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Ybor City's Historic Clubs Are Treasures Worth Supporting

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

When the going got tough in turn-of-the-century Tampa, mutual-aid societies built by Latin immigrants served the role of safety net. Today, the grand relics of these social clubs need rescuing.

L'Unione Italiana, Circulo Cubano and Centro Asturiano have operated on shoe-string budgets for years, but now are losing state grants that helped pay for their upkeep.

With their period ballrooms, theaters and grand entryways, these glorious old buildings are among Tampa's few architectural treasures. They are too valuable to be allowed to decay.

That's why it's both reasonable and wise for the Hillsborough County Commission to devote a small portion of local bed-tax revenues to help the Ybor City clubs.
Club leaders plan to ask county commissioners to set aside $3 million to create endowments of $1 million each to support the upkeep and preservation of their classic buildings. Under the evolving proposal, the clubs also will ask for annual grants of $70,000 each until the endowments are fully-funded and will produce adequate interest income.

It's a modest proposal that serves the public good in preserving these buildings. All three are listed on the National Register of Historic Places Club leaders Patrick Manteiga and Robert Valdez of the Circulo Cubano, Sal Guagliardo of L'Union Italiana and Henry Echezabal Sr. of Centro Asturiano argue quite convincingly that the clubs are centerpieces of Ybor's historic district, the county's second largest tourist draw after Busch Gardens.

Proceeds from the tax on hotel rooms have funded such attractions as the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, the convention center and Raymond James Stadium. And while there are competing demands, compared to what is spent on other community centerpieces, the clubs' request is reasonable.

The clubs had relied on state grants awarded for the preservation of historic structures, but those were cut in the budget slashing. Dues and revenues from booked events only go so far, and the historic nature of the buildings limits the size of events the clubs can host.

Under the clubs' proposal, the buildings would remain open to the public for tours and audits would ensure the tax revenues were spent properly. The endowment's principal would remain under the county's control.

Most importantly, the money would ensure that history is kept alive.

The clubs reflect a romantic era in Tampa's history, a time when thriving immigrant communities banded together in mutual aid societies to socialize, protect and support one another. In their golden age, the clubs provided social events, cultural education, medical care, burial services and even survivor's benefits when a club member died.

Many a longtime Tampa family has a story of grandparents who met at one of the club's balls or Saturday matinees. It's heartening to know that generations later, these buildings still serve as gathering places for weddings, dances and cultural celebrations.

The clubs were there when Tampa needed them. It's time the community repaid the favor.

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