St Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. However, one aspect of the city that often goes unnoticed is its collection of mascots. These mascots, found throughout the city, play an important role in representing the unique character and spirit of St Petersburg. One of the most iconic mascots of St Petersburg is the Bronze Horseman, a statue of Peter the Great on horseback. This majestic monument stands proudly on Senate Square, overlooking the Neva River. It symbolizes the city's founders and serves as a reminder of Peter the Great's vision and leadership.
And although it's no longer advised, back then it was a popular pastime for visitors to stroll among the pelicans lining the wooden structure offering them handouts. Old postcards often featured the big brown birds as a symbol of the beach & tropical climate
Not just in Florida, but throughout all of North America from the late 1950 s until the early 1970 s the use of DDT and other pesticides nearly wiped out the Brown Pelican population completely. After nearly disappearing from North America in the 1960s and 1970s, brown pelicans made a full comeback thanks to conservationist who lobbied for the government to ban the use of DDT.
It symbolizes the city's founders and serves as a reminder of Peter the Great's vision and leadership. Another popular mascot is the lion, which can be found guarding various buildings and entrances in St Petersburg. These majestic creatures represent strength, power, and courage, and are a common sight in the city's architecture.
GREEN, DEVILISH AND DISINTEGRATING
On the second floor of St. Petersburg High School, students in skinny jeans and eyeliner and hoodies sail past the locked doors, past the dark space, past a subtle sign marked archive room.
What's inside goes largely unnoticed. The 1937 mud-speckled football jersey. The mascot's tuxedo with green lapels, glasses tucked in the pocket. The 1943 school spirit cross-stitch and the 1974 letter sweater. The dented green megaphone that belonged to someone named Becky.
They are the things that transform a school from somewhere you have to go, into somewhere you want to be.
But the framed drawing of the Green Devil is shattered. The foam hand lost its fingertip. The diplomas crumble to the touch.
History is breaking down.
St. Petersburg High has more heritage than many schools. It opened in 1898, and the first students graduated in 1901. In 1926, it moved into a towering new three-story specimen of Mediterranean architecture on Fifth Avenue N.
Thousands of students circulated through the school, donning green and white at games; forming fraternities, clubs and rituals; fostering school spirit. With tradition comes memorabilia.
In 1904, the boys baseball team had striped sweaters. In 1910, the girls basketball team had green bows and team pennants. In 1914, young women began presenting each other with flower baskets. In 1966, majorettes wore white skirts. In 1977, moms clipped articles about the homecoming victory against Northeast High.
The alumni band together into tight groups that have grand reunions, even 60 years after graduation. They still come to football games, and they view their time at St. Petersburg High like some people view their time at college.
They save their mementos forever. And when they die, families find green and white things in the attic. Guess where they go?
"We get stuff all the time," said principal Al Bennett.
Bennett graduated from the school in 1980 and was assistant principal for years before taking over the top post. When he goes upstairs to the archive room, he is drawn to the glass case with the mascot suit, a shrine to Bob Pfeiffer.
"His old outfit," he said. "That's where I always go in there."
Pfeiffer, a gregarious paper boy turned mail carrier, graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1933. In a way, he never left.
He played the school's mascot, Mr. Green Devil, for decades. He dyed his pointed beard green and donned the green tuxedo, dancing to fight song St. Pete Will Shine and bouncing a cardboard pitchfork to keep time. He had a personal collection of 63 class rings and five pins. When the collection was stolen, he started over, building it from scratch.
The treasures needed a proper home, he thought. In the 1990s, Pfeiffer established the archive room in the school's old library, about the size of three classrooms. He devoted countless hours and dollars to maintain, preserve and organize the archives.
"This is my hobby. This is my thing," Pfeiffer told a reporter in 1998. "I don't play golf. I don't own a yacht."
But when he died in 2000, the archives lost their keeper.
Amid the cheerleader dolls and the portraits of principals and the athletic hall of fame honors, a bronze military plaque sat alone on the floor.
1917-1918. In memoriam to the boys of this school who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War. Clyde Crenshaw Caswell, Edward Theodore Hall, James Abel Johnson . "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
Stephanie Everhart was shaken when she saw it.
