About the LBTS Early Years

Pioneer Days in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Interest has been expressed in the early foundation days of our Town. To record the basic events, we note the original incorporation was in the year 1927, when the area was just another sandy spot a few miles out of the dirt road from Fort Lauderdale. Following a devastating 1926 hurricane, another in 1928 followed by the 1929 depression, the town was abolished in 1933, returning to county jurisdiction. Questions arose as to ownership of public and private properties as well as the beaches, all of which involved various types of litigation.

In 1945, a group of dedicated citizens met in the Villa Serena Motel to consider the possibilities of again incorporating. Subsequent meetings resulted in the naming of a Committee to further the cause. This Committee consisted of Ralph W. Wolfe, Frank P. Humiston, Edward Dobroth, George E. Wedekind and Frank Parkhill who enlisted the aid of Mr. & Mrs. Glenn H. Friedt, owners of the Villa Serena, to assist in obtaining a Charter. Mr. Friedt had been active in the formation of the Lauderdale Surf and Yacht Estates at the southend of the proposed Town. He and his associates guaranteed the funds necessary to process the Charter application.

Shown here is the Anglin home just south of Commercial Blvd in 1946 directly on A1A, the home is still there today but the area looks a bit different than seen here in the day!

The Anglin's from Gary, Indiana, owned the town back then, Murphy recalled although there was not much of a town. "There was no bridge over the Intracoastal, just everglades, snakes and alligators from A1A to the waterway," recalled Murphy. "And A1A from Oakland Park to Commercial was a two lane dirt road."

To the north was one motel, the Silver Sands and where Publix is today, there were only the shacks where the help lived.  Murphy's liquor store located on Commercial Blvd. license was sold to Matt Hoffman and eventually moved to the Village Pump on El Mar Dr., the building  then became  "The  Market Basket" operated by the Behan's also from Petoskey in 1947.

The town with a staggering 104 hardy souls strong finally enjoyed it from a meeting that took place at George Wedekind's home on January 20, 1947 and from that meeting came approval to incorporate a charter and a group of officers. The charter was adopted by the Legislature in December of 1947.

The original efforts to incorporate the area north of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to the Pompano Beach city limits. Mr. Friedt advocated the inclusion of this area; however the approach was met with objections of non-residents who owned the north area and who preferred to have it remain unincorporated. Elimination of the north area, and the appeasing of local objectors of incorporation, brought about an agreeable approach that effected the 1947 and 1949 action to provide a new charter. Aiding in the effort to establish a new Town, in addition to the Committee and others, were Jerry Brinkley, Robert Thrush, Charles Miller, Karl Fife, Ray Muir, Sherwood Schomberg and Bailey Howard.

Mrs. D.E. Linardy was the first Mayor under the new charter, she served from 1947 - 1949. The first commissioners included Ralph Wolfe Jr., Kenneth Anderson, Jerry Brinkley, who also was the first tax collector and Walter Bartels.

Original 1927 Platt Map  - Surf & Yacht Club Platt -  Silver Shores Platt Map

The original platting of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea included only the area from the ocean to including Bougainvilla and Poinciana Street. To this was added the Surf and Yacht Estates, whose promoters had provided City water through contract with the City of Fort Lauderdale. Several years later, this service was extended to the entire town. In the early 1950's, Silver Shores was platted to include the area west of Poinciana Street and Bougainvilla Drive to the Intracoastal Waterway. The southwest corner, abutting the Surf and Yacht Estates, was platted as Beverly Shores, a residential area. Later in the 50's, the final platting of the northern area was platted as Golden Shores.

From this nucleus of energetic citizens, determined to make this area a desirable place to live, we now see the fruits of their efforts along with those of their successors. Founded on this beautiful site are Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lauderdale Surf and Yacht Estates, Silver Shores and Golden Shores, creating a highly respected, prosperous and important community that now acts as the hub of a great wheel of residency to the north and to the south and to the west of us. These pioneers gave their time and efforts to overcome many legal snarls, irritations, problems and spent much of their limited funds in the legal processes necessary. They overcame the obstacles, one by one, and developed a firm foundation upon which this Community now sits.

To these pioneers, we are indebted for their foresight and determination.

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