Evelyn H. Saunders

Evelyn Saunders, matriarch of one of St. Petersburg's original pioneer and founding families, passed away on Monday, June 23. Born March 12, 1915, Evelyn was the granddaughter of W.C. Henry, who was hired by General John C. Williams for whom Williams Park is named, as general contractor for the building of the original Detroit Hotel, around 1896. Mr. Henry subsequently built the first school in St. Petersburg in 1901 for $10,200, and the first high school in 1909 for $32,000, and won the bid for the brick paving of three blocks of Central Avenue, from 2nd Street to 5th Street for $1.75 per sq. yard. The bricks remain to this day as does the Detroit which was converted to the condominiums by Jannus Landing. Mrs. Saunders was a member of Daughters of the Confederacy, First Presbyterian Church, and the St. Petersburg Junior Women's Club. She devoted many years of volunteer service to the League to Aid Retarded Children and utilized her extensive knowledge of antiques and jewelry for acquisitions and re-sales to benefit the Pinellas Association for Retarded Children PARC. Mrs. Saunders was a prominent member of the original Snell Isle community and was also known on St. Pete Beach for her association with the original Caldwell's Restaurant, owned by her brother, Walter Caldwell Henry. She leaves two sons, Richard Vail of Glendora, California, and Kenneth Vail of Washington, D.C., three grandchildren, Christopher Vail of St. Pete Beach, Kenneth Vail, Jr., and Katherine Wilson, of Virginia, and two great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to PARC, Attention: Development Department, 3190 Tyrone Blvd., N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710.