January 2012
20 posts
Starting Small
When today’s Broward College opened its doors in 1960 as the Junior College of Broward County, the new educational institution had 28 faculty members teaching 701 students. Classes were held in temporary facilities that had served as the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station during World War II (now a part of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport).
Battles Off the Inlet
In World War II, battles were fought in the shadow of the [Hillsboro] lighthouse. German subs patrolled offshore; one grounded on the reefs. IN may 1942, the tanker Lubrofol was torpedoed off Hillsboro Beach. A naval patrol boat rescued all but two of the crew. In 1943, a German sub was captured close to shore; later, another was bombed and sunk south of the light.
Excerpted from The...
Adaptive Reuse
When Coral Ridge Properties began developing Coral Springs in the early 1960s, one of the first buildings to be constructed was a real estate office. In 1966, after CRP had finished a new administration building, the real estate office was moved by the City of Coral Springs and used as the city’s first police station.
Flagler's Jest
Henry M. Flagler was often heard to say, “I would have been a rich man if it hadn’t been for Florida.”
Although his Florida enterprises may not have been as profitable as was his work with Standard Oil Company, while he was making this comment he was still one of the wealthiest men in America.
Start Your Dredges
On December 14, 1911, a celebration was held in Deerfield to mark the beginning of construction of the Hillsboro Canal, which would run from the Florida East Coast Canal (today’s Intracoastal Waterway) to Lake Okeechobee. Florida Governor Albert Gilchrist was in attendance at the event.
A Political Marriage
When Pompano Beach’s southeastern neighbor, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, was incorporated in 1927, Melvin I. Anglin was elected to be its first mayor. Presumably, he could count on at least one vote on the new city commission — his wife Sarah served as one of the five commissioners.
Mrs. Leonard's Motel
In 1969, the famous author and screen writer Elmore Leonard (Hombre, Get Shorty, 3:10 to Yuma, Freaky Deaky to name just a few) purchased a small motel on Pompano Beach for his mother . It is claimed that this was the inspiration for the Coconut Palms Resort Motel (which had no palms on the grounds) in Leonard’s 1982 novel the Cat Chaser.
The Name is Not the Same
When the first section of Pompano Beach Highlands was platted in the early 1950s, the streets were given names that have since been changed. Whereas the roads now have numbers conforming to the Pompano Beach street grid, they had previously been more imaginative:
Original - Seneca Road; current - NE 17th Drive
Original - Bradley Street; current - NE 51st Street
Original - Greenwood Drive;...
Rev. Coleman's Commute
James Emanuel Coleman, who served as the pastor of Pompano’s Mount Calvary Baptist Church from 1923 through 1946, was also, during that period, the pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Deerfield Beach. He would preach on the first and third Sundays in Pompano and on the second and fourth Sundays in Deerfield.
Although Rev. Coleman was active in the north Broward communities for over two...
Rossmoor
Wynmoor, he large retirement community located just west of Pompano Beach on Coconut Creek Parkway, was originally named Rossmoor Village. The name was derived from the founder of the development company that started the complex, Ross Cortese.
In 1973, Rossmoor Land Development Corporation purchased 640 acres from local land owners Kenneth Parker and Neil Tillotson for nine million dollars. ...
Gems of Pompano
According to the 1965 Pompano Beach city directory, the following jewlery store were located in the city limits:
Beachway Jewlers (888 North Federal Highway)
Carr Quality Jewlers (672 South Cypress Road)
Downie’s Jewlers (51 NE First Street and 7 Oceanside Center)
The Mart Jewlery (1401 South Federal Highway)
Bob Pool, Jewler (35 NE First Avenue)
Leonard Taylor (42 Oceanside...
Cresthaven and the Highlands
The Historical Society’s January public program will feature guest speakers discussing the history of Pompano Beach’s Cresthaven and Pompano Beach Highlands neighborhoods. Although these two areas were annexed into the city fairly recently, their histories go back to the early 1950s when major developers sought to meet the housing demands of an expanding population in South Florida.
...
The Merchants Organize
As a result of new shopping centers such as Beachway, Oceanside and Beacon Light being developed, the businessmen of Pompano Downtown and Hammondville Road held an organizational meeting at City Hall in November, 1956, and established a merchants’ association to promote and market the area.
Franklin Sheen
Franklin Sheen came to West Palm Beach in 1893, started as an engineer for the Model Land Company, and left his mark in many places in Palm Beach County. Sheen became city engineer for West Palm Beach, county surveyor for ten years, and then opened a real estate office on Flagler Drive. The early roads of West Palm Beach were built under his direction, including Okeechobee Boulevard in 1909....
