Clearwater Bench Maker Keeps Local History Alive

This article was reported and written by Patch intern Ali Mudano.

The city of St. Petersburg was once known for its famous green benches that lined the sidewalks downtown and served as popular hangout spots for natives and tourists.

The first benches appeared as far back as 1908 but differed in style and color. In 1916, Mayor Al Lang held a town hall meeting to establish continuity. A dark, hunter green was the decided upon color and a curved contour shape for the style. 

More than 7,000 benches were born, and St. Pete became known as the “City of Green Benches.” For years to follow, the green benches became a symbol of the city’s hospitality.Old postcards show them lining the streets and packed with people.

By 1960, St. Pete was partially a tourist city with a growing influx of retirees. Wanting a more youthful image, the city decided to paint the green benches a "youthful" pastel color. 

Efforts to change the image failed, and the benches began to disappear beginning in 1967 following a city ordinance,according to the book "St. Petersburg, Florida: A Visual History." By 1969, they were all gone.

In the 1980s, local craftsman Flash Williamson began replicating the green benches after Golden Acres Mobile Home in Dunedin requested them. Thinking it was a one-time job, Williamson simply constructed the 6-foot benches and went back to his specialty, custom wood doors and workbenches.

When more requests for the replicas came filtering in, Williamson knew he was doing something special.

He now owns and operates GreenBenches & More, a custom wood shop in Clearwater.

“The bench itself is great and can be used for a lot of purposes. More than that they are extremely comfortable, and that’s because of the contour design," Williamson said.

Another bench feature is its durability. Williamson's benches can withstand wear and tear and adverse weather conditions for more than 30 years.

Though he raves about durability and quality, Williamson fears that the benches are mostly extinct.

“It’s hard to compete with a $100 bench from Home Depot, even though mine is an investment and higher in quality,” he said.

The bench replicas range in price from $875 to $1,150.

Williamson’s benches are located all over the Bay Area, including at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, the Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens and Tropicana Field.

Williamson is not optimistic the benches will ever return to St. Petersburg.

“It would be hard to keep people from sleeping on them at night. This is a bench that would be comfortable to sleep on” he said.

Williamson cited maintenance and cost as other potential reasons. 

“It’s sad that they’re gone because they were a part of a history,” he said.

Interested In Your Own Green Bench?

Contact Flash Williamson:

GreenBenches & More
528 S. Missouri Avenue
Clearwater, Fl 33756
727-442-5319