretches fired his pistol at the captain’s dog; the ball struck his shoulder and disabled him; he finished him by shooting him again, and at last by cutting out his tongue! At this last hell-engendered act my blood boiled with indignation at such savage brutality on a helpless, inoffensive dog! But I was unable to give utterance or action to my feelings. “‘Seeing that the crew had been every one despatched, I began to think more of myself. My old enemy, who seemed to forget me, once more approached me, but shockingly besmeared with blood and brains. He had stood by the side of the unfortunate sailor who suffered before the swivel, and supported him with the point of his 75

bayonet. He drew a stiletto from his side, placed its point upon my heart, and gave it a heavy thrust. I felt its point touch my skin; but the quilting of my bank bills prevented its further entrance. This savage monster then ran it up my breast, as if intending to divide my lungs, and in doing so the bank notes fell upon the deck. He snatched them up greedily and exclaimed, ‘Ah! laissez moi voir ce qui reste!’ My clothes in a few moments were ripped to pieces, at the peril of my life. He frequently came so near as to tear my skin and deluge me with blood; but by the mercy of Providence, I escaped from every danger. At this moment a heavy flaw struck the schooner, and I heard one of the pirates say, ‘Voila un vaisseau!’ They all retreated precipitately, and gaining their own vessel, were soon out of sight. “‘Helpless as I now was, I had the satisfaction of knowing that the pirates had been frightened by the appearance of a strange sail, but it was impossible for me to see it. Still tied to the foremast, I knew not what my prospect of release. An hour or two had elapsed after they left me, and it was now noon. The sun played violently upon my head, and I felt a languor and debility that indicated approaching fever. My head gradually sank upon my breast, when I was shocked by hearing the water pouring into the cabin windows. The wretches had scuttled the schooner, and left me pinioned to go down with her. I commended my spirit to my Maker, and gave myself up for lost. I felt myself gradually dying away, and the last thing I remembered was the foaming noise of the waves. This was occasioned by a ship passing by me. I was taken in, restored to health, and am now a poor, ruined, helpless man . . . ” “Another occasion of sadistic brutality, perpetrated by the pirates upon human beings, is revealed in a private letter from Matanzas, Cuba, dated September 27, 1821 and published in Niles Register, October 20, 1821, “‘Three American vessels . . . have been captured at the entrance of this harbor by a launch fitted out here and manned by nine villains, viz, one Portuguese, six Spaniards, and two Englishmen. They killed the captain and two men of a schooner and then ordered her to the northward. They murdered all the crew of the brig, opened their entrails, hanged them by the ribs to the masts, and afterwards set fire 76

to the vessel and all were consumed! The sloop was more fortunate; the pirates contented themselves with severely beating the crew and plundering her of the most valuable articles on board. They then collected the combustibles and set them on fire and left her, hoping, as in the case of the brig, to consume the vessel and crew together, but these last, fortunately, had strength sufficient to take her long boat, and have safely got back to Matanzas . . .” “Piracy was aggressively carried on along the entire shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and among the islands of the Bahamas and the West Indies. During the year, 1820, 27 American vessels were seized and robbed . . . “In 1821 further appeals were made to Congress by the business interests effected by shipping. This resulted in having a number of small vessels dispatched to the West Indies but because of their hamstrung instructions all pirates captured by them, even in American waters, were to be surrendered to the Cuban authorities for punishment, their trial often resulting in mockery, a prompt release and a quickened determination among the pirates to renew their depredations against the commerce of the seas . . . “[Later] in a sweeping order from our Navy Department to Commodore David Porter . . . Porter was directed ‘To cruise in the West India Seas and Gulf of Mexico for the purpose of suppressing piracy and affording effectual protection to the citizens and commerce of the United States’ . . . “After the establishment of headquarters at Key West, Porter’s first objective was to assemble his forces in the vicinity of St. Thomas. Shortly thereafter from the western end of Porto Rico he broke his command into four divisions: giving one to the command of Capt. Porter; one to Lt. Comm. Kearny; one to Lt. Comm. Watson and kept the remaining one with himself. The orders of the day were to proceed to Thompson’s Island [Key West] by different routes, thus multiplying the chances of detecting pirates . . . “In a letter dated March 28 we learn of difficulties confronting these missions. Commodore Porter in this letter, wrote the Secretary of Navy ‘After giving the north coasts of St. Domingo and Cuba as thorough an examination as was practical with the two schooners and the boats of this ship with the greater part of her crew, all the Keys off shore, pointed out to me as the rendezvous of Pirates, were examined by the ship. The service has been very fatiguing to those employed for more than a week 77

past in open boats and in the most dangerous and intricate navigation in the World, but it has been performed cheerfully and I wish I could say successfully; but we have not in this long route been able to detect a single pirate, although our suspicions rested on many, nor can I conceive how we shall ever be able to detect them for they are one day fishermen, another droguers, woodcutters, salt-gatherers, or pirates, as best suits them. Were we to apprehend every suspicious Spaniard and vessel, their coasting trade would soon be entirely broken up.’ He continues, ‘Since my arrival here (Matanzas) I have heard of the most hard atrocities committed by them, they now spare no one, whole ship crews are indiscriminately burnt with their vessels and there has been an incident recently of the murder of a crew under the walls of the ‘Morro’. Lack of cooperation on the part of Spanish authorities was further indicated by Porter in his letter, “I was surprised to learn upon my arrival that circulars had been written by the Captain General to the Governors and Commanders of the different districts of the island forbidding the entrance of my squadron to any of its ports or landing of any part of my forces in pursuit of pirates.’ This was later denied by Spanish authorities. On the return trip from St. Thomas, Porter’s forces were only fortunate enough to capture one pirate vessel, the ‘Pilot’, this was accomplished about twenty miles east of Havana, while the squadron was scouring the northern and western shore of Cuba. The pirate crew was finally run down on shore and their shore establishment consisting of five houses were burned. . . .’ “Because of the excellent patrol of the northern coast of Cuba, by elements of Porter’s squadron, piracy along these waters promptly disappeared. It moved inland. Quoting from a letter publishing in Niles Register, May 31, 1823 “‘Excluded from the ocean, they are carrying on their trade on land. Large bodies of them, well mounted and armed are plundering the plantations and murdering the people of Cuba. They are found in the neighborhood of Matanzas. A party of Calvary had captured five of them and the militia had been turned out to scour the country. If hemmed in much longer by Commodore Porter, the authorities of Cuba in self-defense must exterminate them, if they do not abandon their horrible business. No one piracy has been lately committed.’ “This condition is further substantiated by a letter from Commodore Porter saying ‘I keep everyone busy and although the service has been severe and some are very sick of it, I have good reason for believing that all who leave my command will do it with the desire to return to it whenever their services may be wanted. The fact is that the 78

disappearance of all the pirates and our want of success in catching the rascals is somewhat discouraging to us, but all are satisfied that our failure was owing to other causes than a want of exertion on our part. The fact is our enemy is an invisible one; he has only to throw on the fairy mantle of a Spanish passport which they all go furnished with and the pirate is completely concealed from our view. Piracy is now down on this side of the island and I hope soon to give as good an account on the other side.’ “In 1825 there were occasional joint patrols by American and British war vessels along the northern coast of Cuba which resulted in the capture of a pirate schooner concealed in bushes in the vicinity of River Sagua la Grande. The pirate chief tried twice to escape and several of his men were shot in making a similar attempt. Nineteen prisoners were taken and eight dead accounted for. One British Marine was slightly wounded. The Pirate’s establishment on the shore was found and destroyed. The pirate ship was finally destroyed after it had gone aground because of a squall. The “Sea-gull” formerly the Flag Ship of Commodore Porter, afterwards landed at Key West with five prisoners, dreadfully wounded with saber cuts. It is stated that the pirate captain had five wounds. “Piracy was now definitely on the decline and in December of 1825 Secretary Southard in his Annual Report stated “‘Several captures of pirates were made in the early part of the year. Since that time the principal places where piracy existed have been diligently watched and no complaints have been made to the knowledge of the Department of several months past.’ “. . . The improved condition in the area under discussion was mentioned in President Adam’s First Annual Message to Congress on December 6, 1825 in which he said that things were more hopeful but ‘probably for some years to come our immensely valuable commerce in those Seas cannot navigate in security without the steady continuance of an armed force devoted to its protection’. “In 1826 we find that the West India squadron is reduced in size and several ships were dropped from the assignment and routine patrols were made by the ‘John Adams’ on the south coast of Cuba and the “Hornet” on the north coast. There were an inconsequential number of piratical attacks during 1826. In fact, for the next three years there were only a few sporadic cases of piracy. 79

“In 1828 a privateer from Buenos Ayres was captured and sent to Pensacola. But in 1829 a brutal case of piracy and murder occurred, recalling the worst of former years. The perpetrators were never apprehended. At the end of 1829 it can safely be said that piracy in the West Indian waters had died a lingering death, although it was necessary to maintain our naval force throughout that area for many years. The last act of piracy occurred as late as 1832 in which the brig ‘Mexican’ of Salem was captured though not in the West Indies but in the vicinity of the Azores; six of the pirate crew were executed in Boston three years later. Thus ended piracy in southern waters.” (117) March 26-27 The annual meeting of the Florida Historical Society–the second and the last to be held during Blocker’s presidency–met in Tallahassee, where it was undertaken in cooperation with the Tallahassee Historical Society and Florida State University. The Treasurer’s report for the period March 24, 1953 to March 23, 1954 showed the healthiest financial condition for the Society to date, with a surplus of $2,105.67 together with an increase in membership of 172 and a total of 883 members--a nearly 20% increase from the year before. Declining reelection to a third term, Blocker stepped down and was succeeded by vice president Charles T. Thrift, Jr. of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. In his outgoing message to the directors and members of the Society, Blocker reported triumphantly on his achievements as president, noting: “As outgoing President, I think you are entitled to have a brief report of activities during the year just concluded. “The Society is now enjoying the largest membership in its history. We have more than 860 members and library subscriptions to the Quarterly. This has been accomplished through the aid of fellow officers and of you members. There was instituted for the first time, last Christmas, an opportunity for the members to give a membership in the Society, as a Christmas gift to a friend or relative; many responded . . . As a final gesture on membership, I hand you herewith 20 new members from St. Petersburg, making our grand total as of now 880 members and library subscriptions to the Quarterly. “During the year, the Board of Directors, in view of the generous donation on part of Past President, Richard P. Daniel of the sum of $50.00 for prize money, instituted an 80

essay contest among the high-school students of Florida, the objects of the contest is to encourage them to write essays on some event of local history. The response was most gratifying and we received fifty-four papers and the Committee will soon announce the winners. This is a fine medium of gaining the ear and the intelligence of the high-school students and will serve many purposes in future years. Every student entering the contest is a potential member in years to come. It is sincerely hoped that this program will be continued for many years and in order to insure its operation for the ensuring year, your President donates the sum of $50.00 as prize money . . . “For the first time you have received a Newsletter. This idea originated with Edward Williamson, our [new] Executive Secretary and Librarian. The purpose of it is to supply you with the fill-in information on happenings and news between issues of the Quarterly. We hope you have enjoyed it and that it can be continued . . . “The matter of the Society sponsoring a history of Florida to be written by some of its members and with the view of having it taught in the elementary grades of Florida schools, should not be abandoned but should be carried forward as one of the unfinished items of business. In this connection, your retiring President, volunteers his services for that purpose and if commissioned by the new Board of Directors, will undertake the task. “The Society should give serious thought to obtaining financial aid from the State of Florida through to appropriate legislation. Without burdening you with detail, it is a fact, however, that historical societies in many of our Southern States receive many thousands of dollars annually from legislative appropriation. If a plan could be carried out whereby State aid could be obtained, and the autonomy of the Society maintained, for practical purposes, this, in my opinion, would be a proper solution of our problem; such a proposed piece of legislation was drafted by your President and submitted to your Board of Directors at its meeting here on March 25, 1954 with the recommendation that it be considered by that body and carried over as an finished item of business for the new Board of Directors . . . “The activity of local historical societies has been stressed and publicized from time to time in the Quarterly and need not be repeated here, suffice it to say that there has been a renewed activity in such groups, particularly in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Tavares, Miami, Pensacola, Tallahassee and St. Lucie County, all of which is most encouraging and is evidence that historical interest is being activated throughout 81

Florida at the local level . . . “In conclusion, I wish to again thank you individual members and the officers for the contributions of your generous efforts, on behalf the Society and your President, in making this one of the outstanding years of achievement of the Florida Historical Society.” (118) November 10 During this period, Blocker also continued with his active involvement in the local bar. On this date, according to a Times article, “The family’s legal problems, from divorce to pre-marriage property agreements, to the adopting of children, guardianships and a host of others, will be discussed tonight as St. Petersburg’s first annual series of free Legal Forums is concluded at Mirror Lake Junior High School . . . “[The] Purpose of Legal Forums is to give the public valuable legal information in layman’s language. To accomplish this purpose, each program includes a 15- to 20minute talk and a question and answer period during which a panel of attorneys take up questions sent to them during the past week on blanks which have appeared in the Times. “Tonight’s speaker will be Thomas J. (Tom) Collins, former St. Petersburg Bar president and a noted Legal Institute speaker on the subject of domestic relations. “The question and answer session will be in charge of John C. Blocker, also a past president of the local Bar, who will be the Forum’s moderator. “Blocker will be assisted by a panel of five attorneys- W. Furman Betts Jr., Thomas V. Kiernan, Richard T. Earle Jr., Louis C. Deal and William F. Davenport Jr.” (119)

1956 April 13 During the annual meeting of the Florida Historical Society held this year in St. Augustine, Blocker served as chairman of a centennial observance program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Society, and also served as chairman of the Society’s Legislative and Nominating Committees. (120) Also during the course of this year, Blocker retired from his law practice, apparently due to the 82

deteriorating state of his health. He did not sit idle for long however, for soon after he studied languages at the University of Mexico in Mexico City, no doubt in order to improve his research skills in investigating into early Pinellas history. Now deep into the research and preparation of his long-awaited history of Pinellas, according to his daughter Sallie, “He couldn’t wait to retire to be able to finish” the work. (121)

1957 September 24 But sadly, he was never to complete the history. On this date, John C. Blocker, Jr. died of heart and kidney failure following surgery for a heart condition while at his mother’s summer home in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He was 60 years, 9 months and 11 days old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife Ruby, 53; daughters Margaret Anne Blocker, 30 of Hendersonville; Sallie Blocker, 28, of St. Petersburg; and Joan Blocker Collie (then Mrs. Bernis N. Collie), 24, of Atlanta; his mother, Mrs. John C. Blocker, Sr., 82, St. Petersburg; his sister, Marguerite Blocker Bartlett (Mrs. George W. Bartlett), 65, St. Petersburg; one granddaughter, Ridgely Ann Collie; and a nephew, Samuel T. Johnson. (122) September 27 After funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg by Dr. Alton H. Glasure, the body of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr. was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in St. Petersburg. The list of those in attendance at the funeral reads like a Who’s Who of Pinellas County. According to a Times report of the funeral, “Active pallbearers will be Henry Blecher, Eugene Bennet, Ed Beckett, Sam B. Cary, Mercer Brown and William Tippets. “Honorary Pallbearers will be Ed Brantley, John Chesnut Sr., Grover C. Criswell, Alfred McKethan, Roy L. Dew, Frank Merrin, Comptroller Rap [Ray] Green, Orville Harris, Justice Frank Hobson, Judge John U. Bird, Justice B. K. Roberts, Byron Skelton, Frank Smith, Judge John Dickinson, Judge Alfred P. Marshall, Judge Jack White, Judge Victor O. Wehle, Judge S. Sam Harris, Judge Orville L. Dayton Jr., T. R. Thomas, Earle Askew, Andrew E. Potter and members of the St. Petersburg Bar Association.” (123)

83

EPILOGUE

After Blocker’s death, expressions of grief came pouring in from many who realized that with Blocker’s passing, Pinellas County had lost one of its preeminent statesmen. One close friend, James E. Mooney, telegraphed the Times from Washington to express his sorrow, writing that he “Was distressed learn untimely [of the] death [of] John Blocker. He was close friend for many years and associate whom I not only admired and respected but one who had keen mind and broad vision to grasp the scope of county government and translate that knowledge and experience into action by a pioneering Board [of] County Commissioners during period in growth of Pinellas County which marked transition from smaller population with modest demands to one of vast and complicated cosmopolitan requirements. “John also saw the historical import of the county in the state. He has left writings which will contribute to heritage of Florida. “ In an editorial, the St. Petersburg Times noted that “When John Blocker was born in St. Petersburg it was literally a tiny, unknown village. There wasn’t even any Pinellas County until 15 years later. “Mr. Blocker not only saw his native city grow from nothing to a great metropolis– and recorded its growth as the leading historian of the county-but he contributed greatly to that enterprise. “The 25 years John Blocker served as county attorney and–let it be admitted ‘sixth commissioner’–saw the end of the great real estate boom, the agonies of the ‘bust’ and the subsequent period of dark stagnation, and the renaissance which culminated in today’s great and stable growth. “Throughout those years Mr. Blocker was an astute political as well as legal adviser to the county fathers. He contributed enormously to St. Petersburg and Pinellas County and it is a great pity that such a distinguished native son should pass from us in the prime of life.” The Independent concurred in this sentiment and praised Blocker’s work with the County 84

Commission, writing that he was both “a major factor in the decisions and policies” of the board and “a recognized power in the local Democratic party.” Local and state organizations also joined in praise of Blocker. The St. Petersburg Pioneers Association declared that “ Whereas the Supreme Ruler of the Universe has taken from our midst John C. Blocker, a native son and life-long resident and for many years an efficient and trustworthy official and servant of the people of Pinellas County. ... “In the passing of John C. Blocker the people of Pinellas County have sustained a great and irreparable loss.” The Florida Historical Society also expressed “ its heartfelt sorrow and grievous loss occasioned by the death of past president John C. Blocker of St. Petersburg” and later included a special tribute in an issue of the Florida Historical Quarterly. But perhaps the greatest compliment paid to Blocker was written years later by Ralph Reed, former Times reporter who became the first director of the Pinellas County Historical Museum. Writing to Blocker’s widow in 1961, he noted that: “Since May 1, while doing research in county history for our Commission, I have learned, more than ever, the great extent of the historical research carried on by your husband, who was the first County Historian. “Almost everywhere I go to get information on the early history of the county they tell me ‘Mr. Blocker has all the information . . . ’ “From 1932 through March 1960, when I retired after about 46 years on The Times, I covered every meeting of the County Commission while Mr. Blocker was county attorney. We could not mention any old family but what John knew all the aunts, cousins and uncles. He seemed to have talked to all of them. I will always remember how John acted as the ‘eyes’ of W. A. ( Mr. Mac.) Mc Mullen Jr., county engineer, after he became blind. John would always lead him upstairs to the meeting and they would he[l]p Miss Kilgore write the minutes. I remember when John made his research to determine the legend for the bronze tablet in Philippe Park. . . . “We are all sorry that John could not have lived to complete his history but we are 85

grateful that his papers and notes are in your safe hands for posterity . . . “Nothing would be finer in the future to honor your husband and to recognize his great work as the first county historian than for the Pinellas County Historical Commission to establish a memorial library under the name ‘John C. Blocker Memorial Library’ in which all of his papers would be filed in fire-proof cabinets but available for research by scholars of history.”

86

ENDNOTES

Chapter I: St. Petersburg Pioneer (1896-1917) 1. Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, Some of the Blockers (St. Petersburg, Fla.:Widere Printing, n.d.), p. 36. 2. Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 1. In her history of the family, Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, (John C. Blocker, Jr.’s sister) writes that “My father’s generation and mine grew up on the legend that our name was originally Blucher. Correspondence in my brother’s files shows that members of other branches of the family grew up on the same legend. But we have found no authentic record in North or South Carolina that the name was ever Blucher. Quite the contrary. The original grants and deeds were for Blocker, not Blucher, not Bluher, not Von Blucher . . . And even though we grew up on certain traditions that must have had germs of truth in them a hundred or so years ago but have been unintentionally altered in the telling, we must now face the documentation we have found in court and Bible records and on tombstones. These records prove beyond any doubt that the Blockers went first to North Carolina; and that about fifty years later a part of them moved to South Carolina, followed a few years later by others . . . Our immediate family did not descend from the South Carolina Blockers. Our ancestors are those who stayed in North Carolina.” (See Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, pp. 18-19.) 3. Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, pp. 30, 35. John Sr. moved to Florida together with his parents, Sallie (Cromwell) and Charles H. Blocker, who had formerly served as a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Charles was a successful farmer and land speculator, who also became involved in the turpentine industry. As early as 1881, he had purchased land in the area of Dade City. Why he chose this area is unknown, although Marguerite writes that: “In my brother’s files there is an account of an interview with members of the Bell family, another St. Petersburg pioneer family, who had known the Blockers in Alabama. They said that Grandfather was in partnership with a Mr. Downing in the turpentine operation, that Grandfather was in partnership with a Mr. Downing in the turpentine operation, that Grandfather had a still, made barrels, ran a sawmill and that 87

Papa worked in the commissary. The Bells were with the Blockers about a year and then moved to Florida with them . . . And they also stated that Grandfather and Greatgrandfather first came down to Hernando County to obtain lands prior to moving the family. We’ll probably never know who got them interested in that particular county; but it was an area heavily wooded in pine, and that was a business they all knew. It might have been their goal all along.” (See Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, pp. 29-30, 40.) Marguerite also adds an interesting story about how her father became an engineer on the Orange Belt: “. . . in 1886 he began railroading for the Orange Belt in Oakland, near Orlando, by wiping engines in the round house. He soon became a fireman, then engineer. This happened suddenly one day when the regular engineer got mad and quit and Papa took over the run, which was from Sanford to the southern terminus, St. Petersburg.” (See Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 35.) 4. Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 36; and Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, Some of the Hills (St. Petersburg, Fla.:Widere Printing, n.d.), p. 60. 5. Bartlett, Some of the Hills, p. 44; and Some of the Blockers, p. 31. 6. Bartlett, Some of the Hills, pp. 43, 78. On the origin of John Jr.’s original middle name Cofield (or Coffield), sister Marguerite writes that: “In working on this family history I became curious about the name Coffield (Cofield), never having heard it except in our family. It appears first in the 1800 with my Great-greatgrandfather Coffield King, who named his first son Coffield. The boy was killed in battle in 1862, having a splendid record for one so young. Grandmother Blocker named her second son Coffield; he died as a baby. Papa named his only son John Coffield, but John changed it to John Cromwell, Jr., even though he had been called ‘Colie’ till he was half grown.” (See Some of the Blockers, p. 31) 7. Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p.36. 8. Dick Bothwell, “A Standout in the 1900s,” St. Petersburg Times, 3 October 1976, sec. B, pp. 2-3; and Craig Basse, “Marguerite Bartlett, Educator At High School, Junior College,” St. Petersburg Times, 16 July 1985. 88

