Then and Now — 1937 & 2024 — 426 19th Ave NE 33704
From 1937: “This beautiful furnished spacious home invites your attention today! Entrance is made off a very attractive tile floored front porch into a most delightful living room. This huge living room with fireplace holds comfort and hospitality for your family and friends. The glassed and screened sunroom, with private entrance, provides that intimate spot for reading, tea, or chatting. Four sunny, breeze-washed bedrooms (1 down with private bath, 3 up with 1 bath) offer comfort and healthy slumber. The convenience of the kitchen arrangement, the pleasant atmosphere of the dining room and the livable space of the attractive front porch, will delight any woman’s heart. The servants and cars will be delighted with their quarters. Garden lovers will be attracted to the beautifully planted surroundings.”
This home, built in 1928, was purchased in 1946 by Hugh and Susie Futch, who lived there for 30 years.
Hugh Lancelot Futch was born on June 4, 1889, in La Crosse, Florida, to William and Annie Futch, the 3rd of 6 children. By 1900, his father, a dry goods merchant, had moved the family 13 miles away to High Springs where he set up a business.
After graduating High School, Hugh entered the University of Florida, where he graduated in 1909, and then entered Atlanta Dental College (which later became Emory University). In 1910, Hugh’s father and mother had moved to St. Pete, and Hugh would come visit them on holidays.
While attending college in Atlanta, Hugh met Ms. Susie Mims Dumas, a charming 18 year old from Talladega, Alabama. The couple fell in love and were married on November 28, 1913, in Fulton County, Georgia, just as soon as Hugh graduated from dental school. Hugh and Susie had three children, William (1917); Jackson (1922); Suzanne (1927).
Hugh and Susie moved to St. Pete in 1913, where he was the third dentist to set up a private practice. He chose his first office to be in the Home Security Building on the 3rd floor.
Their three children, being born in St. Pete, attended local schools and were graduates of St. Pete High.
The eldest, William (Bill) became a medical doctor after graduating from Tulane. He served in WWII in the medical Corp and landed at Normandy. Bill set up practice in St. Pete and passed away in 2015 at age 97.
Jackson also served in WWII as a radioman in the South Pacific with the AAF. Tragically, Jackson died in a car accident in 1947 near the Gandy Bridge. It was a rainy night and he and his date were returning home from Tampa. A greyhound bus had swerved to miss a bicyclist riding in the middle of the road and hit Jackson’s car head on killing Jackson immediately. The girl, Magdelene Harber, was in a coma at Mound Park for weeks. There was never any follow up in the paper as to her surviving the incident.
The youngest, Suzanne, graduated from University of Kentucky with a BS Degree in Home Economics. She married James Flately, a banker from Stockbridge, Wisconsin, she passed away in 2007.
Hugh and Susie watched as the city grew from a small town in 1913 to a large city. They were members of 1st Presbyterian Church and active in social events. They belonged to the St. Pete Yacht Club among many other groups and organizations. In 1935, Hugh was president of the State Savings & Loan, which would later become the St. Petersburg Savings and Loan. He was its Chairman from 1952 – 1966.
Hugh lost his wife Susie on January 24, 1964, she was 68. Susie is buried in Royal Palm Cemetery. Hugh remained in the house until he passed away on December 18, 1976, at age 87. He is buried next to Susie.
Hugh’s son William put the house up for sale in 1977 to settle his father’s estate. The house that the Futch’s lived in for 30 years was purchased by Susan and Harold Alderson Jr. for $45,000.
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