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Photos: On this quiet Tampa street, Jerry watched everything change

Take a trip down West Zelar Street and you’ll see a microcosm of what’s happening all around South Tampa and other neighborhoods in the city.
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Published Sep. 1, 2022
Corki the Corgi, 14, settles in the patchy grass and sand on the empty lot that used to be the home where she lived with her former owners, Jerry and Betty Ohmstede on West Zelar Street, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.
Corki the Corgi, 14, settles in the patchy grass and sand on the empty lot that used to be the home where she lived with her former owners, Jerry and Betty Ohmstede on West Zelar Street, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
An aerial image of South Tampa neighborhoods from 1938. Note that some of the streets had been created but the blocks of houses had yet to be built. Zelar Street would be developed in 1950.
An aerial image of South Tampa neighborhoods from 1938. Note that some of the streets had been created but the blocks of houses had yet to be built. Zelar Street would be developed in 1950.  Courtesy Tampa Bay History Center 
Jerry Ohmstede and Betty in Los Angeles in 1954 around the time they got married.
Jerry Ohmstede and Betty in Los Angeles in 1954 around the time they got married.  Courtesy of Greg Ohmstede 
Jerry and Betty Ohmstede were married in Los Angeles in 1954.
Jerry and Betty Ohmstede were married in Los Angeles in 1954.  Courtesy of Greg Ohmstede 
Mariane Ohmstede, 55, holds a family photo taken in front of the house where she grew up. She visited the site where the house once stood for the first time since it was was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa. Fourth and fifth from the left are Betty and Jerry Ohmstede, her parents.
Mariane Ohmstede, 55, holds a family photo taken in front of the house where she grew up. She visited the site where the house once stood for the first time since it was was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa. Fourth and fifth from the left are Betty and Jerry Ohmstede, her parents.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
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Jerry Ohmstede sits on a bench outside his house at 4313 W. Zelar Street in Tampa in 2016.
Jerry Ohmstede sits on a bench outside his house at 4313 W. Zelar Street in Tampa in 2016.  Courtesy of Greg Ohmstede 
A Google street view image of 4313 W. Zelar Street shows the towering oak tree in the front yard that Jerry Ohmstede planted as an acorn. The plastic chairs he kept in the yard are there. Jerry bought the home in 1957 for $7,750. It was demolished in July 2022.
A Google street view image of 4313 W. Zelar Street shows the towering oak tree in the front yard that Jerry Ohmstede planted as an acorn. The plastic chairs he kept in the yard are there. Jerry bought the home in 1957 for $7,750. It was demolished in July 2022.  Google 
One of the last remaining 1950 bungalows is sandwiched by newer homes on West Zelar Street, a family-friendly serene slice of South Tampa, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.
One of the last remaining 1950 bungalows is sandwiched by newer homes on West Zelar Street, a family-friendly serene slice of South Tampa, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
A home under construction at 4015 W. Zelar St. is pictured on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022 in Tampa.
A home under construction at 4015 W. Zelar St. is pictured on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022 in Tampa.  LUIS SANTANA | Times 
Workers plowed through the house of Jerry and Betty Ohmstede, where they lived since 1957, July 11, 2022 in Tampa.
Workers plowed through the house of Jerry and Betty Ohmstede, where they lived since 1957, July 11, 2022 in Tampa.  MARK KATCHES | Times 
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Heavy construction equipment plowed through Jerry and Betty Ohmstede's house, the day after the anniversary of her death. If you look closely you can see a white plastic chair in the upper left fringes of the rubble. It's upside down.
Heavy construction equipment plowed through Jerry and Betty Ohmstede's house, the day after the anniversary of her death. If you look closely you can see a white plastic chair in the upper left fringes of the rubble. It's upside down.  Mark Katches 
The demolition got underway at 4313 W. Zelar Street in July 2022.
The demolition got underway at 4313 W. Zelar Street in July 2022.  Mark Katches 
The demolition of 4313 W. Zelar St. came without warning. The lot was mostly cleared before workers put up orange mesh borders to protect the soaring oak tree that Jerry Ohmstede planted in his yard, July 28, 2022 in Tampa.
The demolition of 4313 W. Zelar St. came without warning. The lot was mostly cleared before workers put up orange mesh borders to protect the soaring oak tree that Jerry Ohmstede planted in his yard, July 28, 2022 in Tampa.  MARK KATCHES | Times 
The site of Jerry and Betty Ohmstede’s former home on West Zelar Street in South Tampa. The bungalow was one of the last few remaining original houses on the block as bigger homes started to replace them, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.
The site of Jerry and Betty Ohmstede’s former home on West Zelar Street in South Tampa. The bungalow was one of the last few remaining original houses on the block as bigger homes started to replace them, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
Mariane Ohmstede, 55, alongside her parents’ old Corgi, Corki, visits the site of her former home, for the first time since the home was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.
Mariane Ohmstede, 55, alongside her parents’ old Corgi, Corki, visits the site of her former home, for the first time since the home was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
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Mariane Ohmstede, 55, visits the site of her former home, for the first time since the home was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.
Mariane Ohmstede, 55, visits the site of her former home, for the first time since the home was demolished, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Tampa.  MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times 
Aerial photo of an empty lot on West Zelar street where Jerry and Betty Ohmstede's house once stood, Aug. 27, 2022 in Tampa.
Aerial photo of an empty lot on West Zelar street where Jerry and Betty Ohmstede's house once stood, Aug. 27, 2022 in Tampa.  LUIS SANTANA | Times 
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