Tucked into the heart of Ybor City, the Cuban Club, or El Circulo Cubano, stands as a monument to the dreams, resilience, and tragedies of Tampa’s Cuban immigrant community. Its Neoclassical facade may be elegant and stoic, but the stories that echo within its walls are anything but silent. The Cuban Club is where history and hauntings collide with culture, and tragedy. Its created a space where the past lingers in the present—sometimes in ways we can’t explain.
A Community United
In 1899, the Cuban Club was established as a mutual aid society, offering hope and resources to Cuban immigrants during challenging times. What began as a lifeline for a struggling community grew into a cultural beacon. By 1917, after fire claimed its original clubhouse the previous year, the Cuban Club rose again, this time as a stunning four-story Neoclassical masterpiece at 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba. Funded by member contributions and a donation from Cuban President Mario Menocal, the building housed a theater, ballroom, swimming pool, medical clinic, and more.
By the late 1920s, the Cuban Club’s membership exceeded 5,000, cementing its role as the heart of Ybor City. It was more than a building, it was a sanctuary where culture thrived, challenges were overcome, and the spirit of a community was kept alive.
Above images courtesy of Digital Commons USF
A Place for Mourning and Honor
In 1910, the Cuban Club became a place of deep reverence when it hosted the remains of General Francisco Vicente Aguilera, a hero of Cuba’s independence movement. Following his death in 1877, Aguilera’s body had been interred in New York City. After Cuba gained its independence, his dying wish to be returned to his homeland was fulfilled, with Tampa serving as a poignant waypoint.
Aguilera’s casket lay in state at the Cuban Club, adorned with flags and surrounded by candles, as the community paid their respects. The somber vigil culminated in a grand procession led by Masons, the Florida National Guard, and sailors from the Cuban gunboat Yara. This event underscored the Cuban Club’s central role as not just a cultural hub but also a unifying force in times of sorrow and pride.
A Lifeline During the Spanish Influenza Epidemic
The Cuban Club’s resilience was tested again in 1918, during the devastating Spanish Influenza epidemic. With 679 cases and 16 deaths in one day, Tampa faced a surge of new infections. The Cuban Club quickly transformed into an emergency hospital, accommodating up to 150 patients. Its rooms became wards, and the large kitchen provided meals for the sick. Guided by the superintendent of Gordon Keller Hospital, the club became a crucial lifeline for a hard-hit area.
Tragedy in the Spotlight
Not all of the Cuban Club’s stories are celebratory. On April 13th, 1934, a heated meeting about dismissing Dr. Guillermo Roig spiraled into chaos. Witnesses later testified that Belarmino ran to the stage, interrupting club president Edward Valdez. Shaking his finger in Valdez’s face, he shouted, “These are your trickeries here in the club!”
The two men grappled as chaos erupted and people rushed the stage. In the melee, Vallejo and Valdez ended up in a small room behind the stage. Amid flying fists and bottles, a gunshot rang out. Belarmino had been shot in the abdomen. As he lay dying in the hospital, he told four people that Alfredo Montoto and Ralph Rubio held him. He felt a gun pressed into his side before it fired. When his wife and friend asked who shot him, he told them both, “the presidente,” Edward Valdez.
During a coroner’s inquest Valdez, Montoto and Rubio were the first men called to testify. They all testified that they had no knowledge of the shooting. Despite interviewing over 20 witnesses and Vallejo’s alleged deathbed accusations, no one was ever held accountable for his murder. The incident left a permanent scar on the Cuban Club’s legacy.
Echoes of the Past: How History Shapes Hauntings
The Cuban Club isn’t just a repository of history; it’s a living, breathing chronicle of Ybor City’s triumphs and tragedies. Its walls have seen acts of courage, moments of celebration, and scenes of devastation. Perhaps these intense layers of joy and sorrow have fueled the paranormal activity frequently reported within its halls.
Ballroom dances and theatrical performances once brought unity, while a pandemic’s grief and a fire’s destruction left scars. The Cuban Club preserves these memories of human experiences. Many believe this lingering emotion manifests as ghostly echoes, disembodied whispers, shadowy figures, and unexplained sounds.
Residual hauntings may explain shadowy figures or faint piano music in the theater, replaying past events like an old film. Some believe spirits connected to intense emotions, triumph or tragedy, linger, creating vivid encounters with the living. The Cuban Club’s history, filled with triumph and heartbreak, leaves an energy that visitors can still feel.
Cuban Club Ghost Stories
The Cuban Club’s rich history has made it a hotspot for ghostly encounters. One of the most well-known spirits is The Woman in White. Visitors and staff have reported a ghostly figure in a white gown and red heels seen wandering the grand staircase. Legend says she was pushed from a balcony after refusing to dance with a man. Another spirit, The Drowned Boy, is said to haunt the basement pool area. Known as Jimmy or Jaime, his presence lingers despite no records confirming such a tragedy. In the theater, piano music and footsteps have been heard, linked to The Playwright’s Suicide. Stories claim a man took his own life there after forgetting his lines. The only documented death, however, is Vallejo’s Restless Spirit. His 1934 murder has fueled speculation that his ghost still roams the halls.
Visitors and investigators report chilling experiences, from disembodied whispers in Spanish to phantom touches and shadowy figures. The elevator moves floors on its own, and ghostly piano music echoes through empty rooms. The sounds of drums often drift through the halls with no clear source. In 2009, TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) investigated the Cuban Club, cementing its place among Florida’s most haunted locations. More recently, a construction worker, the last person in the building, heard a woman scream from the basement. Realizing he was completely alone, he abandoned his tools and left immediately.
History Never Dies
The Cuban Club isn’t just a building, it’s a story that keeps unfolding. For over a century, it has witnessed a community’s struggles and triumphs. Here, the past refuses to stay silent, lingering in both history and hauntings. Whether you’re drawn to its cultural legacy or paranormal lore, one thing is certain. The Cuban Club remains as vibrant and as mysterious as ever.
If you’re in the area check out The Official Ybor City Ghost Tour and experience the ghosts of the Cuban Club for yourself!
1 comment
[…] home, bound by secrecy and long training hours. The only entertainment options were the Service Club, occasional USO performances, and gambling across the Nevada border. But even these brief […]