9. “Early Days are Recalled by Old Settlers of City,” undated local newspaper article found in the John C. Blocker Collection, Box #5 at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. In a later reminiscence which appeared in an article in the St. Petersburg Evening Independent, Blocker also fondly recalled “. . . his service as a newspaper boy under the guidance of the late Mrs. Lew B. Brown, who at that time was the Circulation Manager of this newspaper. “Mr. Blocker tells us that his service covered the time of the loafing ‘loafing at the livery stable days’ and the ‘Swinging door saloon’. “During his period here, Mr. Blocker states that prompt delivery, courteous service and thrift among boys was fostered. The late Mrs. Brown insisted that each boy have a bank account, a check being kept of the deposits to make sure that each boy saved a goodly part of his profits.” (See “Evening Independent Routes Started Today’s Businessmen To Success,” St. Petersburg Evening Independent, undated St. Petersburg Independent article found in the John C. Blocker, Jr. file in the St. Petersburg Times Research Library, St. Petersburg, Florida.) Of his involvement with the St. Petersburg Pioneers Association, local journalist Archie Dunlap later wrote that “One old-timer who will be greatly missed is John C. Blocker who was one of the organizers of the club and who had much to do with keeping it alive. He several times presided as master of ceremonies and was always a good one in that position. He kept things moving and put life into the meetings.” (See undated local article, Blocker file, Times Library.) 10. Bartlett, Some of the Hills, pp. 44-46. 11. William L. Straub, History of Pinellas County (St. Augustine, Fla.:Record Company, 1929), p. 201; J.E. Dovell, Florida: Historic, Dramatic, Contemporary (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1952), 4:720; Pinellas County Board of Public Instruction, The Golden Anniversary of Pinellas Schools (St. Petersburg, Fla.: Modern Printing & Publishing Co., 1962), p. 13; Raymond Arsenault, St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream (Gainesville, Fla.:University Press of Florida, 1988), p. 167; and Rick Baker, Mangroves to Major Leagues (St. Petersburg, Fla.:Southern Heritage Press, 2000), pp. 72-73. 89

12. United States Census Bureau, Twelfth United States Census, 1900, Hillsborough County, Florida, Precinct 1, St. Petersburg Town, supervisor’ district no. 2, enumeration district no. 5, sheet 13B. 13. Bartlett, Some of the Hills, pp. 47, 50, 57-58. 14. Straub, History of Pinellas County Florida, p. 201; Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 36; and Directory of the City of St. Petersburg 1908, (St. Petersburg, Fla.: St. Petersburg Times, 1908), p. 23. Bert Blocker later served as a St. Petersburg city councilman in 1904 and mayor in 1910, and also served as tax assessor of Pinellas County from 1917 to 1925. His business, now known as the Blocker Transfer & Storage Company, is still in operation today. See Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, pp. 36-37; Pinellas County, Department of Public Affairs, A History of the Constitutional Officers of Pinellas County (n.p.:n.d.), p. 33; Karl H. Grismer, History of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.: Tourist News Publishing Company, 1924), pp. 242-243; and George M. Chapin, Florida 1513-1913: Past, Present and Future, (Chicago:S.J. Clarke, 1914), 2:163-164. 15. United States Census Bureau, Thirteenth United States Census, 1910, Hillsborough County, Florida, Precinct 1, St. Petersburg Town, Township 31, Ward 1, supervisor’s district no. 1, enumeration district no. 20, sheet 10A. 16. Rusty Zaring, Archivist, Woodward Academy, interview with author, 16 October 2000; Dovell, Florida, 4:720; and Woodward Academy, “About Us,” http://dev.woodward.edu/answers/wahist.html, 13 October 2000. Why the family chose to send Blocker to this school is unknown, although Blocker’s paternal grandfather, Charles H. Blocker, was himself the product of a similar institution, having attended the Charlotte Military Academy in North Carolina (also known as the D.H. Hill School) just prior to the Civil War. See Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 26. 17. Zaring interview, 16 October 2000; Dovell, Florida, 4:720; and St. Petersburg Times, 8 November 1954, untitled local article, Blocker file, Times Library. 18. Washington and Lee University, The Calyx (Lexington, Va.:By the Students of Washington & Lee University, 1917), pp. 111, 135, 145; “Information Blank,” found in student records of John C. Blocker, Jr. in Washington and Lee University Special Collections, Leyburn Library; Washington and Lee University Bulletin Catalogue 1916 (Lexington, Va.:Published by the University, 1916), p. 6; and Dovell, Florida, 4:720.

90

Chapter II: World War I (1917-1919) 19. Calvin D. Linton, ed. The Bicentennial Almanac (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1975), pp. 290, 293. 20. St. Petersburg Times, c. December 1917, untitled article in Blocker file, Times Library; and James W. Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1957), 2:157. 21. United States National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records), Statement of service of John C. Blocker, Jr. in the United States Army, 1918-1919; Letters of John C. Blocker [Jr.] to Adjutant-General, U.S. Army, 15 April 1942, from John C. Blocker family collection, courtesy of Joan Blocker McMullen; Dovell, Florida, 4:721; and Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157. 22. Leroy Thompson, The All Americans: The 82nd Airborne (New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1988), p. 8; W. Forrest Dawson, ed., Saga of the All American (Atlanta: Albert Love, 1946); United States Army War College Historical Section, Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1931), p. 349; Dovell, Florida, 4:721; and Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157. 23. Florida Department of State, Florida State Archives, World War I abstract of service card for John C. Blocker, Jr., Record Group 197, Series 1204, Tallahassee, Florida; Dovell, Florida, 4:721; Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157; Thompson, The All Americans, p. 8; and Dawson, Saga of the All American.. 24. Official History of 82nd Division American Expeditionary Forces (Indianapolis, Ind.: BobbsMerrill Company, 1920), pp. 5-10. 25. Dovell, Florida, 4:721; Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:215; Thompson, The All Americans, p. 8; and Dawson, Saga of the All American. 26. Thompson, The All Americans, p. 9; and Official History, pp. 13-14. Years later, according to Blocker’s nephew Sam Johnson, he would jokingly recall his days on the front lines by saying that he had lost his hair (he became bald in middle age) after “he stuck his head above a trench and a shell went over . . . and took his hair off!” See Sam Johnson, nephew of John C. Blocker, Jr., interview with author, 25 June 1999; and Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Sam Johnson, 2000, in Blocker 91

file at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida.) 27. Florida Department of State, Blocker World War I abstract of service card; Blocker to AdjutantGeneral, 15 April 1942, John C. Blocker, Jr. family collection; Dovell, Florida, 4:721; and Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157. 28. Thompson, The All Americans, p. 9; and Dawson, Saga of the All American. 29. Official History, pp. 18-29; Linton, The Bicentennial Almanac, p. 296; Thompson, The All Americans, p. 10; and Dawson, Saga of the All American. 30. Linton, The Bicentennial Almanac, p. 296; and Thompson, The All Americans, p. 10. 31. Linton, The Bicentennial Almanac, p. 296; ; Official History, pp. 30-31; Thompson, The All Americans, pp. 10-11; and Dawson, Saga of the All American. 32. Official History, pp. 748-49, 73-83; and United States Army War College, Order of Battle, p. 355. Previous to this, Blocker’s regiment had been ordered to proceed to the village of Montblainville. According to the divisional history, the march to the village was made “. . . through a black night filled with hard, during rain . . . over roads blocked by moving artillery and transport and through ankle-deep mud. Montblainville was found to be a mass of ruins upon an exposed hill, still subjected to constant enemy shell fire.” (See Official History, p. 73) 33. Official History, pp. 82-83. 34. Official History, pp. 84, 110-115. 35. Official History, pp.125-126. 36. Official History, pp. 85-86, 88; and United States Army War College, Order of Battle, p. 355. 37. Official History, pp. 148-149. 38. Official History, pp. 159-160. 39. Official History, pp. 178-179. A message from the Division’s Commander, Gen. Duncan, well illustrates the desperation of the fighting during this period: 92

“I have just been up to the front and talked with the Regimental and Brigade Commanders and looked over the situation. Because of the physical fatigue, I don’t believe these men can go forward any more. I think we have got to hold on to what we have got. The 325th Inf. got into that ravine and took 12 machine guns in front of them. The Hun counter-attacked and we lost about 40 men in hand to hand fighting. The Huns are putting up tremendous resistance and our men have come to the limit of their endurance and I don’t believe that they are in physical condition to go any further. We have got to stabilize on present line, because we haven’t men enough to go on. This is the 10th day of our attack and the whole front is covered by machinegun fire from Hill 230 and then to the left. The men of this Division have behaved splendidly and have lost heavily. There are not fifty men to a Company and these are practically at the end of their strength. The spirit in fine but to-day they are at the end of their physical endurance.”(See Official History, pp. 183-184.) 40. Thompson, The All Americans, pp. 8, 11-12; Dawson, Saga of the All American; and United States Army War College, Order of Battle, p. 355. 41. Linton, The Bicentennial Almanac, p. 296; Thompson, The All Americans, pp. 8, 12; Dawson, Saga of the All American; Official History, pp. 214-216; and United States Army War College, Order of Battle, p. 355. On May 27, 1919, the remainder of the 82nd Division was deactivated. During their service, the division has spent 105 days in the front lines, and had suffered a total of 1,413 casualties, having seen more action than any other American unit in the war. (Later, during World War II, the 82nd was converted into one of the U.S. Army’s first airborne paratroop divisions, and in the subsequent campaigns in North Africa and Europe would achieve lasting fame. Today, the 82nd continues in this proud tradition and now serves as one of America’s premier elite airborne units. See Thompson, The All Americans, p. 12.) 42. Order of Battle, p. 357; Official History, p. 219-222; Montpellier University, “Historique Principal,” http://www.univ-montp1.fr/Historque/HistorI[1-7].H.TM “Information Blank,” 9 January 1920; Dovell, Florida, 4:720-721; and Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157. While overseas, Blocker, according to family lore, also fell in love with a French woman. They planned to marry, but Blocker’s father disapproved of the match and told him to return home, which he reluctantly did. See Sallie Mae Blocker, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr., telephone interview with author, 21 October 1999; and Joan Blocker McMullen, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr., interview with author, 23 October 1999. 43. United States National Personnel Records Center, Statement of service of John C. Blocker, Jr. in the United States Army, 1918-1919; Florida Department of State, Blocker World War I abstract of 93

service card; Blocker to Adjutant-General, 15 April 1942, John C. Blocker, Jr. family collection; Dovell, Florida, 4:721; and Covington, The Story of Southwestern Florida, 2:157.

