El Centro Espanol de Tampa
Encyclopedia
El Centro Español de Tampa is a historic building in the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa
, in the U.S. state of Florida. Built as an ethnic and cultural clubhouse in 1912, the red brick structure situated at 1526–1536 East 7th Avenue is today part of a shopping and entertainment complex. It remains one of the few surviving structures specific to Spanish immigration to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a legacy which garnered the Centro Español building recognition as a U.S. National Historic Landmark
(NHL) on June 3, 1988. El Centro Español de Tampa is one of two individual structures within Hillsborough County
to be so designated.
The historic and cultural significance of El Centro Español de Tampa was noted well before the announcement of its NHL status. As early as 1974, the building was included by the National Register of Historic Places
as one of the Contributing Properites
within the Ybor City Historic District
. The building remains an important component of the district
, which on December 4, 1990, gained more distinct recognition as a National Historic Landmark District
.
Immigrants
from Spain (including some by way of Cuba
) to the bustling factory town of Ybor City in 1891 established El Centro Español as the first of several ethnic social club and mutual aid society
organizations. El Centro Español served as the organizational model for its later counterparts such as El Centro Asturiano
, El Circulo Cubano
, L'Unione Italiana, and others. These clubs grew to play vital roles in Ybor City's development and were of particular importance in welcoming and orienting new arrivals to the immigrant community. In exchange for membership dues, they offered not only social, cultural, and recreational opportunities, but educational programs and health care. El Centro Español in 1904 went so far as to build their own hospital, the Sanatorio del Centro Español, which was in its day among the top medical facilities in Florida.
The organization's first clubhouse, an ornately constructed frame structure flanked by two towers, was built in 1892 on the site of the present Centro Español building, and featured a theater, dance hall, canteen, soda fountain, and classrooms, where English courses were offered. The club's membership expanded rapidly, surpassing 2,600 people by 1908, and soon after outgrew their facility. The club replaced their original clubhouse with the building today known as El Centro Español de Tampa in 1912. In the same year, the organization established a second clubhouse, El Centro Español de West Tampa
, to serve the Spanish population of West Tampa
.
After several decades of prosperity and growth, El Centro Español and the other area social clubs entered a period of decline. Factors such as Prohibition
, the Great Depression
, and restrictions in immigration curtailed the influx of potential new membership, and sent much of the area's existing population looking for work elsewhere. By World War II, much of the organization's roles in terms of health care and social welfare were absorbed by government and private interests. The membership base declined further as the now second and third generation Spanish-Americans more freely interacted with the rest of the population and more closely identified with American culture.
In 1983, the organization consolidated their remaining membership to the West Tampa clubhouse, and the Centro Español de Tampa building was sold. After sitting vacant for several years, it was restored in 2010 and now houses The Hillsborough Education Foundation and its Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools program.
structures now considered to be of historic importance, including Hillsborough High School, St. Andrews Episcopal Church
, and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel
. Kennard employed the French Renaissance Revival style in his design for the building, with heavy influence from Moorish Revival and Spanish Mediterranean Revival styles.
The structure features masonry
construction of red brick with white stone accents. The shape is a basic rectangle, exposed on all but the west side, consisting of a two and 1/2 story-tall main block, with an attached rear wing of three and 1/2 stories. The building's south facade along 7th Avenue features an arched main entrance in Moorish style with cast-iron trim. The long, east facade resembles a palazzo
, an effect commonly utilized in Renaissance Revival designs, and also incorporates the use of cast-iron balconies.
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, in the U.S. state of Florida. Built as an ethnic and cultural clubhouse in 1912, the red brick structure situated at 1526–1536 East 7th Avenue is today part of a shopping and entertainment complex. It remains one of the few surviving structures specific to Spanish immigration to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a legacy which garnered the Centro Español building recognition as a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
(NHL) on June 3, 1988. El Centro Español de Tampa is one of two individual structures within Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
to be so designated.
The historic and cultural significance of El Centro Español de Tampa was noted well before the announcement of its NHL status. As early as 1974, the building was included by the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as one of the Contributing Properites
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
within the Ybor City Historic District
Ybor City Historic District
The Ybor City Historic District pronounce] is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District located in Tampa, Florida...
. The building remains an important component of the district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
, which on December 4, 1990, gained more distinct recognition as a National Historic Landmark District
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
History
Immigrants
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
from Spain (including some by way of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) to the bustling factory town of Ybor City in 1891 established El Centro Español as the first of several ethnic social club and mutual aid society
Benefit society
A benefit society or mutual aid society is an organization or voluntary association formed to provide mutual aid, benefit or insurance for relief from sundry difficulties...
organizations. El Centro Español served as the organizational model for its later counterparts such as El Centro Asturiano
Centro Asturiano de Tampa
The Centro Asturiano is a historic site in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. It is located at 1913 Nebraska Avenue. On July 24, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Tampa architect M...
