Back in the 1960s urban renewal was in full force in Ybor City. The battle cry was “Burn Baby Burn!!!” The city & fire department burned 100’s of cigar factory homes and business. All to make way for urban renewal. To the out cry of the Historical Society they begged them to stop. In an effort to calm things down the Tampa Mayor gave the Historical Society the Ybor City Fire Hall. In an elaborate ceremony the Mayor & Tampa City Council gave the Historical Society the keys to the fire house in the Tampa City Council Chambers. Very excitedly the Historical Society went right back to Ybor City to the Fire Hall.  They arrived just in time to see the last bulldozer drive thru the fire station, knocking it all to the ground. The Mayor & City Council were so embarrassed  that they gave them the Ferlita Bakery across the street. That was still not enough to calm the Historical Society down. In an unbelievable break of good luck. The U.S. Congress had just passed a bill requiring Citys to maintain a stock pile of cast iron. During WWII Tampa had melted down all the street lamps to make a ship. This ship later was sunk.  There was one pole left. It was in the inside court yard at the Columbia Restaurant. The mayor bowered the street pole and had 500 replicas made of cast iron. Today there are replicas of the original street lamps across Ybor City and Tampa has an iron reserve.