Historic Hotel Celebrates its Place in America's History

CLEARWATER: The Fort Harrison, a formerArmy Airborne Squadron and the local Military
luxury resort hotel, celebrates its 83 years inPolice.
operation with weekly open houses on Sundays 
from 11:30 – 2:30. The facility, now owned andClearwater's citizens took the new resident's in
operated as a religious retreat by the Church ofstride and seemed happy to have the opportunity
Scientology, has a long history of service to theto support the troops.
community. 
 The Clearwater Sun ran stories of dances being
Tours are being conducted of the building, withheld for soldiers, society matrons hosting officer's
historic highlights included to give visitors an ideawives for tea, cartoons urging people to buy war
of the history and heritage of Clearwater.bonds and reminders for people to send lots of
 letters to "the boys" in the service. Merchants
"Part of the Fort Harrison's history that I amstayed open late to accommodate the soldiers,
particularly proud of is the role that the Fortwho were on duty until 6pm.
Harrison played in World War II," said the Church's 
Community Affairs Director Lisa Mansell.Guest columnists from the 588th wrote for the
 Clearwater Sun, entertaining the general public
Even before America entered the war, the Fortwith the exploits of their fellows. One column
Harrison was a collection point for "Bundles forexplained the shock that a private - the
Britain" – a charity that collected food anddishwasher at the Fort Harrison - had when he fell
clothing for those ravaged by the Battle of Britain.asleep under the sink, only to awake and find that
The hotel later hosted fundraisers for thehe was trapped by piles and piles of dirty dishes
American Red Cross and held bandage makingand pans. Another column warned soldiers in the
parties.Squadron band not to be caught practicing on the
 roof of the hotel.
But in 1943, the War hit closer to home. As did all 
of the large hotels in Pinellas County, the FortThough the olive drab is long gone, visitors can
Harrison contracted with Uncle Sam to use itsget a glimpse of what the soldiers might have
hotel rooms as temporary barracks for soldiersencountered when they first walked through the
training for the war in the Pacific.doors to move into their new quarters.
  
Out went the luxurious bedding, delicate lamps and"What is also interesting," says Mansell, "is at the
artwork. In came hundreds of bunks in olive drab.same time this was happening here in Clearwater,
 L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was
Soldiers slept six to a room and though cramped,just accepting a commission as a US Naval
they wrote letters home bragging about howOfficer at Portland's Albina Shipyards. The Second
they had landed in the lap of luxury.World War touched everyone."
  
One World War II veteran, who later came backHubbard was put in command of a submarine
to see the Fort Harrison, described how onechaser, the USS PC 815. As a licensed Master
morning in a Army Camp in St. Petersburg, heMariner, his skills and experience were put to the
and his company were ordered to pack up theirtest over a 68-hour period in May of 1943, when
tents and load into the Army bus that was goingtwo Japanese submarines were discovered and
to take them to their new quarters.sunk.
  
Not knowing what to expect, they were pretty"It is connections like this that encouraged us to
shocked when the bus pulled up in front of theshow a short film that hits the highlights of the life
Fort Harrison.of Mr. Hubbard as a part of the weekly tours,"
 said Mansell. Guests are encouraged to explore
The Fort Harrison and the Grey Moss Inn (locatedthe hotel, learn its history, and ask questions.
directly across the street), housed the 588th