BROWARD MOMENTS. Broward County s History Encompasses Memorable Moments

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Brittney Ward
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BROWARD MOMENTS Port employees welcoming the first train load of cement to arrive at Port Everglades. 1931 Lewis W. Marshall s vegetable packinghouse on the south fork of the New River.

the hangar for Merle Fogg s Flying Service, 1928 Broward County s History Encompasses Memorable Moments By Rachel Galvin Broward County is celebrating a monumental milestone: It will be a century old

To commemorate this remarkable evolution, the Broward County Historical Commission has partnered with the County and the BB&T Center to share Broward Moments.

They also will be available on the Broward100.org website and through social networking. In addition, videos will be showcased on television by Comcast.

1 BROWARD MOMENTS Port employees welcoming the first train load of cement to arrive at Port Everglades Lewis W. Marshall s vegetable packinghouse on the south fork of the New River. Farmers would barge their crops to one of the packinghouses on the river, where crops would be prepared for shipment via railroad to northern markets Merle Fogg poses with a WACO Model 10 airplane at the hangar for Merle Fogg s Flying Service, 1928 Broward County s History Encompasses Memorable Moments By Rachel Galvin Broward County is celebrating a monumental milestone: It will be a century old in 2015 and yearlong festivities will mark the occasion. To commemorate this remarkable evolution, the Broward County Historical Commission has partnered with the County and the BB&T Center to share Broward Moments. These 15- to 20-second video spots, highlighting important moments in Broward County history, will be shown during Florida Panthers hockey games whenever the scoreboard is activated. They also will be available on the Broward100.org website and through social networking. In addition, videos will be showcased on television by Comcast. These historical moments represent just a few tidbits of the rich history of the area. In the past 100 years, Broward County has come a long way. What was once a swampy no man s land has turned into a thriving region filled with business, culture and industry. From the River of Grass to the west to its sandy beaches to the east, this portion of the Sunshine State has transformed from an agricultural hub to a beacon for tourism. 1 C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y S P R I N G In 1913, Frank and Ivy Stranahan s house was essentially the easternmost residence in town. The narrow unpaved path leading to the river on the right is now the location of Federal Highway. All photos by kind permission of The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society HistoricalSociety.org

Probably no single individual influenced south Florida s development more than Henry Morrison Flagler, a former partner of

ast (F.E.C.) Railway south from Palm Beach to Miami, opening what was virtual wilderness to development.

location of an earlier Seminole camp founded by her mother.

She watched the isolated frontier community of Fort Lauderdale grow into a modern American city.

2 Probably no single individual influenced south Florida s development more than Henry Morrison Flagler, a former partner of John D. Rockefeller. In 1896, Flagler brought his Florida East Coast (F.E.C.) Railway south from Palm Beach to Miami, opening what was virtual wilderness to development. Annie Jumper Tommie - mother of Chief Tony Tommie - was one of the first to set up camp in the new Dania Reservation, the location of an earlier Seminole camp founded by her mother. Broward County s first schoolteacher, Ivy Julia Cromartie, in the outfit she wore to be married to Frank Stranahan in She watched the isolated frontier community of Fort Lauderdale grow into a modern American city. Chicago millionaire Hugh Taylor Birch, while visiting South Florida was impressed with the solitude of the Fort Lauderdale area and purchased approximately three miles of beachfront property. (Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory) S P R I N G C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y 2

Frank Stranahan came from Titusville to the New River in 1893 to manage the overnight campground.

began making improvements to what we know as Stranahan House.

chairwoman in 1967. Dr. James Sistrunk was Fort Lauderdale s first permanent African-American physician.

He was a cofounder of Provident Hospital, the first hospital in town for the black community. Sa

3 Frank Stranahan came from Titusville to the New River in 1893 to manage the overnight campground. Soon after he arrived, the camp and ferry crossing were moved approximately one mile west, where Stranahan purchased ten acres and began making improvements to what we know as Stranahan House. Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, pictured here in 1945, became the first female leader of the Seminole Tribe of Florida when she was elected chairwoman in Dr. James Sistrunk was Fort Lauderdale s first permanent African-American physician. He delivered an estimated 5,000 babies during his career and supposedly could remember all of them. He was a cofounder of Provident Hospital, the first hospital in town for the black community. Sandy Nininger attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduated in 1941 and volunteered for the Philippine Scouts based at America s Asian outpost. For his heroic actions, Sandy Nininger was posthumously awarded the first Congressional Medal of Honor of the Second World War. 3 C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y S P R I N G

Damage from the 1926 hurricane. Tom Bryan came to Fort Lauderdale with his father in 1896 to help build the railroad.

