When Palm Beach County was formed in 1909 from the northern portion of Dade County, Pompano was its southernmost municipality.

As can be seen from this 1910 map, Palm Beach's original boundaries went as far north as Stuart.

Also note that as well as the town of Pompano, the map included a community called West Pompano.

Map courtesy of the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.

We have added a number of links to historic preservation web sites. Click on History Links in the left-hand column.

The business pictured below was owned and operated by A. D. "Doc" Garner and his wife Sue (but commonly called "Mrs. Doc"). After-school and weekend help came from their three sons: Leon, Larry and Don.

Doc was in business from 1959 to 1973; the building was torn down in 1974 to make room for Interstate 95.

One of the legendary figures in South Florida history is the Barefoot Mailman.

Theodore Pratt wrote the novel, Barefoot Mailman, in 1943, and the book was made into a movie in 1951. The film version was shot on location in Naples and Silver Springs, and starred Robert Cummings and Terry Moore.

Pratt had the writing credits to four other movies: Mercy Island (1941), Juke Girl (1942), Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964).

Many people may remember that Don Knotts starred in The Incredible Mr. Limpet, but who remembers the cast for Juke Girl? Interestingly enough, although the film has been largely forgotten those who had roles in it have not: Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, Howard da Silva and Faye Emerson. Another actor in the film, Gene Lockhart, is probably most famous for being the father of June.

Juke Girl also was filmed in Florida.

The Pompano Beach Unsafe Structures Board voted today to allow a 150 day stay on its demolition order for the historic Bank of Pompano building.

The building's current owner, the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency [CRA], had requested the Unsafe Structures Board reconsider its May, 2004, decision that the 80+ year old structure must be demolished.

Representing the CRA at the board meeting, City Manager Bill Hargett pointed out that the possibility of restoration funding from the county, as well as interest in the building from private developers were new factors that should be considered. Mayor John Rayson also spoke in favor of delaying (at least) demolition.

Preservation architect Thorn Grafton, who had submitted a report supporting restoration of the structure, also spoke in favor of restoration, as did Preservation Advisory Board chairperson Marion Phelps and board member Robert Todd.

After discussion, the Unsafe Structures Board voted 5 - 1 to stay its demolition order for 150 days.

This will allow the CRA and other interested parties to move forward with restoration and financing plans.

One of the benefits of visiting the Historical Society's Kester Cottage Museums on Saturday mornings is meeting the individuals who have volunteered to serve as guides that day. They have a keen interest in Pompano Beach's history, and most have seen a lot of it.

Yesterday, our guides were Bud Garner and Bob Todd -- plenty of local history between the two of them. Bud forwarded the following about his morning at the museums:

Visiting the "Kester Cottages" is tantamount to stepping back into the past, so said a visitor that happened upon these "gems of the Gold Coast" Saturday morning at Founders Park, located in a semi-secluded section of "Old Pompano" that also is home to tennis courts, play grounds, bocce courts , picnic tables, through just plain grassy, flowered walkways leading to an antique fire station, antique fire trucks and of course the Pompano Beach Historical Society's "Hood Center."

The Cottages, donated by the Kester family have been refurbished and returned to their quaint inviting way of life image. Dozens of visitors were squired through the two cottages Saturday morning.

One tour began in the "furnished" cottage. Decorated in the inimitable style of simplicity of the early 1930s and 40s, where furnishings are very tastefully arranged in the rooms with cypress wood walls and sanded pine floors. The bedrooms are decorated with quilts that have been donated by various quilting groups and set the tone for the rest of the house. The kitchen is of very simple design, table, chairs, gas stove and free standing sink.

The comments of visitors are as varied as the furnishings, ranging from, "my mother had quilts on our bed such as this, or these floors just take me back to another time, back to my childhood."

Another surprise that some visitors get is the articles in the East Cottage, the "museum." First on the tour is the USS POMPANO (SS 181) exhibit. Most of the visitors (even locals) are unaware of the namesake of Pompano that it is also the name of a WW II Submarine that had an illustrious war record before it was declared missing and presumed lost off the coast of Northern Japan in October of 1943, taking to the bottom of the ocean 76 officers and men that are now resting in the rusting hulk of "POMPANO," shipmates for eternity.