Two Funerals at the Baptist Church
Services Set Today for Two of Pompano’s Outstanding Pioneers
Services for two of Pompano Beach’s oldest residents, Elizabeth Florence Henderson, 82, and William B. “Bill” Cheshire, 80, who lived here a total of 84 years , will be held today at the First Baptist Church.
An Order of the Eastern Star graveside service for Mrs. Henderson of 118 NE Sixth St., who died Friday at North District...
Uncle Jim
The names of many of Pompano Beach’s earliest settlers are still remembered today, if only for the parks and roads that bear their name. On the other hand, some of the first to arrive here are familiar to only a few old-timers and those who have researched the city’s history in detail. One such “forgotten” individual is James W. “Uncle Jim” Pearce. At the...
The Tax Collector
The first female elected county-wide in Broward County was Lillie Mae Smith, who served as tax collector from 1925 to 1928. Ms. Smith was born in Ludowici, Georgia in 1892 and came to Fort Lauderdale in 1921 She was an employee in the Broward County Tax Collector Office from the time of her arrival in this area until she ran for office. After leaving public office, she and her brother operated...
Self Help
In the 1950s, a Pompano Beach laundry business located at 300 Atlantic Boulevard allowed customers to “wash your own clothes or we will wash them for you.” The establishment’s name was the Helpy Selfy Laundry.
From School to Resort
In 1922, Herbert L. Malcolm purchased oceanfront land north of the Hillsboro Inlet and established a private school at that location. Several years later he closed the school and opened a private resort — the Hillsboro Club.
December 2011
19 posts
Woodmen in the Graveyards
Visitors to historic cemeteries (including Pompano Beach’s) are likely to find grave markers with the somewhat mysterious inscription “Woodmen of the World.” Who, or what, were the Woodemn of the World, and why are there cemetery markers from this group? The intersting website, Florida’s Lost and Abandoned Graveyards explains:
Some of the most recognizable tombstones...
Sign of the Times
During the Second World War, the City of Pompano erected a large sign on a vacant piece of property at the corner of SE First Street and Flagler Avenue that listed the names of local residents who were serving in the military.
Later, the property was purchased by Bud Lyons who built a structure that housed his farming offices and a Western Auto store. The building now is occupied by a coin...
Turpentine
During the 1930s, over half of the world’s production of turpentine came from the pine forests of Georgia and Florida. There were about 1000 turpentine camps in the southern United States with more than 40,000 workers in the industry.
Chicken Prep
Don Downie remembers Ogden Bros. Grocery, located on NE First Street just east of the railroad tracks:
Out the main back double doors was a roofed area. Mr. Ogden had an employee named Red who worked with the butchers. Chickens were a huge part of the meat department. Outside there were cages of live chickens stacked next to a long wooden table. Red would grab a chicken throw it on the...
Temporary Locations
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church was established in 1956 to serve the fast-growing Cresthaven and Pompano Beach Highlands developments, as well as surrounding areas of Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. According to the church’s history, before the church’s sanctuary was completed, services were held at McFadden’s Restaurant (this may be a mistake, as the City Directory...
Independent Indians
Although the overwhelming majority of indigenous South Florida Indians are members of the Seminole or Miccosukee tribes, there remains a few local Indians who are not enrolled in either Tribe. They exist as organized “Independent” Seminoles not formally recognized by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Many “Independents” oppose any government intervention into...
Fast Growing Elks
The Pompano Beach Elks Lodge (#1898) was chartered in April 1953, with an initial membership of 97. Within a year its membership had surpassed 200.
Ruins of the Past
In 1954, a columnist for the Pompano Beach Town News “discovered” what was left of the old Pompano race track that had opened in 1926:
We found it … back in the bush, southwest of the Farmer’s Market … a ragged skeleton of a club-house and a moth-eaten, weed-grown oval that had once been the track … a remnant of the boom days, all that remained of an ambitious...
Six-Figure Budget
In August, 1954, the Pompano Beach City Commission unanimously approved the municipality’s first budget that exceeded one million dollars. $1,120,505 to be exact.
Hunter's Manor
The Hunter’s Manor area in Pompano Beach is located east of Powerline Road and south of Copans Road. Much of it was purchased by Paul Hunter, probably in the 1930s. It was in this area that Westview Cemetery was established by the Pompano Christian Pallbearers Society as a place for the burial of African-Americans.
Park Planning
Although Everglades National park was not dedicated until 1947, the effort to create the park began decades earlier. In 1930, the Everglades National Park Committee visited southern Florida, and reported to the Interior Department that the Everglades met the standards for a national park. Four years later, Congress authorized the park, contingent on the State of Florida acquiring two-million...
It's Cold Outside
On this date in 1934 a severe freeze hit Florida, with major crop losses for Pompano farmers. In its aftermath a frost warning service was establsihed by the National Weather Bureau.
