The Crossroads in Palm Harbor

Most people don’t give a second thought to why the word Crossroads is pretty popular in Palm Harbor.  We see it posted on streets and we just accept the term as part of our community. 

There is a Crossroads Baptist Church located on Curlew Road, one block west of US Highway 19.  Crossroads Farmers Market is located every Sunday at 2043 Curlew Road, on the North Pinellas Historical Museum grounds.  A summer camp run out of the Palm Harbor United Methodist Church at 1551 Belcher Road is called Camp Crossroads.  Crossroads Chapel located at 1040 Tampa Road also uses the name. And the list goes on.

Whether the usage of the name Crossroads was intentionally rooted in history or not, there is a story behind the term that originates with the people who lived here long ago. 

J.C. Craver was a popular gentleman who has his own place in Palm Harbor history.  J.C. Craver owned the general store and post office which later became known as the Craver Complex after he passed on in 1920.  The Craver Complex location was at the intersection of County Road 1 and Tampa Roads.  According to historical accounts, the complex was located on the southeast corner at that intersection. 

Back in the day, the complex that was built in the late 1880’s, was considered a hub where people met with each other at the post office, socialized at Craver’s general store and stopped off there on their way to Tampa.  It was an informal town meeting place where people could exchange gossip, update themselves on what was going on in the world, complain about the Florida heat and get the latest local news.  It was a time when everyone knew their neighbors.  Who knows, maybe a romance or two started up at the Craver Complex.  It’s exciting to imagine that so much went on at that corner where J.C. Craver operated his business. 

This unpaved intersection was known during Craver’s time as The Crossroads.   

Craver’s Complex is no more, torn down to make way for development.  For those who live here, Sweetbay and surrounding businesses such as Westshore Pizza and The Frozen Yogurt Factory are located there now.  What is quaintly odd is that the same corner formerly known as The Crossroads is now a mini-mall where people still gather at the market to purchase their groceries! 

At the modern day Crossroads, people can sit outside and enjoy ice cream and or go to the to enjoy a meal.  If not in the mood for Italian food, there’s a restaurant.  Need a or manicure?  Or how about a membership?  Need a fixed or do a little ?    These services and more are all available there.  The old Crossroads has certainly evolved but as much as things change, they still remain the same.