Tamarac Pioneer 2014

The Broward Historical Commission honored Paul Anthony Kelly as Tamarac's Pioneer for 2014 at their 42nd Annual Pioneer Day celebration.
Paul Anthony Kelly, son of Paul Anthony Kelly and father to Paul Anthony Kelly III came to Broward County in 1974 from New Jersey. Paul lives with his wife Annie and has a daughter Laurel Christina.

Paul graduated from Cooper City High School and attended Broward County Community College. He was a member of the first graduating class of the Broward Fire academy in 1977. Upon his graduation he was one of the first paid fire fighters in Cooper City, where he remained for 4 years.

Paul then joined the Tamarac Fire Rescue in 1981 as an EMT/paramedic. Paul remained with Tamarac Fire for 30 years until he retired 2011. Some of the highlights of Paul's career were:
Paul mentored Eagle Scouts in Broward County as an assistant Scout Master.

He created a Fire Prevention movie to teach our school children about fire utilizing Sparky the Fire Dog. He has taught over 2000 students during Fire Prevention Week in October. He even created a bedroom to further demonstrate to the students how to get out of a burning room.

Paul helped design and implement signs and a mapping system for fire hydrants along the barrier walls on the our highways, approved by the State of Florida for the Sawgrass Expressway. This system is now on the Florida Turnpike and is being looked at by the State of New Jersey for implementation there.

Due to Paul's construction knowledge he was active in the reconstruction of Tamarac's Fire Stations 41 & 78. He was also on the committee to build station 15, the City's Fire Rescue headquarters.
Paul was Fire Fighter of the year in 2010.

Paul volunteers his time to mentor and train the Tamarac Fire Rescue Cadets, a passion for him.
Tamarac Fire Rescue added paramedics to it ranks in 1992. Paul was a Lieutenant Paramedic when he retired in 2011, due to Parkinson's disease.

This was not the end of Paul's career but just a beginning of a new phase. Some of his accomplishments after retiring are:

Paul has been able to continue to train the Cadets in the fundamentals of fire fighting by volunteering his time. His active love for the fire service motivates him to mentor the youth interested in becoming a fire fighter.

Paul loves the history of fire rescue and is writing a book on the subject. He is the expert on the history of Tamarac Fire Rescue.

He is on the Board of the South Palm Beach Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation. He helped start support groups for young Parkinson patients. He is also the chairman of the Moving Day Parkinson Fund Raising Walk. Most recently Paul was named as President of the  South Palm Beach Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation.

Tamarac is proud to have Paul Anthony Kelly as Tamarac's Pioneer for 2014.

Attention Centenarians...

 

Treasures From Trash

It happens all too often …..
A loved one passes away and you are left to clean out their home.
Perhaps it was your childhood home, filled with warm, happy memories.
You always knew this day might come, and now, it’s here …. the task you always dreaded. Heavy-hearted, you begin the inevitable task.

What do you find?
In the back of the closet are many small boxes filled with old photos, memorabilia and/or newspaper clippings.  As you start to look through the photos, you realize some of them you have seen many times before.  However, others are unfamiliar.  You have no idea who the people are, where the pictures were taken, when they were taken or why they had been saved all these years.

Your first instinct is to keep the photos and items which are familiar to you and to discard the rest.  But, before you throw anything away, why not look for clues or information to identify those once-treasured items before you “toss” them!

The Tamarac Historical Society has been researching our history for the past four years.  We are always hoping to find an interesting new item or piece of information.  Recently, we got very lucky!

We knew of Edward Grant who had served as Secretary/Treasurer to Ken Behring, the developer of Tamarac. We felt sure he’d have interesting stories to tell.  We tried to contact him but, after several failed attempts, we moved on to other leads.

To celebrate Tamarac’s 50th Anniversary of incorporation, Ken Behring, himself, attended our  “kick-off” reception-party, in December, 2012.  Then,

They contacted us and offered a treasure-trove of articles, documents, photos (including a picture of Commercial Boulevard when it ended at State Road 7) and many other never-before-seen articles, about the inception of Tamarac, which had belonged to his late father.  The value of this material is priceless.  We were lucky this time, but, many times we are not.

