The Man Who Built Carrollwood
Matt Jetton (pronounced "jet-tawn") achieved local and national fame in the late 1950's as the developer of Original Carrollwood. His company, Sunstate Builders, purchased 325+ acres of citrus nursery land, just seven miles north of the City of Tampa with a vision of creating housing to relieve crowding in South Tampa. Residents of South Tampa did not care for the rural surroundings of Carrollwood ("the land of lovely water"); but it was discovered by the academia at the newly built University of South Florida located less than ten miles due east. Many prestigious professors and administrators moved to Carrollwood including John and Mary Allen, USF's first president.
By 1959, Carrollwood had become one of the foremost award-winning "subdivisions" in the area and boasted of amenities unheard of at the time, including air conditioned housing, a planned school, neighborhood parks, lake access for all residents and on-call handy man and repair services. The winding roads, many cul-de-sacs and lake views added even more charm to our young community.1960's pricing for homes ranged from $16K-$100K with lots from $2,750 to $16,000.
Developing suburban communities runs in the Jetton family, even though Matt Jetton has almost no memory of his grandfather, Matthew Jetton . Four decades earlier, Jetton's grandfather helped expand the Tampa metropolitan area as one of the developers of western Hyde Park, today known as Historic Hyde Park. One of that neighborhood's original streets is named for the Jetton family.
The senior Matthew Jetton came to Tampa from Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the 1880s. His middle name was Murfree, after his hometown, and he was often called "M.M.." He first settled in Tampa Heights and worked in the hardware and lumber businesses. Later he became a contractor and co-founded the Jetton-Hudnall Lumber Co. He also formed the Jetton-Dekle Lumber Co. with Lee Dekle, another Historic Hyde Park developer whose name appears on a local street.
Matthew Jetton had a lumber mill near Kennedy Boulevard and Rome Avenue, his grandson said. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and a founding member of the Tampa Board of Trade, the forerunner to the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Matthew Jetton died in 1931 at age 71.
Matt Jetton is now retired and resides in Carrollwood Village (developed by Jetton in the 1970's after Carrollwood was off and running) He was born and raised in Tampa, during the mid 1980's served on the Board of County Commissioners and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Florida Home Builders Association. Some of his family resides in Original Carrollwood including his namesake grandson Matt Jetton III .
Tornado!
As retold by Mrs. Lula Dovi
Editor's Note: Lula Dovi is a long time resident of Original Carrollwood. She still resides on Lacewood Road. Over the years she has been a writer, editor, correspondent, teacher, mother, tennis player and much more. Almost 40 years ago a huge twister cut a wide path through Original Carrollwood. Here's what The Caroler reported on that storm...
Low hung black clouds on the morning of April 4, 1966 foretold the destruction that would soon follow in the path of a tornado. The storm took a hit and miss track through Original Carrollwood and across Lake Carroll. A few houses were unroofed and severely damaged, some lawn furniture disappeared completely and residents who experienced the fury were in a state of shock. Luckily there were no fatalities in our neighborhood.
I was teaching at Hillsborough High School when a phone call came from my husband Steve. He was going to our home on Lacewood Road, where I still live, to check on things. One of his office workers was crying when she came into work because of a "terrible storm" she had driven through in Forest Hills. A neighbor and colleague of mine, Von Bottenfield, said he would also be going to his house on Picwood Drive to check out any possible damage.He had a fence knocked down, he later said.
When my husband arrived at the Carrollwood entrance, he had to produce identification showing he lived there. Deputies had sealed off all entrances to Carrollwood. Our neighbor at the time, Charles Wildy, who also lived on Lacewood Road, was deputized to help patrol the area for any possible vandalism. Fortunately our house was spared from any damage and our youngest daughter Lucretia and the housekeeper didn't even know there had been a storm.
At Chamberlain High School the students who lived in Carrollwood were released to go home to help with any problems. My children, Rick and Marguerite, left Chamberlain to help search for damage and people that might be injured.
