52 Deerfield Moments

MWI Corporation Eller Family Business The Eller family business in Deerfield extends back to 1926 when Hoyt Eller opened a machine and welding shop on Dixie Highway. In 1937 at age 21 Marlin Eller bought his dad’s shop for $500. He soon began manufacturing farm equipment including simple irrigation pumps. David Eller join the business […]

Deerfield Beach Elementary A Real Treasure Opened on February 1st 1927, Deerfield Beach Elementary School is on the National Register of Historical Places. It is the 2nd oldest school, still in use, in Broward County and an excellent example of Classic Mediterranean Revival architecture. Its greatest accomplishment, of course, are the thousands of our children

Braithwaite School Our Segregated Past From 1885 until the US Supreme Court Brown v Board of Education decision in 1955, Florida schools were prohibited by law to teach white and black children in the same school. In 1906, colored school #9 was established in Deerfield in a one room structure near NW 1st Avenue. It

Landmark Australian Hotel Burns to the Ground The Australian Hotel was a proud Deerfield landmark . A frame structure with an attic it was build in 1907 on Dixie Highway. On September 29th,1937 fire was discovered by the owner’s wife, Mrs Charles T. Scott s in the kitchen. Tragically Deerfield’s only fire truck, an old

The First Deerfield Pier Let the Fishing Begin The original pier in Deerfield Beach was built in 1951-1952. It was a picturesque, wooden pier, built low to the water and great for fishing. It quickly became a meeting place for locals and an attraction for seasonal tourists. According to long time Deerfield Beach resident Jerry

Nazi Submarines Off Deerfield Local Watch Towers According to local pioneer, Molly Wiles Butler, there were watch towers on Deerfield Beach to watch the coastline for Nazi boats and planes during WWII. Germany sank 24 ships off the Florida coast during the war, most during 1942. Ms. Butler, her husband, her father J.B. Wiles and

Business on The Beach The First Gas Station and Shops Begin to Appear In the early 1940’s the first signs of commerce began to appear on A1A in Deerfield Beach. The iconic Texaco gas station gave travelers a reason to stop here. Gates Food Market provided provisions,restaurants and gift shops opened. With an eye to

Tiara East First High-Rise on the Beach Deerfield Beach’s first high-rise was approved midst controversy, in May of 1964. In February, 1966, Tiara East, just north of the fishing pier, opened for occupancy.  It was originally one of the most spectacular structures on the Gold Coast.  Floyd Grainger, Hillsboro Beach mayor, was the developer, and

Briggs Hall Community Presbyterian Church In 1946 Community Presbyterian Church was chartered by the State of Florida and was the first church built to serve the beach community in Deerfield Beach. In 1948 the original church was completed and the cars started rolling in. In 1953, Arland Briggs became the new leader of the congregation

Deerfield Beach Softball Our Traditional Pastime During the 1940’s, adult softball became a major Deerfield Beach pastime. When Pioneer Park was built, the baseball field was the centerpiece. When there was a softball game it was a social event. There were picnics and crowds gathered to watch and be entertained. The teams were made up