Had the young Grants “tossed” away this precious material it would never have found its way to the archives of the Tamarac Historical Society.  We are grateful to them.

The lesson to be learned here is simple: before you toss away any pictures, clippings or memorabilia about Tamarac, please contact us.  The Tamarac Historical Society’s mission is to research, collect, preserve and exhibit the history of Tamarac with goals of enlightening the community about our heritage while passing on an enduring legacy for future generations.
   
on July 19th, we had our formal Anniversary Ceremony which touched the hearts of many Tamarac residents.  The sealing of the Time Capsule, the local dignitaries, the band and the barbeque awoke the civic pride in our people.  Among them were Edward Grant, Jr. and his wife, PJ.  They had been cleaning out the closets of his father, the late Edward Grant, Sr., who, unbeknownst to us, had recently passed away.

Tamarac Historical Society Time Capsule commemorates the 50th Anniversary

The Tamarac Historical Society compiled a Time Capsule to commemorate the city of Tamarac’s 50th anniversary. On July 19, 2013, the exact day of the city’s incorporation back in 1963, members and residents gathered with the City’s Mayor and Commissioners to dedicate the time capsule.

While many time capsules are buried in the ground the Tamarac Historical Society wanted the time capsule above ground and in plain view so it would never be lost, destroyed by the elements or just forgotten. The Public Art Committee commissioned Christopher Reisert, a glass artist and Angelo Maybin, a furniture designer to create and build an enclosure for the capsule and a one of a kind glass sculpture to capture the 50thanniversary logo. The time capsule is located a the Tamarac Community Center entryway for all to see.

The dedication ceremony consisted of comments by the Mayor Talabisco, Vice Mayor Harry Dressler, and Commissioners, Sheriff Scott Isreal, George Gadson, President of the Public Art Committee and Barbara  Tarnove, President of the Tamarac Historical Society. The program included essays written and resented by the school children who participate in the historical society’s essay contest of “What is fun about Tamarac”  and “What will Tamarac be like in 2038” 25 years after the dedication when the time capsule will be opened. It is the wish of the historical society that the tradition started on this day will continue to be honored, every 25 years with time capsule being opened and then resealed.

A barbeque and a band added to the festivities as we marked this historic occasion.

Thank you Ken Behring for creating Tamarac

Having met Ken Behring in December was a great honor. We found him to be very sincere and approachable. After doing research about our city for 3 plus years now he seemed to be someone that one would only get to know through newspaper clippings and stories. His presence at the City Hal Reception in his honor was a great success, many residents turned out to see the founder of our City. Behring was in town to help the City kick off the 50th Anniversary, as the city will celebrate the occasion with events throughout the year. July 19, 1963 Tom Ford (Secretary of State of Florida) signed the incorporation papers making Tamarac a City. This was the first time a city was incorporated for raw land, prior only well developed cities were incorporated.
Connecting Ken Behring in person, to the legend he was, makes you understand the driven, caring person he is. The fact that he started with one house and land that was only inhabited by cattle, swampy areas, snakes and orange groves and turned it into a city is difficult to comprehend.  Now, 50 years later we are a full service city of  60,000 plus residents. Thanks to Behring's vision and determination we have a great City.
This year promises to be very special as the city has worked very hard to compile events to commemorate this occasion. There will be a ground breaking ceremony for the new Mainlands Park, a great “Rock of Ages” concert, a classic car parade with Coral Springs and Parkland (who are celebrating their own 50th Anniversary), America’s largest Birthday Celebration on July 4th, and the 50th Anniversary Time Capsule Dedication on July 19th, and the events will continue throughout the year…
One additional item of note the Tamarac Historical Society has compiled a historical picture book. The book being published by the Arcadia Publishing Company, is part of the Images of America Series. The book begins with Ken Behring and how the City came about through to the vibrant City Tamarac is today.
We are looking forward to all these events so please join us.
Barbara Tarnove, President of the Tamarac Historical Society

Tamarac's Pioneers!

