M. Leo Elliott

M. Leo Elliott (April 4, 1886 – August 18, 1967) was an architect known for his work in Tampa, Temple Terrace and Sarasota, Florida. His designs include the public buildings and first eight houses in the City of Temple Terrace, Florida, Ybor City's Centro Asturiano de Tampa, Old Tampa City Hall, Osprey School, two buildings that were part of Florida College and the original Temple Terrace Estates, Masonic Temple No. 25 (1928), the original 1926 Sarasota High School (with T. A. Monk) and Historic Spanish Point. Several of the properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Elliott designed Grand Central Place, now home to Mise En Place. The Tampa Gas Co. (1931) building was also designed by Elliott, but was lost after a fight for preservation failed. He also designed the Leiman-Wilson house. Elliott is widely regarded as one of the finest architects in Tampa's history.

Elliott was born in New York's Catskill Mountains in 1886. He came to Tampa from Woodstock, New York. He married Beth Thompson, daughter of N.O. and Mary Coe Thompson. They had two children: Shelia and M. Leo Jr. On September 2, 1907, Elliott formed Bonfoey and Elliott with B. Clayton Bonfoey. The firm is credited with designing Tampa City Hall, Kenilworth Lodge, DeSoto County Courthouse and the Centro Asturiano (1914) at 1913 Nebraska Avenue. The partnership ended with the advent of World War I.

Elliott set up his own firm, M. Leo Elliott Inc, in 1920. Elliott wrote in his own obituary that he was born April 4, 1886, in the Catskill Mountains of Woodstock, New York, and moved to New York City when he was 15. In the city he worked as an office clerk for an architectural firm. He eventually moved to Norfolk, Virginia where he designed buildings for the Jamestown Exposition. After the expo he moved to Tampa. Elliott retired in 1954 and died in 1967. DeSoto County Courthouse (Florida) (Bonfoey & Elliott) Centro Asturiano de Tampa (1914) (Bonfoey & Elliot) L'Unione Italiana (Italian Club) (1917), Tampa (Bonfoey & Elliott) Sutton Hall (originally Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club) (1922)

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