Then and Now – 1931 & 2025 – 7003 Park St. So. 33707
From 1931: “Beautiful Spanish home of four bedrooms and three tile baths; hot water heated by oil burner; electric refrigeration; tiled kitchen; tiled porches; Furnished; 85 X147 lot; 2-car garage. $21,000.”
This Pasadena Estates Home was purchased in 1931 by Jonathan and Vivian Coxon.
Jonathan Frederick Coxon was born on June 28, 1879, in Trenton, NJ. To Jonathan and Hannah Coxon. His father, an English immigrant, was in the pottery business and was superintendent for the Ott & Brewer, Foreman at International Pottery, a superintendent for Anchor Pottery, a senior modeler at Mercer Pottery Co., and started the Ceramic Art Co with Walter Lenox. Unfortunately for Coxon Sr., he sold out his shares to Walter Lenox in 1896 – some 20 years before it was renamed to Lenox China Co.
Jonathan Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps and studied the art of pottery making. By age 18 he was making pottery molds at his father’s factory, while learning all aspects of the business.
By age 25 Jonathan had relocated to Tiffin Ohio, where he was superintendent at a pottery factory in that city. While in Tiffin, Jonathan met the young Ms. Vivian Emery Kenyon, two years his junior. Vivian, a soprano, studied opera at Chicago Music College and was working as a music teacher and operatic performer. The couple fell in love and were soon married. The ceremony was held at her parent’s house in Quincy, Michigan.
Jonathan and Vivian moved back to Tiffin and set up housekeeping. They had three children, Lygustia, named for her mother, but went by Gussie (1911); Vivian (1919) who died in infancy; and Frederick (1923).
Jonathan kept expanding his business interests and opened the Wooster Pottery Company in Wooster Ohio, and the Coxon Beleek China Co. Jonathan and Vivian did very well financially and by the early 1930’s had decided to winter in the sunny south.
The Sunshine City was chosen as their winter playground which would have plenty of activities for them and their 20 year old daughter and 8 year old son.
Jonathan died on September 28, 1951, while summering in Michigan and is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Quincy, Michigan, he was 72. Vivian lived another 11 years and passed away in St. Pete on July 19, 1962, at age 81. She is buried beside Jonathan.
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