Chapter III: The Wanderer (1919-1925) 44. Washington and Lee University, Washington and Lee University Bulletin Catalogue 1920 (Lexington, Va.: Published by the University, 1920), p. 4; “Information Blank,” 14 September 1917 and 9 January 1920; ; Lisa S. McCown, Special Collections Assistant, Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library, letter to author regarding attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at Washington & Lee, 2 August 1999, in John C. Blocker file at Heritage Village, Largo, Florida; and Dovell, Florida, 4:720. 45. United States Census Bureau, Fourteenth United States Census, 1920, Pinellas County, Florida, Precinct 1, St. Petersburg, supervisor’s district no. 41, enumeration district no. 134, sheet 7B. 46. Washington & Lee University, The Calyx, 1920, p. 107; Washington and Lee University, Washington and Lee University Bulletin Catalogue 1920, pp. 4, 174; “Information Blank,” 9 January 1920; and Dovell, Florida, 4:720. 47. Dovell, Florida, 4:720. 48. Sources differ as to whether the marriage occured in Salt Lake City or Provo. See Dovell, Florida, 4:721; and Bartlett, Some of the Hills, p. 79. 49. Pinellas County Planning Department, “Population Growth 1900-1985 By Incorporated And Unincorporated Areas,” 1985; and Allen Morris, comp. The Florida Handbook 1985-1986 (Tallahassee, Fla.: Peninsular Publishing Company, 1985), p. 342. 50. University of Florida, University Record 1924-1925 (Gainesville, Fla.: University of Florida, 1924-1925), p. 215; Joyce Dewsbury, Coordinator, Archives and Visual Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, Department of Special Collections, University of Florida Archives, letter to author regarding attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at the University, Blocker file, 19 July 1999, Heritage Village; and Dovell, Florida, 4:720. 51. “John C. Blocker Dies,” sec. B, p. 13; Cumberland University, Cumberland University Bulletin 1930-1931 (Lebanon, Tenn.: Cumberland University, 1931), pp. 74-75, 90-91, 100-101; and Frank 94

Burns, Archivist, Cumberland University, letters to author regarding law school curriculum and attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at the University, 7 August and 23 September 1999, Blocker file, Heritage Village. 52. Florida Supreme Court Library, Florida Bar Admission record of John C. Blocker, Jr., Tallahassee, Florida. 53. Cumberland University, The Phoenix (Lebanon, Tenn.: Cumberland University, 1925), p. 28; Burns letter, 7 August 1999; and Dovell, Florida, 4:720.

Chapter IV: St. Petersburg Lawyer (1925-1947) 54. Polk’s St. Petersburg City Directory 1927 (Jacksonville, Fla.: R.L. Polk & Co., 1927), p.129; Dovell, Florida, 4:720; Straub, History of Pinellas County, p. 201; and Joan Blocker McMullen interview, 23 October 1999. In an interview with Times reporter Scott Taylor Hartzell in 2000, Joan McMullen added that her father “was a masterful trial lawyer . . . Extremely witty and sharptongued.” Daughter Sallie also concurred in this assessment, and noted that her father “loved trial work.”(See Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Joan Blocker McMullen, 2000, in Blocker file, St. Petersburg Museum of History.) In his article, Hartzell also states that: “Clients often called the attorney’s Allendale home late at night for advice, said another daughter, Margaret Blocker, 72. Some paid legal fees with animals, vegetables and piano lessons.” (See Scott Taylor Hartzell, “Old Photos Trace Local Historian’s Legacy,” St. Petersburg Times, 15 March 2000, p. 9.) 55. Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners minutes, 15 June 1926, v. 6, p. 67, microfilm copy on file at BCC Records, Clearwater, Florida. 56. Pinellas Genealogy Society, “Early Pioneer Families Pinellas County Florida 1845-1945,” John C. Blocker Jr. genealogy prepared by D. M.. Boyer, 2 July 1979, B-1306, microfilm copy on file at Largo Library, Largo, Florida.; Tourist News, October 9, 1926, p. 10; Joan Blocker McMullen interview, 23 October 1999; and unidentified El Dorado, Arkansas newspaper, 10 October 1926, in Blocker family collection, courtesy Mrs. Joan Blocker Mc Mullen. 95

57. Margaret Blocker, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr., telephone interview with author, 25 June 1999; and Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Margaret Blocker, Blocker file, St. Petersburg Museum of History, 2000.

Chapter V: “The Sixth Commissioner” (1928-1951) 58. Pinellas County Commission minutes, 3 April 1928, vol. 7, p. 20; and United States Federal Works Agency, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Inventory of the County Archives of Florida. No. 54: Pinellas County (Clearwater), (Jacksonville, Fla..: Florida Historical Records Survey Project, 1940). Prior to this, Blocker had been serving as “acting county attorney” for at least the preceding year. See Pinellas County Commission minutes, 18 January 1927, vol. 6, p. 222. 59. “J.C. Blocker, Pioneer Here, Is Found Dead,” St. Petersburg Times, October 15, 1928, pp. 1-2; and Pinellas Genealogy Society, “Early Family Pioneers,” B-1300. Straub adds in his history: “Mr. Blocker was a man keenly interested in the welfare of St. Petersburg and was associated with all movements to promote its welfare. He at all times lent a sympathetic ear to people’s troubles and always gave freely to their needs.” (See Straub, History of Pinellas County, p. 201.) 60. Pinellas Genealogy Society, “Early Pioneer Families,” B-1306; and Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 40. 61. “Blocker Will Collect Back County Taxes,” St. Petersburg Times, 22 June 1930, pp. 1-2 ; “County Attorney Outlines Method to Collect Taxes,” undated Clearwater Sun article, in John C. Blocker, Jr. file at Heritage Village; Pinellas County Commission minutes, July 7, 1931, vol. 8, pp. 362-363; and “25 Years Ago Today (June 21, 1930),” Clearwater Sun, 21 June 1955, p.1. 62. “Blocker Resigns As Mosquito Board Attorney,” St. Petersburg Times, 2 April 1947. Blocker had served as attorney for the board since 1931. In addition to his work with the Mosquito Board, Blocker also had been serving as city attorney of Safety Harbor since 1929. On July 20, 1943, he resigned as city attorney of Safety Harbor, and was succeeded in office by Cyril Pogue, partner in the Clearwater law firm of McMullen, Mc Mullen & Pogue. Then on December 5, 1944, after an absence of less than eighteen months, Blocker was again appointed city attorney for Safety Harbor by the Board of City Commissioners and “was retained on a retainer fee of $50 per year and in case of any city litigation he is to receive a reasonable attorney fee.” Apparently, he resigned this 96

appointment as well, for in May 1952, he was once again re-appointed city attorney for the City of Safety Harbor, as according to an article from the period: “Blocker will represent the Safety Harbor City Commission in the court suit which will be heard June 2. “The suit was filed by six property owners to establish ownership of certain properties in the vicinity of the Safety Harbor city pier. “Blocker replaces Attorney John Rowe of Clearwater who resigned last week.” (See “Blocker Requests Court To Resolve Pension Disputes,” St. Petersburg Times, 19 October 1951; St. Petersburg Times, 7 May 1932, sec., A, p.6; “Blocker Resigns As Attorney of Safety Harbor,” St. Petersburg Times, 23 July1943; “Atty. John Blocker City Attorney,” Safety Harbor Herald, 8 December 1944, p.1; and “Blocker Named City Attorney At Safety Harbor”, St. Petersburg Times, 24 May 1952.) 63. St. Petersburg Independent, 7 May 1932, sec A, p. 6; “O’Quinn, Lynch And Sikes Are Well In Lead,” Clearwater Sun, 8 June 1932, p. 1; and St. Petersburg Times, 30 October 1932, sec. 1, p. 5. 64. “State and County Candidates Speak at Park Meeting,” St. Petersburg Independent, 20 May 1932, p. 7. 65. “Complete Primary Returns,” Clearwater Sun, 9 June 1932, p. 1. 66. Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, “Certificate of the Board of County Canvassers, Democratic Primary Election Held on the 28th Day of June, 1932,” on file at Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office, Clearwater, Florida. 67. Bartlett, Some of the Blockers, p. 40. 68. “Democrats End Campaign With Rally In Park,” St. Petersburg Times, 6 November 1932, sec.1, p. 2. 69. “John C. Blocker, Democrat,” Clearwater Sun, 6 November 1932, p. 6; “To All The Voters,” Clearwater Sun, 6 November 1932, p. 2; and St. Petersburg Times, 6 November 1932, sec. 2, pp. 4, 8. 70. Clearwater Sun, 7 November 1932, p. 3. 97

71. “Hot Campaign Ends; 19,238 Are Qualified,” St. Petersburg Times, 8 November 1932, p.1; “Pinellas County Election Results,” “John C. Blocker, Democrat,” Clearwater Sun, 9 November 1932, p. 1; “Wilcox Edges Out Sterling By 53 Votes.” Clearwater Sun, 9 November 1932, p. 1; and “Candidates In Final Drive For Pinellas Votes,” Clearwater Sun, 7 November 1932, p.1. 72. “Attorney Diversifies Into Hot Sauce,” St. Petersburg Times, 26 September 1999, from a Times article which originally appeared on 13 September 1933. 73. “County Plans To Foreclose On Back Taxes,” Clearwater Sun,11 July 1934, p.1. 74. “Blocker Heads Local B.P.O.E.,” St. Petersburg Times, 4 May 1935; and Dovell, Florida, 4:721. Blocker’s other memberships in professional and community organizations included the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Florida State Bar Association; the State Association of County Attorneys; Phi Delta Theta Fraternity; the St. Petersburg Yacht Club; the Bath Club; Lodge No.1224 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the American Legion; the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Confederacy; the St. Petersburg Pioneers Association; and the School Pioneers Association. (See “John C. Blocker Dies,” p. 13-B; “John C. Blocker Dies In North Carolina,” St. Petersburg Independent, 24 September 1957; and Dovell, Florida, 4:721.) 75. “Blocker Would Decide Primary By Lucky Draw,” St. Petersburg Times, 19 April 1936, sec.1, p. 3. 76. “John C. Blocker Withdraws From Judgeship Race,” St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 25 April 1936, p.2; “John C. Blocker Won’t Enter Race For County Judge,” St. Petersburg Times, 26 April 1936, sec.1, p. 3; and Reinhold Rogers, Jr., “Illustrious Career Ends As Judge White, 66, Dies,” Clearwater Sun, 25 May 1965. 77. Certificate of Admission for John C. Blocker to practice before the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida, 26 May 1937, in Blocker file, Heritage Village Library & Archives. 78. “Mullet Key Is Officially Taken Over By County,” Clearwater Sun, 10 October 1938; “A Clean Up of Key Sought By Board,” St. Petersburg Evening Independent,11 October 1938; and U.S., Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Historic Sites Report On Fort DiSoto [sic] Park Pinellas County Florida” by Frank B. Sarles, Jr. (February 1960), p. 33. Regarding the proposal to build an aquarium on Mullet Key, on act was passed in the State Legislature the following year which created “the Pinellas County Museum, Aquarium, Marine and Botanical Gardens Authority” which would “construct Museum buildings, Acquire or purchase the objects, specimens, relics and other material . . . erect [an] aquarium and suitable reservoirs, tanks and display cases for marine life 98

and to purchase and acquire marine life with which to stock the marine gardens, to purchase and acquire plants, trees and botanical and horticultural specimens and to establish Botanical and Horticultural Gardens and to Acquire By Purchase or Otherwise the Land Upon Which to Construct and Place Said Buildings and Specimens and, if Necessary, Exercise the Right to Eminent Domain for That Purpose.” This ambitious project, which unmistakably bears Blocker’s influence, was however never brought to fruition. (See Florida, Legislature, Special Acts Adopted by the Legislature of Florida, (n.p.: 1939) 2:1426-1737.) That Blocker deserved the lion’s share of the credit for obtaining Mullet Key for the county is evidenced by this 1940 St. Petersburg Times editorial: “John Blocker’s head is getting dangerously bald of hair. But it isn’t because of any trouble inside it. In fact, judging by what’s going on in Dade county, John was a big factor in saving Pinellas county several million dollars recently. “Several months ago Blocker as county attorney successfully urged the county commissioners to buy Mullet key for some $11,000. In Dade county on May 28 citizens will vote on issuance of two millions of bonds to buy and improve for public recreational purposes two pieces of waterfront property. That progressive county has realized–perhaps too late–that private enterprise has deprived the public of one of its greatest assets. “Pinellas county is lucky in the respect. It has Mullet key for the future and the mile of gulf in Treasure Island city for immediate use. The public should own more, much more choice property in Pinellas. There’s a port, a negro beach, a stadium, a ball park, a marine hospital–a score of things immediately and a steady stream of others in the future. “In all of Florida’s 3,000 miles of open waterfront only Pinellas and Escambia (Pensacola) own any valuable water property available for public use. “The City of St. Petersburg has for 10 years slept on its rights in this matter of acquirement of property for public use. And no wonder! So apathetic is public opinion on this matter, it is amusing to note the apologetic air the commissioners have toward their Mullet key purchase. Even Ed Beckett in his 24 years on the board, has never seen it do a more constructive and useful thing.” (See “Blocker,” St. Petersburg Times, 27 May 1940.) 99

