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I remember moving to South Florida in 1954 and entering West Palm Beach on US One. It was a beautiful drive with Phoenix palm trees lining the road down to 23rd St. Then going east to Dixie Hwy without any trees and it made WPB look like a dump. Enjoyed taking the kids to Phipps Park on Dixie Hwy and have them ride the miniature train that ran under a big Banyan tree and the carousel next to it. Motor boating at night on Lake Worth produced bright trails of fluorescence in the water. Good memories of starting what was probably the first aluminum can drive in WPB at Belvedere Elementary School. An area was fenced off at the back area at the old school and it smelled like a brewery from a block away.. $4,000 was raised from the cans and 10 Whispair air conditioners were bought from Westinghouse. Ten class rooms were air conditioned and smaller a/c’s were bought for the offices. The next year the cafetorium was air conditioned by the School Board for $125,000. I remember the pier at Worth Avenue and it was probably the last time there were public restrooms for the public beach. I remember seeing the old court house in 1954 and how the new wrap-around gave the building a new look in the 60s. Now the building has been returned to its original setting of 1916. It was fun going to downtown WPB and visiting the public piers. You could buy fresh fish right off the fishing boats. I remember attending a wedding reception at the old Women’s Club where the new $30 million park is now located. The Women’s Club was said to be a treasure and never would be torn down. I guess that wasn’t right. Going to the Farmer’s Market on Congress was always a treat and we used to watch Chuck Curcio change tires at his little tire shop and later built his business up to Tire Kingdom. A thrill I had was participating in the Gold Coast Marathon boat race. It was a 2 day affair that started with a LeMans start at Pelican Island on the 79th St Causeway in Miami. The halfway point was The Flotilla Club at 49th St and North Flagler Drive. People lined up on the bridges and on the shore between the two cities. Too bad that race can’t be run any more. My first try at surf boarding was at Ocean Ridge on an 8 ft wooden Hawaiian surf board. Never tried surfing again.
Speaking of “landmark / iconic people” who wandered the streets of Palm Beach County, does anybody remember that heavy-set guy who was always wandering around carrying a radio and/or wearing an orange wig talking to himself? You would see this guy off of Forest Hill Blvd., Southern Blvd., the Dixie Hwy or hanging-out at the Palm Coast Plaza / Publix back around the 60s & 70s time frame. He kinda looked like that B & W comedy film star Olly. I remember when he used one of those emergency phones attached to telephone poles to call the fire dept. because he thought the mosquitoe truck was a burning house. This incident happened by the Palm Coast Plaza.
About Shopping Cart Mary, if I am recalling the same character, a woman who was somewhat of a landmark perhaps around US1… I do believe that there was a Palm Beach Post newspaper report when she died that mentioned a discovery that it turned out that she actually had a great deal of money. Perhaps this was a case where she was felt to be incompetent, and her funds were withheld from her by those who were supposed to actually care for her… But, I was struck at that time by the contrast between how she lived, and how she could have lived…
The kangaroo story is completely true.
You can find the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News stories in our historic news archive: http://www2.palmbeachpost.com/archives/
Search for Joey the Palm Beach kangaroo.
And you can do a Google search to find the Life magazine stories and pictures.
We’ll write more about it soon (with pictures and links) on the Flashback blog.
Michelle Quigley
News Researcher
The Palm Beach Post | HistoricPalmBeach.com
WOW Walter!!! Thats some story. Now please tell me it’s true, cause it sounds crazy. However i was born & Raised in W.P.B. there for maybe it’s not so crazy after all. LOL. Now you have me looking this story up on the internet.
I remember the Lil’ General at Military Trail and Purdy Lane. Picking up empty soda bottles and returning them there for a refund to buy a 5 cent candy.
Kings Dept, Zayres dept, and the Farmers Market were the places to go back then.
The Polo Grounds stables behind the Supermarket at Military and Summit. Shirley Benton ran those stables for years. We had kept our horses there and would ride to the McDonalds Drive-Thru for a soda. Pizza Inn had the best pizza and salad bar. Bonanza, Western Sizzler the biggest burger in town for a buck!! The National Enquirers Annual Giant Christmas tree and decorations will always be remembered.
Out west in the early 80’s I have fond memories of the greatest mudholes and hills out in “Running Water”.(Now known as some part of the acerage in RPB). Millers Supermarket in RPB and the nearby rope swing. Pulling an old surfboard with a rope from a small jon boat just to keep cool in the summer.
Okeechobee Blvd was 2 lanes and ended in Loxahatchee at ‘A’ road, it was just a large dirt road for years. I remember riding 3-wheelers, horses and many times walking that road to get to friends houses.
Those were the good ole days for sure.
I can’t forget the Loxahatchee A&G Market off of Southern Blvd at ‘D’ Road. A tiny little brick store and when you would walk inside there were 2 tiny isles and an old cash register on the counter.
Who will ever forget Old Mary - she would walk the streets of Loxahatchee looking for a ride and anything else you were willing to give her. We would always hope our mom would pass her by, cause she stunk to high heaven… But no she wouldn’t pass, she always stopped to give her a ride and usually $20. I thought my mom was crazy. I don’t know what ever happened to Old Mary.
My family goes back in Palm Beach county further than I do … generations … back to when my great-grandfather Stotesbury financed Henry Flagler to build a railroad here … I can remember taking a ferry across the Intracoastal to go the Seminole post where they had little colorful straw dolls for sale … can remember the railroad tracks on the north bridge … can remember the little lake in Wells Landing … can remember Tamarind as somewhat of a western border for West Palm, though there were dinner trips on Old Okeechobee way out to the steak place there … can remember the strange birds and insects that were plentiful at the gates to El Mirasol … can remember when The Hut was thriving, and Bazaar International had a great ice cream extravangza place … and I can remember Joey, my ‘dawg’, though technically he was a kangaroo…
My mother had a friend who was an English airline pilot with a regular route between Australia and Hawaii, but then he got transferred to the New York to London route. His friends gave him a going away party, and unbeknownst to him, they put a baby kangaroo into his travel bag, which he discovered at customs … so he called my mother, and told her he just needed to take care of the baby animal for a few months at most until he could make arrangements, and she agreed… I am tempted to think that was the last she ever heard from him…
The cute little animal was barely two feet tall, if that, probably much smaller, and that was upon arrival on Cherry Lane… I would guess he grew probably less than one foot a year until he was only about seven feet tall at the most… Funny things that one can learn about kangaroos… Like a goat, they eat most everything, a fact my father appreciated when it came to the lawn, but which horrified my mother when it came to the shrubbery…
We had several properties. My mother used to rent them out, and then we would live in whichever one was vacant, so much of the island got to experience the delight of our kangaroo, some perhaps more delighted than others… Joey was quite friendly, having been raised among people, but some people seemed a tad fearful of him… Joey could jump ten feet vertically into the air, and probably 20-30 feet horizontally if he had that 40mph momentum going, which he achieve when police were chasing him, or so they said. Ever given a speeding ticket to a kangaroo?
