WPBFD History

1890 - 1894 March of 1893 marked the end of the frontier world and the beginning of a new era for the southeast coast of Florida. Henry Morrison Flagler, one of the wealthiest men in America, arrived on the long, narrow island that would become Palm Beach as we know it to- day. No other single event had more of an impact on the future of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County. Flagler had achieved success and fortune as a part- ner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. In 1878 Flag- ler brought his wife to Jacksonville, Florida because of her ill health. Later visits to St. Augustine, during the winters of 1884 and 1885, opened his eyes to the possi- bilities of providing improved facilities for tourists. By

population doubled with the arrival of five more brave souls; three members of the Pierce family, H. F. Hammon, and Will Lainhart. Mail service was sporadic at best. With no easily accessible overland route, correspondence came by ship. In 1878 the settlers petitioned for a mail route from the St. Lucie post office to Lake Worth. Mr. V. O. Spencer was named postmaster at Lake Worth in 1880. Many have believed that there were no coconut trees growing in the Lake Worth area until the Spanish baroque "Providencia," loaded with coconuts from Trini- dad, ran aground in January of 1878. But recorded his- tory proves otherwise. Accounts from Charles Pierce in- dicate that August Lang, the first white settler on Lake Worth, planted many coconut trees around the lake. Lang

1888 Flagler had built the Ponce de Leon and the Alcazar Hotels in Florida's oldest city. He also saw the advantages of owning a railroad; the state gave land in return for rail expansion and the new transportation system would bring guests to his hotels. Flagler purchased the Florida East Coast Railroad and began laying tracks southward. Later his empire would include a steamship line. When Flagler visited Palm Beach early in the 1890s, his railroad extended southward only to Rockledge. There were rumors that he would bring the rails farther south, but most peo- ple discounted that possibility. On Flagler's return to Palm Beach in 1893 the rumors were believed by nearly everyone in spite of a declining national economy. Agents working for Flagler had already purchased the Robert R. McCormick

walked the beaches collecting nuts that had been carried from the West Indies by the Gulf Stream currents. Many of the nuts sprouted and grew along the shore. There were coconut trees grown and bearing when the Pierces and other settlers arrived in 1873. When the "Providencia" wrecked five years later, the cargo was sal- vaged by H. F. Hammon and Will Lainhart. Fourteen thou- sand coconuts were sold at $2.50 per hundred and planted throughout the Lake Worth area. Within years the island looked like one large coconut grove. In 1886 settlers on the is- land petitioned the government for another post office, suggest- ing the name Palm City. The name was rejected because it had already been taken by another Florida town. The name of Palm Beach was accepted as a second choice.

Henry Morrison Flagler

homestead, one of the finest in the area, for $75,000. An- other point of land was bought from E. M. Brelsford for $50,000. It was soon announced that Flagler would build the largest hotel in the country on the McCormick land, ready for opening the following winter. The extension of his Florida East Coast Railroad into the area was scheduled for completion at about the same time. Flagler's own marble palace, named Whitehall, would be built on the Brelsford tract. Flagler not only had plans for development of his resort on the island, but was looking west too. While

Some of the early settlers were homesteaders, while others purchased land at a very low price. These pioneers had none of the luxuries that we know of today, and help- ing each other was a necessity because of the remoteness of the area. They held picnics on the lake, had Thanks- giving turkey shoots, and gathered for Christmas parties. Hunting for deer, turkey, and bear put meat on the table. Fishing and meager vegetable gardens provided addi- tional food. They lived for the most part in harmony with the few remaining Indians. These people, leading hard lives, could not imagine what was on the horizon.

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