inside: Carolyn Lamour ... - Floridawise Magazine
inside: Carolyn Lamour ... - Floridawise Magazine
inside: Carolyn Lamour ... - Floridawise Magazine
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CityWise<br />
The History<br />
of Lake Worth<br />
The City of Lake Worth was named<br />
for Major General William Jenkins Worth<br />
who was born March 1, 1794. Worth<br />
entered active service during the War of<br />
1812 and was promoted to the rank of<br />
major by the time he was 20 years of<br />
age. When he was 26, Worth became<br />
the Commandant of West Point where he<br />
taught military tactics for eight years. His<br />
resignation in 1828 was formally<br />
announced by Cadet Robert E. Lee.<br />
In 1841, Worth was named the tenth<br />
commander appointed to close the war in<br />
Florida with the Seminoles. On April 9,<br />
1831, the final battle took place against<br />
Halleck, the last resisting chief of the<br />
Indians. Worth was honored by the State<br />
of Florida for his military skill and<br />
dedicated service. He went on to<br />
distinguish himself in Texas and Mexico<br />
during the Mexican War. Fort Worth,<br />
Texas, is also named for this military hero.<br />
The development, of what is now<br />
Lake Worth, had its beginnings in the<br />
early 1900s. The Palm Beach Farms<br />
company, with its vice president, Harold<br />
Bryant, purchased thousands of acres of<br />
18 October 2006<br />
Everglades land in 1909. In 1910, this<br />
company bought a large tract of costal<br />
land. Harold Bryant, his brother, F.E.<br />
Bryant, and William Greenwood were<br />
hired as agents to promote this new land.<br />
These developers concentrated on the<br />
section now known as Greenacres City.<br />
They sold five, ten acre tracts of fruit and<br />
truck land for $250. As an added<br />
inducement, a free lot in the town on the<br />
shores of Lake Worth was offered with<br />
each tract purchased.<br />
Platted in January 1912, as the town<br />
of Lucerne, the area of the giveaway lots<br />
became so popular that the area to the<br />
west was virtually abandoned until the late<br />
1920s. Because a post office was now<br />
necessary, and there was another<br />
“Lucerne” in Florida, the founders<br />
changed the name to Lake Worth,<br />
honoring General Worth of Seminole<br />
Indian War fame. The city was<br />
incorporated on June 4, 1913.<br />
Between April and December of<br />
1912, the early settlers changed the town<br />
site from a “sand lot in a clump of wild<br />
palmetto with 38 residents to a town of<br />
308 permanent residents, 77 completed<br />
buildings and 48 more under<br />
construction.” It became known as the<br />
“Wonder City” when; in this short time<br />
they formed a chamber of commerce, a<br />
school, a library and a Women’s Club.<br />
The Lake Worth Herald, Lake Worth’s<br />
oldest business, printed its first issue in<br />
August 1912. On May 18, 1914, electric<br />
lights were turned on for the first time.<br />
The mainland portion of the city is<br />
situated along a wide stretch of Intracostal<br />
Waterway with the same name as the city,<br />
Lake Worth. The municipal beach<br />
complex, located on Palm Beach Island, is<br />
a focal point for the residents and visitors<br />
who take advantage of the sun, surf,<br />
sand, dining and shopping. This complex<br />
is called the Casino. It was built in 1922.<br />
It has seen many architectural changes,<br />
especially after the 1947 hurricane.<br />
In the heart of the Palm Beaches, Lake<br />
Worth is cooled by the easterly tropical<br />
prevailing trade winds and warmed by the<br />
Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream, “Nature’s<br />
Beauty Path” comes closer to the shore<br />
than any point in the United States. It is in<br />
Lake Worth where the quality of life is<br />
seen in its people.<br />
Lake Worth Today<br />
The term Old Florida charm, new<br />
Florida style is how you would describe<br />
downtown Lake Worth today. There is so<br />
much to do and see. Whether you’re<br />
alone or with the entire family you’ll enjoy<br />
the entertainment. Weekly events like<br />
“Evening on the Avenues” every Friday,<br />
signature event celebrations and festivals<br />
you won’t want to miss. So many unique<br />
places to shop … restaurants you’ll just<br />
have to try.<br />
This month you won’t want to miss the<br />
Hispanic Festival. The festival will be held<br />
Oct. 21 at Bryant Park Lake Worth, on the<br />
waterfront. Hispanic Fest in Lake Worth is<br />
Palm Beach County’s largest Hispanic<br />
celebration. Occurring during the<br />
celebration of Hispanic Heritage month,<br />
Hispanic Fest combines the rich tradition<br />
of native Hispanic dance, children’s<br />
activities, contemporary arts, music and<br />
food!<br />
The 2006 celebration will move to<br />
new heights with expanded activities and<br />
more of the great Latin music and<br />
entertainment you have come to love. Tito<br />
Puente will be our headliner with his<br />
fantastic full orchestra.<br />
This month “Evening on the Avenues”<br />
will feature our most popular event –<br />
HALLOWEEN ON THE AVENUES<br />
featuring “Cindini” an escape artist, sword<br />
swallowing and of course the pet costume<br />
contest sponsored by Paws on the Avenue.<br />
This event will also feature arts and crafts,<br />
food and much, much, more. For more<br />
info, call 561-582-4401. ❂