By: Barbara Tarnove, President, Tamarac Historical Society updated 9-12-2014

Each year since 1973, the Broward County Historical Commission has sponsored an annual to honor the communities early settlers; Broward County Pioneer Day. This event recognizes individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to preservation and education, celebrating the county’s rich history while remembering the experiences that give each Broward City its unique character. The legacy of the county’s early pioneers can serve as a model for successive generations in inspiring them to preserve those essential elements that distinguish this place we call “home”.

The Historical commission also presents awards for those individuals and organizations that exemplify meticulous historical research or preservation advocacy. The Historical Commission actively promotes these ideals in its effort to educate the public about Broward County’s significant local heritage.

The City of Tamarac began naming a Tamarac Pioneer in 1998. For the past two years, the Tamarac Historical Society has been proud to play a role in the selection of the City’s pioneers. The Tamarac Historical Society’s goal is to enlighten the community about our heritage and pass on an enduring legacy for future generations by researching, collecting, preserving and exhibiting the City’s history.

We’re pleased to present each of Tamarac’s pioneers, as celebrated by our City.

Tamarac’s Pioneers are:

1998 Walter W. Falck:
Five years after moving to Florida, Mr. Falck was a member of the Tamarac City Council in 1975 and was elected Mayor of Tamarac on March 12, 1976. Mayor Falck was named Broward County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1987 and inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame in 1988.

2000 Helen Sobel

Recognizing the need to help senior citizens who could not drive to doctor’s appointments or the market, she started a volunteer group of about fifty drivers with their own cars, who provided these services without reimbursement. Eventually this developed into the Tamarac Social Services.

2001 John Elbert McKaye

Mr. McKaye became involved in civic affairs, he served two terms as president of the home owners’ association for the Boulevards. John McKaye, an associate of Walter Falck an early Tamarac Mayor, City Commissioner and later a Broward County Commissioner, was appointed in 1995 to fill a seat on the Tamarac City Commission. He ran for office and served a full term from 1996 to 1999.

2002 Herbert Wade Hayes, Jr.

Upon retiring in 1975, he came to Tamarac and settled in the Westwood Community, serving his community for more than 25 years, as President of the Tamarac Presidents Council as well as a trustee. Mr. Hayes also served as the City of Tamarac’s government liaison to the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

2003 Tina Celantano

The first editor of the Mainlands 7 clubhouse newspaper, “Seven”. She regularly authored a column in the Tamarac Topics, the monthly newspaper published by Behring Properties. Tina took up the cause and fought to get a pay phone installed at the Mainlands’ clubhouse. She lobbied the commission strenuously to have a city bus service creating a future bus routes that stop at the major condos.

2006 Marion Fay

Marion Fay was a founding member of the Mainlands 1 & 2 Women’s Club, attended Faith United Church of Christ, a member of the Arts & Crafts Club at the Mainlands and communicated daily with several ladies who lived alone. In 2006 when named as the city’s pioneer Marion Fay had lived in Tamarac for 42 years. At the then age of 107 she was the longest living resident of Tamarac.

2007 Leo Kaplan

Mr. Kaplan has spent his life working as an artist. He worked at a large printing firm as their Art Director. He specializes in Assemblage       Art, or “art in a box”. Acting as an unofficial historian, Kaplan used to collect newspaper stories for posterity and turned them over to City Hall.

2009 Hubert Klombers

Mr. Klombers took up the cause of starting a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program in Broward County. He became a Charter Member of SHINE in the county and worked tirelessly as a coordinator. The program helps keep seniors informed and gets them the help they need. Mr. Klombers served as a legislative aide for two Tamarac Commissioners.

2010 Lucille Wind

The Winds’ had fallen in love and signed a contract. Their home cost $8,990 and with the added features of air conditioning, a rear patio and an expanded garage brought their total to $10,030. They left a $200.00 deposit on a new way of life and maintenance free living. In 2010 Lucille Wind was Tamarac’s only living original resident.

