The plaque marks the general location of Fort Harrison, which is the first known documented activity in the area known as Harbor Oaks. Fort Harrison, named after General William Henry Harrison and the 9th U.S. President, was established April 7, 1841 and was the headquarters for the Sixth Infantry (300 men) during the Second Seminole War. Later that year, the fort was abandoned and the war came to an end the following year.
The first settler on the site was James Stevens who homesteaded the area known as Harbor Oaks in December of 1842. The homesteaded land went through several owners who raised cattle and hogs as well as grew vegetables on the land prior to and during the Civil War. Not surprisingly, the land transformed into an orange grove in the late 1800's during the time when the Orange Belt Railway was constructed.
The vision of Harbor Oaks was realized by a New York developer by the name of Dean Alvord in the early 1910's. Initially, Alvord wanted to winter in the Clearwater area and wanted to purchase a lot in the area which is Harbor Oaks. E.H. Coachman who was the owner of the Harbor Oaks land at the time sold all of the land to Alvord because he would not subdivide the land. Alvord decided to develop the remainder of the land into an exclusive neighborhood with modern amenities that would attract the wealthy to the area. Due to his New York connections he ended up enticing many wealthy New York natives and wealthy locals to the area. The first home that Alvord constructed was his own estate located at 802 Druid Road. Later purchased by Robert Brown who added two additional wings, created lush gardens and referred to it as Century Oaks. Dean Alvord constructed his next estate in Belleair at the corner of Rosery Road and Eagles Nest Drive and constructed lavish gardens referred to as the Eagles Nest Japanese Gardens. The home and gardens have since been demolished and the land was subdivided and newer homes exist at the location. His brother, Donald Alvord who promoted and sold homes in Harbor Oaks, constructed the estate at 208 Magnolia Drive. The grand estate at 205 Magnolia Drive is the Harrison/Plunkett House. The area has attracted many famous and wealthy people such as: 1) Donald Roebling, the great grandson of John Roebling (and grandson of Washington Roebling) who engineered the Brooklyn Bridge. Donald Roebling was the inventor of the Amphibian "Alligator". He constructed a tudor style estate adjacent to Century Oaks at 700 Orange Avenue in Spottis Woode. 2) James Studebaker III, automaker heir and banker. 3) Charles Ebbets, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 4) M.A. McMullen, attorney and son of one of the pioneering families. 5) Taver Bayly, local citrus businessman and banker. 6) Sewell Ford, writer.
There are many architectural styles in Harbor Oaks which include Italian, French and English style homes inspired from the Renaissance Classical period, Prairie and Craftsman from the Modern Period and Mission and Spanish Eclectic inspired homes.
References:
1) Harbor Oaks A Historic and Architectural Survey and Preservation Plan by Florida Preservation Services in coordination with local residents (namely Jan McNutt and Gyneth Stanley). Florida Preservation Services Report obtained from the private collection of Michael Sanders, Historian and Realtor.
2) Historical Tour of Downtown Clearwater Brochure, by the Clearwater Historical Society.
3) Yesterdays Clearwater by Hampton Dunn.
http://www.myclearwater.com/
http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon
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