In the early years of the 20th century, Clearwater established itself as a premier destination for fun in the sun.
In the 1920s, as word of the beauty of the area circulated far and wide, the city flourished.
And then came Black Friday.
The 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression descended like a dark cloud, ending the boom years.
The immediate effects in Clearwater were seen in slowed construction. Some laborers and craftsmen were forced to leave the area to look for work.