On-the-spot observers that morning were Dr. Tony Zaitz of Carrollwood Drive and his wife Mary Ellen, a nurse. He happened to be home because of his USF class schedule. As the roar of the storm's intensity approached, they dropped to the floor. Their house escaped damage but across the street, Dr. Don Harkness' house suffered a punishing blow from the twister. Tony and his wife went into the street to see what havoc or injuries there might be. They saw that no one was at the Harkness house. Then they went from house to house to see if anyone had been hurt or needed help.
The Carrollwood Caroler of May 1966 stated that the storm took only five minutes, from 8:22am to 8:27am, to wreak its damage on Lake Carroll Way, Nokora Drive, Korina Lane, Carrollwood Drive and Samara Drive. As the article described it, "Men, women and...children came with buckets and shovels and brooms and mops - to dig out, sweep out, to uncover and save what could be saved. Some gathered up babies and toddlers and took them quickly to the quiet calm of their own homes, keeping them day and night so mothers and dads could work freely at the salvaging. Others took away...sodden clothing and linens to wash..." Emergency services from organizations were coordinated by the Carrollwood Civic Association.
Standing at the glass door to her patio, Charlotte Dunn was trying to decide whether to brave a trip to school to drop off her daughter Janice. What she thought at first was hail coming down in the driving rain turned out to be the tiles from her neighbor's house. She and Janice ran down the hall to take cover. Janice ran into the bathroom while Charlotte went to a corner of the living room.
Some bedroom windows blew in and shoved furniture into the hallway. Charlotte had to move furniture out of the way to free Janice. The carport roof disappeared as well as the roof over the kitchen and dining rooms. Dr. Sarett walked over from across the street and told them she had lost everything including clothes. Since she was still in her night clothes she asked for something to wear and Charlotte got something for her.
For the next four months Charlotte and Hampton Dunn and their family lived in their house on Half Moon Lake while the rebuilding took place. "It was remarkable to me that the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army were able to set up their mobile unit so fast out here," said Charlotte.
The timing of the storm was fortuitous in that most people were at work or school. However, at one house checked by Mary Ellen Zaitz, only the entrance hallway was left standing. And there in shock, was the owner, Dr. Alma Sarett of USF, who was trembling but at the same time grateful to see someone offering help. The storm's caprice caused the landing of an automobile on a house a block away. Again, fortunately there were no injuries.
Susan Zaitz Chandler recalled seeing lawn furniture twisted into the electric wires above the street and sparks flying out from some wires. At the corner of Carrollwood Drive and Orange Grove Drive she saw a car in the driveway with another car upside down on top of it.
Sunstate Builders, founded by Matt Jetton, rebuilt all the damaged homes, according to Margaret Baumgartner. Some residents such as her mother had to say in motels or elsewhere while reconstruction took place. Margaret's husband Charlie was in the sales department of Sunstate. (Margaret and Charlie still live in Original Carrollwood). According to a Tampa Tribune article, Matt Jetton said at least 75 to 100 homes were destroyed and more were damaged beyond repair. The article reported that three people were killed outside Carrollwood in the Tampa area and six others died elsewhere in the state. The same article said that three school buses, two of them with children, had overturned.
Slashing its way along, the storm ripped at Carrollwood from Dale Mabry Highway through Lake Magdalene, Forest Hills and then on the University of South Florida. Although the roof of a USF dormitory buckled, some 300 female students escaped.
Dr. Jean Battle was in his office at USF when his secretary Myrna Raney asked how he had gotten to work because Carrollwood had been hit by a tornado. Jean was quoted as saying "I thought something was wrong." His wife Lucy, a counselor at Plant High School, heard about the storm while at school. Their home on Carrollwood Drive escaped damage.
It was their daughter, Carol Battle Salmon, who encountered firsthand some of the shock in the aftermath. She was en route to Lutz Elementary School, where she taught, when she heard the roar and saw many downed trees everywhere. She encountered a man trying to warn people about the devastation ahead. At that time she was living at Habana Place Apartments. Carol said the National Guard was brought in to patrol and help enforce a curfew with their sound trucks. A corner meat market on Dale Mabry offered to store frozen food to prevent spoilage, she recalled. For years she said boaters could see debris such as a refrigerator door on the bottom of the lake.
Loss of a home or severe damage to it caused some people to leave the neighborhood. Dr. Walter Kruschwitz, retired from the USF physics department, came to Carrollwood in 1967 and bought a house on Korina Lane that had suffered a lot of damage and not been re-occupied by the owners immediately after restoration.
Cousins of mine on the east side of Lake Carroll had so much damage that it prompted them to sell the long-held family property and move south to Bull Frog Creek at Ruskin. Catherine and Harry Cunningham had so many trees downed on their property along the lake that they couldn't drive in or out for a few days. Her father, T. Van Rhyn Carty, escaped with a few broken ribs when his second story garage apartment blew over on its side. He walked out of the window with some help. At that time my Uncle Van was an elderly person. All of those relatives are now deceased.
When the storm smashed houses, trees and other property, the real spirit of Carrollwood rose up to face the community disaster. Neighbors offered help of all kinds by searching and patrolling and giving comfort. More than 130 residents offered to patrol and work with law officers to guard the area against possible looting. Many women furnished food for the emergency workers. The memory of the black clouds, rubble and destruction has stayed with all of us who lived through the tumultuous time. But a great cooperative spirit emerged from the disaster which also left its lasting imprint.
History of the Pirate Dance
1963... the first dance was held on Saturday night, February 16 at the Florida Confederate Hall on Waters Avenue (now gone). Invitations urged "pirate costume for the adventuresome" and "informal for sissies"! Tickets were sold at $1.50 each and entertainment included live music by Tommy Ferraro Band and complimentary beer. Table snacks and set-ups were BYOB. In March, the Caroler reported that "the place was decorated to its swashbuckling hilt with colored flags, a pink and gold pirate chest spilling out with historical loot and candles burning in old wine bottles. A colorful gangplank was the entrance route. Costumes and makeup were enough to scare the livin' daylights out of you!" An enormous and enthusiastic social committee included; Dotty & Dick Block, Abe & Anetta Rigau, Goeroge & Charmaine Kerr, Hector & Irma Carravacci, Jim & Burchard, Al & Lorraine Conolly, John & Jane Richmond, Lee & Meg Belanger, Bob & Dot Banker, Bud & Norma Felsenthal.
1964-1978... each year the dance continued to grow. Costumes became more "horrendous or dramatic or dear-darling". Refreshments were described as tempting and satisfying. Glamorous prizes were given for the best costumes. Later, the event was called the Gasparilla Dance and up to two hundred resident guests "merrily costumed swingingly enjoyed the festivities". Eventually Dukes and Duchess were elected to reign for the year and they were bethroned and becrowned in satin and ermine robes and crowned with jewels. The Caroler described the exciting festivities as "high-jinx"!
1995 - 1999... after nearly a 20 year hiatus the Pirate Dance resumed without missing a beat. Residents continued to crowd the party, unabashedly dressed in their finest pirate attire complete with make-up. The last Duke & Duchess of Original Carrollwood to be crowned were Bob & Katina Johnston in 1999, and as of this date, the festive tradition patiently waits to be resumed again...
2007……After a nine year hiatus, the anticipated return of the ‘’Pirates Dance” was filled with as much excitement as a band of buccaneers discovering a long lost treasure. Close to 200 Original Carrollwood residents donned their pirate attire and proceeded to transform the rec center into a swash buckling extravaganza!
Pirate flags, tikki torches, various parrot displays, treasure chests, and even a boat, were a part of the amazing decorations provided by Cindy Hanchett of Funmakers, Inc. The tables were elaborately designed with candle center pieces draped with a myriad of colorful beads provided by our own resident, Jennifer Gregory.
Dinner, provided by Sam DiFranco of Mama Leona’s was a feast fit for a king, let alone a bunch of pirates. Carrebbean pork, black beans and rice, an amazing pirates stew, and a beautiful fruit display with a chocolate fondue pot and pound cake was enjoyed by everyone.
