Two Homes: "Charter Oak" and "Mother's House

The Sanford's winter home, on Palmetto Road Belleair, FL from 1925-1944

When December's frosty weather blew in, the Sanfords were in agreement that they should drive south to Florida. They loaded up the car each winter, and Mr. Sanford himself drove the whole family to Clearwater, over about five days right around Christmas time. At first (in the early 1920's), they stayed at the elegant, Belleview Biltmore Hotel. (Florida's largest wood-frame building, constructed for Henry B. Plant, who developed the railway system on the west coast of Florida back in the 1890's.) Families like the Studebakers, the DuPonts, the Pew Family (of Sun Oil), and the Vanderbilts checked-in there. This picturesque Victorian was/is famous for it's world-class amenities. The Sanfords owned a houseboat named the "Dorothy", with a private captain. He lived on the boat, was docked at the Belleview Biltmore, and was ready at all times to take the family fishing or go anywhere they wanted. J.H. had an ambitious nature and craved adventure. After his family settled in for the winter, he usually took off to sunny Mexico, prospecting for potential oil fields or workable silver mines. Helen, wasn't interested in joining Jesse on his 'Mexican jaunts' and definitely disapproved of them for the children. Mrs. Sanford felt that if they were going to keep coming to Clearwater, they should own a house, besides, it was an investment. So, in 1925, they bought what the family referred to as "Mother's House," (overlooking the Belleair Country Club Golf Course), on Palmetto Road, in Belleair Estates (as Belleair was called then), West of Tampa, FL. This happened to be the peak year of the delirious Florida "Gold Coast" real-estate boom.

This was the winter home of the Sanfords until Jeanne started High School in 1933, in Mt. Lebanon, PA. At that time, they rented out the Belleair Estates home to the famous, blonde movie star, Constance Bennett, and she was married in that very house.