By Peter Roos
The Gulf Beaches Historical Museum in Pass-a-Grille has not yet reopened since Helene’s flood of 2024. The museum artifacts are safely stored at the Heritage Village in Pinellas County. Originally an outstanding domestic beach resort and fishing destination, Pass-a-Grille has long been a sought-after home and vacation spot.
The dock and pier with the “bait shop” on the east side of Pass-a-Grille, a block east and south of the museum was known as Merry’s Pier for many years. Captain Kenneth Merrry ran the bait shop and general store and served as Pass-a-Grille’s first postmaster. It was where steamers landed on their way from Gulfport (then Disston City) to the Mississippi and elsewhere. It was also a popular fishing dock, and the place many fish catches were photographed. Wilson Hubbard was quite a successful fishing guide, who renamed Merry Pier after himself, before he decided Pass-a-Grille was too congested and he moved a few miles north and established John’s Pass. To connect with a pioneering family who are continuing the traditions of their ancestors, go fishing with Hubbard‘s Marina at John’s Pass, or take their ferry ride from the Fort Desoto Park boat ramp to Shell Key. They are also in the process of taking over management of the Cross Bay Ferry from St. Petersburg to Tampa.
The history of the museum is fascinating. Joan M. Haley, a “Washington Socialite,” wrote a social column for the Washington Star. A preservationist at heart, the widow had moved to the St. Petersburg Beach in 1952 and in 1957, bought the island’s first church (circa 1917), as her home, to save it from the wrecking ball. Haley wanted to leave nothing to chance when she died, so she left everything to Pinellas County, said Virginia Harris, her friend for a quarter-century. For two years before her death, Mrs. Haley worked with lawyers, historians and preservationists to ensure that her beloved home, the 75-year-old former Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church, be preserved as a historic landmark. Mrs. Haley had chosen to leave her home to the county, Harris said, because she became discouraged with St. Petersburg Beach city officials, over an unsuccessful fight to preserve Pass-a-Grille’s Sunshine School in the 1970s.
It took quite a while for the county to renovate the property originally and open it as a museum. Thirty years ago, the infamous July 4th weekend “Spin Doctors” concert was held on St. Pete Beach, across from the legendary Hurricane Seafood restaurant, raising $16,000 in four hours, to replace the church’s leaky roof. The Spin Doctors were a fairly unknown band until their first and biggest hit was released two weeks in advance of the concert. The traffic trying to get to the site was epic. Five thousand made it. Five thousand more trying to get there were stuck on I-275, the Bayway and St. Pete Beach’s streets.
Virtually everything at the Museum, from the collection to the displays and greeting visitors was and is still done by volunteers. Paradise News’ founder, Renee Roos, was responsible for most of the displays. Her experience publishing Office Guide magazine before computers took over prepared her well with the skills needed for museum layout and design. She had also been publishing Pass-a-Grille’s newsletter, Grille Bits, for the Pass-a-Grille Community Association. Sally Yoder, a lifelong St. Pete Beach resident who, at the time, produced the Vina Del Mar Community’s newsletter, became the museum’s archivist.
Sally and Renee met at the museum and lunched together many Fridays at the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant. They eventually decided all of St. Pete Beach needed a newsletter, and Paradise News was born.
Gerry Ingram was one of the most amazing volunteers in St. Pete Beach when we moved there. Gerry’s daughter, Sandie Lyman, was a board member of the Friends of the Museum and coordinator of docents when she and Renee first discussed the idea of hosting a “Chowder Challenge” as a fundraiser. Local restaurants and hotels competed for bragging rights and a huge, “golden ladle.” The first two annual events were held in Pass-a-Grille’s Hurley Park. Then it moved to Horan Park, which could accommodate a bigger crowd and offered plenty of parking. The funds raised by these events were used on museum displays, advertising and web development. The Museum’s excellent website, www.gulfbeachesmuseum.org can give you an amazing virtual tour that takes you inside the museum as it was before the flood.
The Friends of Gulf Beaches Historical Museum are actively fundraising to purchase display cases, office supplies, and computer equipment in preparation for the museum’s reopening. They invite you to become a member, follow their Facebook page for updates, and consider making a donation to support this effort.
Additionally, the Friends team is organizing monthly events to stay connected with our community. Stay tuned by following us on Facebook or becoming a member for the latest news. They look forward to welcoming you back soon. In addition, there is a “Pass-a-Grille History” Facebook group headed by Jon Charles Butler that regularly shares some great old images of the beach’s history. If you are a history buff,
join us.