Clearwater's Harbor Oaks

Book excerpt: As post-World War I Florida developed and prospered, it became known as a popular destination for seasonal residents of wealth. America's growing industrial complex and the subsequent increase in the number of moneyed individuals in a variety of business sectors led to an influx of people hoping to take advantage of their newfound awareness of the climactic, economic, and social benefits of Florida coastal living. On Florida's west coast, Clearwater's Harbor Oaks neighborhood became one the noted residential havens for several industrialists, celebrities, and professionals during the Florida land boom of the 1920s, as well as during the Great Depression and post-World War II eras. Images of America: Clearwater's Harbor Oaks profiles the community (listed in the National Register of Historic Places), its primary developer (Dean Alvord), noted architects/artisans, local and national history, and the homes of many of America's elite individuals of the day.