I used to stand on Joey’s big feet, and hold his hands, facing him, and he would give me rides up and down and fast and all around that were a thrill that many kids never experience from their dogs… As said, to me, being very young, and growing up with Joey, he was my ‘dawg’…
Joey and I even played ‘dodge ball’, where I would take a inflated lightweight beach-ball and chase him, and then throw it at him, and if I hit him, he would then pick it up and chase me and throw it at me… I think that it was a free-for-all regardless of who had thrown the ball to see who would get to it first… But it was a fun game…
Keeping Joey at home was problematic, because, in part, he learned by running down the beach, where we used to take him on outings, that they had nice food at parties at the Coral Beach club, and he seemed unable or unwilling to understand that only members were supposed to attend, and apparently he failed to meet the requirements for desired members… Nonetheless, he did enjoy going there, somewhat too often…
Richard Nixon lived at the end of our street, and seemed particularly unhappy to have our kangaroo on his property… I might suspect that it was he who started the movement to have Joey kicked off the island… One never knows… However, at some point the Town Council wished to declare Joey to be a ‘dangerous wild animal’ and kick him off the island… My father never had had fondness for Joey, referring to him as ‘your mother’s problem’… But, when ordered to get rid of the ‘dangerous wild animal’ (which could mean some sort fo a bill), my father refused, said that this was his beloved ‘tame domestic house pet’… That’s when Joey moved inside our home on Seabreeze, across from the people with the penguin. Joey soon learned that though he could jump up ten or twelve or more steps with one bound, that his big feet just didn’t fit, and he would slide back to the first floor…
The local kids would come by the bus-load to see Joey, and even Caroline and John John Kennedy visited, as did Life magazine, once the controversy to kick him off the island erupted… The media said the Kennedy kids just didn’t know better, but then Jackie Kennedy came herself wiht the kids, and that shushed them a bit…
The Town Council, to avoid seeming to be singling out a single animal, then passed an ordinance which banned everything but small turtles, goldfish and birds in cage, dogs, cats, that sort of thing, and then the controversy really grew, as basically many many people had many many things, not to mention how popular Whitey the Tortoise was near Wells Road, where my great-grandmother had planted those pine trees… And she had had baboons as ‘watch-dogs’ on her property (part of the reason why it was walled in), and that was without problem (at least until her death, at which time the island had its own version of what became the movie Congo)…
So, in a compromise, my family agreed to remove my ‘dawg’ from the island, and the town agreed to drop the much hated ordinance. So, lacking any boarding facility for kangaroos in the area, we put Joey in Masten’s Dog Kennel, which put him out front, thinking he would be fun publicity, which he was probably was while visitors totally less than 100 a day. however, as the amount of visitors swelled, Masten’s began to feel a touch overwhelmed…
My mother then remembered how S&H Green Stamps would buy anything, so she got together with the local fire department, and started a campaign to raise one million green stamps to open a zoo at Dreher Park. The stamps would be used to buy an elephant to open the place, and Joey could also have a home there. And that is where Joey went, that is how Dreher Park Zoo was founded, and that’s how I lost my dog…
Wow! Reading this brings back memories. I have been here sence 1956, lived off 45th Street and Greenwood. Went to North Shore High and surfed the East Coast as much as I could. Beach parties with bon fires in Jupiter. Ah yes Penut Island and camping there on the week ends. Music Casters every Friday and Sat. Swimming at the shell pits. Thanks for the memories.
Reading these posts has been such a walk back in time for me.
Especially the posts from someone named Buster.
I was born in St Marys, as was two of my three daughters.
My father attended Palm Beach High School.
I too, so well remember, Midget Market, Albrittons, The High Tide, The Singber Island Pumphouse jumps, and I too, graduated from Northshore, after attending St Anns in downtown West Palm Beach.
My mother worked at Burdines on Clematis, my father in the Palm Beach County Courthouse and part time at my much loved Jai Alai!!
I remember the bottle cap movies at The Palms and The Florida Theaters in downtown during the summer on Wednesday mornings the Roller Rink in Northwood, the community center on 40th and Pinewood.
Wow! What a blast from the past!~
L~
my my such memories, anyone remember the lido pool on palm beach and the tunnel, how about the flotila club and northwood drug store, currie park when you could swim there and sportsmans inn for pizza, sheesh woolworths and burdines, i rember so much of my idelic child hood spend on the shores of lake worth, it was a wonderful life. i shot deer where the pb mall is now, and swam across the intercoastal, anyone remeber the paddle wheel queen or rc bottle caps for movies, the huricane bar, and albritons the first royal castle on 45th street and broadway. i dont know his name but anyone rember the guy at walgreens that sold
“MIAMI DAILY NEWS PAPERS” i remember the spencers and ryboviches, the Rich family, did sex euducation with john and greg rice. ran from the bryants and caught incredably big jacks in front of good sam. sweetdreams are made of this sigh
Wow, a lot of good memories and posts here! Some answers - the drug store on Dixie was called Ranche’s (they also had a lunch counter. The bowling alley by the canal in Lake Worth was Lake Worth Lanes - now a thifft store. I think Kings was always Kings - behind Palm Coast to the south. The bead store in the Palm Coast Plaza was called the Jewel Thief. Palm Coast and the Palm Beach Mall were the best! The best restaurants were Proctor’s (best imitation of their fish is at John G’s on the beach), Sportsman’s Inn (remember Broasted Chicken) owned by the Mear family, Frederic’s for a fancy dinner, Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts in Jupiter, the Carling House on Military Trail, Four Points with the big McArthur Dairy (Four Points has been TOTALLY destroyed), JC Western in Farmer’s Market (Spec’s Music too), Fox Surf Shop to the west of Palm Coast Plaza, the orange groves on Lawrence Road, Lolly the Trolly in Lake Worth - 25 cents to get to the beach! Skipper Chuck on TV, Creature Feature on Channel 12 at 11:30 PM Saturday nights, Rudy Miller the weather lady on Channel 12 who predicted snow and was right, watching Jaws at Cinema 70, Fountain’s Department Store in downtown Lake Worth, Barbecue Bens on Military Trail…I could go on and on - see my website at http://www.palmbeachpast.org.