Here in 1955, Bryan stands in front of his family-run New River Inn. Above: A Cunard liner, the T.S.S. Caledonia, docked at Port Everglades, 1930s. Photograph by Gene Kelcy.

A statue commemorating these brave early postal workers, created by sculptor Frank Varga, sits today next to the Hillsboro Lighthouse.

BROWARD MOMENTS The following topics are just a few of the ones that will be included in the Broward Moments videos.

of Miami and Palm Beach. The mailmen walked barefoot for 40 miles near the water s edge and took a small sailboat and rowboat for the remaining 28 miles.

4 Damage from the 1926 hurricane. Tom Bryan came to Fort Lauderdale with his father in 1896 to help build the railroad. He owned the city s first ice plant, electric company and telephone exchange and developed many of downtown s early commercial buildings. Here in 1955, Bryan stands in front of his family-run New River Inn. Above: A Cunard liner, the T.S.S. Caledonia, docked at Port Everglades, 1930s. Photograph by Gene Kelcy. until 1892, when a rock road was completed and the mail was taken over by the Bay Biscayne Stage Line. A statue commemorating these brave early postal workers, created by sculptor Frank Varga, sits today next to the Hillsboro Lighthouse. (Right) Mural of barefoot mailman on wall in West Palm Beach post office on Olive Avenue. Credit: State Archives of Florida, FloridaMemory.com (Far right) In 1919, famed director D. W. Griffith came to Fort Lauderdale to shoot the silent film Idol Dancer. BROWARD MOMENTS The following topics are just a few of the ones that will be included in the Broward Moments videos. BAREFOOT MAILMAN When Florida was a virtually unpopulated landscape, a special route by foot was established in 1885 to provide a way to transport mail back and forth between the more populated areas of Miami and Palm Beach. The mailmen walked barefoot for 40 miles near the water s edge and took a small sailboat and rowboat for the remaining 28 miles. They stopped at Houses of Refuge along the way to rest. These houses primarily sheltered shipwrecked sailors. The route lasted TINSEL TOWN comes to the Sunshine state. South Florida has been an ideal place for the production of many movies and TV shows through the years. One of the more prominent visitors in the early 20th century was well-known Hollywood director D.W. Griffith, who shot his film The Idol Dancer in Broward County in He and his crew stayed at the then-popular Broward Hotel. He transformed the New River into South Seas islands and hired locals, including members of the Seminole tribe, to be in the production. S P R I N G C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y 4

TBM Avenger torpedo bombers lined up at the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station, 1945.

JAMES NEVILLE MCARTHUR philanthropist and businessman. During the challenges of the Great Depression, some entrepreneurs pulled up their bootstraps and persevered.

By World War II, he had more than 5,000 and, today, the company has more than 16,000 animals.

McArthur, inducted into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame, is also known for his philanthropy.

(Above) Crews film Where the Boys Are, a low-budget spring break movie, at Spring Break central the Elbo Room at the corner of Las Olas and A1A, 1960.

5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers lined up at the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station, BROWARD MOMENTS Mayor Walter Seth Doc Kipnis and finance director William Francis White stand in front of the new Pembroke Pines city hall, c Gene Hyde Collection. JAMES NEVILLE MCARTHUR philanthropist and businessman. During the challenges of the Great Depression, some entrepreneurs pulled up their bootstraps and persevered. One such businessman was James Neville McArthur. In 1929, he opened a farm in Hollywood with 20 Jersey cows. By World War II, he had more than 5,000 and, today, the company has more than 16,000 animals. He was one of the first to use a milking machine and to employ artificial insemination. McArthur, inducted into the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame, is also known for his philanthropy. He gave funds for everything from the construction of the Florida Turnpike to McArthur High School in Hollywood. (Above) Crews film Where the Boys Are, a low-budget spring break movie, at Spring Break central the Elbo Room at the corner of Las Olas and A1A, (Below) High diving at Fort Lauderdale s hall of fame swimming pool State Archives of Florida, FloridaMemory.com SWIMMING HALL OF FAME brings athletes. The International Swimming Hall of Fame aquatic complex continues to bring athletes and tourists. The complex is located on the site of what once was Fort Lauderdale s Casino Pool, built in1926. It featured an Olympicsized pool used for swim meets. In 1935, it hosted the first Collegiate Aquatic Forum, which brought participants from around the nation. The pool was torn down in 1966 to make way for the current complex, which also houses a museum filled with swimming memorabilia. 5 C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y S P R I N G

A Fort Lauderdale policeman orders young protesters to leave the whites-only beach. Gene Hyde Collection President Franklin D.

