History Of The Temple Crest Community

Florida was shown on the Cantino map of 1502, one of the earliest maps of the new world.  In 1513, Jaun Ponce de Leon (c.  1460‑1521) who had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage, obtained a grant to discover and settle "Bimini" a fabulous island believed to contain the fountain of youth.  Soon after the Christian Passover, he came in sight of the coast of Florida, probably near the mouth of the St.  Johns river.  From the name of the day in the calendar, "Pascua Florida" the peninsula was named Florida.  He returned to Spain in 1514 and obtained a grant to colonize the island of Florida.  He was appointed adelantado (civil and military governor).

In 1516, another Spaniard, Diego Miruelo arrived on the shores of Florida.  In 1528, he was followed by Panfilo de Narvarez, who arrived from Cuba with about 400 men.  It is thought that he landed near Egmont Key and explored the bay naming it Bay Santo Espirto (Bay of the Holy Spirit).  Many were savagely killed by Indians and some were taken captive.  Only four men, one being Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, succeeded in escaping.  After eight years of wandering through swamps, suffering exposure, hanger, and disease, they found their way to a Spanish settlement along the coast of Mexico.

Fernando de Soto arrived in Florida and made a partial exploration of the Bay anto Espirto, (Tampa Bay) around 1539‑1540.  In 1559 Tristan de Luna came to Florida and explored the west coast and part of Alabama.  His fellow explorers abandoned him and he ended his attempt at a permanent settlement in 1561.

During this time a number of Christian Missionaries came to Florida to convert the savages from idol worship and a host of other uncivilized practices.  In 1562, Jean Ribaut (circa 1520‑1565), with a band of French Lutherans landed near the St.  Johns river.  Another band of French Lutherans arrived in 1564 with Rene de Laudonniere (d.c.  1586) and established Fort Caroline at the mouth of the St. Johns river.  He was about to leave for home disappointed when Ribaut arrived afresh with about 300 more pioneers.  On the same day that Ribaut landed, a Spanish expedition arrived from Spain led by Pedro Menendez de Aviles.  A devout Catholic, he determined to hold his own inquisition and destroy the French Lutherans and their little city of Caroline.  This he did, killing almost everyone.  Ribaut and a few escaped, but were later captured and executed by Aviles.  Aviles then founded his own settlement and named it St.  Augustine after his patron saint.

In the Treaty of Paris in 1763, Florida was ceded to England in return for Havana, Cuba.  A number of British came to Florida bringing with them boat loads of pioneers from other European countries who were seeking a better life.  In 1783, Florida was given back to Spain with no religious freedoms promised.  Many of the Protestant pioneers fled out of Florida fearing persecution, and went into Georgia and other Eastern seaboard states to the north.

In 1803 the Louisiana purchase was made.  Many in Florida feared that Napoleon would seize the territory.  They convened a convention at BuhIer's Plains on July 17, 1810 and formulated the plans for a more effective government.  The Spanish governor did not accept these plans forcing the citizens to call another convention on September 26.  They declared west Florida to be an independent state and petitioned for admission to the union.  On October 27, President James Madison, believing that West Florida was ceded to France by Spain, and therefor included in the lands contained in the Louisiana purchase, declared West Florida to be under the jurisdiction of the United States government.

From 1814 to 1819, war between the British, the French, the Spanish, the Seminole Indians, and the Americans continued throughout Florida.  In 1819, Spain formally ceded all of Florida to the United States.  The treaty was ratified by Congress in 1821 and the United States took formal control in 1822.  Florida became a state in 1845.

The population of Florida in 1830 was 34,730; in 1870 it was 187,748; in 1910 it was 742,619.  These figures reveal a massive population migration into Florida that continues today at nearly one thousand per day.  Most of Florida was owned by the federal government.  Land grants were issued to many settlers, and homesteads of 160 acres or larger was common.  On May 9, 1885 the United States gave a patent to William Toland, containing the West half of the Southwest quarter and the Southwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of Township 28, Range 19E, Section 28 and other lands, containing 160 acres (GLO Vol.  14, P 24).  William Toland died intestate leaving his wife Judith and five children: Stephen P.  Toland, William J.  Toland, Frances M.  Toland, Timothy P.  Toland, and Valeriaus Toland.

The property came into the ownership of Frances Toland by a deed dated April 10, 1903, Deed Book 10, Page 165 of Hillsborough County.  On October 13, 1914 Frances Toland sold part of the property to Austin J. Conley, Edward E. Fish, and William Klay (Deed Book 217, Page 12).  These investors planned to develop DREAM LAND PARK, later to become Temple Crest, into a modern housing subdivision.  The subject property was platted and lots were sold.  Those who purchased the lots and paid for them in full received warranty deeds on property against which there remained an outstanding mortgage still encumbering their property.  Swindlers such as this hurt a lot of early settlers, mandating title searches to be done before a purchase was closed.  The investors defaulted on the mortgage and note, and all the purchasers lost their property back to Frances Toland who had also been swindled out of a large sum of money.  She foreclosed taking all the property back on May 3, 1920 through her representative S.S.  Sanford (Deed Book 295 Page 195).

Florida land purchases by those up north wanting a piece of paradise, sky- rocketed.  Poor mailing methods, coupled with out‑of‑state ownership, resulted in taxes going unpaid on many lots in the Temple Crest Community.  Tax certificates went unredeemed being worthless.  The State of Florida passed in legislature the Murphy Act, to purchase these certificates and sell the properties at auction to the highest bidder.  Money was raised and Counties were able to thus fund their governments and services. 

On September 12, 1924, Frances Toland sold part of her property again to Florida Realty and Mortgage Company for the sum of $14,000.00.  The mortgage she held on this transaction was paid in full on July 8, 1925.

