The West Tampa Station of the United States Post Office opened in 1958 at 1802 N Howard Ave. The corner long served as a filling station, starting with the Barron Service Station in the 1920s. In 1942, it was Mario’s Service. Owner Mario Garcia listed it for sale in 1947. West Tampa’s heyday was from the 1920s to the late 1930s when the cigar industry thrived. After that, cigar factories and other businesses began to dwindle. The station stayed on the market until 1952 when it opened as Roland’s and Frank’s service station.

In 1958, the West Tampa Post Office moved from its plant on the east side of Howard into this new location. Congressman William Cramer dedicated it on June 27, accompanied by Postmaster S.G. Harrison. According to Harrison, the original West Tampa branch was one of the first substations to be in service in the area in 1918.  This new station was estimated to handle 25,000 pieces of mail per day. It remains in operation today.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved