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Commission Has Productive First Year


At the Dec. 8, 1909 meeting, commissioners approved bills from the Road Fund that included payment for road work, convict supplies and renting a road roller. 

At the Dec. 8, 1909 meeting, commissioners approved bills from the Road Fund that included payment for road work, convict supplies and renting a road roller.

In Palm Beach County’s first year, the commissioners delineated precise boundaries for the county, seven voting precincts and five commissioner districts; hired key personnel (clerk, tax collector, tax assessor, sheriff, judge, school superintendent and supervisor of registration); set up offices and a judiciary system; established the millage; created a tax roll and list of registered legal voters; paid bills and collected fines, fees and taxes; established district polling places from Stuart to Pompano (at stores, a packing house, a fire hall, and a ladies association hall);[18] and held a bond election.[19]  The commissioners also had to work through the difficult process of separating from Dade County.

At many of the meetings in 1909, the board read several petitions signed by dozens of residents requesting county roads and bridges.  This required discussion on exactly where to build the roads, obtaining the best price on rock and shell,  purchasing and transporting rock, ordering materials, and advertising and evaluating bids on hauling and spreading shell or rock, grubbing (clearing), grading, performing construction work, and purchasing equipment such as steam rollers.

It is impressive that the commission accomplished so much while also handling numerous smaller tasks.  In August 1909, an application was granted for G. B. Smell to catch a manatee, or sea cow, to be used for scientific purposes.[20]  There was no jail in the county, so the sheriff was authorized to make arrangements with the St. Lucie County sheriff for temporarily housing Palm Beach County prisoners.  A motion was passed requiring that all orders for office supplies in excess of $25 be approved by the board, except for emergency orders that could be approved by the chairman of the board.[21]

In September 1909, permits were granted to the Hotel Royal Poinciana and Hotel Breakers to sell liquor, wine and beer in Election Precinct No. 3, and a motion was carried to impose an annual license tax on every business, profession or occupation in the county equal to 50 percent of the annual state license tax.[22]

In a joint session held on Sept. 21-23, commissioners from Palm Beach County and Dade County discussed a separation agreement for the division of assets and liabilities.[23] After two days of meetings, a proposition was made to Dade County which was accepted.[24]  The settlement determined that “On the basis of the assessed value of the property in Dade County for the year 1908, Palm Beach County should bear 50.3445% of the net indebtedness, or $41,498.91.” This was to be paid to Dade County over 10 years with 4.5 percent interest per annum.  It was also agreed “that Palm Beach County pay Dade County 50.3445% of the amount which Dade County shall pay in settlement of its warrants due and outstanding on the 30th day of June, 1909.”[25]  At a special meeting on Saturday, Sept. 25, the board agreed to enter into the settlement contract between the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the Dade County Board of County Commissioners based on the approved proposition.[26]

The figures used to determine how much Palm Beach County owed Dade County as established in the separation agreement are depicted here in the minutes of the Sept. 25, 1909 meeting. 

The figures used to determine how much Palm Beach County owed Dade County as established in the separation agreement are depicted here in the minutes of the Sept. 25, 1909 meeting.

On Oct. 5, 1909, the board approved the use of convicts to repair a road and fill across what was called the Big Marsh because heavy rains had made the road impassible.[27]  The board received a letter from F. C. Aicher in Jupiter informing them of the destitute condition of a man by the name of Small and his wife.  The board approved a motion to place them on the county’s pauper list and pay them $9 a month.[28]   At an executive session on Oct. 15, the board decided to postpone the bond election (originally scheduled for Oct. 19) until December because many registered voters protested.  Having the election so soon would not give them enough time to pay their poll taxes which would make them ineligible to vote.  All registered voters were given until the second Saturday of November to pay their poll taxes, and subsequently be eligible to vote in the bond election.[29] 

At a meeting on November 4, 1909, the board adopted a resolution to issue bonds to construct paved, macadamized or other hard-surfaced highways and bridges from Hobe Sound to Pompano in the amount of $200,000, payable to Hanover National Bank, New York.  Directions were given to publish the resolution in several newspapers printed in Palm Beach County for at least once a week and not less than four weeks prior to the election to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1909.[30] 

After the election, at the Dec. 17 meeting, the following bond election results were accepted and certified: 

  • Precinct No. 1:  30 votes for bonds, 2 votes against
  • Precinct No. 2:  20 votes for bonds, 1 vote against
  • Precinct No. 3:  153 for bonds, 40 votes against
  • Precinct No. 4:  40 votes for bonds, 3 votes against
  • Precinct No. 5:  32 for bonds, 7 votes against
  • Precinct No. 6:  5 votes for bonds, 5 votes against
  • Precinct No. 7:  19 votes for bonds, 0 votes against

The bond passed, 299 to 58. The minutes state, “Therefore, be it resolved that the result of said election shows a majority of 241 votes for bonds, and we further certify that no objection, contest or protest against the canvass of said votes has been made from any election precinct of the county.”[31]


Population Grows, Larger Government Building Needed


The final 1909 Board of County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 17 concluded with approval of a bill for rock to be paid from the Road Fund.  

The final 1909 Board of County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 17 concluded with approval of a bill for rock to be paid from the Road Fund.

As government functions were rapidly increasing, it became necessary to have a larger centralized facility.  In 1913, the county commission hired an architect to build a new courthouse on land that was donated by Henry Flagler[32] on Poinsettia Avenue between Second and Third streets[33] to house a courtroom, government offices, records and jail.[34]  This is the location of the building now called the Historic 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse. The building was intended to serve approximately 18,000 residents.[35]  

County Builds First Courthouse

Courthouse construction spanned approximately three years, and the dedication ceremony was scheduled for April 10, 1917.[36]  This was not a very joyous time for a grand opening as President Wilson declared war against Germany on April 2, 1917.[37]  In addition, citizens were disgruntled about spending money on one building instead of new roads and schools.[38]

The 40,000-square-foot, four-story structure was constructed in a neoclassical style[39] exemplified by its symmetry, tall columns, full-height porch and triangular pediments.[40]  It was built with concrete, structural steel, limestone brick, terracotta block and granite for the base and stairs.  The exterior details included an eagle crest in the front pediment and decorative Corinthian capitals atop the columns.  The interior was handsomely finished with oak paneling, maple floors and mosaic-tiled flooring in the hallways.  The two-story courtroom had skylights and a mezzanine.[41] 

Courthouse “Busting at the Seams”


By 1920, the county had grown to 18,654 residents,[42] and the Florida “land boom” of the 1920s contributed greatly to population growth.  The number of residents in West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and businesses were booming.[43]  Palm Beach County had thousands of new residents, and by 1925, the courthouse was too small.  In 1927, a four-story, rectangular addition was constructed about 25 feet east of the existing building.[44]

In 1930, the county’s population was 51,781 and growing rapidly.  By 1940, it was 79,989; in 1950, it was 114,688.[45]  In 1955, the Commission decided to connect the original courthouse to the addition in order to use the space between the two buildings.  And, in 1969, a “wraparound” was built that encased the old structures adding more interior space but hiding the 1916 and 1927 buildings.[46]  All county government business was conducted in the courthouse complex, until an administrative building opened in 1984. 



This photo taken during the renovation of the historic courthouse in 2004

This photo taken during the renovation of the historic courthouse in 2004 reveals (from left to right) the original 1916 building, 1955 structure, 1927 addition and 1969 wraparound (brick on far right).

This painting, created by Jackie Brice, depicts the courthouse in 1916.

This painting, created by Jackie Brice, depicts the courthouse in 1916.

This view from Dixie Highway in 2003 depicts the west side of the courthouse with the wraparound.

This view from Dixie Highway in 2003 depicts the west side of the courthouse with the wraparound.




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