We need you… we really, really need you!

(Originally published in The Forum March 31, 2010)

by: Chad Quinn

Perhaps that headline may come across as a little desperate, but it’s true, we really do need you – the Tamarac Historical Society is in need of what you have. Time? We’ll take it. Photographs? Those are great too. Odds and ends, old memorabilia, original documents, diaries – everything is important to us and at this stage in our development, we’ll take just about anything as we continue to build our collection – uh, actually that’s your collection; the City of Tamarac’s collection.

The Tamarac Historical Society is comprised of volunteers from throughout the community, but even though we have some amazing individuals who give tirelessly and unselfishly of their time – for the greater good of their City – it isn’t enough. We need more. We need you. We need your help. If you’ve been looking for a way to give back to your community, a way to share your skills, or for a chance to learn new ones, you’re perfect for us. We have a need for everything from clerical help to research. We meet regularly, but our volunteers also come in at their leisure to go through old scrap books, organize the items we’ve already been given, and some of our volunteers even do work from home.

People are the key to passing on our history. Not just the people who founded the City, developed the neighborhoods, or those who played a role in its politics… but the people who are, and will, help us gather those stories, fill in the details, and write the chapters of the proverbial book that will tell Tamarac’s tale. Like many of our neighbors, such as Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, and Delray, some day we hope to have an actual book… but that’s a long way off in the future at this point. The original photographs and documents we need to write a definitive history of our City are still missing.

The stated mission of Tamarac’s Historical Society is to research, collect, preserve and exhibit the history of Tamarac with goals of enlightening the community about our heritage and passing on an enduring legacy for future generations. Sounds relatively simple right? We’re only forty-seven years old… it isn’t like we have to go back centuries. But, this journey is proving to be a little more difficult than we may have anticipated. So far we have not uncovered the items we were hoping for… those afore mentioned originals. Sure, we’ve gotten some great stuff such as a few amazing scrapbooks, original sales brochures, some family photographs and the like, but we really need a LOT more. We need photos of the people who shaped this City, shaping the City… council meetings, ground breakings, parades, and such. Do you have those? Does your neighbor? Do you know a relative of one of our founding fathers, or perhaps one of the influential neighborhood activity directors from the early years?

We may only be forty-seven years old, but we are a City that was founded as an active retirement community… well, you do the math – unfortunately many of those early pioneers are no longer with us. In many cases we lack the generations of families passing on their own histories that help build the history of other cities. We have friends and neighbors… but what happens to the items left behind? Help us find out.

Speaking of people, the Historical Society’s next exhibit will focus on influential people who helped to shape the future of our City in the beginning – this exhibit will complement our first exhibit “The Behring Years” in that it will be about people from the same period of time – the first decade or so of Tamarac’s history. Be on the lookout for the new display in May at City Hall.

And of course, when I speak of influential people I need to mention those who stepped forward early in the formation of the Historical Society, pioneers in their own way. Barbara Tarnove, our first president, Ann Salomon, our first secretary/treasurer, and Phyllis Bonfoey, Rita Botwinick, Sharron Callahan, Bunny Cohen, Ruth Cohen, Joel Davidson, Carol Fortin, Real Fortin, May Goldberg, Claudia Krysiak, Miriam Marin, Rea Mills, Gertrude Mishkin, Lillian Pabon, Amy Redman, Helen Sivelle, Miriel Stein, Mary Ann Ziccinolfi, and Ralph Zicchinolfi. Unfortunately several of these people have already had to leave the Society for one reason or another – some have moved away, others have had to focus on other things in their lives, but they will always be a part of our history… and we’d like you to add your name to that list.

To volunteer, or to donate, please call (954) 597-3523 or email chadq@tamarac.org, and don’t forget to come out to the Tamarac Community Garage Sale on Saturday, April 10, 2010… you’ll find us in our usual spot, at the northeast corner, from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm raising funds for the Historical Society with our bake sale – this is also a great time to share your stories, and to hear ours!

Pictured above: Back Row (Left to Right): Real Fortin, Lillian Pabon, Ann Salomon, Helen Sivelle, Rea Mills, Chad Quinn (Founder), Barbara Tarnove, Joel Davidson, Mary Ann Ziccinolfi, Ralph Zicchinolfi, Carol Fortin; Seated (Left to Right): Bunny Cohen, Miriel Stein, Sharron Callahan, Gertrude Mishkin, Ruth Cohen; Not Pictured: Phyllis Bonfoey, Rita Botwinick, May Goldberg, Claudia Krysiak, Miriam Marin, Amy Redman.