2011 Larry Wark

Chief Elis Devoe was responsible for forming the City’s first Police Department of which Larry Wark was hired as the first police patrolman; with badge #1! Back in my day with the Tamarac Police Department, most of the City was under construction. The majority of our police functions consisting of patrolling the City and keeping watch on the shadows of the many partially built homes. We occasionally wrote up traffic violations and on occasion deterred theft of construction materials.

2012 Dorothy Willis
Dorothy Willis began her career at the age of 17 by receiving a scholarship to the Metropolitan Opera. As a solo performer she added acting to her repertoire and moved to Broadway. After her career on Broadway and raising her children she and her husband moved to Tamarac in 1979. Dorothy Willis teamed up with Ann White and formed the Ann White Theatre, proving alternative theatre to our local residents.  the Ann White Theatre evolved finally into the Tamarac Theatre of the Performing Arts. For over 32 years the theatre produced countless shows such as A Chorus Line, An Evening with Gershwin and Friends, Bye Bye Birdie, Gypsy and The Produces.

2013 Kenneth Behring
Kenneth Behring incorporated the City of Tamarac in 1963, the first time a city was incorporated as raw land. Prior to this only developed cities were give this distinction by the State of Florida. Behrings dream of having affordable housing with all the maintenance included with recreation facilities centered around a clubhouse and a large pool, caught on as a great retirement option. As his communities were announced they quickly sold out causing him to continue to acquire more land to build. He did so by continuing to go west, over the Sunshine State Parkway. He didso until 1972 when he lest to build another city in California.

2013 Edward Levy
For over 30 years Ed Levy has unselfishly helped veterans and their spouses navigate through government forms to obtain their benefits and their rights and deal with the Veterans Administration.
He keeps himself educated in the laws and changes in policy. For the past 7 years, he has been the Veterans Advisor at the Tamarac Community Center 9 months out of very years every Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

2014 Paul Anthony Kelly
Paul Kelly joined the Tamarac Fire Rescue team in 1981 after serving 4 years with the Cooper City Fire Department as one of its first paid fire fighters. Paul has been teaching school students about fire prevention through a movie he created using Sparky the Fire Dog. He even built a bedroom so the children would learn how to escape a burning room. Paul helped design and build a sign and mapping system for fire hydrants all on barrier walls now being used in the state of Florida. He retired from the Tamarac Fire Rescue department in 2011 due to Parkinson's disease but still volunteers to mentor and train the Tamarac Fire Rescue Cadets.

Each pioneer is unique for different reasons. Please be sure to visit the display at City Hall for more detailed information about each of Tamarac's pioneers.

Our Name: Solved!

(Originally published in the January/February/March 2012 issue of the Tam-A-Gram.)
By: Chad Quinn and Barbara Tarnove

The origins of the City of Tamarac’s name have long been up for debate. Various stories, rumors and theories have been passed from neighbor-to-neighbor and written about in various newspaper articles for years. The most common story to be told is the one in which Ken Behring, Tamarac’s founder and original developer of most of the City’s initial neighborhoods, reversed the name of a successful car wash business he had in Wisconsin prior to moving to South Florida – Car-A-Mat.

Other stories have included our City was named after the Tamarack tree, or an Indian Chief, or even by Mr. Behring taking the first initial of all his top executives at the time to form the word (this new theory was only recently uncovered by the Tamarac Historical Society in an old newspaper article).

In fact, when the Historical Society is out and about in the community, manning their information tables at various City events, or their bake sale fund-raiser table at the City’s Community Garage Sales, people often stop by to say, “I know how the City got its name… do you?” As the person recalls the story, most often it is the one about “Car-A-Mat.”

The truth is, that isn’t how the City got its name.

The City isn’t named after a tree, an Indian chief, or Mr. Behring’s executives.

