Then and Now – 1937 & 2024 – 2661 4th Ave No.
From a 1928 Sales Ad: “An exceptionally well built and designed, furnished, five-room and bath bungalow, located three blocks from grade and high school; hardwood floors, one car garage; perfect lawn and shrubbery. This place was built before the boom for the home of a resident and has been kept in perfect condition. Owner is leaving city and can sell place for a reasonable sum on convenient terms.”
From a 1941 Times article by Lilliian Blackstone: “White frame with yellow colonial trim was selected by Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Allen for their new home. A composite picture of this home recalls many pleasant features of this three-gabled white colonial bungalow.”
“The cool breezes of the side porch, where one side is shaded by a trellis intertwined with alamander the same color as the yellow colonial trim of the house, are something you cannot forget. And you’ll always remember the vine-covered trellis just outside the side kitchen door, and the turquoise rug that continues from the living to the dining room and then into the hall. You’ll recall the cherry, bright colors in the bedrooms and the Masonite-cut-out on the screen – a silhouette of flamingo and palm.”
“Located on a northeast corner lot in grounds large enough to give full landscaping rein. Of interest along the curbway, are circular arrangements of palm, marigold, hibiscus and purple bougainvillea. These are colorful and the bright marigold are a continuation of the yellow color of the speared awnings over the doorways and wide open shutters. They are a pleasing contrast to the gray roof of the house.”
“One can use either the side entrance or front door to go into the front part of the house. The side entrance, leading through a sun porch separated from the living room by glass windows, is most popular. This outdoor room, screened, has a green floor covering woven with red and light yellow threads, and bright-colored gourds on the walls.”
“The living room, with floor lamps for illumination, follows a dusty rose, turquoise and cream color scheme. Windows in this as well as the other rooms are equipped with Venetian blinds. The fireplace has a cream colored mantel and is built of yellow tile and brick. At one side of the fireplace are the recessed shelves.”
“There are two bedrooms, one done in peach and aqua, white furniture and an easy chair upholstered in aqua. There are four large windows, and the large closet also has an outside window. The other bedroom is yellow and moss green. The bath is in cool green and yellow tile.”
The hallway has three closets- for the heating system, linens and storage space. The kitchen, with opening to the dining room as well as hall, is in ivory, green, yellow with generous cupboard space and all 1941 conveniences. A door leads to the rear grounds and in the back is the garage, of the same architecture as the house and is also white framed.”
This 1926 bungalow was owned in 1941 by Frank Nathan “Red” Allen and his new wife Gertrude.
Frank was born on April 8, 1907, in Athens Tennessee where he received his early education. After graduating High School, Frank entered Pittsburgh University, but didn’t graduate and later began selling insurance.
Frank, who went by “Red” due to his red hair, came to St. Pete in 1928, at age 21, and started in the insurance business here. In the late 1930’s Frank met Mrs. Gertrude Lockmiller, a divorcee from his hometown of Athens who had also moved to St. Pete. The couple hit it off and were married on December 21, 1940. By the time of his marriage Frank had taken a position with Hough Motor Co., the local Dodge/Plymouth dealer located on 9th St. North.
Frank and Gertrude went house hunting and found this featured home which they purchased in 1941. Frank began quickly rising through the ranks at Hough Motor Co. and would ultimately become the sales manager.
In 1943, Frank enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the Treasury Department in Washington DC. After the war he returned to St. Pete and took a job with Nichols Bros Motor Co. On January 29, 1953, Frank and Gertrude divorced. He remarried on March 30, 1955, to Mrs. Hicks Sumner Farnham, a St. Pete native and graduate of SPHS and Florida Southern College.
In 1968, Frank retired from Nichols Bros., he was 61. In 1991, Frank’s wife Hicks died, at the age of 81, they had been married 36 years. Frank’s first wife, Gertrude (who had lived with him in this featured house) died on Christmas day 1993 at the age of 86.
Frank lived to the ripe age of 96. He passed away at St. Anthony’s hospital after a short illness on December 23, 2003.
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