A mere century ago, streetcars shuffled travelers from place to place all over Tampa. T.E. Co.(now Teco Energy) owned the line and stored the trolleys in Tampa Heights at what was known as the trolly barn. At its peak, the company owned 53 miles of track, weaving its way from one corner of town to another. In this photo, two of the cars are labeled “Hyde Park” and “Port Tampa.”  While there is no date on the image, it does show an open bench-style car. This style was replaced around 1920 with safer, enclosed models, also shown. As the popularity of automobiles took over, ridership decreased; in 1946, the last streetcars were retired, and the rails were removed from city streets.

Tampa Armature Works, a phosphate machinery manufacturer, purchased the 70,000-square-foot building from TECO in 1956 and operated there until 2005. The structure then sat empty for years until investors bought the land with a plan to create a modern neighborhood hangout with restaurants, event spaces, and lots of room for entertainment and lounging. The Heights Market has since become the hub for mass growth in Tampa Heights neighborhoods, bringing the once blighted area back to life.

© Chip Weiner. All rights reserved