The History of Boynton Beach – This 1976 film, made for the nation’s Bicentennial celebration, has been digitally restored. As a tribute to Harvey Oyer, Jr., this film captures a Boynton Beach of the 1970s and includes many vintage images from Boynton’s past. With an introduction by Harvey Oyer III, this film is a priceless treasure of Boynton history.
The DVD is SOLD OUT but you can view the film on YouTube.
A Message to our Boynton Beach Historical Society Family
March 2021
Standing in the Florida Reading Room now located on the second floor of the Boynton Beach City Library, I am grateful for a large comfortable room dedicated to Florida books and journals. This room has one of the best views in the city. Looking out a large window you see Ocean Avenue and the old Boynton High School majestically restored. So many people have commented to me about this cultural gem that sparkles in the heart of our downtown for all people.
The old high school was saved from the wrecking ball at the last moment by the Boynton Beach Historical Society, fellow citizens and city leaders. This old building has strong bones and was a place of refuge for many people during the 1928 hurricane. I see new trees growing and a joyful children’s park. Children can be seen playing on the swings, running around and laughing. An attractive black fence keeps the children safe. Here is history unfolding in 2021 during the pandemic.
Randall Gill, Boynton Beach Historical Society President
The Reading Room also provides a view of Seacrest Boulevard, the historic First United Methodist Church and the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum. Kinetic art installations give Boynton Beach a modern vibe for the future. It is quiet in the Reading Room. It is an oasis of Florida history with fascinating books about Seminoles, shipwrecks, sea captains, farmers, pioneers, nature, birds, and the Everglades. Drop by sometime and pick up a book and look out a window where you will see a city full of possibilities.
We have launched virtual programs this season with great success. We appreciate all our members and friends who support our work and are happy to welcome recent new members. Technology, in its best form, allows us to continue to be together during this pandemic. We hope you will join us for future programs.
Warmly,
Randall Gill
Weaver Family
Boynton Beach has a rich agricultural history, and the fertile land is what first brought settlers to the area. The original farmed areas were situated along the newly dug coastal canal, where farmers raised tomatoes, beans, celery and other winter vegetables. Boynton was most famous for its bumper tomato crop. Further inland west of the Dixie Highway, farmers planted pineapples on the coastal ridge, where the ‘pines’ thrived in the sandy soil.
Dairy farming became a vital industry. The area that is today Briny Breezes saw the first dairy, owned by Ward Miller. The close proximity to the salt air meant fewer bothersome insects to annoy the cows. As ocean front land increased in value, the dairies relocated further west along the Military Trail and what would become Congress Avenue. Dairymen such as the Melears, the Klatts, the Allens, the Weavers, the Parkers, the Goolsbys, the Knuths,the Whites, the Williamsons, the Goodwins, the Bensons, the Teeles, the Tucks, the Bells, the Keatts, the
Carlton Melear
Winchesters and many others raised dairy cattle across the prairies that once were found in Boynton. During the time period of the 1930s to the 1960s, Boynton supplied almost all the milk for Palm Beach County, processed through the McArthur, Boutwell and Alfar Dairies. Low prices and increasing costs forced the farmers out of business, so they sold their lands to developers.
The citrus industry also was abundant in Boynton, with groves along Lawrence Road and to the west. Ridgeway Groves, Sun-Up Groves, Knollwood Groves and Palm Beach Groves had popular farm stands and citrus packing houses. These have all disappeared due to development.
The Boynton High School was constructed in 1926-27 to meet the needs of the growing community. The brand-new building was seriously damaged in the 1928 hurricane, but repaired and brought quickly back into service.
The 30,000 square foot building is presently being remodeled. It is scheduled to open in June, 2019 as the Boynton Community Center.
Boynton High School – 1932
The Boynton Schools – 1935
The city of Boynton Beach bears the name of Major Nathan Smith Boynton who came to South Florida from Port Huron, Michigan in 1895. The Civil War veteran and newspaper owner purchased oceanfront land and began construction of the Boynton Hotel with workman recruited from Michigan.
Major Nathan S. Boynton
They brought their families and settled in the new town.
When Henry M. Flagler brought the Florida East Coast railroad into Florida, visitors
seeking the warm weather of the area began arriving for what was to become the winter tourist season. Even Boynton and his family, who spent their summers in Port Huron, came back to their Boynton Hotel for the winter.
Meanwhile, the area expanded rapidly as a farming community, growing vegetables for the hotel guests and opening up new sources of revenue through shipment of winter vegetables to other areas of the country.
Click here for a more complete history of the town’s founding.
Explore history by hovering on the history link above for specific subjects such as agriculture and the Boynton Hotel.
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