The cottage contains many relics of the very real parts that was the heart and soul of Pompano, (The Town): the short visual history of Pompano's library and librarians; the interesting section containing the "tools" of Dr. George McClellan and Dr. "Shorty" Hamilton; the articles that really made Pompano the winter farming center of Florida -- the plows, mule tack, the implements and models of the "Farmers Market" and produce stall.

Visitors were amazed at the number and types of "museum" pieces displayed.

Cottages will be open, free of charge, each and every Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

By the way, Bud Garner's book, Tales of Old Pompano, is back in print and available from the Historical Society. You can purchase Bud's popular book, as well as other publications, at the Pompano Beach Green Market.

Pompano Beach, the second oldest municipality in Broward County, was incorporated in 1908. Only Dania Beach is older (1904). Fort Lauderdale was not incorporated until 1911.

Pompano Beach is the only city in the county that has been incorporated in three counties -- Dade County (1908-9), Palm Beach County (1909-15) and Broward County (1915- ).

In order to plan for Pompano Beach's 100-year anniversary, a centennial celebration committee has been formed and is hard at work planning for the city's century mark. Currently the committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 6:30 PM, at the Dick & Miriam Hood Center (217 NE 4th Avenue, Pompano Beach).

We invite those who are interested in getting involved in planning for the centennial celebration to join the committee. For more information call the Historical Society at 954 782-3015.

The poster shown below is part of the Historical Society's collection and is currently on display in the east Kester Cottage at Founders Park.

There is no year on the poster, but it must have been in the mid-to-late 1950s, based on the reference to the high school's "new field."

The other day we noted that Broward County was named for Florida Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, and that three other counties also were named for twentieth century Florida governors. What are the other three?

1) Gilchrist County

2) Hardee County

3) Martin County

Interestingly, both Hardee and Martin counties were named for sitting governors.

Time ran out for the distinctive Oceanside pylon on Tuesday, January 18, 2005.

Despite efforts to save the structure by moving it to another location on the beach, another site was never secured and the property owners, Atlantic Pointe, had to demolish it before selling the property. The new owner, WCI Communities, has developed plans for the site that does not include the pylon.

Constructed in 1962 in a mid-century modern style, the pylon was a recognizable feature on the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and A1A. For many, it was synonymous with Pompano's beach.

Nothing but rubble: the Oceanside pylon is demolished

The Fourth Annual Sample-McDougald House Roast will be held on Friday, February 18, 2005, at the Deerfield Beach Hilton. Funds raised at the event will support the restoration of the landmark Sample-McDougald House and the landscaping of the grounds.

The guest of honor will be Broward County Mayor (and Pompano Beach resident) Kristin Jacobs. She will be the target of good natured barbs by roasters such as Diana Wasserman-Rubin and Bill Keith, among others.

From Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech:

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the south. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must come true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California.

But not only that --- let freedom ring from Stone Mountain in Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual,

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Delivered August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

Wednesday, January 19th:

Arthur Makenian will give a talk on the restoration of the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse. 7:00 PM at the Dick & Miriam Hood Center, 217 NE 4th Avenue, Pompano Beach. The public is invited; free admission.

Saturday, January 22nd:

Quilting display and demonstration, and a classic car show. 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Pompano Beach Green Market, Flagler Avenue & NE First Street. Free admission

Saturday, January 22nd:

Tour of Kester Cottages Museums. 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Founders Park, NE 2nd Street & 3rd Avenue. Free admission.

Broward County was named for Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, Florida's governor from 1905-1909. During his term of office, Broward initiated the Everglades drainage project. The first canals that were supposed to draw the water from the Everglades began at the New River and ran to Lake Okeechobee. Other canals, such as the Hillsboro and Cypress followed soon thereafter.

So important were the canals and the resulting (if incomplete) drainage to this area, that when the county was formed in 1915, it was named in honor of Broward.