Right from the beginning, when the Historical Society was formed in mid-2009, the group knew that solving the origins of Tamarac’s name would be a priority. Unfortunately all of their research resulted in nothing definitive, other than the fact that there were definitely several different ideas that have all stood the test of time and been passed down through the years.

Barbara Tarnove, the president of the Historical Society, decided to go right to the source. She reached out to Ken Behring through his secretary, Annette, and we are pleased to share with you the definitive answer on this subject:

“I spoke with Mr. Behring and asked him about the name. He laughed and said there are so many stories out there and they are [all] much better than the true story. He then said that the name for Tamarac came from a very boring place, so here is the true story. When Mr. Behring bought the first 13 acres there was a country clubhouse next door called Tamarac [Country Club] (most recently, before it was closed, it was the Oak Tree Country Club), and that is where the name came from.”

So… there we have it, the definitive answer to the origins of the City’s name directly from Tamarac’s founder, Ken Behring. Pass it on.

WE NEED YOU. Help us to continue to discover our City’s history. Do you have time to donate, a story to tell, or mementos to donate? If so, contact the Tamarac Historical Society at history@tamarac.org, or call (954) 597-3523.

2011 Pioneer: Larry Wark

Each year for the past 39 years the Broward County Historical Commission has honored pioneers from the various cities and historical organizations throughout the County. The 2011 Broward County Historical Commission Pioneer Day was held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the History Center in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

The City of Tamarac's 2011 Pioneer honoree is Larry Wark.

2011 City of Tamarac Pioneer Larry Wark pictured with Mayor Pamela Bushnell and his wife Letty and her sister Lita.

Pioneer’s Name:

Lawrence (“Larry”) Bernard Wark

Place of Birth:
Albany, New York

Date of Arrival in Broward County:
1964

Method of Arrival:
Drove down in a 1960 Oldsmobile. Was an Insurance Investigator in Albany, NY; transferred to Florida in 1964.

Name of Spouse:
Leticia “Letty” Wark

Military:

Marines: 1952 – 1955 (Served in Korean War)

Reminiscences on life in Broward County/Tamarac:

Larry, a former police officer from Rensselaer, New York had an opportunity to transfer to South Florida in 1964 as an Insurance Investigator.

In 1968 the City of Tamarac hired Elis Devoe, the ex-chief of police from Lighthouse Point, as it’s first Police Chief. Chief Elis’ was responsible for forming the City’s first Police Department of which Larry Wark was hired as the first police patrolman; with badge #1!

After approximately six months on the job, the State determined that Larry had to attend the Florida Police Academy, but unfortunately the City of Tamarac did not have the funds to send him so he had to leave the job. After his tenure with the City of Tamarac, Larry went to work as a uniformed police officer, and then detective, for the City of Lauderdale Lakes. From there he went on to be elected to the City Council of Lauderdale Lakes – during his service as Councilman, Larry served as the Chairman of the Public Safety. At the same time he started his own business as a private investigation and security guard agency.

Larry is now semi-retired, however he continues to serve as a security instructor for Corporate Security Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Larry has resided in the Mainlands Community of Tamarac for the past eight years with his wife of seventeen years, Leticia.

With regards to his time with the City of Tamarac’s Police Department, Larry recalls a couple of specific stories:

“Back in my day with the Tamarac Police Department, most of the City was under construction. The majority of our police functions consisting patrolling the City keeping watch on the shadows of the many partially built homes. We occasionally wrote up traffic violations and on occasion deterred theft of construction materials. I can remember killing 5 ½ foot rattle snake on the dirt road cutting (Commercial Boulevard) in the swampy area of now University Drive.”

…also…

“My first arrest as a Tamarac Officer was of a rape suspect who threw his victim from a speeding car. Back then we were on the same radio frequency as the Sheriff’s Office. One late night a BOLO (‘Be On The Lookout’) came over advising a suspect, driving a white Chevy, could be headed West. On patrol, I spotted the vehicle, gave chase and caught the suspect as he pulled into a dead end road. This was really exciting, and a bit nerve wracking, since it was my first arrest since working on the force back in New York!”