79. “Manatee Bridge Bill Favored By Solons,” Clearwater Sun, 12 May 1939; and “County Officials In Tallahassee,” Clearwater Sun, 12 May 1939, p. 1. 80. “Pinellas Men To Protect Cities,” Clearwater Sun, 13 May 1939, p.1. Blocker’s effectiveness as a lobbyist for the county was such that on January 17, 1940, an article in the St. Petersburg Times on this date stated that “John Blocker, attorney for the board of county commissioners, may be a candidate for the state legislature to fill the vacancy caused when Rep. Walter P. Fuller announced his candidacy for the state senate. “While Blocker would not comment yesterday in Clearwater on reports that his friends had been suggesting that he seek the office, it is known that during the last session Blocker spent almost as much time in Tallahassee on business for the county as the regular representatives.” (See “Blocker May Run For Legislature,” St. Petersburg Times, 17 January 1940.) Evidence of Blocker’s skill as a lobbyist on the local level may also be seen in his hosting of an “annual dinner party” for local officials in Pinellas. Held each year at his home since 1931, a 1945 Times article gives an idea of what and who was involved in the affair: “The large fireplace in the patio of their Allendale home was the setting of the first course, oysters, while buffet supper, including pheasant was served. Poinsettias in a crystal bowl, flanked with candlesticks holding red candles centered the buffet table. “The Misses Margaret Ann, Sallie Mae and Joan Blocker assisted in serving. “Guests included E. H. Beckett of Tarpon Springs, Frank Merrin of Dunedin, John Chestnut of Clearwater, Orville Harris and W.H. Belcher, this city, commissioners, Mrs. Beckett, Mrs. Merrin, Mrs. Chesnut, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Belcher, Ray E. Green, circuit court clerk, and Mrs. Green, W. A. Mc Mullen, county engineer, and Mrs. McMullen and Mrs. John C. Blocker, mother of the host.” (See “John C. Blockers Have Annual Party,” St. Petersburg Times, 5 January 1945.) As Blocker’s daughter Margaret later recalled in an interview with Scott Hartzell in 2000, “That’s keeping a lot of people happy.” (See Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Margaret Blocker, in Blocker file, St. Petersburg Museum of History.) 81. “Blocker Honored,” St. Petersburg Independent, 24 April 1940. 100

82. Pinellas County Commission minutes, vol. 16, pp. 232-234, 18 February 1941. Work was begun on the airport in March 1941, and according to a written history found in the Archives of the airport, “Colonel A.B. McMullen, sometime Head of the Airport Division of C.A.A., with the aid of an expert staff organized a portable construction crew of 200 men equipped with portable field kitchens, trucks, tractors, grading and leveling equipment, tents, and small tools that would move about the state building airfields. Although it was an entirely non-military organization, it set a pattern which was copied by the Navy Seabees in building airfields in the South Pacific during World War II.” According to another history of the airport, the initial idea for the airport came from H.H. Baskin, representing the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, who presented the idea to the Pinellas County Commission on August 17, 1937. Later, on December 3, 1940, the Commission passed a resolution creating a “Master Airport” and on January 10, 1941, authorized the first allocation of funds for the airport. (See “Chronology of Events as Taken from the Minute Books of the Board of Count Commission,” St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Collection, Box #4, Heritage Village.) At the onset of World War II, the airport was leased to the Army in April of 1942. After the war, on December 17, 1947, the airport–now supplemented with an 300 additional acres–was returned to the county, and additional land, buildings and other property was deeded to Pinellas County by the Federal Government on July 2, 1948. When the airport opened for civilian use after the war, Blocker was present at the dedication ceremonies and according to his daughter Sallie, he was given a seat on the first plane to fly out of the airport but gave it to his daughter Sallie, feeling that the plane was “too rickety” to fly in! Sallie thus became the first female passenger to fly out of the airport. (See “Pinellas County International Airport” history, Box #4; St. Petersburg Times, 25 September 1957; Douglas Doubleday, “About That Problem Airport,” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 8 September 1963, pp. 14-16; Joan Blocker McMullen interview, 21 October 1999; and Hartzell interview with Sallie Blocker, Blocker file, St. Petersburg Museum of History. 83. Al Barker, “John Blocker, Preparing History of City, Digs Up Odd Facts,” St. Petersburg Times, 4 July 1943, p. 32. The material collected by Blocker as described in this article, together with other information, now comprises the John C. Blocker Collection at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. The collection contains fifteen boxes of material collected by Blocker, ranging from photographs to clipped newspaper articles to Blocker’s own noted of his interviews with county pioneers. 84. St. Petersburg Times, 20 May 1944, untitled article in Blocker, Jr. file at Times Research Library. 101

85. “Local Supporters Refuse to Echo Green’s Sentiments,” St. Petersburg Times, 25 May 1944. 86. “Blocker Wins Post As Head of Attorneys,” Florida Times Union (Jacksonville, Fla.), 24 June 1944, pp. 9, 12; and “Blocker to Head County Attorneys,” St. Petersburg Times, 24 June 1944. 87. “New County Districts Go Into Effect Today As Board Reorganizes,” St. Petersburg Times, 7 January 1947, sec.2, p. 1; and “Chestnut Elected Head of County Commissioners,” St. Peterburg Times, 7 January 1947. 88. “Blocker Tells State History,” St. Petersburg Times, 3 April 1947; and “Henry B. Plant,” Florida Historical Quarterly 28 (January 1950):220. 89. Pinellas County Commission Minutes, vol. 21, p. 587, 3 February 1948. 90. “City’s Museum, Library Problem May Be Solved,” St Petersburg Times, 16 June 1948, p. 15; and “Blocker to Confer On Building Moving Plan, “ St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 16 June 1948, p.1. The Central Primary School building was eventually moved a short distance west, where it was remodeled as part of a new county health building. See Pinellas County, Golden Anniversary of Pinellas Schools, p. 13; and “John Blocker Dies,”sec. B, p. 13. 91. “County Defends Mullet Key Repurchase Priority Rights Against Outside Interests,” St. Petersburg Times, c. 1948, in John C. Blocker, Jr. file at Heritage Village Library and Archives; U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Historic Sites Report On Fort DeSoto [sic] Park,” by Frank B. Sarles, Jr. p. 34. Also, according to Sarles, “[t]he northwest tip of North Mullet Island, inadvertently omitted from this sale, was sold for $11.25 under the provisions of Public Law 46-81st Congress, approved on April, 1949.” Ibid. 92. Bill Dunlop, “Historic Mullet Key Is Dedicated As Future Playground of West Coast,” The (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Evening Independent, 9 September 1948, p. 1. 93. Letter of Charles A. Storey to John C. Blocker, Jr., 3 September 1948, in John C. Blocker Collection, Box No. 15, Folder No.4. Notably during this year also, Blocker was instrumental in getting the county to acquire the property comprising the old homestead of Odet Philippe in Safety Harbor for use as a county park. Philippe, known as the first person of European background to permanently settle on the Pinellas peninsula, established a plantation on this site about 1842 which he named “St Helena.” The site is presently home to Philippe Park and contains the Safety Harbor Archaeological Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (See Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Sallie Blocker, 2000.) 102

94. Morty Freedman, “County Officers Defend Blocker Fee On Bridge,” St. Petersburg Times, 11 December 1948; and “The System Should Be Changed,” St. Petersburg Times 11 December 1948. 95. “La Voie and Cramer Take Stand Against Blocker,” The Evening Independent, 4 January 1949, p.1. 96. John C. Blocker [Jr.], “Early Visitors To Pinellas Sought More Than Sunshine,” St. Petersburg Times, 6 February 1949, p. 8. For other articles in this series, see John C. Blocker, [Jr]., “DeSoto And Others Write Of Experiences In Florida.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 20 February 1949, pp. 8-10; “DeSoto’s Travel Reports Describe Pinellas Terrain.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 13 March 1949, pp. 8-9; “DeVaca and DeSoto Describe Pinellas Area.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 6 March 1949, pp. 8-10; “Exact Location Of DeSoto Landing Remains In Doubt.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 13 February 1949, pp. 8-9; “Indian Princess Saves Life Of Captive Spaniard.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 27 February 1949, pp. 8-9; “Menendez Rescues Captives.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 24 April 1949, p. 8; “Menendez Seeks Waterways.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 8 May 1949, p. 4; “Menendez Stations Troops In Indian Town On Tampa Bay.”St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 15 May 1949, pp. 8-9; “Menendez Visits Pinellas.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 17 April 1949, p. 10; “Menendez Weds Indian.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 1 May 1949, p. 10; and “With DeSoto.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 20 March 1949, p. 8. 97. John C. Blocker, Jr., “Panphilo de Narvaez, Hernando DeSoto: Early Visitors To Pinellas Peninsula,” original manuscript in Blocker Collection, St. Petersburg Museum of History. The body of this passage quoted here was also published in the Blocker article “With DeSoto,” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 20 March 1949, pp. 8-9. 98. Dick Bothwell, “Shell Mound Could Be Enclosed In Hospital’s Lobby,” St Petersburg Times, 19 February 1949; Joan Blocker McMullen interview, 21 October 1999; Arsenault, St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream, p. 27. Ironically, an earlier article on the original construction of a hospital addition noted that “. . . because a portion of the Mound Park property needed for the site of hospital extension would revert under old deeds, to the heirs of former owners unless continued in use for park purposes, City Attorney C. R. Runyon was authorized to negotiate for supplemental deeds removing that restriction. The federal government PWA requires clear title in the city for the use to which the land is put. “Although Runyon said that Mrs. James Norton and Frank E. Cole, two heirs under early deeds, already had given quit claims of complete gift to the city for the amount of land needed without restriction, he explained he was having difficulty with the 103

