By 1937, the nation had finally begun to pull itself out of the Great Depression. Headlines in the Pensacola News Journal had proclaimed that the “good times” had become a fact for the great port city. Even though the people of Pensacola were certainly earning and spending more, the real recovery for the nation did not reflect genuine prosperity until 1939. One such reminder that things were getting better for the citizens of that period was the construction of the Federal Post Office building on Palafox Street between Chase and Wright Streets.
With its attractive Spanish décor, it became a daily reminder of the material achievements of Roosevelt’s New Deal and his work relief projects. Built at the cost of $450,000 it was dedicated by Postmaster General James A. Farley in January 1940. Another project sponsored by the federal government in the late 1930’s was the construction of two new housing projects known as Camelia and Azalea Courts. Not only did these projects provide needed housing for low income families but it also produced construction jobs for the multitudes of unemployed. The Camelia project alone employed a total of 340 construction workers and resulted in 120 housing units built on concrete slabs with a private bath per unit, and hot and cold running water.
The smallest units were two and a half rooms for $6.00 per month rent and went up to a larger five room apartment for $10.00 per month. They were designed for low income families but for their times they became a palace for the down trodden. Camelia Court was later renamed “Attucks Court” located on West Cervantes Street between “F” and “I” Streets and was opened to Negro families on July 2, 1940. Azalea Courts was renamed “Aragon Courts” and was located on 9th Avenue just south of the present day Civic Center. It was opened in the late 1930’s and was torn down in the early 1990’s to be replaced by a subdivision designed to resemble a turn of the century neighborhood.
Another indication of the changing prosperity for the port city was the number of automobiles that were being purchased and driven along the roads of Escambia County. The total number of auto tags sold in 1941 was double those sold in the late 1920’s. Over 20,000 cars were traveling through Pensacola on a regular basis, which were 7,000 more than in 1936. And 42% of the citizens of Pensacola filed income tax returns as compared to the national average of 38%. Of course, one of the collateral problems was that more cars on the road meant that young people were able to spend more time together out from under the chaperoning eye of their parents.
From the end of World War, I and into the 1940’s, dancing establishments in Pensacola began to really flourish and the popularity of such places as the San Carlos Hotel lounge, the Beach Casino, Scenic Terrace, Paradise Inn, and the Floridatown pavilion grew by leaps and bounds because of the advent of the automobile. Other popular spots were the Gulf Beach pavilion, the Barrancas Armory at Fort Barrancas, the Elks Club Hall at Baylen and Garden Street, the Progress Club at Chase and Baylen, and the Woodmen of the World Hall at Baylen and Romana Street. And those were not all, because there was also Saufley Beach on Santa Rosa Island, Tom’s Night Club on East Garden Street where the Florida First National Bank stands today, and the Bayview pavilion at Bayview Park. Another was the Piccadilly club at Old Corry Field Road and Barrancas Avenue, the “Barn” on West Jackson Street, and Sanders Beach, formerly called “Fisherville.” Most older Pensacolians today also remember the Venetian Ballroom on Palafox between Garden and Romana Street. The dances usually started at 9:00 PM and ended at midnight, but for those that wished to continue with their swinging frivolity they had only to drive over to Paradise Beach, which stayed open till much later. One of the most popular bands of the day for the younger generation to dance to was Frank Marchese and his rag time band.
But of the many choices available, most young couples preferred the “Scenic Terrace” to any other entertainment center in the area. It was considered not only the place to go but the only place to go. Although there was a mixture of ages that frequented the club many of them were high school kids just hanging around. It had a bar and the legal drinking age was rarely enforced by the local constabulary. Even though the police knew what was going on they pretty much kept their nose out of it and let the manager of the club keep control in his own way. It was a unique club, with its beautiful view of Escambia Bay from its Scenic Highway location, and on any given Friday or Saturday night it was “jumpin and jivin.” It was the center of the kid’s universe from 1938 until well into the 1940’s. They enjoyed the Green Spearman ten-cent beer and the music rocking from the nickelodeon as the couples swirled to the swinging music.
The Scenic Terrace was so much a part of the kids back then that the Pensacola High School class of 1940 staged their 25th Class Reunion on the site of the old club. They brought in the former owner, set up a jukebox, and rocked to the original 1940 records they use to swing to. And most boys back then knew that if they couldn’t get lucky at the “Terrace” they might have another chance at the beach. If the young man could convince his date to travel with him past the famous “Sugar Bowl” sand dune on Santa Rosa Island, then he probably was in for an adventure. But this type of activity occasionally had its unintended price. By happenstance, there was a corresponding increase in unwed mothers during that period with 196 in 1939 as compared to 63 in 1925 when automobiles were not so plentiful, especially for the young folk!

The old Spearman Brewing Company on Government and Barrancas Avenue

Old Spearman Advertisement 1945

Old Spearman Advertisement 1936

An ice cold can of Spearman Beer 1936