The Sisters Take Over
When Holy Cross Hospital opened in December, 1955, the local Roman Catholic diocese entrusted the facility’s administion to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who were known for their work in education and health care.
Hot Off the Press
1886 was a big year for journalism in Florida — 66 new newspapers were started in the state that year, although none in South Florida.
10,000 Homes
Pompano Beach Highlands was developed in the early 1950s by the Mackle Company. During the period from 1945 to 1954, the Mackle Company built a number of subdivision in Broward and Dade counties with over 10,000 homes, in total.
In addition to Pompano Beach Highlands, the company also developed Pompano Shores, Westwood Lakes (west Miami) and perhaps most famously, Key Biscayne.
Double Standard?
When the Pompano pari-mutuel horse racing track was ordered closed by the governor as soon as it opened in 1926, the track in Hialeah was just completing its second season of racing and was never shut down by authorities for illegal gambling.
Holiday Open House
The Pompano Beach Historical Society will hold its annual Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 14th, 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Dick & Miriam Hood Center (217 NE 4th Avenue) in Founders Park.
Refreshments, music and tours of the Kester Cottages — a good opportunity to socialize with friends of Pompano history during the holidays.
Cows to Condos
The largest single purchase of land by what is now the Palm Aire Country Club took place in 1969, when the corporation bought 1,700 acres from McArthur Dairies.
Starting Small
When William L. Kester established the Farmers Bank of Pompano in 1934, there were just three employees: a teller, a cashier and a bookkeeper. The bank’s profit that first year was $1,900.
November 2011
19 posts
Depot Segregation
In 1907, the Florida Legislature passed a statute requiring railroad depots to provide separate waiting rooms and ticket windows for black and for white passengers. The statute carried a $5,000 fine for railway companies that failed to comply (this would be the equivalent of about $120,000 in today’s dollars).
Parallel Paths
Pompano High School was, until 1956, nicknamed the Beanpickers, a tribute to the agricultural nature of the community and its major crop. By the mid-1950s there were enough transplants at the high school that the moniker seemed outdated and so it was changed to the Golden Tornadoes.
Upstate in Sanford, Seminole High School had a similar history. The major crop in that area was celery —...
In the Water
When it opened, the Pompano Park haress racing track included a swimming pool, but not for people. The pool allowed therapeutic, non-stress exercise for the race horses.
Talking Turkey
Twenty-five years ago almost every large farmer living not too near to neighbors was in the habit of keeping turkeys. They were a great help in destroying grasshoppers, crickets, and other injurious insects which prey upon the crops of the garden and field. They usually roosted in trees near the farm buildings, and after the first few weeks from hatching gave very little trouble to the feeder,...
Mrs. Harper
Of all those buried at the Pompano Beach Cemetery, the person with the earliest birth date may be Mrs. P. A. Harper, whose grave marker indicates she was born in 1835. When she was born, Andrew Jackson was president of the United States and Florida was still a territory.
Not a Keeper
When Theodore “Cap” Knight became a sailor and then got into the restaurant and bar business (he started what is now Cap’s Place Island Restaurant back in the 1920s) he was breaking with family tradition. Both his grandfather and father were keepers of the Cape Canaveral lighthouse, his first wife was the daughter of the Jupiter lighthouse’s keeper and his brother, Tom, was...
Fruit Flies in Florida
Florida entered the Great Depression ahead of the rest of the nation, but the state’s economy suffered a further hit when, in 1929, the Mediterranean fruit fly invaded the state. Although a quarantine was established, with troops setting up roadblocks and checkpoints to search vehicles for contraband citrus fruit that might harbor the insect, Florida’s citrus production was cut by...
Dollar Bill
During the Prohibition years, one of Pompano’s well-known “bootleg joints” was located in a small house off South Dixie Highway. It was owned by William Dollar, a transplant from Missouri, who was commonly referred to as “Dollar Bill.”
Some Moved to Pompano
Historically, most of the South Florida coastal cities had fairly well-defined black residential neighborhoods. There were exceptions, depending on circumstances, but the black neighborhoods tended to be on the west side of town (or, in most cases, west of the Florida East Coast Railway tracks). As population increased, the black neighborhoods expanded west into lightly-settled areas.
One...
Agriculture Wages
In the early years of the 20th century, black farm workers were paid between seventy-five cents and one dollar per day for field work. Workers could make considerably more during the bean harvest by doing piece work — as much as ten to fifteen dollars per day.
Jewish Growth
In 1940, there were about 1,000 Jewish residents in Broward County. By 1990, that number had increased to approximately 275,0000, giving Broward the largest Jewish population of any county in Florida.