heirs of John C. Blocker, who insisted upon being allowed $700 worth of tax credits on other property in exchange for such a clearance deed. “Although the council finally authorized Runyon to negotiate the trade on the best terms obtainable, Councilman George W. Hopkins objected to the city being made to pay in what he described as ‘a pure game of holdup that I don’t like.’” (See “New Contract For Hospital Job Approved,” St Petersburg Times, n.d., in John C. Blocker, Jr. file at Times Research Library.) 99. “The Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly 28 (July 1949):75-81. 100. “Welcome to Yachting,” St. Petersburg Times, 22 September 1949. According to his daughter Sallie, Blocker also enjoyed a wide variety of other interests, such as photography, hunting, shooting, and entertaining. (See Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Sallie Blocker, 2000; and “Spicola Misses Only One Target.” St. Petersburg Independent, 16 July 1947.) 101. “Colleagues Laud Rep. Peterson,” St. Petersburg Times, 11 April 1950. 102. “The Florida Historical Society.” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1950), 29:75; and “Blocker Named V.P. Of Florida Historical Group.” St Petersburg Times, 16 April 1950. 103. John C. Blocker (Jr.), “Pinellas Onward!,” Florida Highways (June 1950): 8-10. 104. George Bartlett, “Indian Shell Mound Discovered At Mullet Key By John Blocker,” St. Petersburg Times, 2 October 1950, sec. 2, p.17. 105. “Blocker Cheats Guillotine, Quits,” St. Petersburg Independent, 20 December 1950; and Howard W. Hartley, “Democratic County Board Bids Farewell to Power,” St. Petersburg Independent, 30 December 1950. 106. Ibid.; Pinellas County Commission minutes, 19 December 1950. 107. Hartley, “Democratic County Board Bids Farewell.” Ironically, even under the Republicans the controversy surrounding the influence of the county attorney on setting policy did not go away. In a 1958 editorial, the Times commented that “Way back yonder when the County Commission was composed exclusively of Democrats (Yes, Virginia, there really was such a time!), with considerable 104

justification Republicans of Pinellas used to wax sarcastic and bitter over the ‘Sixth Commissioner’. “This non-elected, but not at all legendary, character was the County Attorney. In those days he was the late John Blocker, a suave and able gentleman who brooked little nonsense from the Commission. “One of the strong Republican arguments for breaking up the Democratic monopoly on the Commission was to get rid of this influential personage who. however capable, was not responsible to the electorate. “Get rid of him the Republicans did, as soon as they had a majority on the commission. But get rid of the Sixth Commissioner they did not. “The first Republican County Attorney, now State Attorney Clair Davis, was not in office long enough to qualify fully for this title, but even he was a dominating influence during his short term. “Then came William C. Cramer, and after him his law partner, C. Ray Smith. And the Sixth Commissioner was back in business in a big way.” (See “No More ‘Sixth Commissioners’,” St. Petersburg Times, 21 November 1958.)

Chapter VI: County Historian (1951-1957) 108. “Chestnut ‘May See Lawyer’ On Firing Of Ulm” and “Attorney Davis Calls Blocker Letter ‘Asinine,’” Clearwater Sun, 31 Jan 1951, p. 2. 109. “The Florida Historical Society: The Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg,” Florida Historical Quarterly (January 1951) 220-221; and “The Florida Historical Society, Florida Historical Quarterly ( July 1951):116-125. 110. “First Phase of Blocker Suit Ends in Recess,” St. Petersburg Times, 30 January 1952; “John C. Blocker Dies In North Carolina,” 24 September 1957; and “John C. Blocker Dies,” p. 13-B. An example of the kind of problem Blocker had with the Budget Board while serving as county attorney may be seen in the following local article, which appeared sometime during the summer of 1950: 105

“The Pinellas County Budget Commission yesterday tentatively pared $2,800 off the 1950-51 County Commissioners’ budget including an $1,800 item for paying the secretarial costs of County Attorney John Blocker. “In effect the Budget group reduced Blocker’s compensation by that amount, since he will now have to pay his secretary’s salary completely out of his own pocket. For the past several years the County has paid the $1,800 allowance and Blocker has chipped in $37.50 a month in addition for his secretary’s salary. “He stressed that about three-fourths of the work done in his office is for the county and about one-fourth is for his own law practice . . . “At first there was indications that the Budget group would restore Blocker’s secretarial allotment in the form of a boost increasing his salary. “But after returning from lunch and beginning the afternoon session, members spoke of the possibility of a county legal department, noted what they termed the high cost of legal aid employed by the Pinellas Utility Board, questioned Blocker on outside fees he might have received, and did everything but give the veteran county attorney his pay boost. “Finally, Blocker to the budgeters: “‘I’m not here begging for a pittance. Let’s leave it like you have it. You gentlemen are doing your job as your conscience dictates. I am completely without malice.’ “. . . On the question of a county legal department, Blocker said not one county in Florida has a full-time county attorney. He cited $30,000 paid by Dade County for a legal set-up and said the Duval County attorney gets a $1,500 allotment for his office costs. “‘I have no objection to being assigned additional duties’ said the County attorney, ‘If you want to pay me less it’s all right with me. If you want to raise the pay that’s all right with me. I’ve been very happy as your County Attorney for 24 years. I don’t intend to quibble about a few coins, but I’m the poorest paid County attorney in Florida.’ “Blocker noted that the Budget group had knocked off a $900 travel allowance previously earmarked for County Engineer W.A. McMullen and had then added the 106

money on to McMullen’s salary. “Urging that the slashed secretarial allowance be added to his salary, Blocker said, ‘What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.’”(See Morty Freeman, “$1,800 County Salary to Blocker Aide Cut’” St. Petersburg Times, n.d., c. Summer 1950, Blocker file, Heritage Village.) 111. “State Historical Society Elects Blocker, Fuller,” St. Petersburg Times, 22 April,1952; and “The Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1952), pp.67,70. 112. “Blocker Heads Bar Association”, St. Petersburg Times, 4 December 1952. Both before and after his election as president, Blocker had served extensively in various offices within both the local and state bar associations. In 1950, he had served as a member of the St. Petersburg Bar’s Legislative Committee, and in 1952 had been the association’s vice president. Following his service as president of the St. Petersburg Bar, Blocker also served as chairman of the Legal Aid Committee for the State Bar Association. See “Blocker Installed As President Of Bar Group”, St. Petersburg Times, 8 January 1953; “Bar Association Installs John Blocker President”, St. Petersburg Times, 8 January 1953, p.2; “Bar Association Installs Officers,” The Evening Independent, 7 January 1954; “Bar Association Seats New Leaders”, St. Petersburg Times, January 1952, from Blocker file, Times Library; St. Petersburg Bar Association Committee Membership Roster, 1950, in Blocker family papers; and St. Petersburg Times, 8 November 1954, untitled article in Blocker file, Times Library. 113. “The Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly 32 (July 1953):57. 114. “The Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly 32 (July 1953), pp.57-67; and “John C. Blocker, Former County Attorney Dies at 60,” Clearwater Sun, 25 September 1957, p. 2. Ironically, after his term as president of the Society, Blocker in 1955 became chairman of the Florida Historical Society’s legislative committee, where he spearheaded a plan to introduce legislation creating a state historical commission. However, in the 1958 year after Blocker’s death the society subsequently “. . . decided against introduction of the bill presented at the 1957 meeting by John C. Blocker as a number of the members were opposed to the bill’s provisions requiring that the Society become a state agency. The executive committee favored the alternate plan, a petition to the Governor of Florida requesting the appointment of a study committee to consult with pertinent state agencies and with historical group.” (See “Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1955), p. 88; and Florida Historical Quarterly (Oct 1958) 37:186. Also, the week of March 27, 1954, which marks the beginning of “Pascua Florida” (Festival of the Flowers) was 107

officially declared “Florida Day” by executive proclamation of then Acting Gov. Charley Johns.) 115. “Leaving for Europe”, St. Petersburg Times, April 1953, Blocker file, Times Library; and “Account of Coronation to be given at Museum”, St. Petersburg Times, 19 October 1953, an account he later gave at the St. Petersburg Historical Museum. In an interview conducted in 2000, “Speaking from her Hendersonville, N. C., real estate office, Margaret Blocker recalled taking family history trips “we traveled every state in the U. S. and to Mexico on and Canada” (See Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Margaret Blocker, 2000.) 116. See “St. Petersburg Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly (January 1953) : 219-220; “John C. Blocker New Historical Group President,” St. Petersburg Times, 6 January 1954; and “The Florida Historical Society,” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1952) : 58-70. 117. Justin P. Havee, Program Chairman, HASF, letter to “Fellow members and Friends,” Miami, Fla, in John C. Blocker Collection; and “Piracy in Southern Waters” manuscript in John C. Blocker Collection. 118. “Florida Historical Society.” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1954), pp. 57-64. 119. “Family Legal Problems Tonight’s Forum Topic,” St. Petersburg Times, 10 November 1954. 120. John W. Griffin, “The Annual Meeting” Florida Historical Quarterly (July 1956) 35:77-85. 121. “John Blocker Dies,” p.13; Hartzell, “Old Photos;” and “John Blocker Dies in North Carolina.” 122. “John Blcker Dies,” sec. B, p. 13; and Scott Taylor Hartzell interview with Sallie Blocker, 2000. 123. “John C. Blocker Services Today,” St. Petersburg Times, 27 September 1957; and Daughter of the American Revolution, Boca Ciega Chapter, Pinellas County Florida Cemetery Inscriptions (Clearwater, Fla.: By the Author, 1971), p. 16.

A NOTE ON THE EPILOGUE: The Epilogue is derived from the following sources: “Lauds Blocker’s Vision,” St. Petersburg Times, 28 September 1957; “John Blocker Dies,” p.1-B, “John Blocker Dies In North Carolina;” Resolution of St. Petersburg Pioneers Association, 1957, Blocker family papers; Florida Historical Quarterly (October 1958) 37:189; Ralph Reed to Mrs. 108

John C. Blocker, Jr., 2 June 1961, Ralph Reed Collection, Heritage Village.

A NOTE ON THE APPENDICES: Appendices 1 and 2 are derived from the following sources: “John Blocker Dies,” p.1-B; “John Blocker Dies In North Carolina;” Craig Basse, “Marguerite Blocker Bartlett, Educator At High School, Junior College,” St. Petersburg Times, 16 July 1985; “Mrs. Blocker, Pioneer of St. Petersburg, Dies.” St. Petersburg Times, 2 March 1960; and Craig Basse, “Ruby Blocker, Of Prominent Local Family,” St. Petersburg Times, 12 March 1986.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. Books Arsenault, Raymond. St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream. Gainesville, Fla.: University Press of Florida, 1988. Baker, Rick. Mangroves to Major Leagues. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Southern Heritage Press, 2000. Bartlett, Marguerite Blocker. Some of the Blockers. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Widere Printing, n.d. _______ . Some ofthe Hills. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Widere Printing, n.d. Chapin, George M. Florida 1513-1913: Past Present and Future. 2 vols. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1914. Covington, James W. The Story of Southwestern Florida. 2 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1957. Daughters of the American Revolution. Boca Ciega Chapter. Pinellas County Florida Cemetery Inscriptions. Clearwater, Fla.: By the Author, 1971. Dawson, W. Forrest, comp. and ed. Saga of the All American. Atlanta: Albert Love, 1946. Dovell, J.E. Florida: Historic Dramatic Contemporary, 4 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1952. Grismer, Karl H. History of the St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Tourist News Publishing Company, 1924. Linton, Calvin D., ed. The Bicentennial Almanac. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1975. McKay, D.B., ed. Pioneer Florida, 3 vols. Tampa, Fla.: The Southern Publishing Company, 1959. Morris, Allen, comp. The Florida Handbook 1985-1986. Tallahassee, Fla.: Peninsular Publishing Company, 1985. Official History of 82nd Division American Expeditionary Forces. Indianapolis, Ind.: BobbsMerrill Company, 1920. Straub, W.L. History of Pinellas County Florida. St. Augustine, Fla.: Record Company, 1929. 110

Thompson, Leroy. The All Americans: The 82nd Airborne. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1988.