Peanut Island had “Little Peanut” and there were actually tropical fish everywhere, camping overnight on our boat & there were only a couple other boats with you & undoubtably knew them, swimming with manatees behind our house, watching the guys building the finest boats in the world at Rybovich, and eating the BEST burgers in the world at Albritton’s, Wilson’s bakery for the donuts & the 5 & Dime in Northwood, having lunch with my grandmother at Burdine’s downtown after going to Pioneer’s, driving to Jupiter with my Dad felt like you were going half way across the State, going skiing with my brothers from PB all the way to where Admiral’s Cove is now took what seemed like no time at all, Good Sam & St. Mary’s where the only two hospital’s around (my Grandmother, was one of the first RN’s at GSMC) both my parents & grandparents were born in Florida, & I could never figure out how any of them (great grandparents as well) could stand FL without air conditioning or mosquito repellent, but I do know that my family, friends and I all had the best childhoods & environment to grow up in here in South Florida - if only our children & theirs could have had all the experiences we did back then
I too Renee loving coming back to this website! You brought up the carnavals at the Palm Coast Plaza. My grand father was a Shriner and manager of City Ice, used to run the hamburger stand at the carnaval when it came to the Palm Coast Plaza in the 60s & 70s. His Shriner’s lodge was over by the National Guard Armory and we used to go to BBQs and pancake dinners there. The Shriners had a back room where they would gamble and hold “special meetings”. The walls in that room were decorated in risque Egyptian Belly Dancer motif, which was “very interesting” to say the least. You also brought up fireworks. Being that the 4th is around the corner, makes me remember living in Lake Clark Shores and sitting in our backyard on the lake and being able to see a firework show from our house. Prior to the show, we would fish, BBQ, light sparklers & fire crackers which we got from our Summer trips to Georgia and Tennessee. Had to watch out though for the occassional curious gator which must have smelled our BBQ-LOL. By the way; does anybody remember Topper’s BBQ on Dixie? Had the best hush- puppies around! Happy Fourth Fellow West Palmers!!!!
I keep coming back here to read new posts, it’s such fun. Was thinking about the fact that truth is, soooo much has changed it can be hard to remember it all ): I had forgotten about the 5&10 store off Southern & Dixie. The “Piggly Wiggly” Grocery Stores LOL. Walking around Lake Worth all nite in the summer time with the Emmett’s (My cousins). My uncle Terry was well known in Lake Worth for being a bit off, always walking or riding his bike wearing girl shorts. Back then i was embarressed and never admited in public we were related. Looking back he is such a good guy, always a smile for anyone who crossed his path. Who remembers the OLD Lake Worth bridge? I remember everyone’s excitment at watching the new one get built (Yes, i still see it as the NEW Bridge). One thing that has not changed is the Fireworks still go off in the park at the bridge all these years later(: My Grandfather owned Blackthorn Modeling and we were all excited when one of his girls got picked to rep Florida in the Ms America Pagent. Now you never even hear about the pagent anymore. Who remembers Jr’s resturant in downtown Lake worth? The cool Lake Worth Library? All the Carnaval’s that came to the Palm Coast Plaza? The Cross County 8 mall with it’s strange set up? Hanging at the Shell Pit’s, and Hanging out at John Prince Park on a sunday afternoon along the small creek area, playing our new found love of country music loud as hell? Loxahachee Momma’s (LOL)? No Microwaves, No Remotes, No Computers or Internet, No Play Stations’ or Wii’s? Just fresh air, a ball, and maybe a wooded area was all we needed to make us happy.
I remember when the Palm Beach Mall was built and we thought that was great. I miss the old Clematis St. with Burdines and other stores such as Anthony’s. My mom would go to Normans and they would let her take clothes home no charge just bring them back. (honor system) The Florida and Palms theater was great. We didn’t have a/c in schools or computers to use. My parents had a business on Northwood Ave. There are thousands of great stories that I can remember. It was a great place to grow up. My family has been here since early 1930’s.
I just stumbled on this site looking for old photos and info on the West Palm area. Geez everyone, I though it was just me. Growing up in South Florida in the 50’s and 60’s to quote a dear friend, “Was like growing up in paradise”.
I see fellow Lantanians and Lantana Vikings and Lake Worth Trojans have replied here.
So many memories. I grew up in Lantana. I remember butter pecan sundaes from Dairy Queen on US 1 in Lantana. You could get 6 hamburgers and a jug of birch beer at a hamburger “joint” in the 7 11 shopping center for under $2. There was also a small donut shop there that we got fresh donuts from on the way to Lantana beach Sunday mornings.
There was no AC at Lantana Elementary, but Lantana Jr. High was brand new with AC. My brother was a member of the first 7th grade group.
There were no malls, just downtown West Palm. At Christmas time, lights were strung across the street, the band shell was at the end of Clematis, which was replaced by an ugly library, which has since been torn down. The Florida theater was also at the end and so was the Palms theater, which I always thought was haunted. Burdines had a great toy section and there was a small area that sold Boy Scout items. SearsTown also had a great toy section, it was actually quite large and separate from the main store. You had to pass though the garden section to get into the main store from the toy area and sometimes they had a pool setup. As soon as you walked into the main store, they had a grill with chicken on a spit cooking right in the store. There was a small resturant just outside the other end of the store.
My dad was a store manager for Food Fair, His first store was the Lake Worth store, he opened the Lantana Food Fair and then moved all over the county, West Palm, close to Sears Town, Westward Shopping Plaza (with Broward drugs, JM Fields and I think it was a Kresge). He also managed at the Palm Beach Mall store. Hey Jack, you said you worked at Kings, I believe it was a Food Fair just before Kings came in…….Does anyone remember a bowling alley near the Skydrome????
We went to the Lake Theater in Lake Worth, spent many hours in the Lake Worth library, ice cream from the Howard Johnsons across from Lake Worth beach.
Lantana Shopping Center was awesome. It has a Woolworth’s, Publix, Grants, Liggett Drug Store, Western Auto and many smaller shops. I have looked for years trying to find a picture from the 60’s of it, with no luck.
Thanks for letting me remember……………..Paradise indeed!!!!
one skating rink nobody mentioned: gold coast on 24th street in wpb… and the drug store at southern and us1: there were no drug stores directly on the corner, but one block north was a rexall drugs and across the street was one of the first burger kings ever built. (my family had atlantic golf and equip co just south of southern on us1. the ihop on us1 at the west palm/lake worth canal was the 7th store built in the chain. then there was the drivew in across the canal with the original styled - speedy burger mascotted mcdonalds out front. shortly after givig way to a sambo’s rest on that very spot. mcd’s moved two blocks south. and lake worth beach… i read where we all did the car parade and hung out at the casino, but does anyone remember WPBR, the radio station on top of the hill overlooking the sands? Anyone remember that LARRY KING once worked out of that building? or Francis Langford? or Bea Wain and Andre Baruche? I had the honor of being the last one on the air from those hallowed halls when the new ownership decided it was time to move in town… but not before Dan Gregory and I spent a harrowing 29 hours as hurricane andrew licked our butts. (that was the reason for the move). so when you remember, include us all in your thoughts. we could always be seen at the howard johnsons at the foot of the bridge after our shows. until we meet again, may all your memories be pleasant ones. - Bob Manning / Bob Hardy / Gary Rouse / Lee Gregory and Rex, the Wonder Ferret.
