Local author Bill DeYoung has released the fourth volume of his Vintage St. Pete and Vintage Pinellas series, which explores the history of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.
Preserving Local History
DeYoung, a veteran journalist and musician, started the series in 2019 to preserve local history. The new volume features 23 stories that were originally published in the St. Pete Catalyst, including pieces on the city’s first tourist attraction, the St. Petersburg Alligator Farm, and the Belleview Biltmore hotel.
DeYoung also discusses the impact of the St. Petersburg Science Center and its Walk of States public art piece, as well as the city’s music scene, including the former Bayfront Center Arena and the St. Petersburg Coliseum.
Local Landmarks and Figures
The book covers a range of topics, from the short-lived Suncoast Playboy Club to the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club renaissance. DeYoung also profiles local historical figures, including Captain Wilson Hubbard, the founder of Hubbard’s Marina, and Mary Reeser, whose death was once believed to be a case of spontaneous human combustion.
DeYoung’s goal is to preserve the real story of St. Petersburg’s history for anyone who wants to read it. The book is available through the St. Petersburg Press website, on Amazon, and at Tombolo Books.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
