From 1907 when the Hillsboro Lighthouse began operations until 1943, only three individuals served as Lighthouse Keepers: Alfred A. Berghell (1907 - 1911), Thomas Knight (1911 - 1936) and Benjamin F. Stone (1936 - 1943).
Since then, there have been 21 Keepers at the lighthouse.
In 1930, a heavy stone breakwater, 260 feet long, was installed from the base of the Hillsboro Lighthouse to the ocean. This project was undertaken to stabilize the point of land on the north side of the inlet, which had sustained significant erosion in recent hurricanes (1926 and 1928) as well as other storms.
Although it was established in 1954, Pompano Beach’s First Presbyterian Church did not formally join that denomination until 1956. Initially it described itself as a “community church.”
Markham Elementary School, located in Pompano Beach at 1501 NW 15th Avenue is named for C. Robert Markham (1908 - 1966), who served as Broward County Property Appraiser from 1964 to 1966, when he died in office from a heart attack.
His son, William Markham (1940 - 2004) also was elected to be Broward County Property Appraiser, serving for 36 years until he too died in office from a heart attack.
In honor of Mothers’ Day, the Sample-McDougald House will offer free admission to all Moms who visit the historic house with one or more of their children. The house will be open for tours on Saturday, May 11th, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, and light refreshments will be served.
The historic Sample-McDougald House is located at 450 NE 10th Street, Pompano Beach, and is the only property in Pompano Beach listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For information, call 954 691-5686.
In all probability, the first person who sought to develop and sell land in what is today Broward County was Arthur Williams. In 1887 he purchased 100 acres of land in what is today Fort Lauderdale, on the south side of the New River. He called the development Palm City and advertised 50 by 100-foot lots at $10.00 each.
Apparently, only a little over a couple dozen lots were sold, and many of them were lost for non-payment of taxes. Within a few years Williams was attempting to sell property in his Palm City as acreage.
Williams was about a decade before his time — it was not until the FEC Railway reached the area in 1896 that selling South Florida real estate became (potentially) profitable.
TALLAHASSEE — The State cabinet Wednesday made its annual gift of 100 automobile license plates of Florida Seminole Indians.
“We went down there about ten years ago for a pow-wow with the Seminoles,” Commissioner of Agriculture Nathan Mayo recalled. “They said they didn’t want us to do anything for them except leave them alone and give them a hundred auto tags. So we’ve been doing it ever since.”
The tags will be sent to Kenneth A. Marmon, Seminole agency superintendent, for distribution among the Indians. The cabinet secretary said the cost to the State will be about seven dollars — just enough to cover the cost of making the tags.
The Palm Beach Post, December 28, 1944
The Historical Society’s monthly public program will be moving a few blocks away on May 15th — to Art Hall (50 NE First Street, Pompano Beach) where artworks with an “Old Pompano” theme will be on display. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 pm and will include food and entertainment.
The art will be produced under the auspices of the Broward Art Guild. On May 11th, artists will assemble in Old Pompano and have two hours to produce their artwork. The finished products will then be on exhibit at Art Hall and a silent auction will be held for those wishing to acquire a piece of art.
Another interesting combination of art and history.
A state-wide manhunt was underway today for a lone bandit who successfully held up the Farmers Bank of Pompano and made off with more than $11,000.
The masked bandit entered the bank last night [Friday, January 31st] just a few minutes before the 7 p.m. closing. He carried a sawed-off shotgun and a brown leather briefcase.
There were only three customers in the bank at that time and the man went directly to the teller’s cage of Clarence W. Benson and told him that it was a stickup and he wasn’t fooling.
The bandit, described as being tall and slim, shoved the briefcase onto the counter and ordered Mr. Benson to put all of his money into it.
He then leaned over to the cage of J. G. Curry and said, “Give me yours, too.”
Although it won’t be known definitely until later today exactly how much the bandit was able to get away with, it was determined that he did get slightly more than $1,000 from Mr. Curry and maybe as much as $10,000 from Mr. Benson.
Miami News, Febrary 1, 1958
The Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo, which takes place in a couple weeks, began in 1965 as a project of the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce. It was intended to help keep tourists in the area for just a little while longer and to support the local charter fishing boats. In 1978, the Rodeo was incorporated as a non-profit organization.