anyone whom went to john i leonard knows the best teacher EVER was mr. smith. HITCHHIKING to pirates world to see concert’s. saw some of the best show’s; rod stewert,jertho tull,leon russell,wishbone ash;etc.,etc. shell pits at summit ext.; road house,west of turnpike on lake worth road the english pub on the trail across from the airport,what a DIVE,lol
The more i read these posts the more i want to be a kid again ): Remember “Peaches Records & Tapes” (Funny BOTH records & Tapes are a thing of the past)? “Spec’s Music”? Ciggerrette vending machines? Northboro Elementery with it’s wooden hallways (Since burned down)? Blue Front Ribs (When they were on Tamerind Ave)? Lick um sticks, and fireball candy? Learning how to drive in the open field on the northside of the Airport (Off Belvedere)?
my favorite memories are santa at the pb mall, taking pics with lion cubs at cross county mall, wwf, concerts, ringling bros., sesame street, disney on ice, car shows and beauty pagents at the auditorium. Ranches drugstore at southern & dixie. there was a huge spaceship slide on dixie next to pb harley. a&w drive-in. dreyer park zoo and the science museum. zaire. kmart had a restuarant inside at military and forest hill. skating at the palace and galaxy. cinema & drafthouse. ice cream at the farmers market. going to lake lytal pool for .50 cents. proctors!!! my dad worked at searstown and made less than $200 a week as the service manager. the natl enquirer xmas tree. the first ever toys 4 tots run. playing in the run down stables behind publix at summit & military that used to be the polo club. camping on peanut island when u could just dock ur boat at night and start a fire and run through the pitch black woods being chased by the fishermans dogs. mudding at the towers. rocky horror at carefree. being a smurf every year with murphy’s towing in the lake worth xmas parade. the rope swing off forest hill behind the nursery.
Who remembers afternoon summer movies (free) at the “Plaza’s 1 & 2 (Palm Bch Lakes)? When the most popular radio station was WIRK on the AM dial? When the fav local DJ was “Richard Strider The Midnight Rider”, LOL??The small guys (Twins) who owned the Galaxy Skateway west of town? Doing the hokey pokey? That cool Bead store at the “Palm Coast Plaza”? Who remembers the tall guy with the Gorgous waist length black hair, and mustache who ALWAYS seemed to be at the Western Wear store at the Farmers Market? The Cosmic Wonder? Sneaking into the Dreher Park Zoo through the cut in the fence behind the Planitarium? The Tigers Paw Lounge? The Go-Carts & Goony Golf on Military Trail? Walking Tall? Reading “Sweet Savage Love”, and underlining all the good parts, LOL!!???!!! The Teen Disco in downtown Lake Worth? Sun-In? Being able to run from one end of the PB Airport to the other end in SECONDS?? Luke & Laura? Concerts (Gallagher, Arlo Guthrey, ect ) during the early 80’s at the Zoo? Paying $6.50 for a concert ticket at the Autotorium? Midnight Madness at the S.Florida fair? The Twin City Mall? The Sportsmen’s Inn (Pizza Parlor)? The Gong Show? Macromay Bikini’s (What were we thinking)? That really cool/big playground with the swirly slide on Dixie Hwy? The pool hall at the Carefree Theater? When the Lake Worth Casino had a Kiddie Pool? Only needing a NOTE from your parents to buy ciggerettes!? “The Seven Seas” Store at the “PB Mall”? Camping at John Prince Park? Pizza’s & Orange Julius from “The Orange Bowl”? The Jerry Lewis Telethon on ALL 3 tv stations? When Grey’s & Woolworths drug stores had Soda Fountain Counters? Does anyone remember the name of the Drug Store at the corner of Southern Blvd & US1?? Who remembers those feathered clips that we all had hanging off our Cowboy Hats (Yea, THOSE clips, LOL)?? Huffy bikes? The lil old man who liked to ride the bus everyday wearing his sailor suit & hat, and whenever the bus stopped he would stand and say “Toot Toot”? Big Daddies? The Black Angus? Cruising Lake Worth Bch & Dbl Roads on the weekend? When Congress Ave ended at the PB Mall? When Dreher Park had a small picnic area in front of the Planitarium, and the rest was a fun wooded place to explore?
How about “The Boy’s & Girl’s Club” across from Twin Lakes HS? Doing the 20 MILE walkathon, that started at Howard Park? That swinging ball, when you 1st walked into the “Science Museum”? Holloween Nights when it was NORMAL to find kids lined up 20-30 deep at any given house? “Parent’s it’s 11:00 do you know where your children are? Followed by “Creature Feature. Who remembers “Toppy” the Elephant at Dreher Park zoo, and how they sent her to “Lion Country” because they could no longer afford her upkeep? Sadly within 2 weeks she was killed of an LSD overdose, because someone thought it would be funny ): YES, That REALLY happened!! It was front page news. The playground at the “Skydrome Drive-In”? Hanging out with friends all nite at the end of 45th st? That REALLY dangerous curve on 45th, heading east just before you came up on Jai jal? When there was NO I-95? Using cardboard boxes to sled down the sand embankments that would soon become I-95? When it was required to get all dressed up to attend The Dog Track & Jai Jali? The Pinball arcade on Singer Island? Portofino’s Resturant WHEN it was ALWAYS busy? The Beer Keg? Don’s Pizza (Singer Island)? The giant radio tower at “301 Broadway”, with the Photo Shop at the bottom? The Underground tunnel at Lake Worth Bch? Fat Joe always surrounded by pretty girls at the Lake Worth Casino Pool? The radio Tower on Lake Worth Bch? Always meeting at “The Clock” on Lake Worth Bch? The Pump House? Swinging from the rope into the lake at “Rabbit Point” (Dreher Park)? “The Duke” & “The Duchess” Bars on US1 in Lantana?
WOW! I love coming back here to read the posts of Palm Beach County residents (former or present) which relive through words the great memories of our times there. I know I’ve posted here before but I saw something on a satelite imagery site and one of those virtual turnpike websites of Palm Beach County that made me sad. For starters, I couldn’t believe how much development westward there had been, which looks to have wiped out many fishing and hunting spots (the hunting I did was collecting reptiles / Corbett Area / Pine Jog Area / land west of the Turnpike and Loxahatchee). The worst thing I saw though was on the virtual turnpike and how West Palm Beach has changed via the closing down and/or the demolishing of former special places of good times and memories. Take for instance the section of the Dixie Hwy from Belvedere Rd. to Lake Worth. The whole area looked very run-down and like a ghost town. I grew-up in Lake Clarke Shores during the 60s and 70s and spent a lot of time at many of the different shops, restaurants, theaters, and other establishments located there. I couldn’t believe how so much had changed! Even Forest Hill High looked unrecognizable. In any case, when I read Mr. Henline’s recent post / quote:…… “I didn`t mean to go on and on, but I long for those days.The world will never be as good as it was back then.I wonder why we ever left, and why I never returned, the crime, the drugs, the violence? We never had to worry back then about playing after dark, there was no reason to worry. I want to go home so bad.” ….It really hit home for me. Somebody needs to do a book about the West Palm Beach of the 60s & 70s. I’d be more than happy to contribute or be contacted by fellow West Palm Beachers who grew-up during those times.> atwilightdragon@gmail.com <
The Thomas Family. We were some of the first residences in WPB when my folks came there in their Model T Ford. I am in the process of finishing the story of my growing up in WP with my three brothers, all of born in the 20s and the youngest, Jerry, in Good Samaritan Hosp. This was way before the Palm Beach Mall. But believe me, do we have the best memories! It was all about Clematis Street in those days, where all the kids from Palm Beach High would meet We had three movie theaters and three Five and Ten Cent stores, and finally, even a Burdines, where I worked while going to PBJr. College. The Hut was our favorite drive in. It was just one big sweet gathering of friends, until WW11 when things got serious.I could go on and on. Read my book someday. Happy Trails to you!
