WPBFD History

had responded to Flagler's needs in Palm Beach migrated southward where jobs were now more plentiful. Some merchants packed up to follow. There was concern at the time by those who remained about the future of West Palm Beach. On a positive note, the town assumed a slower and more orderly growth. 1910 A new school was constructed on the west side of town to accommodate the growing number of children. The location was in a heavily wooded area atop a hill overlooking Clear Lake. The building would later be- come Central Elementary, located midway between Hi- biscus and Jessamine Streets. A large “woods fire” threatened the new school shortly after it had been com- pleted. Firemen battled the blaze for several days before bringing it under control by "backfiring." The new school was saved. Much of the information available today about the early years of West Palm Beach came from The Tropical Sun , a newspaper that was published in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was the first, and for a time, the only newspaper on the southeast Florida mainland (Key West had its own newspapers). Guy Metcalf, a 21-year-old journalist from Ohio, founded The Indian River News which was first published in Melbourne February 24, 1887. As Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway moved southward, so did Metcalf's newspaper. The first move was to Juno where the paper

Palm Beach. Not only did the citizens celebrate the anni- versary of their nation's birth, but the new fire station was dedicated as well. This was a major event for the towns- people as nearly everyone was related in some way to one of the members of the fire company. It had been a long and difficult task to fund the station, but the town had been touched by the ravages of fire and understood that steps to control the menace must be taken. Firemen, dressed in their smart new whites, dis- played a new horse drawn ladder apparatus. The Harmo- nia Lodge 138 F.&A.M. had been invited to take part in the dedication. Lodge members marched in procession to the new station with George W. Brown, Worshipful Mas- ter, leading the way. George Baker, president of the town council, deliv- ered the principal address before turning over the keys to M. E. Gruber, president of the department. George Bran- ning, president of the Dade County State Bank, also made a short speech and took the opportunity to announce his candidacy for fire chief. L. W. Burkhardt paid tribute to Henry M. Flagler for his gracious donation. Speeches were made by other town dignitaries before the grand fi- nale; a parade of the firefighters through the streets ac- companied by military units. The festivities ended back at the fire house with the volunteers proudly posing for anyone with a camera. The first years of the twentieth century had been relatively quiet for the young fire department. The Flor- ida East Coast Railroad now extended to Miami opening new opportunities to the south. Many of the workers who

July 4, 1905—The men of the West Palm Beach Volunteer Fire Department. 6