Part II, Page 2 The Village of North Palm Beach Part II by James Knott (Sunday Brown Wrapper) (PBP) 7-8-84July 8, > 1984
Supplei sent to The Post, Sunday, July 8, 1984—Page 3
The village hall was completed in
1957. In 1958, it was turned over to the
village at the developers' construction
cost of $206,213. Two additions to the
building were made in 1969. On the
north end, a wing containing offices and
council- chambers was built and another
on the south end containing a police
complex and a two -bay fire station.
In 1961, what is now Osborn Park
was a sandy lot with a tall television
tower in its center owned by Channel 5.
The company later built a new one in
another. location, and this land, bought
by the village, became a park and sports
center. Anchorage Park was donated to
the village by the Rosses at the same
time as the marina, 1957.
Ground for the post office was bro-
ken on February 27, 1964, and the build-
ing was completed later that year.
When North Palm Beach was creat-
ed, there were no residents, and in the
absence of any voters a village council
was appointed by the developers. The
law called for the first election to be held
in March of 1959, 'three years after the
village received its charter. Two elected
candidates would replace two of the ap-
pointed members. The first two elected
councilmen were Walter Thomas and
William Young. The next year, three
new members were elected, thus filling
out a completely elected council of five
members. These three were Louis Aiello,
Frank J. Hahn and Emery Newell. The
mayors are elected by the council. 15
citizens have served as mayor, from
Charles Cunningham through present
Congressman Tom Lewis (who served
seven years) to Dr. V. A. Marks, the
present Mayor.
Churches include the Lighthouse
Baptist Church, the first services of
which were held on Easter Sunday,, 1962,
the first minister, Rev. Theodore Bur-
rell; St. Clare's Catholic Church, 1961,
first pastor, Rev. Joseph McLaughlin;
First Presbyterian Church, 1967, first
minister, Robert E. Wolter; Our Lady of
Florida Passionist Retreat, completed
June, 1962; Palm Bible Chapel, complet-
ed March, 1962, first pastor, C. Ernest
Tatham; First Church of Christ Scien
tist, 1969.
After the Ros&s bought the North
Palm Beach land area in 1956, extensive
improvements were made in the golf
course. The old Winter Club was refur-
YOU CAN USE
THE BIG FIRST
24-HOUR TELLER
CARD AT
pPubfix
complex was beininstalled
m ck axea.`It was thought best to exca-
wore several hats: Village Clerk,
Taxtreatment
at its resent location off Anchorage
�P
`vate this, using the removed fill to raise
Assessor and Tax Collector. Until the
Drive: These were designed with capaci-
other adjacent land. The result was a 10-
village hall was completed, he had a desk
• ties to handle an expanded village, plus
acre lake formed on each side of North-
in a small room upstairs in the Winter.
Lake (Park and parts of Palm . Beach
lake Boulevard, connected with the Ear=
Club. One of the first things he had to do
Gardens. Included was a 300,000 -gallon
man system. These are North and South
was set up a tax roll. This was fairly
overh ad water tank. The Rosses' in-
Lakes. This increased the large number
simple, as there were only two taxpayers,
vestmec n was $1,500,000. The distribu-
of waterfront lots already created in the
North Palm Beach Properties (the Ross
-t
tiori system included 75 miles of 'various,
"village, all with concrete bulkheading.
operating entity) and. John MacArthur.
sized pipe and, almost 300 -fire hydrants.
When the First American Bank opened
One other turned up in the person of a
The company was sold almost 20 years
in 1959, it was the first building to be
French duke who owned Little Munyon
later to John MacArthur, who later ex-
erected on Northlake Boulevard.