So many memories came back as I read these posts.
I was born in Lantana in the late 60`s and grew up in West Palm Beach (Westgate) in the early and mid 70`s.. I remember the Okeechobee Steakhouse, my Mother worked there for many years, as well as the Howard Johnsons. I remember Wuv`s, my sister worked there, and the Tropicana by J.M. Fields, where my other sister worked, and the U-Totem, where my brother worked. I remember West End Sundries ( better known as June`s), where I would return all my coke bottles for change to play pinball machines and buy Munchos and Yoo Hoos. I remember playing hide and seek in the itchy sawgrass fields off Westgate avenue with what seemed like the whole neighborhood. I remember `Old Man Charlie` who was this friendly man who always wore a sailors hat or captains hat, he was always walking around Westgate, everyone called him a bum, but if you asked him for a quarter for a soda and he had it , he would give it to you.I remember the Super Slide behind the McDonalds, I remember sneaking into the Theatre off Okeechobee Blvd. to watch the movie Seven Alone, with all my brothers and sisters, there were 7 of us total,5 living in WPB.I remember going to Westgate Elementary when Coach Haines and his wife were there.I remember wearing my Westgate Sandals( going barefooted) all summer long, and getting stickers in my feet when we cut across empty lots. All the streets were still dirt and crushed shells then. I remember the Whites, the Blackwells, the Henlines, the Larabees, the Orcutts who owned the drive -in. I remember the Fords, the Ulichnees?, the Brookers, the Henry`s, the Cole`s, the Harvey`s, and the family we grew up with and first met when we lived in Lantana.I remember the Gooney Golf, and buying my first pair of cowboy boots at the farmers market. I remember living across the street from the Palm Beach Kennel Club and falling asleep to the sounds of airplanes taking off at the Airport. I remember all the grownups going to Chances R 2, a bar near the airport.I remember riding my bike thru Belvedere Homes and thinking they were mansions compared to where I lived just a few streets over. We lived on Cherokee ave., and Osceola. I remember going swimming and camping out to 45th street. I remember going to the beach what seemed like every day. We went to Phipps Park. Climbing all those crooked trees on the hill was a blast. I remember roller skating at The Galaxy. I remember when Elvis came and stayed at the Sheraton, we used to swim in that lake behind the Sheraton.
I didn`t mean to go on and on, but I long for those days.The world will never be as good as it was back then.I wonder why we ever left, and why I never returned, the crime, the drugs, the violence? We never had to worry back then about playing after dark, there was no reason to worry. I want to go home so bad.
Reminded of the A&P grocery store on Dixie, North of Belvedere, later becoming Proctors. Loved the HF Davis 5&dime store on Dixie/Southern. A fav place for all was the A&W rootbeer drive in at Parker & Southern.
“The He & She” Lounge on Dixie just South of Forest Hill where the long raised dancing floor strip ran the whole legth of the bar, each partner dancing in different colored lit rectangler strips. Disco balls and all !
Lake Worth with its Grandmas Bakery on Dixe & 2nd N. with the Orange Blossom rest and Winn Dx across its way. A roller skating store in LW where you could rent street skates (four wheel shoe skates) and dare the ride over & down the LW bridge.
10th Ave & Congress had its quaint Movie house/pizza house.
Ho Jos on Belvedere Rd, east of Dixie.
Jerrys Catering Rest on the second floor of the airport.
Between NPB & PBG there was an actually rotating bar that constantly moved.
As a second generation native of Palm Beach County, I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s in Lantana. I remember Lantana Beach, fishing off the Lantana bridge for sand perch, Lantana Boat Yard where my dad worked, El’s Aquarium a pet shop that my uncle owned, hair cuts at Babiones Barber Styling (in the 7-11 plaza), working through high school at the Howard Johnson’s on A1A at the Lake Worth bridge (my mom worked there too for 32 years), and Lake Worth High School.
I remember shopping at the Palm Coast Plaza at Christmas time and seeing all the people there, The Reef Gift Shop, Toy King, Murphy’s, Woolworth’s, Jackson Byrons. Seeing tThe Poseidon Adventure at the Skydrome drive in, I remember shopping at Fountains on Lake Ave and The Palm Beach Mall. I remember fishing Lake Osborne and catching some of the largest bass I have ever caught in the deep dredged out holes in the north end.
I remember teachers at Lake Worth High School like Mrs. Olsen, Mrs. Mandigo and at Lantana Jr. High like Mr. Archer, Mrs. Burkhart, Mrs. Cantley (the art teacher), and Mrs. Welsh.
I could go on and on. I wouldn’t trade growing up in Palm Beach County back then for anything!
How great it is to see the replies and memories of Palm Beach County of the past. Born in 1959 a Florida Native and growing up in Lake Clark Shores, I remember plenty of those days like the following: Clematis Street and the balcony movie theatre, The Big Christmas decorations up & down both Clematis St. and the Dixie Hwy, Woolco, Palm Coast Plaza and that cool flea market place next door to it, Publix, Outdoor Sportsman, Farmers Market (Deluca’s Hoagies-THE BEST!), Walgreens & Rexall Drugs when you could get an actual real malted milk shake there, Sportsman’s Inn, Toppers BBQ, Buds Fried Chicken, Crusty’s Pizza, Nags Head & Manero’s Steak Houses, Maurices Italian Restaurant, Putt-Putt Carpet Golf, The Beach, The Bazaar on N. Dixie past Sears, Prescott’s Bait & Tackle and Cushmans Citrus on Forest Hill Blvd., G & G Drive thru, McKinnly’s Hobby Shop, Palm Beach Mall, PBIA of the 60s & 70s, Meadow Park Elementary, Forest Hill High, Lake Worth Pier, and a former childhood-to-adulthood friend named Lisa. All of these fond & memorable things were the West Palm Beach of my past. How great it would be to see a book come out of the Palm Beach County of the 60s & 70s! How I miss those days, especially being retired military, stuck in the grey & rainy Northwest US. .
