Timeline
American Civil War Begins
Emancipation Proclamation signed on January 1st by President Abraham Lincoln
American Civil War Ends
Emancipation from slavery for African Americans proclaimed in Tallahassee
Reconstruction Period
Lake Worth named after Col. William Jenkins Worth, fought in the 2nd Seminole War in Florida
15,000 Pineapple slips planted on Palm Beach island
Will Melton (black man) purchases 6 ½ acres of land near Oak Lawn Hotel (Riviera Beach today)
Samuel and Fannie James granted a patent by the Federal Government, in an area registered as the Town of Jewell, establishing the first post office in Lake Worth.
U.S. Census population in Lake Worth Area that became West Palm Beach was 200
Palm Beach is declared a “veritable paradise” by Henry Flagler
Construction begins on Flagler's The Palm Beach Inn (later known as The Breakers) and Royal Poinciana
Construction begins on Flagler's The Palm Beach Inn (later known as The Breakers) and Royal Poinciana built by black workers (some who came by boat from Jacksonville). Thousands of African-Americans hired to work on the Florida East Coast Rail way and at the hotels, estates, “afro-chair” transportation rickshaws, and golf courses. Styx lacked waste disposal, plumbing, and electricity (temporary workers rented land and built homes of wood).
In a group photo of the plumbers and mechanics at the Royal Poinciana hotel prior to opening, one black man in the last row can be seen
Panic of 1893
During the “Panic of 1893”, Flagler contacts his Jacksonville deputies about problems getting money to pay the workers building the Royal Poinciana and Breakers Hotels. Compensation for workers is provided by Elisha Dimick's Dade County State Bank.
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and Payne Chapel AME Church opens in the Styx.
Royal Poinciana Hotel Opens
Doors open to the Henry Flagler's 2000 guest room and 1600 seat dining room Royal Poinciana Hotel.
The extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad to West Palm Beach completed.
Fire in the Styx
Fire in the Styx burns a portion to the ground (stated by Flora Curry Storr, Bahamian native (01/16/1874-12/13/1921), daughter of Mary Russell and Stephen Curry).
Inez Peppers Born
Inez Peppers born to Thomas and Priscilla Peppers (Styx family).
City of “Westpalmbeach” incorporated
City of “Westpalmbeach” incorporated on November 5th as the first municipality in Dade County and Southeast Florida.
First bridge to Palm Beach island completed, a railroad spur for Flagler's wealthy hotel guests
The Palm Beach Inn
1896 Henry Morrison Flagler's second hotel, The Palm Beach Inn, is built on the Royal Poinciana beachfront.
Bradley's Beach Club
Col. Edward Bradley opens his Beach Club
George Graham Currie purchases land in the area which later becomes “Pleasant City”
George Graham Currie serves as Mayor of West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach Inn renamed the Breakers, Flagler's home “Whitehall” is completed (currently the Flagler Museum).
Spring training begins for black baseball players at the Breakers and Royal Poinciana.
Palm Beach and North Miami citizens plan to petition legislation to wipe the existence of “The Styx” from the community.
Perfect Sanitation Laws
13th District Justice of the Peace, Eugene F. Haines issues orders to Styx residents that to not keep their premises clean and tidy/abiding by perfect sanitary laws to pay a $10 fine.
No Sewers!
Elisha Dimick, East Side (Palm Beach Island) property owners Chairman, did not have sewers put in because of claim the health officer did not insist it be done.
The Breakers Hotel Burns
Toll keep didn't allow volunteers with hoses of 500ft to cross the railroad bridge because of lack of payment of a nickel per man to cross.
4 black people arrested for operating a speakeasy in the Styx
Palm Beach sanitation committee chair, Dr. Henry C. Hood stated the better class of the Styx had already moved out, “only the riff-raff remained.”
Breakers Hotel Re-opens
Breakers re-opens and is double in size.
Eviction!
Sheriff Frohock reports that “all squatters have been served with notices (eviction) to quit” and an “extensive hegira” (exodus) from that “fragrant section” would occur within 1-2 days.
James Munyon requests Dade County treasurer, George Graham Currie, who ordered the Sheriff's deputy to serve 150 tenants with 30-day notices and to remove their homes. Munyon allows that were paying rent on time to not be evicted...for 6 years
Sanitation for the Styx
East Side property owners (Senator Elisha Dimick, T.T. (Thomas Tipton) Reese, Enoch Root, and Harry Redifer) seeks help with Styx sanitary conditions from the West Palm Beach Board of Trade. Flagler and others promise to “rend what aid they could”.
Fire in the Styx
Reports of people awaken from sleep due to fire alarms, fire in the Styx, firefighters do not go across bridge to put it out, claims of it being reported as a “small fire.”
Pleasant City
Pleasant City becomes an exclusive Black quarter in West Palm Beach by George Currie.
Another Fire in Styx
Fire in Styx causes home loss (Clarke, E., 2005).
On the Map!
Pleasant City included in George Currie's 1907 map of West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, and Palm Beach island