After dinner, it was time for the main event. The crowning of the new duke and duchess of Original Carrollwood. To begin, our reigning Duke and Duchess, Bob and Katina Johnson, made their final procession and proceeded to crown this years winners, Duke Mark Snellgrove, and Duchess Nancy Otten. Duke Mark and Duchess Nancy kneeled before the crowd and pledged their devotion to the residents of Original Carrollwood by reciting an elaborate set of vows, and drinking from a chalisse filled with water from Lake Carroll. Afterwards, they were formally recognized by the crowd and joined by the 2008 court. First runners up, Rich Larcomb and Jeannine Parrish, and 2nd runners up, Jamie Sheer and Becky Hanley. Duke Mark’s first official act was presenting Ken Hagan, our county commissioner, with a commerative clock in appreciation of his support of Original Carrollwood.
The feast and festivities quickly turned into a non- stop fiesta as the FunkMonster Band(www.funkmonsterband.com <http://www.funkmonsterband.com/> ) started the night with a phenomenal Tina Turner show. Once Tina departed, the band played all your favorite funk and dance music that got everybody out onto the floor moving to the beat.
Those Were the Days...Fire Service...Just $5 a Year
In the earlier days of Northwest Hillsborough, (circa 1960's & 1970's) the closest fire service came from an independent company, sanctioned by the county and willing to cover "Carrollwood". Armsdale Fire Association was based in the area of Kirby Street and Himes Avenue (south of Waters Avenue). They boasted two 1000 gallon tankers, two 500 gallon tankers and one emergency car with thirty fire men "standing by to answer your call". They collected an annual fee of $5 per home or $2.50 per mobile home or $25 per large business or $10 per small business. Non-members would be protected; but where charged a $75 minimum plus time and materials. Eventually, Armsdale would be incorporated into Hillsborough County, renamed Armsdale Station #10 and moved to 8430 North Grady Avenue off Waters Avenue near North Dale Mabry. After all these years, that same station is scheduled for first time improvements in fiscal 2005 valued at $395,000 to the bunks, bath, office and housing unit.
Carrollwood is currently served by Fire Engine Company #19 located at 13201 North Dale Mabry Highway, just north of Fletcher Avenue. Now county tax assessments on your residence or business property covers fire service fees and much more.
The Peacock Story
Brilliant blue and green peacocks strut along our sidewalks and some lawns in the area. They have been a part of the lake area since before World War II when the Ingram Family bought 480 acres near the south shore of Lake Carroll to raise cattle and grow citrus. Thievery was a problem at the time, so Mr. Ingram was advised by agriculture people at the University of Florida to put peacocks and guinea hens on the land. When strangers approached the property, the birds would screech and rile up the even louder guinea hens thus alerting everyone to intruders. The flocks have since multiplied and the rest is ...history.
Legendary Luminaries
In the mid 1960's, the wife of the first president of the University of South Florida, Mrs. Grace Allen, an Original Carrollwood resident, had read about a southwestern tradition of lighting candles placed in sand-filled paper bags, luminarias , on Christmas Eve. She made a sample and proposed the thought to the Carrollwood Civic Association that all the homes in the Original Carrollwood subdivision light rows of candles in front of their property for a few hours on Christmas Eve. The idea was approved.
Around 7pm nearly every home in Original Carrollwood begins to glow as neighbors stroll along the sidewalk, share holiday cheer of all kinds and enjoy a relaxing evening. Amazingly, the tradition has continued since then! screech and rile up the even louder guinea hens thus alerting everyone to intruders. The flocks have since multiplied and the rest is ...history.
How Lake Carroll Got It’s Name
Did you know that Lake Carroll was not always called by that name? Mrs. Catherine Cunningham, who grew up on the east side of the lake, tells about some of the exchanges which occurred during and before her family's many years of residence on what was formerly Jackson family property. Her family was there before the 1920's.
Mrs. Cunningham tells us that Lake Carroll was named by a family that lived on the north end of the lake in the very early years. The family was friends of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. All the different names can be found on maps of Hillsborough County - Lake Carroll, Horse Pond, Horseshoe Lake, Sunset Lake and Lake Brorein.
"In the days when cattle and horse were allowed to roam at will, with no fence laws in effect, Lake Carroll was one of the few lakes that had plenty of water even in the dry years. So when the farmers found their animals near Lake Carroll, the name became Horse Pond," she says.
According to Mrs. Cunningham her family didn't like such a beautiful lake having a name such as that. Because they lived on the east side of the lake, they enjoyed beautiful sunsets and therefore gave the lake the name of Sunset Lake.
