Browse Items (12 total)

The Samarkos Sponge Warehouse on Pinellas Avenue was owned and operated by the Samarkos family, many of whose members were active as captains, divers, and merchants in the sponge industry. Signs in this image from November 26, 1972 indicate that it…

From left: 1. Mike Amorginos (white shirt), 2. Cosmas Galliourakis (seated, suit), 3. Mike Lelekis (behind), 4. Nick Mack, 5. Jim Peterson, 8. Costa Arvanitais

In 1924 the Billiris family created one of the first sponge industry attractions. The St. Nicolas Boat Line Sponge Diving Exhibition employed divers during the winder tourist season and older divers during the summer.