Jim Morrison lived with his grandparents in Clearwater, Florida for 6 years, three years as a baby from 1944-1947, and again as a teenager from 1961-1963.

The house his grandparents lived in on 314 Osceola Avenue was a beautiful house right on the water with a wonderful view. Jim’s grandparents, Paul and Caroline owned several laundry mats in the area.

Jim lived in the back room of the house with his own private entrance and he could come and go as he pleased. His friend, Phil Anderson, (shown in photo with door at left) would make sure to get him through the door and into bed okay if Jim had too much to drink.

Jim didn’t talk to his grandparents much and his room was filled with books from floor to ceiling. Jim’s brother, Andy, said that he counted Jim’s books before he left for Florida State University and he had a total of 1000 different titles that he had read.

While Jim was living in Florida with his grandparents, he attended St. Pete Junior College and spent a lot of time at the Library, Francis Wilson Playhouse, and the Beaux Arts Coffee House. Popular things to do with his friends included hanging out at Clearwater Beach, driving to the A & W on Gulf to Bay Blvd., and hanging out at the Fun and Sun Motel that was owned by Ruth Whitney Duncan’s parents. Ruth Whitney was the girlfriend of Tom Duncan who Jim hung out with. All of the big musical acts that came into town would stay at the Fun and Sun Motel.