I can remember before they built the Palm Beach Mall there wasn’t anything out there but sand and shooting off a shotgun with some other guys. All the time I spent of Blue Heron Blvd. during the winter fishing for bluefish and mackeral off the Little Blue Heron Bridge and the open beaches when you drove up to Juno Beach where we would surf fish. I went to Palm Beach High for 2 years and in my senior year they changed it to Twin Lakes so I was in the first class of Twin Lakes in 1971. Good memories but I would never move back
My family has been in Florida since the early 1820’s. In 1898 my 20-year-old grandfather rode a horse from Clearwater and settled in Boynton. His brother was a County Commissioner when this was still Dade County, and then became the first Chairmen of the Commission when Palm Beach County was formed in July, 1905. My Dad was born in Boynton in 1912 and I was born at Good Sam in 1937. I guess you can include my famly among the early settlers in the state and in Palm Beach County.
southend memories
I was employed at Kings Dept. Store from 1961 until they went bankrupt in 1981.
the southend was really bustling in those days. there was the skydrome Drive In theatre across the canal from Kings.
the Palm coast Plasa had Three theatres–cinima 70–S &S cafeteria Litchfield Farm house restaurant.
also Jackson byrons,Murphys Variety Store, and one of my favorites–The reef card and gift shop.
We had a nice Publix super market, a walgreens and a Woolworths
further to the north was a woolco discount store
there even was a roller rink in the vicinity
Favorite eating places included Shakeys Pizza Parlor, amed in Beer) hot dogs. the Patio Restaurant,also Christines who had the first Salad Bar in the area.
It is sad to see the Palm Coast as a ghost town, and the former Kings site turned into “A field of weeds”
I came to west Palm in 1954, at the age of 21. I was employed at montgomery Ward at the corner of Olive and First street.
east of Wards on Narcisses was the Greyhound Bus station which had a cafeteria.
for lunch, I would go to woolworths on clematis St.
I could eat there for 35cents–a hot dog was 15cents, a coke cost a dime, and a big slice of chocolate cake was also a dime.
all of the downtown stores closed at noon on Wednesdays during the summer–there were no tourists because of the hot weather.
favorite restaurants were mama gildas,Procters, russos, Testas, and Frederics steak house
too bad that this town had to grow into the crime ridden place that it is today.
I remember the Palm Beach County of the 70’s and 80’s. Searstowne on South Dixie, Burdines down town, Jeffersons at the corner of Okeechobee and the Trail. Going to Gooney Golf on the Trail, the waterslide on Okeechobee. The excitement of getting a sangria at Taco Viva even if i was underage lol. Okeechobee Steak House or Raindancer for “grown up” family dinners. My favorite restaurant of all time…Proctors on Dixie Hwy….the all you can eat fish dinners! ( if someone knows how they made their fish…please eamail me…i’ve tried to duplicate it and just cant get it right). Going to Singer Island or Lake Worth Beach on Sat and Sundays.
What good memories I have! I moved back to Pittsburgh 10 yrs ago to take care of some family situations and have been back to WPB once since. So much has changed over the years…but…it’s still HOME to me!
I remember a wonderful slide behind McDonalds on Okeechobee Blvd, the A & W Drive in on the corner of Parker and Southern Blvd., The J.M. Fields on Okeechobee, I remember when the Palm Beach Mall opened and I ran to the record store to buy the Patridge Family album with David Cassidy singin “I Think I Love You”. The Barefoot Mailman store. Walking to the Burdines store from St, Ann’s School. Walking to the Carefree Theatre to watch “Saturday Night Fever” Eating at “Proctors”, Shopping at the Palm Coast Plaza and eating pizza at the N.Y. Pizza place and also shopping at “Kings” The “Three Sisters” on Clematis. So many memories, all wonderful, at a time when life was much less stressful and we were a much smaller City.
Back in the 80′S
I remember when there was a movie theater at the Palm Beach Mall. There was a store called the blackfoot mailman, cool as hell. There was the Cross County Mall (I believe), off of Military trail and Okeechobee. A taco viva was in the plaza. The zoo was Dreyer park Zoo. The Enquirer put up the world’s largest christmas tree in the 70’s and 80’s. There was Gooney Golf by the Rapids. The South Florida Fair had rednecks, skinheads and headbangers at midnight madness. Oddly enough, they played hard rock back then, too.
Royal Palm Beach didn’t have a Publix, Winn-Dixie, or anything, just Greater Gator. They used to have a haunted house for Halloween in Royal Palm, as well. It was in the little building the bulldozed a few years ago. Hennigan’s Nursey (Southern Blvd) was still around. The best nursery ever. My best wishes to the family. You also had Southern Ornaments, the best holiday shop in the area, ever. We had the mud trucks going mudding off of Okeechobee and 441 on the weekends. 441 was mostly farm land, and dark as hell at night. It was great. Moroso Motorsports Park was still Moroso. You had Mckinley’s hobby shop, and Challenger Raceway (RC dirt track) in R.P.B.. There was also the stores Pantry Pride, JByrons, Curtis Field (furniture), and Levitz. They had WWF wrestling at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. The West Palm Beach Expos (baseball).
As one person said above, Lums restaurant. Later on came Don Carter’s All Star lanes Vista. The best bowling center in south florida of all time, where you would see Dave Davis (manager), Joe Berardi, Palmer Fallgren, and sometimes Jimmy Keeth (the most awesome bowling game the game of bowling has ever seen).
Overall, life was good back then. We had a lower population and more things to do.
I remember watching the Ringling Bros Barnan & Bailey Circus come into town and people would line up and watch the animals walk from the train station to PBLks up to the WPB Auditorium. Concerts were held there, my HS Graduation was held at the Auditorium and what a big mistake it was to sell that place. The Amphitheatre is nice but with our So. Florida weather fluctuating so much, it was nice to be able to enjoy a concert without worrying about what the weather will be like. Remember driving up to the Auditorium, being dropped off at the top and then drive down to park your car? Great memories!
I also remember having parties out in the “boonies” and 4wheeling in Boynton Beach. Having friends that lived in Palm Beach, South Olive, Lake Clarke Shores, WPB and we all got along and hung out. A night out with your date always included driving through LW Beach and then John Prince Park. There was always parties in there and you got to choose which one you wanted to attend. What fun!
Oh, remember the National Enquirer Christmas Tree! Just beautiful and all the ornaments and displays there. You had to walk forever to get to it but so much fun!
Also remember hanging out in Palm Beach and walking down Worth Ave to the only convenience store there in the 70’s for a drink. We would also go to the first mansion on Clarke Beach and Surfer’s Beach to use their water hose for a drink and rinse off. lol
Great memories……
Memories OF WPB:
Saturdays at the Palms Theatre horror movies, the 5cent pickles, the red velvet drapes and the balcony.
The Florida Theatre with silly 50’s Doris Day comedies and the Surf Theatre further west. Eating apple pie at the Woolworth’s counter, then going up stairs to lounge and bathroom, eating at McCrory’s counter watching them grill and send up the dirty dishes on the dumbwaiter, walking through Kress then waiting on the line of bus benches for the Rosemary Avenue bus.
