Tales from Old Oakland Park: From Floranada to Oakland Park
1925 was the height of the Florida land boom – real estate was king and new developments were springing up all around the Sunshine State. The future Oakland Park was a community of farmers and small businesses centered along Dixie Highway. Fort Lauderdale and Pompano were looking to expand their territory into what is now […]
Tales from Old Oakland Park: Getting the Bugs Out
Forget the heat – what did the long-ago residents do about pests in the olden days before DDT and “integrated pest management?” Well, they suffered, for one thing. In a small town with lots of horses and cows there were plenty of flies and nasty horseflies. There was a lot more water around then – […]
Come Be a Part of the Oakland Park History Project
Do you have a good story about the history of Oakland Park? What was your favorite restaurant or hangout? Do you remember life before air conditioning and pest control? Are you the owner of a longtime business in the city? Tell us about the history of your neighborhood? When and why did you and your […]
How to Properly Dispose the American Flag
In 1777, the Continental Congress approved the first official American flag. Since then it has been shown prominently by many people as a symbol of their pride in America’s history, freedom, and union. Although the American Flag has had 27 incarnations since 1777, its meaning has remained profound and its presence during some of country’s […]
Shop Locally This Holiday Season with These Artists and Artisans
We’ve all been encouraged to shop locally for years. We know it’s good for boosting community economy. We know it’s typically a more environmentally friendly and sustainable option. We know it’s especially important this year in the wake of COVID-19. What you may not know is that hard work and surviving adversity are written into […]
Oakland Park Veteran Spotlight: Eugene Andresen
Veterans Day, observed on November 11th, is a day to celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Eugene Andresen: Willingness to Serve The willingness to serve never seemed to leave Oakland Park’s Eugene Andresen, who spent five years in the Navy […]
Dr. Carter G Woodson Park: A Park with a Name
To understand the namesake of Dr. Carter G Woodson Park, one must travel back in time. Starting in Oakland Park’s earliest days when settlers came to the area in search of fruitful land to grow crops. This brought many sharecroppers to the area such as R.J. McBride, an Irish settler who bought acreage in Oakland […]
Oakland Park Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King
This past Monday Oakland Park’s community of Churches, city officials, elders and young people came together to celebrate the legacy of not only Dr. Martin Luther King, but also their African American heritage. After many opening remarks, including a moving and powerful speech recited by Rev. Cheree Mojeplo reminding us that there is still work […]
What The First Thanksgiving Was Really Like
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is a day to gather with friends and family and break bread without the pressure of having to buy gifts. As a former history teacher I always wondered what the first Thanksgiving was like. So, for this article I did a little research to find out […]
