January 2006
21 posts
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Ahead of its Time
Today we are used to seeing gas stations combined with convenience stores. Such was not he case in 1934 when Gene Hardy opened his Put and Take, offering customers both gas and groceries. A novel idea at the time. The unusual name was a reminder that credit was not extended — you put down your money and then could take what you wanted. The business was located at 201 NE 1st Street....
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Farmland
Many of the municipalities that surround Pompano Beach were originally farmland, including Coral Springs:Prior to its incorporation as a City in July 1963, the area that was to become Coral Springs was part of a huge tract of land acquired by [Pompano farmer] Henry “Bud” Lyons between 1911 and 1939 that totaled over 20,000 acres of marshy wilderness in western Broward County. Clearing...
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A Library for Pompano (cont.)
Yesterday’s post recounted the founding of the Pompano Public Library in 1940. The original library location on NE 1st Street was clearly temporary. Within four months, William L. Kester provided rent-free quarters for the library on the west side of Dixie Highway, just south of Hammondville Road. The library grew rapidly, and soon there were plans to move to larger quarters. Once more,...
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A Library for Pompano
In 1940, the Pompano Public Library opened. It has its inception at a Rotary Club meeting in the spring of 1940. Miss. Effie Power, a retired librarian and former teacher at Columbia University, as well as an author of children’s books, was the speaker. She told the club of the need for a library. Her discussion was very convincing. The late E. N. Powell, Rotary president, named a...
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From Carpenters to Masons
One of the most noticeable changes in housing construction in Pompano Beach, as well as throughout South Florida, occurred in the late 1940s. Whereas prior to that time the overwhelming majority of homes were constructed using a wood frame and wooden siding, after the war as much as ninety percent of all new homes built used concrete block. There were a number of reasons for this, including cost...
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Centennial Committee
The Pompano Beach Centennial Celebration Committee will meet:Wednesday, January 25, 2006 6:30 PM At the Pompano Beach Historical Society 217 NE 4th Avenue Pompano BeachAnyone interested in participating in the planning for the 2008 celebration of Pompano Beach’s 100th anniversary of incorporation is invited to attend.
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The Ice Age
During the first years of the Pompano settlement, there was no local source for ice. Thus, meat had to be eaten right away as without ice, it was not possible to keep it fresh. Fresh meat would be ordered from West Palm Beach, where merchants would pack it with a block of ice in sawdust and send it on the train south to Pompano.
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Roast Targets Roy Rogers
The annual Sample-McDougald House Roast will be held on Friday, February 17th, at the Deerfield Beach Hilton Hotel. Guest of honor is civic activist and environmentalist, Roy Rogers. He will be the target of barbs and jabs from Earl Maucker (Editor, Sun-Sentinel), Bill Keith (Keith & Associates, Consulting Engineers), Fred Schorr (Mayor, City of Lighthouse Point), John Kelly (City Manager,...
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Fifty Years Ago
Some prices advertised for groceries at the Pompano Beach Super Market, Atlantic Boulevard at Federal Highway, in January, 1956:Leg of Lamb, 59 cents/pound Sliced Bacon, 59 cents/pound Blatz Beer, $1.19 six-pack Strawberries, 43 cents/pint Tomatoes, 29 cents/pound Potatoes, 25 cents/3 pounds Saltine Crackers, 17 cents/box Whole BBQ Chicken, $1.00The prices sound good, but on the other hand they...
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Building the Lighthouse
The Hillsboro Lighthouse was constructed on site by a New Orleans contractor, J. H. Gardiner, for $16,729.
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Some Things Never Change
Before there were highrise condos on the beach there were … you guessed it. Commission to Relieve Beach Bottleneck Members of the City Commission meeting Jan. 3, undertook to devise ways and means to relieve the bottleneck on Atlantic Blvd. from A1A to the beach … and City Manager Burbridge was asked to give the matter immediate attention. Mayor Haynie brought out the fact that...
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Martin Luther King, Jr.
On the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a passage on his philosophy of non-violence:History unfortunately leaves some people oppressed and some people oppressors. And there are three ways that individuals who are oppressed can deal with their oppression. One of them is to rise up against their oppressors with physical violence and corroding hatred. But oh this isn’t the way. For the...
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Prediction
From the Pompano Beach Town News, August 20, 1959:Margate folk can hardly be blamed for feeling that they’ll be at the hub of all North Broward someday. The coastal cities will have to accept the fact that eventually State Rd. 7 , and not Federal Hwy., will be South Florida’s heartland artery. At some point between West Palm Beach and Miami, there’ll be a lot more people living...
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What's in a Name?
When construction of North Broward General Hospital was originally proposed in 1957, the medical facility was to be named Pompano General Hospital.
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Watching the Wash
During World War II, volunteers were stationed on the beach to watch out for German U-boats and (more unlikely) enemy aircraft. One account of a “watcher” incident on Pompano’s beach gives an indication of just how vigilant the volunteers could be:On [an] occasion one of the volunteer plane spotter became highly excited because of a family wash hanging on a line. A family...
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St. Coleman
Today’s St. Coleman Catholic Church was originally named Our Lady of the Assumption. The church’s beginnings go back to the 1950s when the St. Augustine Diocese purchased 12 acres along Federal Highway in Pompano Beach. A fundraising drive was begun in 1958 to build a church and parish school. The current church building replaced the original and was constructed in the 1980s.
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Promoting Pompano Beach
One of the first projects of the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce after beginning operations in 1948 was to purchase 100 metal signs promoting the city. These were then attached to trucks transporting winter vegetables to other parts of the country. Supposedly, this effort resulted in inquiries about Pompano Beach from locations as far away as California.
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Wartime Shortage
During the Second World War, local farmers had to contend with a scarcity of labor that caused many to reduce acreage under cultivation. In 1942, the federal government proposed recruiting laborers in other southern states and transporting them to Pompano at a cost to the local farmer of $5.00 per person. Pompano farmers rejected the proposal as it would have required them to sign employment...
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Green Market
After two weeks off for the holidays, the Pompano Beach Green Market resumes this Saturday, January 7th. It’s the bet place to pick up the freshest local fruits and vegetables, seafood, baked goods, flowers, gourmet teas and coffees, as well as specialty food items. There will be some new vendors joining the Green Market this Saturday, so come on out and meet them. The Green Market is open...
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Correction and Coincidence
Yesterday we wrote that it was the anniversary of Henry Flagler’s birth. In fact, Flagler was born on January 2nd (not the 3rd). Coincidently, Julia Tuttle shared the same birthday. She was born in Ohio on January 2, 1848. Julia Tuttle is often referred to as the “mother of Miami.” She arrived in the area in the 1870s and is credited with persuading Flagler to bring the FEC...
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Happy Birthday, Henry
On this day in 1830, Henry Flagler was born in Hopewell, NY. He was a partner of John D. Rockefeller when the Standard Oil Company was founded in 1870. He first came to Florida in 1878, to seek a healthy climate for his wife. Following the death of his wife, Flagler returned to Florida and by 1885 was actively involved in the development of businesses in St. Augustine. He also purchased the...