Tamarac's Public Art

The Tamarac Historical Society is proud to present a new display at City Hall (7525 N.W. 88th Avenue): Public Art in Tamarac. We invite you to stop by to see the new display in the atrium… and to learn about our City’s impressive art collection!

The Public Art Program was approved by the City Commission in May 2004. The intent and purpose of the City’s Public Art Program is to further the commitment of the city to provide art to beautify the appearance of the city, commemorate the city’s history and to enhance cultural opportunities throughout the city.

A public art in Tamarac is paid for using the Public Art Fund, which established as part of the Public Art Ordinance. This ordinance requires that 1% of the construction value of new projects or improvements be set aside for public art. These funds can not be used by the City for any other purpose and, if they go unused, must be returned to the developer or property owner.

The city’s current art collection includes 2 murals from Broward County Public Art and 6 additional sculptures placed around the city. These include:

Moment in Time: From Whence We Come and Moment in Time: To Whence We Go: both of these murals are located inside the Tamarac Public Library (8701 W. Commercial Boulevard). These two large murals are composed in fresco glass with ceramic tile borders. The artist, Raymond Olivero, states “In many public art projects inspiration often comes from the historical references of the community. In the case of Tamarac, this was a bit difficult because of its short history.” Mr. Olivero managed to document the day-to-day life in Tamarac as his inspiration.

Egretta Thula (Snowy Egret): Located at Tamarac Commons Park (Corner of McNab Road and Pine Island Road), this sculpture is by local artist George Gadson who also happens to be the current Chairman of the Tamarac Public Art Committee. Egretta Thula serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our wildlife and natural environment. The idea for the design was developed through a community participation process that solicited feedback from members of the business community, residents and children. Gadson’s states that through his sculptures he seeks to bring back to life the forgotten history found in many communities and capture civic memories through creative design works for public spaces.

Illusion: This modern stainless steel sculpture, was donated to the city by longtime Tamarac residents, Paul Yelin and Sally Robbins. Mr. Yelin stated “I [wanted] to bring some peace and beauty and diversion to the city.” The sculpture, which was originally located in front of the Tamarac Community Center on Commercial Boulevard is now located in front of Tamarac City Hall (7525 N.W. 88th Avenue). Leonardo Nierman, the artist, was interested in both physical and mathematical sciences, which he has applied to his art.

Eternal Flame, “In The Spirit of Peace”: This large installation is located at Tamarac’s Veterans Memorial Park (7825 Southgate Boulevard). The sculpture, by Beth Ravitz, was created to symbolize an everlasting flame, with each of its 5 abstract branches representing each branch of our Country’s armed services. The sculpture is silver in color during the day but transforms into a glowing flame by night.

Dawn and Dusk: These two sculptures are located between the Tamarac Community Center (8601 W. Commercial Boulevard) and the Tamarac Public Library (8701 W. Commercial Boulevard) were created by Jane De Decker. “I believe that art in public places has the power to create connections both among people and between people and their environment. Public art opens community dialogue and creates channels for reflection. It is my hope that my artwork will echo the identity of this culturally rich and pulsating community,” states the artist. Dawn and Dusk are bronze sculptures designed to celebrate the community rising to greet the day and then nestle in repose to put the sun to bed.

Under The Shadow Of A Big Tree: This large sculpture, located in Tephord Park (10003 Southgate Boulevard), was designed by Ilan Averbach. The artist’s vision was to create a sculpture/environment that creates a place with striking visual forms. The sculpture, which is on a raised area of the park, reaches out beyond itself by creating harmony with its immediate space. To quote the artist “I make artwork that transforms spaces into imaginary worlds. They shift scales, combine materials, and create forms to produce a sense of memory, dreams, imaginations and movement in space”.

Each work of these works of art are unique in their own right. Armed with this brief description of each, we hope you now have a keen desire to see each one in person for yourself. That is the best way for them to be truly appreciated.