In later years, the Barclays opened a public swimming beach on the south end of the lake. For a while the lake took on the name of Horseshoe Lake because they called their place Horseshoe Beach. Later, the Boy Scouts opened a camp on the Lake. Because Carl Brorein was a big contributor to the Scouts, the lake was called by his name.
Finally, says Mrs. Cunningham, "After all the confusion in names we decided that Carroll was the early name and was the name of a very famous person. We started pulling for the name of Lake Carroll, and today that name has stood the test of time. It is registered in the books as Lake Carroll."
Who Was Charles Carroll of Carrollton?
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (his complete name) was born in 1737 into a wealthy Catholic family in Annapolis Maryland. He began his education at the age of eight when he was sent to France to study. He eventually completed his work and returned to the United States not until the age of twenty eight. At that time he took immediate interest in Maryland politics and the issue of succession from Great Britain circa 1755.
He visited the Continental Congress in 1776, and was enlisted in a diplomatic mission to Canada, along with Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Chase. Shortly after his return, the Maryland Convention decided to join in support for the Revolutionary War. Carroll was elected to represent Maryland on the 4th of July, and though he was too late to vote for the Declaration, he did sign it.
He served in the Continental Congress, on the Board of War, through much of the War of Independence, and simultaneously participated in the framing of a constitution for Maryland. In 1778 he returned to Maryland to participate in the formation of the state government. He was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1781, and to the first Federal Congress in 1788. He returned again to the State Senate in 1790 and served there for 10 years. He retired from that post in 1800.
Charles Carroll was the last surviving member of those who signed the Declaration. He died, the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration, in 1832 at the age of ninety six.
Carrollwood Celebrates 25th Anniversary in 1984
In November 1984 the community gathered to reminisce about the first twenty-five years of living the good life in Carrollwood. Raising children, building houses, surviving a tornado and proudly contributing to making northwest Hillsborough what it is today were just some of the conversations shared.Volunteers included Jim Weiss, Ed Cohen, Tony Zaitz, Karlene Rowe, Mary McCall, Jean Johnson, Dot Seitz, Philip Ciaravella, Jim LuAllen, Chuck McManus, Nilla Leto, Katy Schmidt, Lou Dovi, Randy & Danielle Middlebrooks, Pat Szasz and chairperson, Carol Salmon.
By then, all 900 plus homes had been built and our community was complete, but the surrounding area was still developing. North Dale Mabry Highway remained a two-lane road until the late 1980's and major shopping ended at the Bearss Avenue/ North Dale Mabry intersection.
Event organizers thought to assemble items for a time capsule which was buried somewhere near the Rec Center to be reopened in 2009 in anticipation of the 50 th anniversary of Original Carrollwood. A plaque mount at the Rec Center and donated by Mrs. Nilla Leto commemorates the project.
Carrollwood Celebrates 40th Anniversary in 1999
November 1999. Many residents and some who returned to town just for the celebration enjoyed a "Walk Down Memory Lane" during the fortieth anniversary celebration of Carrollwood. A collection of newspaper clippings, pictures, renderings and memorabilia were displayed for all to enjoy along with cake and punch at the Rec Center gathering. Developer Matt Jetton joined the festivities as well as Mrs. Scotty Cooper (widow of Scotty Cooper park namesake), Andy and Daisy Pandolfo and many residents new and "original". The event was hosted by Robert and Dot Seitz.
Carrollwood Anticipates 50th Anniversary in 2009
In the year 2009 our community will celebrate 50 years of great living and many fond memories.
During our 25 th anniversary in 1984 event organizers thought to assemble items for a time capsule. A plaque donated by Mrs. Nilla Leto was mounted on the Rec Center wall to commemorate the project. Contents of the time capsule remain a secret as does its exact location. But we do know the time capsule will reveal mementos of the past and most likely surprises for the future generations.
Many residents of our community moved here when Carrollwood was first developed in the late 1950's. One hundred and fifteen home sales were attributed to near proximity of the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters and the establishment of the University of South Florida both circumstances creating demand for homes in northwest Hillsborough.
Just a few years away, our 50 th anniversary should not be missed.