"Those were boys that went to this school, and it's sitting on the floor in a corner with dust on it," Everhart said. "That's when it really hit home for me. This is history. It's not just St. Pete history. It's Americana."
This year, Bennett and International Baccalaureate director Susan Farias asked Everhart whether she could help them organize the room. She owns an interior design business, and her daughter Alexandra is a sophomore at the school. Most in her family are Green Devils.
Everhart took one look at the room and knew: It wasn't about decoration. It was about preservation.
"It was such a shame to me, because it was like I was walking around and watching history disintegrate," she said. "Really. Little by little, you see all the papers that are yellowing and fading. I felt like it's 100 years of history up there, and we need help."
They have more memorabilia than they can handle, some of it stowed away in closets. Now they need money to pay for proper preservation and display. They need builders to help make cases. The school's service clubs are involved, but they need volunteers to organize and clean the room regularly the way Pfeiffer did.
"We were talking about doing period tables. One big table that would be through the '20s, one for the '40s, the '60s, the '80s," Bennett said. "We're going to get it together."
With the new push, some students have gotten curious about the room. Like Alexandra Everhart. When her mom took on the project, the 15-year-old cheerleader went straight to a stack of yearbooks and started flipping through one marked 1953.
Stephanie Hayes can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 893-8857.
If you'd like to volunteer time, talent or money to the school's preservation project, call St. Petersburg High at (727) 893-1842. Make checks out to the school with "archive room" written in the designation area.
See more St. Petersburg High School memorabilia in the archive room at links.tampabay.com.
From the iconic lion statues at the State Hermitage Museum to the Lion Bridge over the Moika River, these mascots add a touch of grandeur to the cityscape. One of the more unusual mascots in St Petersburg is the Chizhik-Pyzhik, a tiny bronze bird statue located on the Fontanka River embankment. Legend has it that if you manage to throw a coin into the bird's beak from a nearby bridge, your wishes will come true. This bird has become a symbol of good luck and is often visited by tourists and locals alike. Lastly, the Matryoshka doll, a traditional Russian nesting doll, has also become a mascot for St Petersburg. These dolls, with their intricate designs and bright colors, represent the city's artistic and cultural heritage. They are often sold as souvenirs and are a cherished symbol of St Petersburg's charm and creativity. In conclusion, St Petersburg's mascots play an important role in representing the city's unique character and spirit. From the grand Bronze Horseman to the playful Chizhik-Pyzhik, these mascots add an extra layer of charm and symbolism to this magnificent city. Whether they symbolize strength, luck, or cultural heritage, the mascots of St Petersburg are a special part of its identity..
Reviews for "St Petersburg Mascots: An Expression of St Petersburg's Soul"
1. Emily - 1 star
I had pretty high expectations for "St Petersburg Mascots" as I love mascots and was excited to learn more about the history of St Petersburg. However, I was extremely disappointed with the show. The characters were uninteresting and the storyline felt disjointed. It was difficult to follow along and stay engaged. Additionally, the animation was poor quality and the voice acting was subpar. Overall, "St Petersburg Mascots" did not live up to its potential and I would not recommend it.
2. Michael - 2 stars
I understand that "St Petersburg Mascots" is meant to be a children's show, but even considering that, it was lacking in many aspects. The plot was predictable and cliché, and the characters were quite forgettable. The animation was average at best, and it felt like I was watching a cheap knock-off of other popular animated series. The humor also fell flat, and it seemed forced and unnatural. It's unfortunate because the concept of mascots in St Petersburg could have been really interesting, but the execution in this show was disappointing.
3. Sarah - 1.5 stars
"St Petersburg Mascots" was a letdown for me. The animation style was too simplistic and outdated, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The voice acting was also lackluster, with the characters lacking depth and emotion. Furthermore, the pacing was off, with some scenes dragging on for too long while others felt rushed and poorly developed. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the entire show and was left feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I would not recommend "St Petersburg Mascots" as there are far better animated shows out there.
4. John - 2 stars
While "St Petersburg Mascots" had potential, it ultimately fell short for me. The plot was underdeveloped and lacked depth, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters and their journey. The animation quality was average and didn't stand out in any way. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to fully invest in the story. Overall, I found "St Petersburg Mascots" to be a mediocre show that didn't leave a lasting impression. I would recommend exploring other animated shows instead.