‘Eventful 1959 passes ball to promising 1960′
By Michelle Quigley
As we near the end of the first decade of the new millennium, let’s look back a few decades to see what The Palm Beach Post editorial board said about the 1950s when we were embarking upon a new decade in the second half of the last century:
The most positive economic factor for the area was the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft plant, “which last month reported passing the 3,000-employee mark.”
In construction “thousands of new dwelling units were built, and these were only a preview of what may be expected.” The city of “was on the verge of providing a block-square parking facility, had provided some fine samples of modern street lighting, and was thinking seriously about a Clematis Street mall. The long-delayed Royal Park bridge was opened to traffic, and the approaches beautified.”
“Community betterment” recommendations for the new decade included “four-laning of SR 80, at least to SR 7; actual construction of a municipal auditorium; and clarification of Lake Worth.”
Times change, but some things stay the same.
1950 aerial view of Southern Boulevard and Military Trail.
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft plant in 1961.
An undated (but marked as “probably 1960″) file photo of a family touring the Pratt & Whitney plant.
Tags: New Year
