Cigar Factories: West Tampa's Giant Story Tellers (Continued from page 17) (between Tampa and' Ybor was nearly complete when extensively renovating the City) to a new, modern facility disaster struck: The building building. On the first and sec- at the corner of Howard Av- burned to the ground in May nd floor, Florida Umbrella enue and Nassau Street. The 1910 after a careless worker operates its outdoor furni- factory produced the popu- left a tinner's furnace burning ure- clihihn nnrd b -nhllP lI. 12rl PI Sideln nnd H4qrn.lftnr on thb b ildii cr'c xrndr\ l~ MOI R lure, cusJIVIonI, anIU ulI UreI lC business. Sewing and cut- ar mi zt~Jlci CUI o Ian arvesrLer brands. nll LInl UUll i VUngs wVUooU I en and wind nursed the flames. Samuel Davis Factory as it stands today ting takes place on the second floor, while employees mount the umbrella skins and com- plete the cushions on the first. Florida Umbrella has had con- tracts as far away as Bermuda and Germany but primarily, their business is focused in the U.S. Samuel I. Davis Company Samuel I. Davis was born in New York in 1862 and started his first company in 1886 when he was just 24. In September 1905, the Samuel I. Davis Company moved its cigar 'manufacturing center from the old Joyce Cigar Com- pany- building on Rock Road Within a year after the factory began to churn, the workers went on strike, seek- ing higher wages. It was not the last time they would strike. Around this time, Sam- uel Davis' brother, Fred Davis, became a partner in the firm and the brothers acquired the old Carlos Fernandez factory at Howard Avenue and Slate Street. The newly-christened Da- vis Brothers Cigar Company, now with two factories and over 600 workers, began con- struction on a new factory in December 1909. The new factory was to be on the cor- ner of Howard Avenue and Cypress Street. Construction Jose Arango Cigar Factory 413 Howard Avenue in West Tampa A Passion for West Tampa My Grandparents, Antonio and Celia Suarez, operated Wagon Wheel Grocery on N. Howard S60 years ago. Tampa City Councilman District 1 Citywide Page 18 Section B/LA GACETA/Friday, May 6, 2011 Nevertheless, the Davis Brothers Cigar Company per- severed. After Samuel Davis died in January 1916, Fred kept the company afloat un- til February 1919 when the factory workers again went on strike. The workers re- sented the newly installed tobacco stripping machines and called for their removal. A few months later, the Da- vis Brothers Cigar Company merged with the Consolidated Cigar Company. By the early 1990s, the old Davis Brothers cigar factory was being used by a high- end clothing company based in New York. In 1995, JMC Garcia y Vega now Oliva Cigar Company Property Investments, Inc. worldwide reputation for bought the building as an in- quality, offering a variety of vestment. At present, JMC is commercial brands such as in the process of renovating Austino, El Mas Noble, and La the building. While the build- Flor de Alvaro Garcia Longo. ing-three floors and 40,000 In 1921, Garcia Longo died square feet-lends itself to loft unexpectedly, leaving man- apartments, JMC is unsure of agement in the hands of his what shape the building will two sons and two nephews. take in the years to come. Currently, Oliva Cigar Company occupies the fac- Garcia Y Vega tory, having bought it from Cigar Factory General Cigar after they Currently located at 3104 bought the factory from Vil- N. Armenia Ave., the Garcia lazon. Oliva Cigar Cmpany is and Vega Company originally a tobacco company that used opened a branch factory in to be housed in a wooden fac- West Tampa in 1907. at cor- story in Ybor City off alm Av- ner of Armenia Avenue and enue. It has grown.tobacco in Central and South America Alvaro Street. It was founded Central and South America by Alvaro Garcia Longo. Born sne b1934u g ome offices mn in Asturias, Spain, in 1854, the building are used to man- Garcia Longo moved to Cuba age the international opera- tions and while some tobacco when he was 14 years old to is stored in the factory, such learn the craft of cigar mak- s stored the factory, such ing. He left Cuba after about usage has declined over the seven years for New York, years since most products where he learned English and go directly from Central and worked as a cigar maker. He South America to customers. later founded Garcia and Gon- Part of the factory is unused zalez Cigar Company in 1882, by Oliva, which leases it out to manufacturing top-grade Ha- a company that does apprais- vana claros. als for banks. In 1884, Jose Vega joined Additionally, there is also Garcia's firm, inciting the a Zumba dance fitness center name change to Garcia and on the back end of the factory. Vega. 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