The Gala Decade: Freedom Magazine Presents The History of Clearwater Florida Part V

The Gala Decade: 1921 Begins Clearwater’s Boom Period

Michael L. Sanders tells the story in his book, Clearwater: A Pictorial History.

“Before the hectic and dramatic boom of the 1920s Clearwater was to undergo, a dramatic episode of another sort came—the thundering ‘boom’ dealt by the hurricane of ’21. At the height of this storm, which originated in the western Caribbean, 100-mile-an-hour winds and 10-foot tides ripped Clearwater. ...”

Clearwater photographer J. Arlos Ogg remembers the storm:

“The hurricane of ’21 was not considered a major storm in Florida’s history, but with nine-foot seas up the side of the bluff and 100 to 110-mile-per-hour winds it did considerable damage to trees and citrus groves here.