On the seal of the city of Tampa, there is a steam ship. Underneath it, is the word “Mascotte”. I assume it is the name of that steam ship. The dictionary says a “mascotte” is witch or sorcerer or a person or thing that brings good luck. There is also another city in Florida named Mascotte. So there is some kind of Florida historic connection.
I can’t find anything today, but the closest I’ve found in the past is the Mascotte was involved in moving people between Cuba and Tampa. Anyone have any information on this steamer? Or a good reason the word Mascotte is on the Seal of the City of Tampa?
From here:
The visitors will see ample evidence of Tampa’s cigar heritage. Ybor City, which will be ground zero for convention socializing, was named for the area’s original cigarmaker, Vicente Martinez-Ybor. Two dozen former cigar factories, most the classic red-brick variety, still stand around the city, serving as everything from a brewery to offices to industrial sites. Tampa’s city seal depicts the steamer Mascotte, which, among other duties, ferried tobacco and cigar workers from Havana.
Awesome! I’m rather embarassed that you answered this question from all the way over there on “the other west coast”. Are you just better than me at googling, or what?
Actually, I cheated. I read a lot of Tim Dorsey novels, which are just packed with Florida history. The name rang a bell, so i knew where to search. Ybor City was the key.
Any clue what its “other duties” included? Or if it ever assisted the Rough Riders in any capacity?
It carried units of the 10th U.S. Colored Infantry to Cuba, I know. Haven’t been able to find any referents to the Rough Riders yet.