6 BROWARD MOMENTS By 1961 county officials still had not addressed the lack of amenities and the difficult access to the so-called black beach. To draw attention to the problem, NAACP officials Eula Johnson and Von D. Mizell staged a series of wade-ins at Fort Lauderdale s famous, and segregated, public beach. A Fort Lauderdale policeman orders young protesters to leave the whites-only beach. Gene Hyde Collection President Franklin D. Roosevelt doffs his hat to the crowd as he boards the Navy destroyer Monaghan at Port Everglades on his way to a fishing trip, March 23, BROWARD MOMENTS MARINE INDUSTRY helps World War II effort. As World War II ravaged Europe, Broward became involved early in the war effort. The port and the coast became an arena for some of the fighting. Local businesses such as Dooley s Basin and Dry Dock (where Lauderdale Marine Center is today) - which made air-rescue boats, subchasers and minesweepers - joined the war effort. Airbases, including Forman Field (later the site of Nova Southeastern University) sprung up. A Naval Air Station was constructed where the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport now stands and was later moved and turned into a Naval Museum. Training camps sprung up at places including Tradewinds and Lauderdale Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The U.S. Coast Guard made a home at The Silver Thatch Inn in Pompano, while Navy officers settled in at the Hollywood Beach Hotel. CIVIL RIGHTS After war waged abroad, the Civil Rights movement escalated at home. In Broward, people such as Eula Johnson, president of the local NAACP, and Dr. Von Mizell, one of the first black doctors, stood up for their beliefs. They helped to stage a series of wade ins beginning on July 4, 1961, which hundreds attended. The reason for the demonstrations was the County s failure to provide proper access to the only beach then available for people of color, as well as equal amenities. When the City of Fort Lauderdale filed suit against them and the judge denied the city s request a year later, it was a pivotal step toward the eventual desegregation of all public facilities in the County. These are just a sampling of some of the Broward Moments that will be included in the videos in order to educate the public and inform viewers about Broward County s rich history. Find out more about Broward Moments at CQ These are just a few Broward Moments. Check out some of the videos at the BB&T Center to find out more. Happy Birthday, Broward! S P R I N G C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y 6

(Above) In August 1966, a group of African-American youths were arrested for throwing rocks and

Local black leaders charged the Fort Lauderdale police with harassment and cruel conditions and

Charges against the young men were later dropped. Gene Hyde Collection.

corner of Andrews Avenue and SW 2nd Street.

7 (Above) In August 1966, a group of African-American youths were arrested for throwing rocks and bottles at police cruisers. Local black leaders charged the Fort Lauderdale police with harassment and cruel conditions and organized the protest march at the police station shown here, along with white counter-protesters. Charges against the young men were later dropped. Gene Hyde Collection. (Left) During the 1961 wade-in protests, a group of African- American youth and one white boy play basketball at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Learn more about Broward County s history by visiting the Broward County Historical Commission s webpages. (Above) Burdine s, Fort Lauderdale s first major department store, opened in 1947 at the northwest corner of Andrews Avenue and SW 2nd Street. In 1980, when a new Burdine s opened at the Galleria Mall, the downtown store closed, and the building was renovated to serve as the Broward County Government Center. (Left) In the 1950s, developer George Gill built a triangular hotel at the south end of Fort Lauderdale beach and christened it the Yankee Clipper. 7 C u l t u r a l Q u a r t e r l y S P R I N G A tongue-in-cheek sign goes up at Tamarac Estates, 1967.

BROWARD COUNTY MANATEE PROTECTION ZONES

BROWARD COUNTY MANATEE PROTECTION ZONES MANATEE PROTECTION ZONES For description of zone boundaries see: 68C-22.00 F.A.C for State Manatee Protection Zones last amended /4/20 For infomation please call or write to: Fish and Wildlife Conservation