Three other Florida counties are named for Florida governors who served during the twentieth century. Can you name them?

Answers will be posted later.

The ribbon-cutting for the new additions to Pompano Beach High School was held today. There were plenty of dignitaries from the school and the city in attendance, as well as a sizable group of "Beanpicker" alumni.

Following the speeches and ribbon-cutting (and release of white doves), a reception was held in the new media center. One of the highlights was a display of historic Pompano Beach photographs on one wall. The images were from the Historical Society's collections.

Beanpicker alumni view historic photographs

Sharon Rhodes, the media center's director, said she wanted to display the photos to give current students a visual tie to the school's history.

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Ft. Pierce will host a workshop covering "the many facets of redevelopment and revitalization that can take place to bring a historic downtown back to life."

Topics will include the Main Street program, streetscapes and beautification, developing a successful CRA and preservation of historic buildings. A tour of Ft. Pierce's historic downtown and the in-progress restoration of the Sunrise Theatre will follow the workshop sessions.

The workshop will be held on February 3rd in the old Ft. Pierce City Hall.

For further information, contact the Florida Trust at 850 224-8128.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Broward County has an informative timeline on Broward's Jewish history.

Entries that relate to Pompano Beach include:

1928 -- Abe Hirschman, arriving from St. Augustine, opens Bon-Ton Dry Goods Store, the first known Jewish owned businesses in Pompano.

1935 -- Morris Hirschman establishes Moe's Pharmacy in downtown Pompano.

1945 -- A few Jewish families in the community form the Pompano Beach Jewish Circle, meeting in each other's homes each week. Founders are the David, Flax, Goldberg, Karneol and Hirshman families. In 1956 a congregation is formed with services in various rented quarters.

1960 -- Temple Sholom of Pompano Beach, with almost 100 members, moves into its first permanent home, with Alexander Fogel, President.

Also of note, the The Jewish Museum of Florida, in Miami Beach, is currently presenting an exhibition on "Jews of Broward County." The exhibit will run through January 30, 2005.

The Historical Society's two Kester Cottages will be open to the public every Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. There is no admission charge.

Kester Cottages were named for the individual who had them built, William Kester.

The east cottage serves as a museum of local history, with exhibits on agriculture, businesses and Pompano schools, among others. The west cottage has been furnished to depict a home of the late 1930s.

The cottages are located in Founders Park, on NE Second Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues.

On January 7, 1841, Company I, 3rd Artillery, United States Army engaged in fighting with Seminole Indians near Ft. Lauderdale. One enlisted man was wounded and subsequently died from his wounds on January 22.

(courtesy of Florida Historical Society)

The Pompano Beach Green Market will be back in business this Saturday -- January 8th -- after two weeks off for the holidays. The Market will be open every Saturday through April 30th, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Located in Pompano Beach's historic downtown, at the intersection of Flagler Avenue and NE 1st Street (just north of the Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway intersection), the Green Market has vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, baked goods, prepared food, gourmet teas and coffees, orchids and plants, as well as live entertainment.

The Green Market is a project of the Pompano Beach Historical Society. For more information, click on the Green Market link to the left.

In 1915 Broward County was formed out of portions of Dade and Palm Beach counties. Naturally, all of the normal governmental offices had to be filled, including the county's chief law enforcement officer -- the Sheriff. That position was filled by a Pompano resident.

The following is excerpted from William P. Cahill's "The First Sheriffs of Broward County Florida: 1915 - 1933" in the Broward Legacy (Vol. 24, no. 2):

Soon after the creation of Broward County in 1915, a primary election was held to select officers for the new county. This was, in effect, the official election because the Governor of Florida had promised to appoint to office the men selected in the primary. In that contest, the winner of the race for Sheriff was a local businessman, A. W. Turner, who soon began a long a colorful career as Broward's first Sheriff. In a four-way contest, Mr. Turner received 295 votes, more than the combined total of all three of his opponents.
...........
In October 1915, Allen Waterman Turner was sworn in as the Sheriff of Broward County, Florida. Turner was a native Floridian, born in Nassau County, near Jacksonville, in 1865. He had come to the Broward area in 1905,at which time he was supplying lumber to the Florida East Coast Railway. He reportedly was so impressed with the fertility of the soil in this region that in 1907 he settled in Pompano as a farmer and road contractor. Turner was very popular in the community, and thus it was not surprising that he won election as Broward's Sheriff, the first of his four electoral victories for that office.

