CLEARWATER, Fla. – Ninety-seven years ago, despite a freight embargo and a hurricane, construction was completed on what would become a Clearwater icon, the Fort Harrison in downtown Clearwater. Now owned by the Church of Scientology, the facility has been in continuous use for 97 years.

“The Fort Harrison has been – since the day it held its ‘soft opening’ for guests in December of 1926 – a place for the community to gather, meet and celebrate,” said Lisa Mansell, from the Church of Scientology’s Public Affairs Department. “The Church of Scientology has been the proud caretaker of the property since 1975. We strive to honor the heritage of this beautiful landmark.”

"Construction on the Fort Harrison started in June of 1925, with an expected completion date of January 1, 1926,” said Ms. Mansell. "Newspapers at the time remarked how quickly the building was being constructed.”

Disaster first struck when the effects of the 1925 Florida freight embargo were felt in Clearwater. Though perishable items and livestock could be exported from Florida, building materials were left un-transported in stockyards.

As reported in the Tampa Morning Tribune on December 11, 1925, the embargo delayed construction on the Fort Harrison and though “hundreds of telegrams asking for reservations of accommodations have been received,” no definite date could be set for the hotel’s opening.

Construction began again, however the second disaster struck in late September of 1926, when a hurricane hit Miami, causing widespread damage in Florida, including Clearwater. The roof of the Fort Harrison was blown away and windows were broken.

"Despite the challenges – which also included the Florida Land Boom going bust in 1926, the Fort Harrison opened and rapidly became the place to go in Clearwater,” said Ms. Mansell.

Visitors from along the Eastern seaboard and celebrities such as the Rolling Stones, then-Vice President Gerald Ford, and Helen Keller would utilize the Fort Harrison’s hospitality in the years to come. The Brooklyn Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies all stayed at the Fort Harrison during Spring Training.

The Fort Harrison underwent a complete restoration and renovation in 2009 – an 11 month, million-man-hour project. All 267,000 square feet of the facility were stripped down to bare beams and rebuilt from the inside out.

Utilizing the craftsmanship of more than 350 local tradespeople, the restoration included the Grand Lobby, from the original wrought-iron balustrades, the gold-leafing of the lobby's Corinthian columns and the reconstruction of the lobby's checkerboard floor.

For those curious to see how the Fort Harrison has withstood the test of time, a virtual tour is available online at www.scientology.org/churches. Additionally, community and charitable events are regularly held at the Fort Harrison. If you would like to be included on the invitation list for future events, please call 727-467-6860.

About the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization
The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations. Flag is a religious retreat located in Clearwater, Florida. It serves as the spiritual headquarters for Scientologists planetwide. Flag is the largest Church of Scientology in the world. Flag represents the hub of the greater Scientology worldwide community as a dynamic, multilingual organization. To learn more, visit www.scientology-fso.org.