II. Internet Websites Monpellier Universite. "Historique Principal." URL: http://www.univ-montpl.fr/Historique/, 16 September 2000. Woodward Academy."Woodward Academy: About Us." URL: http: //dev.woodward.edu/ answers/wahist.html, 13 October 2000.

III. Oral History Interviews Blocker, Margaret, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr. Telephone interview with author, 25 June 1999. _______ . Interview with Scott Taylor Hartzell, 2000, in Blocker family file at St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. Blocker, Sallie Mae, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr. Telephone interview with author, 21 October 1999. _______ . Interview with Scott Taylor Hartzell, 2000, in Blocker family file at St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. Johnson, Sam, nephew of John C. Blocker, Jr. Telephone interview with author, 25 June 1999. _______ . Interview with Scott Taylor Hartzell, 2000, in Blocker family file at St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. McMullen, Joan Blocker, daughter of John C. Blocker, Jr. Interview with author, 23 October 1999. _______ . Interview with Scott Taylor Hartzell, 2000, in Blocker family file at St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. Zaring, Rusty, Archivist, Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. Telephone interview with author, 16 October 2000.

111

III. Periodicals A. Magazines Blocker, John C. "DeSoto And Others Write Of Experiences In Florida." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 20 February 1949, pp. 8-10. _______ . "DeSoto's Travel Reports Describe Pinellas Terrain." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 13 March 1949, pp. 8-9. 'DeVaca and DeSoto Describe Pinellas Area." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 6 March 1949, pp. 8-10. _______ . “Early Visitors To Pinellas Sought More Than Sunshine (Prologue To History Of Pinellas County)." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 6 February 1949, pp. 8-10. _______ . "Exact Location Of DeSoto Landing Remains In Doubt." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 13 February 1949, pp. 8-9. _______ . "Indian Princess Saves Life Of Captive Spaniard.” St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 27 February 1949, pp. 8-9. _______ . "Menendez Rescues Captives." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 24 April 1949, p. 8. _______ . "Menendez Seeks Waterways." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 8 May 1949, p. 4. _______ . "Menendez Stations Troops In Indian Town On Tampa Bay." St Petersburg Times Magazine, 15 May 1949, pp. 8-9. _______ . "Menendez Visits Pinellas." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 17 April 1949, p. 10. _______ . "Menendez Weds Indian." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 1 May 1949, p. 10. _______ . "With DeSoto." St. Petersburg Times Magazine, 20 March 1949, p. 8. "Pinellas Onward!" Florida Highways (June 1950):8-10. Florida Historical Quarterly 37 (October 1958): 186-189. "The Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 29 (July 1950):66-79. "The Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 30 (July 1951):116-125. 112

"The Florida Historical Society."Florida Historical Quarterly 31 (July 1952):58-70. "The Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 31 (January 1953):218-220. "The Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 32 (July 1953):58-67. "Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 33 (July 1954):54-61. "Florida Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 34 (July 1955):85-89. Griffin, John W. "The Annual Meeting" Florida Historical Quarterly 35 (July 1956):77-85. "Henry B. Plant."Florida Historical Quarterly 28 (January 1950):220. "St. Petersburg Historical Society." Florida Historical Quarterly 32 (January 1953):219-220. Tourist News, 9 October 1926, p. 10. B. Newspapers "Account of Coronation To Be Given At Museum." St Petersburg Times, 19 October 1953. "Attorney Davis Calls Blocker Letter 'Asinine.'" Clearwater Sun, 31 Jan 1951, p. 2. "Attorney Diversifies into Hot Sauce." St. Petersburg Times, 26 September 1999, Largo Times, sec. p. 4. "Attorney John Blocker City Attorney." Safety Harbor (Fla.) Herald, 8 December 1944, p. 1. 112 "Bar Association Installs John Blocker President." St Petersburg Independent, 8 January 1953, p. 2. "Bar Association Installs Officers." St. Petersburg Independent, 7 January 1954. Barker, Al. "John Blocker, Preparing History Of City, Digs Up Odd Facts." St. Petersburg Times, 4 July 1943, p. 32. Bartlett, George. "Indian Shell Mound Discovered At Mullet Key By John Blocker." St. Petersburg Times, 2 October 1950, sec. 2, p. 17. Basse, Craig. "Marguerite Bartlett, Educator At High School, Junior College." St. Petersburg Times, 16 July 1985.

113

_______ . "Ruby Blocker, of Prominent Local Family." St Petersburg Times, 12 March 1986. "Blocker." St Petersburg Times, 27 May 1940. "Blocker Cheats Guillotine, Quits." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 20 December 1950. "Blocker Heads Bar Association." St. Petersburg Times, 4 December 1952. "Blocker Heads Local B.P.O.E." St. Petersburg Times, 4 May 1935. "Blocker Honored." St. Petersburg Independent, 24 April 1940. "Blocker Installed As President Of Bar Group." St. Petersburg Times, 8 January 1953. "Blocker May Run For Legislature." St. Petersburg Times, 17 January 1940. "Blocker Named City Attorney At Safety Harbor." St. Petersburg Times, 24 May 1952. "Blocker Named VP Of Florida Historical Group." St Petersburg Times, 16 April 1950. "Blocker Requests Court To Resolve Pension Dispute." St. Petersburg Times, 19 October 1951. "Blocker Resigns As Attorney Of Safety Harbor." St. Petersburg Times, 23 July 1943. "Blocker Resigns As Mosquito Board Attorney." St Petersburg Times, 2 April 1947. "Blocker Resigns County Post." St. Petersburg Times, 20 December 1950. "Blocker Tells State History." St Petersburg Times, 3 April 1947. "Blocker To Confer On Building Moving Plan." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 16 June 1948, p.l. "Blocker To Head County Attorneys." St. Petersburg Times, 24 June 1944. "Blocker Will Collect Back County Taxes." St. Petersburg Times, 22 June 1930, pp. 1-2. "Blocker Wins Post As Head Of Attorneys." (Jacksonville, Fla.) Florida Times-Union, 24 June 1944, pp. 9, 12. "Blocker Would Decide Primary By Lucky Draw." St. Petersburg Times, 19 April 1936, p. 2. 114

Bothwell, Dick. "Shell Mound Could Be Enclosed In Hospital's Lobby." St. Petersburg Times, 19 February 1949. _______ . "A Standout in the 1900s." St. Petersburg Times, 3 October 1976, sec. B, pp. 2-3. "Candidates In Final Drive For Pinellas Votes." Clearwater Sun, 7 November 1932, p. 1. "Chesnut Elected Head Of County Commission." St Petersburg Times, 1 January 1947. "Chestnut 'May See Lawyer' On Firing Of Ulm." Clearwater Sun, 31 Jan 1951, p. 2. "City's Museum, Library Problem May Be Solved." St. Petersburg Times, 16 June 1948, p. 15. "A Clean Up Of Key Sought By Board." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 11 October 1938. "Colleagues Laud Rep. Peterson." St. Petersburg Times, 11 April 1950. "Complete Primary Returns." Clearwater Sun, 9 June 132, p. 1. "County Officials In Tallahassee." Clearwater Sun, 12 May 1939, p. 1. "County Plans To Foreclose On Back Taxes." Clearwater Sun, 11 July 1934, p. 1. "Democrats End Campaign With Rally In Park." St. Petersburg Times, 6 November 1932, sec. 1, p. 2. Doubleday, Douglas. "About That Problem Airport." St. Petersburg Times, 8 September 1963, pp.14-16. Dunlop, Bill. "Historic Mullet Key Is Dedicated As Future Playground Of West Coast." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 9 September 1948, p. 1. "Family Legal Problems Tonight's Forum Topic." St Petersburg Times, 10 November 1954. "First Phase of Blocker Suit Ends In Recess." St. Petersburg Times, 30 January 1952. Freedman, Morty. "County Officers Defend Blocker Fee On Bridge." St. Petersburg Times, 11 December 1948. Hartley, Howard W. "Democratic County Board Bids Farewell To Power." St Petersburg Evening Independent, 30 December 1950. 115

Hartzell, Scott Taylor. "Old Photos, Notes Trace Local Historian's Legacy." St. Petersburg Times, 15 March 2000, p. 9. "Hot Campaign Ends; 19,238 Are Qualified." St. Petersburg Times, 8 November 1932, p. 1. "J.C. Blocker, Pioneer Here, Is Found Dead." St. Petersburg Times, 15 October 1928. "John C. Blocker Democrat." Clearwater Sun, 6 November 1932, p. 6. "John C. Blocker Dies In North Carolina." St Petersburg Independent, 24 September 1957. "John C. Blocker Dies: Was County Attorney." St. Petersburg Times, 25 September 1957, sec. B, pp. 1, 13. "John C. Blocker, Former County Attorney, Dies At 60." Clearwater Sun, 25 September 1957, p. 2. "John C. Blocker New Historical Group President." St. Petersburg Times, 6 January 1954. "John C. Blocker Services Today." St. Petersburg Times, 27 September 1957. 115 "John C. Blockers Have Annual Party." St. Petersburg Times, 5 January 1945. "John C. Blocker Withdraws From Judgeship Race." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 25 April 1936, p.2. "John C. Blocker Won't Enter Race For County Judge." St. Petersburg Times, 26 April 1936, sec. 1, p. 3. "Lauds Blocker's Vision." St. Petersburg Times, 28 September 1957. "LaVoie And Cramer Take Stand Against Blocker." St Petersburg Evening Independent, 4 January 1949. "Local Supporters Refuse To Echo Green's Sentiments." St. Petersburg Times, 25 May 1944. "Manatee Bridge Bill Favored By Solons" Clearwater Sun, 12 May 1939. "Mrs. Blocker, Pioneer of St. Petersburg, Dies." St. Petersburg Times, 2 March 1960. "Mullet Key Dedication Set For Sept. 8." St. Petersburg Evening Independent, 27 July 1948, p. 9. "Mullet Key Is Officially Taken Over By County." Clearwater Sun, 10 October 1938. 116

"New County Districts Go Into Effect Today As Board Reorganizes," St. Petersburg Times, 1 January 1947, sec. 2, p. 1. "No More 'Sixth' Commissioners." St. Petersburg Times, 21 November 1958. "O'Quinn, Lynch And Sikes Are Well In Lead." Clearwater Sun, 8 Junel932, p. 1. "Pinellas County Election Results." Clearwater Sun, 9 November 1932, p. 1. "Pinellas Men To Protect Cities." Clearwater Sun, 13 May 1939, p. 1. Rogers, Reinhold. "Illustrious Career Ends As Judge White, 66, Dies." Clearwater Sun, 25 May 1965. St Petersburg Independent, 7 May 1932, sec.A, p. 6. St. Petersburg Times, 30 October 1932, sec. 1, p. 5; 6 November 1932, sec. 2, pp. 4,8; 20 May 1944. "Spicola Misses Only One Target." St. Petersburg Independent, 16 July 1947. "Star Shooters To Compete In Cigar Gun Club Events." Tampa Tribune, 9 November 1947. "State and County Candidates Speak At Park Meeting." St. Petersburg Independent, 20 May 1932, p. 6. "State Historical Society Elects Blocker, Fuller." St. Petersburg Times, 27 April 1952. "The System Should Be Changed." St. Petersburg Times, 11 December 1948. "To All The Voters." Clearwater Sun, 6 November 1932, p. 2. "25 Years Ago Today (June 21, 1930)." Clearwater Sun, 21 June 1955, p. 1. "Welcome To Yachting." St. Petersburg Times, 22 September 1949. "Wilcox Edges Out Sterling By 53 Votes." Clearwater Sun, 9 November 1932, p. 1. B. Yearbooks Cumberland University. Cumberland University Bulletin, 1930-1931. Lebanon, Tenn.: Published by the University, 1931. _______ . The Phoenix. Lebanon, Tenn.: Cumberland University, 1925. 117

Directory ofthe City of St. Petersburg 1908. St. Petersburg, Fla.: St. Petersburg Times, 1908. Florida, University of. University Record. Gainesville, Fla.: University of Florida, 1924-1925. R.L. Polk. Polk's St. Petersburg City Directory 1927. Jacksonville, Fla.: R.L. Polk & Co., 1927. Washington and Lee University. The Calyx. Lexington, Va.: By the Students of Washington and Lee University, 1917, 1920. ________. Washington and Lee University Bulletin Catalogue 1916, 1920. Lexington, Va.: By the Students of Washington and Lee University, 1917, 1920.