Florida Realty and Mortgage Company re‑named the subdivision Temple Crest.  The owners of Florida Realty were W.F. Miller, President, for whom Miller Avenue was named; J.B. Hamner, Vice President, for whom the street from Busch to Jackson Place was named (now called 40th); and J.R. Regnas, Secretary, for whom Regnas street was named.

When Dream Land was purchased and changed into Temple Crest, Florida Realty retained the ownership of all streets and alleys.  Each lot owner paid $2.50 each year for the maintenance of the hard surfaced roads.  This assessment was to last until Temple Crest became a part of a municipality or 1942 which ever came first.  The streets and alleys adjoining the lots in Temple Crest were deeded back to the owners of the lots by the last members of the Board  of Florida Realty and Mortgage Company, and the last owner of record.  On September 26, 1956 (Deed Book 2003 Pages 159‑ 160) the streets and alleys were deeded to J.B. Hamner, as the last trustee for the dissolved Florida Realty and Mortgage Company.  On December 19, 1956, J.  B.  Hamner, (Deed Book 2005, Page 86) deeded the streets and alleys of the Temple Crest subdivision to the current owners of adjacent lot owners and their heirs and assigns forever.  The Temple Crest Community was annexed into the City of Tampa in 1961.

Unofficial Thumb‑Nail History

Of Early Temple Crest

And The Temple Crest Civic Club, Inc.

by J C.  Rente

In the Florida boom days of the 1920's this section was visioned as an area for better class homes of the time.  The streets were laid out with curves and angles to suit coach‑and‑four transportation supposedly as the ultimate in social travel.  Bonds were issued to finance certain improvements and street paving.  Then came the "Burst of the Bubble".  Payments on bonds were defaulted and taxes went unpaid.  Only a few who were financially able to keep up their individual payments were permitted to retain their properties and homes.

Those which were built conformed to the semi‑Spanish style of the time, being mostly stucco covered frame buildings and in their background, setting of trees covered with moss presented a beautiful scene to behold.  The assessed taxes and payments on outstanding bonds began to pile up and eventually were in greater amounts than the properties were worth.  Then began the stagnation which saw the area deteriorate until there seemed to be no future for this area.  Somewhere pressures were brought to bear on the legislature in Tallahassee and what is known as the Murphy Act was passed assuring the bond holders some payment of outstanding paper.  Taxes were assumed by the State and a title under the Murphy Act could be had on the real properties.

When the public realized what had happened, interest in this area began to rise.  This was slow to make any progress in improvements of permanent buildings for the majority who settled here were of very limited finances.  Up to the late forties, when everyone came out here, the few living in the area placed them in one of three categories:

1.)        Either they were hunting, as this section abounded in various animals from wild panther to the lowly "gopher", or;

2.)        They were lost, or;

3.)        They were coming to see you.

Improvements made in the early post War II period were made of whatever materials were available and certain rationing made this very limited.  There was no zoning restrictions so no precautions as to fire‑proofing were followed.  The birth of the TEMPLE CREST CIVIC , INC., came out of a fire destroying one of these poorly constructed buildings near the corner of Yukon and 37th Street.  Here the family suffered total loss of their material possessions.

There was a great spirit of helpfulness as is generally found in any pioneer section and soon by individual giving, this family was partially restored to their former status.  From this disaster two ladies, Mrs. Mary Jo Martin and Mrs. W.0. Barnett, had a vision and began to work for a volunteer fire department for this area.  First, they started by taking donations and pledges to that end and were getting along nicely when someone came up with the bright idea they were violating the law by asking for financial donations without a legal organization to back them up.  This fired up the neighborhood which by this time was rapidly growing in numbers even though limited in capital.  Legal aid was solicited and a charter was drawn up with the required number of charter members and sent to Tallahassee and in 1948 the charter was granted to the TEMPLE CREST CIVIC , Inc.  Its main purpose was to sponsor a Volunteer Fire Department along with other activities to promote the good and welfare of the area.

Efforts along this line were very successful and a fire truck with water tank and pump equipment were purchased.  The young volunteers took training two or three times weekly mostly with the Sulphur Springs Fire Department under Chef Pitts.  The volunteers were instructed to be ready for duty call at all hours and many times when they were going to bed laid out their fire clothes and boots beside their bed.  Many calls were made as far away as ten miles and at no time did they ever fail to save the lot.  Up to this time the only law enforcement, of which minimum was needed, was by the County Sheriffs Department.  Sometimes it seemed the County Officials forgot there was an inhabited area out here except when they were candidates and looking for votes.  The Civic  had the interest and welfare for all living here.  It had no taxing or regulatory powers so when an appeal to the Public Officials for what was needed, it was necessary to show the  and its members were back of the idea.  These appeals were generally well received and we received and enjoyed much assistance.

By the early fifty's the City of Tampa was straining for more territory by annexation even though they couldn't take care of the territory then inside the City limits.  They soon found out annexation could not be accomplished by votes so they went to Tallahassee and one morning we woke up ANNEXED.  By this action, our volunteer Fire Department was killed and some of our co‑operative spirit was dampened, but the  has survived, and at the present time they have a very nice  House at 4222 Miller Avenue which is the voting headquarters of the Precinct.

The Northeast section of Tampa now offers the Industrial Park, the University outh Florida, Busch Gardens, a Veterans Hospital, a medical center, and numerous other business.  Thousands of homes are now within the area of the Temple Crest Civic  Neighborhood Association.  The Temple Crest Community is surely one of the most beautiful sections of Tampa and Hillsborough County.

Sincerely,

J.C. Renie