The Hotel Puritan sponsored an opening dinner on December 20, 1923, inviting the public to view the newly constructed building. Established away from the bustle of downtown, the boom-time hotel touted itself as a home-like place of quiet dignity. Owned by Tampa hotelier John Quincy Adams, it, along with two others of his hotels, went into foreclosure in 1950 when he defaulted on the mortgage. It continued operation through the late 1950s when it was purchased and converted into an 80-student men’s dormitory for the burgeoning University of Tampa named Lykes Hall. By 1970, it was vacant when a mysterious fire broke out, causing significant damage. The university sold it in 1972 for $65,000.  

The site was controversial in 1973 when a wrecking company continued demolishing the building after its permit expired, causing city officials to revoke the company’s license. By 2001, the 2-story, 14,000-square-foot 300 Platt Street building was constructed. Today, the primary tenant is the M.E. Wilson Company, an insurance, risk management, and employee benefits company.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved