"By 1936 Tarpon Springs was recognized as the largest sponge center in the world. More than 2,000 Greeks had relocated to Tarpon Springs from the Dodecanese Islands of Kalymnos, Halki, Sumi, Hydra, Spetse, Aegena. In the 1940's a marine bacteria destroyed most of the sponge beds, but today the sponge docks are alive once again and sponge boats operate from its scenic docks. Charismatic George Billiris, once a diver himself, is the elder statesman of the Tarpon sponge industry. He still occupies a vintage 1920's warehouse that is on the Register of Historic Places. The community's Greek influence extends beyond the sponge docks." (Greenberg, Mel & Greenberg, Ronnie)