Turner served as Sheriff until 1922. At that time he was removed from office by Florida Governor Cary A. Hardee for "nonfeasance in office" -- in the Governor's opinion, not being tough enough on local scam artists.

The term "casino" was traditionally used to describe a building devoted to "social amusement," not necessarily gambling. Many beachside structures in this area were called casinos (such as Fort Lauderdale's Casino Pool). The Pompano Casino was located on the beach, on the south side of Atlantic Boulevard.

In the January 2, 2005, Sun-Sentinel, Lisa Huriash writes that the City of Pompano Beach may "sue itself" to prevent demolition of the historic Bank of Pompano building.

Actually, a lawsuit would be a last resort. It is hoped that the Pompano Beach Unsafe Structures Board will reconsider its May, 2004, demolition order in light of new information on the condition of the structure and indications of financial support for restoration.

Until now, the City Commission has been siding with the Unsafe Structures Board on plans to bulldoze the aging site just north of Atlantic Boulevard. City leaders hoped to sell the land for upscale redevelopment in the area.

But those plans may be changing on the strength of potential county financial help, an October study showing the structure could be safely renovated and pressure from historical preservationists."I have changed my thinking," [Pompano Beach Mayor John]Rayson said.

"My original thinking is it was completely worthless as a building and ought to be torn down. Yes, there's some historical value but if it's decrepit, if it's unsafe, there's no point in saving it. But then `lo and behold' we get this other report; since that time I want to slow down."

Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs has said that county resources may be available for preserving the bank building and revitalizing Pompano Beach's historic downtown.

Located on the western edge of Pompano Beach (1000 NW 31st Avenue) is Charles Drew Elementary School. Thousands of people pass the school every day, and probably few know the origins of the school's name.

Charles Richard Drew achieved fame for inventing the concept of a blood bank. He created a system for the storing of blood plasma that revolutionized medical treatment. Drew was able to put his developments into practice almost immediately during World War II. He organized the world's first blood bank project - Blood for Britain. He also established the American Red Cross Blood Bank, of which he was the first director.

Dr. Drew died accidentally at age 45. His death resulted in a number of rumors as to whether or not he was denied adequate care:

Charles Drew died on April 1, 1950 when the automobile he was driving went out of control and turned over. Drew suffered extensive massive injuries but contrary to popular legend was not denied a blood transfusion by an all-White hospital - he indeed received a transfusion but was beyond the help of the experienced physicians attending to him. His family later wrote letters to those physicians thanking them for the care they provided. Over the years, Drew has been considered one of the most honored and respected figures in the medical field and his development of the blood plasma bank has given a second chance of live to millions.

In 1981 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp honoring Charles Drew.

Online biographies of Charles Drew can be found at the following sites:

Charles R. Drew (Gale Resources)

Charles Richard Drew (Great Idea Finder)

Charles Richard Drew: Physician, Surgeon (Princeton)

The Pompano Beach Historical Society's January meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 19th, 7:00 PM at the Dick & Miriam Hood Center, 217 NE 4th Avenue, Pompano Beach.

The program will be given by Arthur Makenian, who served as the official Lighthouse Keeper of Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse Station from December 1998 through March 2002. Art contributed to the construction of the present Coast Guard Auxiliary Base in Boca Raton, the Marine Radio Communications tower, the removal of the old Goast Guard Base from Red Reef Park, and the re-engineering and commissioning of the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse for the Coast Guard.

His program will concentrate on the work he and his team of seven men accomplished by designing and placing in operation the machinery to make the lighthouse lens shine out to sea once more.

Did you know the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse beam of light shines further out to sea than any other lighthouse beam in the world?

Come January 19th and hear more.