Clothing stores: Diana shop, Three Sisters, Normans, JC Harris, and the clothes that were must haves: mister pants, shells and belts from Staggs, bernardo sandals and if you could afford them, Jack Rogers.
During the “slow summers” it was a ten minute drive to the beach with easy parking, days of swimming and sun bathing. And what about the Lido Pool with the high diving board and the corner food shop?
Anybody remember the old library/bandshell with Katy Koffee(?) local talent show?
Remember the Hut.. going around and around the block waiting for a spot to open up then ordering a lemonade with fries from Pauline.
Dances at the Armory with real bands: the Accents, the R-dells, the Rhythm Rockers, the Saxons, the Apollos, the Chevelles many sponsored by Nick George. Palm Beach High, the Electrician Hall and the Casino used to host dance nights, too. And the old JC Clubhouse at the airport. The Carefree Theatre, playing pool.
Ah, those good old days. Guess what? we’re old. Let’s hope the future generations will have good memories of their times in WPB.
What do they do?
My family was also here forever. We were born in West Palm Beach, FL. My family went to Palm Beach High School. When we moved to the south end I went to Forest Hill High School. I used to go to the HUT with friends all the time. My parents had a business. I remember when everyone knew each other and we were all friendly. It was like a Peyton Place. Don’t talk about anyone. What fun we used to have. Then we go bigger and people are rude now.
I am a native West Palm Beach, as well as my mom, and her parents came in the 20’s. I can remember every time the news at 11:00 pm came on probably channel 5 the first thing that was said
was ” PARENTS IT IS 11:00 PM DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE ? I will never forget those words and with all the changes in our society today with juvenile crime etc. I believe that would maybe just make parents think about the question and the answer they have. It sure couldn’t hurt. Thanks for your consideration.
I too am a St Marys baby, my dad worked for Ruben Construction (now Ranger Con) when it was on 25th st in WPB before moving to Sandsbury Rd. He would bring home BBQ from Blue Front when it was on Tamarind, my mom taking us to Palm Coast Plaza on Saturday’s for shopping (Kings Dept Store, J Byrons,Lerners) and lunch at Walgreen’s, if we were good we could feed the monkies at the plaza. The PB Mall was a treat, surfing (trying) with my brother at Phips Park in Palm Beach. swimming in the PB Canal, Knollwood Groves (I really miss it) the drive ins on Southren Blvd, Lale Worth Road and in Rivera Beach, The Greenhouse (what fun!!) on Singer Island, Double Roads, Air Force Beach, the shell pitts. I just wish my kids could have these types of memories.
Reading everyones blogs makes me cry, lol. I’m young, but I still have much memories, like how the only people that carried pistols (and only PISTOLS) was the elders, and that was only to keep you from playing in their lawn, lol. If we fought, it was actually an insult for others to jump in. And it was a major shock to everyone when Nathanial Brazil brought that gun to school. It seemed like forever waiting on the South Florida Fair to come back around, and every year, soon as I get in the gate I had to find me a corn on the cob. The Martin Luther King parade in Riviera was always a big deal, and I was so happy to be in the parade every year. The Roots Festival in Delray will never be the same after they moved it DownTown and took it away from Pompay Park. Only if they knew that even though the car show held up traffic, it was the best feature of the festival. Standing in line at Docs, DownTown Delray was worth it because their food was so damn good. And entertainment in both DownTown Delray and Palm Beach was priceless. Clematis by Night every Thursday kept the kids out of trouble, and the food was so good. Unlike the things you all are talking about, these things are still in existance, it’s just the family values the went out the damn window. I pray for change, soon…
I, too, grew up in West Palm Beach in the 60’s and 70’s. I lived off of Tamarind Avenue, near what is now the Main Tri-Rail Station. I remember the Soap Box Derby races that were held on top of the hill on Datura that ran down to Tamarind Avenue. I also remember going to the Fun Show at the Florida Theatre during the summer and us girls playing with the neighbohood boys at Connie Mack Field, Howard Park the Pool–some of the best times of my childhood were had at these places. My siblings and I had the pleasure of attending Central Elementary, Central Jr. High and Twin Lakes High (f/k/a Palm Beach High)–all on the same school grounds. I remember eating at the Campus Shop and Russo’s. During those days, prior to the Palm Beach Mall, we did all our shopping on Clematis. Do you remember the May’s grocery store which was located across from what is now the WPB Police Dept? Boy, those were the good ole’ days…
I too am a St. Mary’s baby, raised in Riviera Beach when there was no drugs and no shootings. I remember Joey’s and the Greenhouse on singer island, this was the place to be on Friday’s and Saturday’s. Driving your car around and around the island…lol. Double roads, Phil Foster park, Dairy Belle, Sub King…..great times. Spending the summers at singer island beach with everyone from school playing volleyball to it got dark. Going to Woolworth’s and Sear’s with my mom and Grandmother….and the twin city mall to go to the movies, the Orange Bowl for Pizza and the game room……these are times I will forever cherish and remember!
I remember back in the 80’s when the palm beach mall was the only mall. It was the place to be any day of the week. I worked at golden greek in the food court. At that time the food court was full of places to eat. I remember burdines being the best store in the mall expensive of course, but the best. I cant remember the name of the cookie place that was at the front of the mall, but you couldnt go to the mall and leave without some of there cookies. Those were the days.
I remember the Hut…….the free movies downtown in the summer…..Golfview Jr Hi and Palm Beach Hi and the twins John and Greg….walking from my Grandmother’s house on Fern St at the railroad tracks to school on The Hill…….going to the Beach in Palm Beach when the beach wasn’t so small………I’m a great niece of John Ashley, leader of the Ashley Gang of Stuart in the early 1900’s…….my Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother travelled to Hobe Sound/WPB area by covered wagon to settle there……..partying with the great kids of PB Hi in the 60’s…….WPB rocked then!!!!!!! Russo’s subs are AWESOME!!!!!!!!
I rememeber going to Palm Beach Hi School from my Grandmother’s house on Fern Street in the 60’s……the Hut, downtown free summer movies…..5&10 store, Burdines, Anthony’s…….I am the Great niece of John Ashley…..the leader of the Ashley/Mobley Gang in the early 1900’s……..sooo….my Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother traveled from the Ft. Myers area by covered wagon with their kids to Pompano Beach/Hobe Sound area…….I remember the twins John and Gregg from Golfview Jr High and Palm Beach Hi school….I see their pics are on the front of this……..living in Bradenton area now……still keep in touch with the kids from schools in W. Palm Beach……60’s ruled at the Hut back then!!!!!!! Had a great time growning up in good ol’ WPB……..
knollwood groves was the only good thing about boynton beach. i hate my life now because it’s gone. thanks a lot.
