Originally published in the December 2021 issue of Safety Harbor Living

December 1919: A committee of ladies of the Methodist Church called for the names of every Safety Harbor child but asked for the community’s help to defray the costs of small gifts for local kids “during this difficult time.”

December 1924: final arrangements were being made for the completion of sidewalks on Main Street from the Springs to the Seaboard Depot (located near where the American Legion is now). Also, new telephone wires were installed between Clearwater and Safety Harbor.

December 1934: A representative from the U.S. Engineer’s Office in Tampa visited Safety Harbor to converse with some of the citizens who had sent in protests regarding construction plans for the Davis Causeway (now the Courtney Campbell Causeway).  

December 1942: Safety Harbor’s population totaled 685. Eighty of those residents were serving in WWII, making Safety Harbor “Florida’s #1 War Town.” The streets were empty of young athletes that season—the “boys” who prior to the war, were known to sit outside the corner drugstore talking about their “Crackerjack” softball teams.

December 1946: The announcement was made by County Commissioners that work could begin on the damming of Alligator Creek to create a freshwater lake—Alligator Lake—which was to be stocked with game fish.

December 1956: Christmas lights shined again in Safety Harbor for the first time in many years. Merchants donated money and the city donated another $50. The Christmas Lighting Committee purchased several strings of overhead lights and lights for a Christmas tree at the municipal dock.  

December 1963: A Christmas tree was placed at the corner of Main Street and First Ave. and in the same week, a eulogy was delivered for the recently-assassinated President John. F. Kennedy by Rabbi Albert Belton at the Safety Harbor Jr. High School auditorium.

December 1973: What would become a beloved annual tradition, the Safety Harbor Fire Department sent a fire truck to every neighborhood in the city with guest of honor, Santa Claus, to ring in the holiday season. (This year, the Fire Department will unveil a new app so residents can track Santa through the Harbor! Watch the City’s website and social media for details.)

December 1980: The second annual Christmas tree lighting event at John Wilson Park began with a yellow ribbon ceremony, tying a ribbon around a massive oak in honor of the American hostages in Iran. Residents and business owners were encouraged to pick up free ribbons at the Chamber of Commerce and place them on their doors.

December 1995: After Safety Harbor’s Chamber of Commerce asked the community for donations to help their neighbors in need, an anonymous donor sent 220 pairs of new shoes for men, women, children and babies, by UPS. No one knew who gave the shoes, but many residents walked in a little more comfort than usual that holiday season.

December, 2008: In her first year as Director of the Mattie Williams Family Center, Janet Hooper started the holiday gift-giving program to help local children receive a new toy and/or article of clothing.  The program has become a huge success since then and will continue helping local children this season. Call Yudy Barrios at 727-791-8255 for more details or to sponsor a child.

Safety Harbor’s residents are sure to make history this year, too, and the Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center hopes your holidays are magical.