, El Circulo Cubano
Circulo Cubano de Tampa
El Circulo Cubano de Tampa is a historic site in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. It is located at Palm Avenue and 14th Street. On November 15, 1972, it was added to the U.S...
, L'Unione Italiana, and others. These clubs grew to play vital roles in Ybor City's development and were of particular importance in welcoming and orienting new arrivals to the immigrant community. In exchange for membership dues, they offered not only social, cultural, and recreational opportunities, but educational programs and health care. El Centro Español in 1904 went so far as to build their own hospital, the Sanatorio del Centro Español, which was in its day among the top medical facilities in Florida.
The organization's first clubhouse, an ornately constructed frame structure flanked by two towers, was built in 1892 on the site of the present Centro Español building, and featured a theater, dance hall, canteen, soda fountain, and classrooms, where English courses were offered. The club's membership expanded rapidly, surpassing 2,600 people by 1908, and soon after outgrew their facility. The club replaced their original clubhouse with the building today known as El Centro Español de Tampa in 1912. In the same year, the organization established a second clubhouse, El Centro Español de West Tampa
El Centro Espanol of West Tampa
The El Centro Español of West Tampa is a historic site in the West Tampa neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, United States. It is located at 2306 North Howard Avenue. On July 30, 1974, it was added to the U.S...
, to serve the Spanish population of West Tampa
West Tampa, Florida
West Tampa is one of the oldest districts within the city limits of Tampa, USA, and a former incorporated city located west of the Hillsborough River and downtown Tampa. As of the 2000 census, the district had a population of 22,008...
.
After several decades of prosperity and growth, El Centro Español and the other area social clubs entered a period of decline. Factors such as Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and restrictions in immigration curtailed the influx of potential new membership, and sent much of the area's existing population looking for work elsewhere. By World War II, much of the organization's roles in terms of health care and social welfare were absorbed by government and private interests. The membership base declined further as the now second and third generation Spanish-Americans more freely interacted with the rest of the population and more closely identified with American culture.
In 1983, the organization consolidated their remaining membership to the West Tampa clubhouse, and the Centro Español de Tampa building was sold. After sitting vacant for several years, it was restored in 2010 and now houses The Hillsborough Education Foundation and its Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools program.
Architecture
The Centro Español building was designed by Francis J. Kennard, a noted architect who was responsible, either solely or in part, for many Tampa Bay areaTampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
structures now considered to be of historic importance, including Hillsborough High School, St. Andrews Episcopal Church
St. Andrews Episcopal Church (Tampa, Florida)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is an active Episcopal parish and historic church building in Tampa, Florida, USA. The structure is located downtown at 505 North Marion Street , however, the parish offices are located at 509 East Twiggs Street. On April 15, 2009, the church building was added to...
, and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel
Belleview-Biltmore Hotel
The Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa is a currently closed historic resort hotel located at 25 Belleview Boulevard in the town of Belleair, Florida, USA. The hotel is situated along the eastern shores of Old Clearwater Bay, with views of the bay and the barrier islands which border the Gulf of...
. Kennard employed the French Renaissance Revival style in his design for the building, with heavy influence from Moorish Revival and Spanish Mediterranean Revival styles.
The structure features masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
construction of red brick with white stone accents. The shape is a basic rectangle, exposed on all but the west side, consisting of a two and 1/2 story-tall main block, with an attached rear wing of three and 1/2 stories. The building's south facade along 7th Avenue features an arched main entrance in Moorish style with cast-iron trim. The long, east facade resembles a palazzo
Palazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
, an effect commonly utilized in Renaissance Revival designs, and also incorporates the use of cast-iron balconies.
See also
- El Centro Español of West TampaEl Centro Espanol of West TampaThe El Centro Español of West Tampa is a historic site in the West Tampa neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, United States. It is located at 2306 North Howard Avenue. On July 30, 1974, it was added to the U.S...
- Centro Asturiano de TampaCentro Asturiano de TampaThe Centro Asturiano is a historic site in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. It is located at 1913 Nebraska Avenue. On July 24, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Tampa architect M...
- Circulo Cubano de TampaCirculo Cubano de TampaEl Circulo Cubano de Tampa is a historic site in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. It is located at Palm Avenue and 14th Street. On November 15, 1972, it was added to the U.S...
- The Mutual Aid Societies of Ybor City
- Ybor City Historic DistrictYbor City Historic DistrictThe Ybor City Historic District pronounce] is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District located in Tampa, Florida...