“Where Roberts City once stood are Blake High School, Presbyterian Village, Tampa Preparatory School and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.”
University of South Florida, Tampa Library, Special Collections Dept.
Conte, Dario, Darrigo, Salinero, Cardosa, Papia, Flores, in Roberts City, what his parents did for a living or some Fonte, Castellano, Contreras, Cardinale, Espinola, story he remembered. George later told me there were Matassini, Sanchez, and Carbajal. I recognized many of two guys that didn’t make it back home–Nick Matassini the names of “the boys” he had introduced me to at El and Oscar Ramos. Gallo de Oro. George wrote about all the good memories Time passed quickly as George shared his stories with and the active community that had existed in Roberts me, but it was now time to head back to Tampa before City. His descriptions took me on a the traffic got bad. I thanked mental journey to this part of George for spending the afternoon Tampa that I knew so little about. with me and we agreed we would When I finished reading, stay in touch. Before I left, George George came back into the room handed me a copy of his writing and said, “Alright, so now you read and said he wanted me to keep it. what I had to say, and you know I knew I wasn’t the first person to about Roberts City”. He then receive a copy, and I surely would pulled out a sheet of paper on not be the last. George’s mission which he had drawn a makeshift has been and always will be to edumap. Lines intersected one another cate as many people as he can showing the names of streets: Short about his beloved Roberts City. Main, Main, Green, Laurel, On the drive home from LaSalle, Nassau, Arch, Grace, Seffner I decided to detour Cypress, Cass, and Garcia Avenue. through where the city once stood. A corresponding list of stores, cafés, I drove down North Boulevard service stations, barbershops, cigar and looked left and right trying to The only reminder of Roberts City, a fire hydrant. factories and other businesses were get a feel for what was once there. numbered, indicating their location I tried to remember how George on the map. George explained that the landscape is sig- had drawn the intersecting streets and I slowed down to nificantly different today with most of the streets still read the street signs, trying to imagine how they all ran there, but no longer running as far as they once did. together. I had driven down this street many times before Standing where Roberts City once stood are Blake but today sadness overcame me. I thought about one of High School, Presbyterian Village, Tampa Preparatory the last questions I asked George. I wanted to know if School and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. The Boys and there was anything left of Roberts City. He paused for a Girls Club was recently built on the corner of North minute, looked down and then back at me with a soft Boulevard and Arch Street. George told me that the city smile and said, “Only a fire hydrant.” is working on putting a plaque at this location to honor Special thanks to George Lopez and Gilbert Bernardo who Roberts City. George next pulled out an old picture album filled provided valuable information and photographs for this artiwith photographs of men in their World War II cle. I also want to thank all the“Roberts City Boys” for all the uniforms. He has collected a number of pictures of men mornings of café con leche at El Gallo de Oro Restaurant. from Roberts City who served their country bravely. As he turned each page, he would tell me a little bit of history about each serviceman–his name, where he lived MARCH – APRIL 2006
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