The recent demolition of Garden Cafeteria (232 2nd Street N) destroyed two beautiful George Snow Hill murals– a banyan tree and a jungle scene. Painted by the artist in the late 30s or early 40s, it’s speculated by historians that an apprentice painted in the small animals for the project. 

 

George Snow Hill is well-known in St. Pete for two City Hall paintings. One still hangs today while the other has been a source of controversy for half a century. Infamous for its "Sambo" depiction of black men playing music for white beach-goers, Joe Waller, also known as Omali Yeshitela and founder of the Uhuru movement, felt the image was offensive. After repeatedly asking City Council to remove the painting to no avail, Waller pulled it down himself in 1966 and served two and a half years in prison as a result.

 

City Council has pondered how to appropriately fill the space with recommending a plaque honoring Yeshitela for the act, others consider him too controversial. Another idea floated was to hang a picture of the painting with its history as a lesson in racism. For now, the space remains blank.

 

We dug up a little information on the recently uncovered "Ghost" murals next to the Central Coffee Shoppe, including this original advertisement in The Evening Independent.  

Ermatinger Hat Shop was one of two St. Pete Ermatinger stores. They sold the finest Ecuadorian and Panama hats. The family-run business started in 1842 in New York and moved to the ‘Burg in 1910. Their renovating department was one of the most modern in Florida. In fact, H.L. Ermatinger Sr. was awarded $500 for writing the best scientific article on hat renovating in the country! (That’s a huge prize if you considered it back then!)
 

Hayward’s Toy Shop opened on December 17th, 1921. They were known for carrying Mavis Candy and received new games every day. Locals frequented the shop for items such as noisemakers, party favors, Dennison Crepe paper costumes for New Year’s and Jack-o-Lanterns for Halloween.

 

Wisteria Confectionary stayed open from 7am ’til midnight. The store hosted receptions, tea and card parties, club meetings and even weddings. They served hot chocolate with whipped cream, coffee, mousse, fruit sherbets, hot tea and wafers, fresh orange juice and Better Ice Cream (sold exclusively here). Wisteria changed locations in 1922. Wonder where they moved? Right next door!

 

Thomas H. Street, known as Thom, was a St. Petersburg artist born and raised in Philadelphia. He came from a long line of professional artists including the early American portrait artist Robert Street whose works remain in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the White House collections. Street moved to St. Pete in the ’70s and worked alongside his father, Thomas A. Street, who earned an honorary doctorate degree in paint chemistry from Oxford University due to his extensive and world-renowned art restoration work. 

 

Thom was a long-time member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and equally known among the social elite as not just a talented artist and art restorer for hire but also as the resident “life of the party”–a person you must have on your invitation list. The bulk of his murals graced the interior walls of many exclusive homes in St. Pete.

 

Among his most popular commissioned work are the lobby in the Bayfront Tower on Beach Drive and another inside the St. Petersburg Pier, depicting various incarnations of the Pier throughout St. Pete’s history.