Island. It seems that he had inherited
panded it to the north.
the island and had never seen it. When
The Ross group picked excellent
The
sent him a tax bill, a polite letter
About 4,000 feet west of. U.S. 1, on
men for key jobs. A great deal of respon-
came back from France with a check for
what as to' Become Northlake. Boule-
sibility fell on the shoulders of Al Olson,
the taxes due — $23.
yard, was a large slough or low-lying
the village manager. fn the beginning, he
The developers donated 10 acres of
land for the erection of a $294,000 ele-
mentary school: This school opened for
classes September, 1958. The first prin-
cipal was Marian Metcalf.
Was Worth Avenue',
ed
The Village Marina was completedPlet
in December, 1957. This is located onWho
the North Palm Beach waterway in rear
Lake Worth and Ft. Worth
"
of the water tower and consists of a
concrete boat -launching ramp, an elec-
tric hoist and a large dry -storage area.
Named After?
There is wet dockage .for 30 boats.
An easy answer since 500,000 people
The privately owned North Palm
read THE BIG FIRST SUNDAY BROWN WRAPPER ...Beach
Marina, a ina created b the Rosses is
° every Sunday for the past eight years ...
located east of the country club on the
the rich and provocative history of our
county. The people of THE BIG FIRST and
Intracoastal Waterway. This large in -
Y• g
...--- `col. Worth are pleased you enjoy it.
stallation is capable of handling yachts,
d a
n an build -
has 68 concrete slips a o
i all completed in 1963.
co
n m
g aP
The shuffle -board courts were com-
pleted in 1961. These are located next to
the library. The village has 14 tennis
courts, five outdoor basketball courts,
six ball diamonds and six racquetball
courts, with paddle ball and volleyball
courts, in addition to an 18 -hole golf
course.
1
i
In 1968, a revenue bond issue was
arranged in the amount of $325,000.
$200,000 of this amount plus another
$100,000 from the government created
655-8511 Jupiter -Boynton 428-0900 Delray -Boca
the library. The other $125,000 provided
First Federal Savings of the Palm Beaches 1121 FSLIC
two additions to the village hall.
The village hall was completed in
1957. In 1958, it was turned over to the
village at the developers' construction
cost of $206,213. Two additions to the
building were made in 1969. On the
north end, a wing containing offices and
council- chambers was built and another
on the south end containing a police
complex and a two -bay fire station.
In 1961, what is now Osborn Park
was a sandy lot with a tall television
tower in its center owned by Channel 5.
The company later built a new one in
another. location, and this land, bought
by the village, became a park and sports
center. Anchorage Park was donated to
the village by the Rosses at the same
time as the marina, 1957.
Ground for the post office was bro-
ken on February 27, 1964, and the build-
ing was completed later that year.
When North Palm Beach was creat-
ed, there were no residents, and in the
absence of any voters a village council
was appointed by the developers. The
law called for the first election to be held
in March of 1959, 'three years after the
village received its charter. Two elected
candidates would replace two of the ap-
pointed members. The first two elected
councilmen were Walter Thomas and
William Young. The next year, three
new members were elected, thus filling
out a completely elected council of five
members. These three were Louis Aiello,
Frank J. Hahn and Emery Newell. The
mayors are elected by the council. 15
citizens have served as mayor, from
Charles Cunningham through present
Congressman Tom Lewis (who served
seven years) to Dr. V. A. Marks, the
present Mayor.
Churches include the Lighthouse
Baptist Church, the first services of
which were held on Easter Sunday,, 1962,
the first minister, Rev. Theodore Bur-
rell; St. Clare's Catholic Church, 1961,
first pastor, Rev. Joseph McLaughlin;
First Presbyterian Church, 1967, first
minister, Robert E. Wolter; Our Lady of
Florida Passionist Retreat, completed
June, 1962; Palm Bible Chapel, complet-
ed March, 1962, first pastor, C. Ernest
Tatham; First Church of Christ Scien
tist, 1969.
After the Ros&s bought the North
Palm Beach land area in 1956, extensive
improvements were made in the golf
course. The old Winter Club was refur-
YOU CAN USE
THE BIG FIRST
24-HOUR TELLER
CARD AT
pPubfix