IV. Public Documents A. United States United States. Army War College. Historical Section. Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1931. United States. Census Bureau. Fourteenth United States Census, 1920. ________. Thirteenth United States Census, 1910. ________. Twelfth United States Census, 1900. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. “Historic Sites Report On Fort DiSoto [sic] Park Pinellas County Florida” by Frank B. Sarles, Jr. (February 1960). United States. Federal Works Agency. Division of Professional and Service Projects. Inventory of the County Archives of Florida. No. 54: Pinellas County (Clearwater). Jacksonville, Fla..: Florida Historical Records Survey Project, 1940. United States. National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records). Statement of service of John C. Blocker, Jr. in the United States Army, 1918-1919.

B. Florida Florida. Department of State. Florida State Archives. World War I abstract of service card for John C. Blocker, Jr. Record Group 197, Series 1204. Tallahassee, Florida. 118

Florida. Legislature. Special Acts Adopted by the Legislature of Florida at Its Twenty-seventh Regular Session April 4 to and Including June 2, 1939. 2 vols. N.p., 1939. Florida. Supreme Court Library. Florida Bar admission records of John C. Blocker, Jr. Tallahassee, Florida.

V. Local Records Blocker, John C. Jr. Collection. St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, Florida. Blocker, John C. Jr. family collection. In the possession of Mrs. Joan Blocker McMullen, St. Petersburg, Florida. Blocker, John C. Jr. file. Heritage Village-Pinellas County Historical Museum Library, Largo, Florida. Blocker, John C. Jr. file. St. Petersburg Times Research Library, St. Petersburg, Florida. Pinellas County. Board of County Commissioners. Minutes, 1926-1950. Microfilm copies at BCC Records, Pinellas County Courthouse, Clearwater, Florida; original minutes from 1912 to 1934 at Heritage Village, Largo, Florida. Pinellas County. Board of Public Instruction. The Golden Anniversary of Pinellas County Schools. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Modern Printing & Publishing Co., 1962. Pinellas County. Department of Public Affairs. A History of the Constitutional Officers of Pinellas County. N.p.: n.d. Pinellas County Genealogy Society. "Early Pioneer Families Pinellas County Florida 1845-1945." John C. Bicker family genealogy prepared by D.M. Boyer, 2 July 1979, B-1306. Microfilm copies at Largo Library, Largo, Florida. Pinellas County. Planning Department. "Population Growth 1900-1985 By Incorporated And Unincorporated Areas," 1985. Pinellas County. Supervisor of Elections. "Certificate of the Board of County Canvassers, Democratic Primary Election Held on the 28th Day of June, 1932." Pinellas County Supervisor of 119

Elections Office, Clearwater, Florida. Reed, Ralph Collection. Heritage Village Library and Archives, Largo, Florida. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Collection. Heritage Village Library and Archives, Largo, Florida.

VI. Unpublished Materials Burns, Frank, Archivist, Cumberland University. Letters to author regarding attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, 7 August and 23 September 1999. In John C. Blocker, Jr. file, Heritage Village, Largo, Florida. Dewsbury, Joyce, Coordinator, Archives & Visual Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, Department of Special Collections, University of Florida Archives. Letter to author regarding attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 19 July 1999. In John C. Blocker, Jr. file, Heritage Village, Largo, Florida. McGown, Lisa S., Special Collections Assistant, Washington and Lee University. Letter to author regarding attendance of John C. Blocker, Jr. at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, 19 July 1999. In John C. Blocker, Jr. file, Heritage Village, Largo, Florida. Washington and Lee University. Student records of John C. Blocker, Jr., 1915-1920. Special Collections, Leyburn Library, Lexington, Virginia.

120

APPENDIX 1: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

Name: John Cromwell Blocker, Jr.

Birth: St. Petersburg, Hillsborough (now Pinellas) County, Florida, 13 December 1896.

Ancestry: German; the family was descended from Michael Blocker, who emigrated from Germany and settled in Bladen (now Cumberland) County, North Carolina, circa 1733.

Father: John Cromwell Blocker, Sr.; born: Tarboro, Cumberland County, North Carolina, 11 June 1864; married: Nina Mutelle Hill, Pasco County, Florida, 16 January 1893; died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 14 October 1928.

Father’s Occupation: Railroad man with the Orange Belt Railway (1886-1897); Owner and proprietor of the St. Petersburg Dairy (1895-1906); Realtor (1906-1928).

Mother: Nina Mutelle (Hill) Blocker; born: Laurens County, South Carolina, 3 December 1874; married: John Cromwell Blocker, Sr., Pasco County, Florida, 16 January 1893; died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 1 March 1960.

Sister: Nellie Marguerite Blocker; born: St. Petersburg, Florida, 14 November 1893; married: (i) Everett Starr Johnson, 3 June 1918 (born: Minnesota, January 1892; died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 18 September 1958) (divorced); (ii) Dr. Theron Clark Holmes, 2 July 1923 (divorced); (iii) George William Bartlett, 18 May 1935 (born: Dunkirk, New York, 7 August 1899; died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 1 May 1977); died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 15 July 1985.

Wives: (i) Thelma Louise (Tuttle) Blocker; born: Provo, Utah, c.1900; married: John Cromwell Blocker, Jr., Provo or Salt Lake City, Utah, 21 November 1921 (divorced); died: unknown. 121

(ii) Ruby Ford Harris; born: Aberdeen, Mississippi, 29 July 1904; married: John Cromwell Blocker, Jr., St. Petersburg, Florida, 21 September 1926; died: St. Petersburg, Florida, 11 March 1986.

Marriages: (i) Provo or Salt Lake City, Utah, 21 November 1921 (divorced); (ii) St. Petersburg, Florida, 21 September 1926.

Children: Margaret Ann Blocker; born: St. Petersburg, Florida, 11 September 1927; died: Hendersonville, North Carolina, 17 June 2000. Sallie Mae Blocker; born: St. Petersburg, Florida, 23 December 1928; married: Rutland Rowe, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2 July 1949 (divorced). Joan Cromwell Blocker; born: St. Petersburg, Florida, 5 October 1932; married: (i) Bernis Nance Collie, St. Petersburg, Florida, 8 October 1955 (divorced); (ii) Daniel Guy McMullen, Jr., St. Petersburg, Florida, 24 March 1967.

Death:

Hendersonville,

Henderson

County,

North

Carolina,

24

September

1957.

Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Florida, 27 September 1957.

Physical Features: Height: approx. 5'10" Weight: approx. 170 lbs. Eye Color: hazel Hair Color: dark brown, later grey (balding in middle age); by 1920 until the end of his life, he also wore a mustache

Distinguishing Marks/Features: In later years (by circa 1940), Blocker was a victim of male pattern baldness, something which according to his family caused him great distress. Yet nephew Sam Johnson remembers that he made a joke of it, explaining that during Wold War I “he (Blocker) stuck his head above a trench and a shell went over . . . and took his hair off.” His remaining hair turned grey in later years, a product, as youngest daughter Joan Blocker McMullen whimsically 122

states, of “having raised three daughters.” Blocker was also known for his fine manners, and was described by daughters Sallie Mae and Margaret as “charming,” “extremely witty, sharp-tongued” who was “wonderful on his feet as a speaker,” and who was a thoroughgoing “southern aristocrat,”–a dapper dresser, always “head up, wearing a tie.”

123

APPENDIX 2: GENEALOGICAL TABLES Table A: The Ancestors of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr.

John Culbreath Blocker = Julia Ann Brady (1811-1890) (1815-1891)

______________________________________|______________ | | Octavius Harvey Charles Henry (C.H.)Blocker = Sallie Ann Cromwell Blocker (1842-1911) (1844-1911) (1840-1905) =Susan Moore | (1839-1910) John Cromwell Blocker, Sr. = Nina Mutelle Hill (1864-1928) (1874-1960) Settled in Florida 1885 _______________________________________________________|_ | | Nellie Marguerite John Cromwell Blocker Blocker, Jr. (1893-1985) (1896-1957)

124

Table B: The Children of John Cromwell Blocker, Jr.

John C. Blocker, Jr. = (i) Thelma Louise Tuttle (1896-1957) (c.1900 - ? ) = (ii) Ruby Ford Harris (1904– 1986)

_____________________________________________|___________________________________________ | | | Margaret Ann Sallie Mae Joan Cromwell Blocker Blocker Blocker (1927-2000 ) (1928) (1932) = Rutland Rowe = (i) Bernis Nance Collie (1927- ? ) = (ii) Daniel Guy McMullen, Jr. (1928- )

__________________________________|______ | | Ridgely Ann Collie Nina Susan Collie (1957- ) (1958)

125

Table C: The Family of Nina Mutelle Hill Blocker

John Ward Hill, M.D. = Sarah Mutelle “Mittie” Whitmore (1835-1911) (1843-1916) Settled in Florida 1884 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | Mary Sarah William Holloway Joseph Nina Claude Sophronia Julia Oscar Jessie Elizabeth Ward “Holly” Calhoun Mutelle Whitmore Pauline Pearl Stephen Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill Hill (1866(1868(1869(1871(1872(1874(1876(1880(1881- (18821867) 1870) 1945) 1940) 1953) 1960) 1951) ?) 1967) 1932) = John Cromwell Blocker, Sr. (1864-1928) ___________________________|_______________________________ | | Nellie Marguerite John Cromwell Blocker Blocker, Jr. (1893-1985) (1896-1957)

126

Table D: The Family of Ruby Ford Harris Blocker *

? Harris (d.1911 or 1912)

=?

_________________________________________________|___________________________ | | | | Ruby Ford Harris Mary Byrd Ording Reva Blaydes [Others?] (1904– 1986) Harris Harris = (ii) John C. Blocker, Jr. = (i) Thelma Louise Tuttle (1896-1957) (c.1900- ? )

127

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