I grew up in WPB in the 60’s and 70’s and remember going to Burdines with my mother and the prisoners in the jail across the street whistling and cat-calling, Sears Town,
The Hut, Russo’s subs, going to see Reefer Madness at midnight at the Florida Theater, Camping on Peanut Isalnd
when it was just the Coast Guard station and pine trees. Back then everything west of military trail was the sticks, and we would drive out west and shoot our rifles and shotguns or go the palm beach canal and swim through the locks. After 95 was built, we could zip north or south with no traffic jams. The PB Mall and the leaky Teepee. After High School I joined the military and it was several years before I returned, and my flight arrived at night and circled by lake Okeechbee and I could not believe all the lights that had progressed all that way! I prefer it the way it was: nice and easy going with nice locals except when the snow birds from New York and New Jersey came down and jacked traffic up.
I remember biking up and down Congress before the boynton mall was put in. Knolly at Knollwood Groves, Lunds bakery and the Swedish house. My childhood memories of Florida are replaced with
the evening news details of good things gone bad.
The pink sand at Boynton beach is long gone, so my Dad says.
I miss mostly the Knollwood Groves, the big trees there and the vintage feel of the old florida homes and open air garages that are over taken by new developments.
Would anyone be all for me to invest in a small hangout/ breakfast type shop that celebrated old palm beach county as we used to know? i would deck the place out in all the old photos from yesteryear and serve up some good florida orange grove juice.! I wonder if it would fly. It is just a dream but something tells me that the old florida charm is what many of us long for! I am just afraid my rent would drive me out of business.
I was born in 1963 at St. Marys hospital to parents that were also born there. I remember the midget market, allbrittons pharmacy,twin city mall,walking barefoot, fishing at rybovich,skating at goldcoast skating rink 24 street, high tide lounge,chatterbox,parking at ocean reef park when it was pinetrees, burnt bridge with my grandmother,double roads jupiter, surfing pumphouse, northshore high school,jai ali, monday night wrestling at the west palm auditorium. I could go on forever I hope ther are more of us out there to remember what it eas really like in the good ole days….oh yeh the cattamaran on 45 th street
As a Palm Beach county native.I have so many wonderful memories.I remember I was just 8 years old when the Palm Beach Mall opened its doors 1967.I was so excited.I watched it being built and just couldn’t wait for the opening day.We only had Palm Coast Plaza & downtown to go shopping.I have fond memories of the Florida Theater on Clematis,we would save our RC bottle caps to get in free to the Summer kiddie shows.Going to the Skydrome drive inn was a Saturday night treat.Sears town on Belvedere and Dixie,Hall hardware with the big hammer, super slide behind Mcdonalds on Okeechobee blvd, Gaiety Skating rink on Tuxedo rd in WPB,Connie Mack Field,Proctors Seafood on Dixie hwy.I love West Palm Beach and all the great memories.
Yes I too Remember the Early days, The first Mall was the Farmers Market on Congress, The days when you could Drive your car to the end of the Lake Worth pier and unload your stuff then drive off and park.There was no Interstate , two lane roads everywhere.
When you were on Jog road you were west of town and 441 was in the middle of no-where or it seemed. Welling what???
Okeehelee park was the Shell Pits and was accessed from Dillman road thru the woods. We had Drive in Movies, The Boulevard Drive In,
The Skydrome Drive In, The Beach Drive In.
Alot of History and now it’is nothing but Hectic, All Over. Bring back the Good Old Days.
In the late 50’s, I remember driving towards the beach on Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach and the road was covered in smashed crabs that lived in the marsh on either side of the road from the cars running them over.
Another memory is of the Howard Johnson’s Restaurant on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Federal Hwy. where the bank is now.
There was no I-95 and we bought clothes in WPB at Burdines down town, and Lerners.
We used to go to the Boynton Theatre which was on Federal Hwy. where there is now a high rise. There was a Royal Castle to hang out at on Saturday nights, in front of St. Marks Catholic Church, and everyone went to the Belvedere dime store for anything you couldn’t find anywhere else.
Those were good days, when no one locked their doors and we had no air conditioning at Boynton Elementary school, but I don’t remember caring.
Mrs. Collins was my 2nd grade teacher, and her husband had the sign business in Boynton. So many great memories of a wonderful little town to grow up in!
Going to northside of Boca inlet and partying at night. Jumping off Boca inlet bridge and not getting caught.
Ranch House restaurant at Deerfield pier and it getting swamped on huge surf days.
Driving down the intracoastal at 40-50mph in a Donzi and no one cared.
Surfing Reef Road in PB and 2 guys out on a north swell.
Red Reef park had red reef you had to stay away from.
Lums restaurant. Fried clams and corn on cobb. Huge beers.
Gas wars on Federal highway.
You could pull up at Jap rock and watch people surf.
Men got ticketed in PB if they went shirtless after leaving the sand. The condo cammandos did not want to see mens nipples.
I remember the old Boca Mall which is now Mizner Park. My Mom used to take us to a .50 movie and she would let us go to Britt’s after words. The big treat was new shoes at Tom McCann and stopping by the “Rock of Ages” record store.
I remember Downtown Lake Worth and also shopping with my parents at Burdines and Sears Town in West Palm Beach. This was in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Everything was less crowded and it was much more relaxed. There was no 95 and the beach was the place to hang out. It was also fun to go on Saturday to the Cinema 70 at the Palm Coast Mall and walk over to Woolco!
I remember in the late 60’s going with my family to Peanut Island by boat on the weekends after catching 4 or 5 Saifish and there would be only 4 or 5 other families there. Compare it to today with about 400 boats and a lot of loud music, hard drinking and partying. Still fun but a very different experience. A lot has changed. I guess that’s progress, right?
Palm Beach Mall of the late 70’s and 80’s.
Of course it was “the” mall and the only one in the area. This was before Boynton Beach, Wellington and Gardens Malls.
We had a great, fun time as employees of this mall then.
We would hang out and do everything together because we all had a mid-week day off and occasionally a Sunday as retail workers.
We would go to lunch together (plenty of places to eat then), hang out at Houlihans after work, go to the beach together and even had a bowling team that would play at the bowling alley in Riviera Beach.
This was a fun time in past Palm Beach County for us.
In the late 1960s, I remember driving from Boca Raton with my family to see my dad leave on an airplane. That was a big, big deal. There was no I-95 connection, so we took Congress Avenue and it took about 45 minutes to get there.
The Palm Beach Airport (no international designation then!) was just one large building with two floors. The top floor was the observation area, with huge floor to ceiling windows and a very high ceiling. I remember pressing my nose on the glass to see my dad on the airplane and we waved frantically as it took off.
You could walk to the gate with the traveler at that time, and that was a lot of fun for kids.
We dressed up to see him off - nice dresses, nice socks and shoes. And my father dressed up to fly on a plane - everyone did during the ’60s and ’70s. Riding on a plane was a privilege and we gave it respect by wearing our best clothes.
I still can’t wear shorts or flipflops on planes. Same thing for local movie theaters - we all dressed up then. And we were quiet during movies. Seems a lot of things have changed, and not just that the airport’s gotten bigger and busier.