mimosagroves/mimosagroveshistory4.html An exerpt from a short history of the hotel/residence In 1879, a wealthy Ohio man named William Hazen, came to Thonotosassa and bought 2,000 acres adjacent to the lake. He convinced Henry Plant to built a branch railroad line from Tampa to Thonotosassa which greatly benefited the citrus industry and tourism in the Thonotosassa area. In 1897, Hazen built a luxurious hotel known as Lakeview on the shores of Lake Thonotosassa. Many of the well-to-do citizens of Tampa would take trips on the Thonotosassa train to enjoy the countryside, ride horse drawn carriages around the lake, attend gala dances and parties at the hotel, and then return to Tampa in the morning. Hazen sold large tracts of uncleared land for the exorbitant price of $10 per acre, and is credited with being largely responsible for the development of the Thonotosassa area. The Lakeview hotel later became the Belvedere, a private residence of the Hazen family, but went into decline and burned down in 1969. That was the unfortunate fate of most of the old homes built in this area in the late 1800s. The early 1900s were good years for Thonotosassa. Many of the residents at that time wrote about the beauty of the area, the community spirit, and the good quality of life
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 07:24:57 +0000
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