New Displays Showcase Tamarac's History

Did you have a chance to see the Tamarac Historical Society’s latest display, “Early Tamarac Notables”, at City Hall? No? Well you’ll have a second opportunity now that the display has been moved to the Tamarac Community Center (8601 W. Commercial Boulevard)! The Historical Society has been given some wall space in the Community Center to display our City’s history and we invite you to stop by [the entrance to the ballroom] to read and enjoy learning about some of the people that helped shape the beginning of our city.

The Historical Society still has display space in the atrium at City Hall (7525 N.W. 88th Avenue). A new display has just recently been installed at City Hall celebrating “Tamarac Public Art”. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

Remember, the Historical Society is always looking for photos and memorabilia about our city. It doesn’t need to be old… just memorable. We are interested in knowing and talking to anyone who worked for Ken Behring when he began his quest to make Tamarac a city with a new ‘way of life’. Our city just passed the 48th anniversary of our its incorporation and the Historical Society is working very hard to research our beginnings so that we can share our findings in time for our 50th anniversary celebration in 2013.

So, if you have any photos, memorabilia, or stories to share, please contact the Historical Society at history@tamarac.org or call Chad Quinn at (954) 597-3523. Also, be sure to visit our blog that for a great overview of the work the Historical Society has been doing, http://www.tamarachistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/.

Discovering Tamarac’s History

(Originally published on www.sunsentinel.com June 22, 2011)
By: Barbara Tarnove, President, Tamarac Historical Society

I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, or heard the question, “Why does Tamarac have a Historical Society?” Perhaps you wondered this yourself. If you allow me just a few moments of your time, hopefully I can answer your curiosity.

As one of the founding members of the Tamarac Historical Society I’ve always had an interest in history. I can explain that interest very simply: the PAST causes the PRESENT and the FUTURE.

Have you ever wondered why our fair city attracted so many retired residents? Or, what was the attraction way back in 1963 when our City’s founding father, Ken Behring, had a vision for a new development geared toward active retirees? What did he aim to provide that no other city offered? Why does our city have such an odd shape? What attracts people to move to Tamarac even today? And, does Behring’s original vision still hold true?

There are so many questions about our City and my goal, along with my fellow Historical Society members is to answer as many as we can… and then some! Our small, but dedicated, group of volunteers has been meeting for almost two years now to make sure we document the answers to as many of these questions as possible. To help us with our goal, we developed a mission: The City of Tamarac’s Historical Society will 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.

How are we doing? Well, so far so good. Let me give you some insight about how Tamarac developed.

Ken Behring’s idea was to build houses with maintenance-free convenience lifestyle and recreation facilities of a condo combined with the privacy of a single-family home.

In 1962 he bought his first plot of land in what would soon become Tamarac. The first development was very successful and by July 1963 the new City of Tamarac was officially incorporated by the State of Florida. People flocked from near-by cities to be the first to experience this new lifestyle. Word of mouth, and clever advertising, helped spread the word north to friends and family in the northeast and mid-west states. The promise of a life of leisure, social gatherings, golf, well appointed and affordable homes and the promise of a maintenance-free lifestyle – for the low monthly fee of $23.00 – brought people in droves. To accommodate and deliver this dream life, each community of 250 homes included a large recreation center and an oversized pool. No other city had ever offered such a package deal!

The land that Behring bought was generally unsuitable for anything other than grazing land for cattle and a place for locals to ride their motorcycles. Paved roads were rare and canals and lakes were yet to be dredged – but they were all part of Behring’s vision and master plan for his new city.

Tamarac was an instant success! More land was needed to keep up with demand so Behring began buying up as much land as he could and the City grew westward. It was these land acquisitions (which could be a whole article in itself) which created our City’s unusual shape.

Behring’s personal passion for golf was why so many golf facilities were included in his master plan; this further attracted people to the city and played a major role in the idealized way of life he envisioned. His dream lasted for many years, even after he left Tamarac and the new developers continued to build out the city.

There are so many more stories; so much more detail we’ll continue to share as we go forward, in the mean time I hope I have peaked your interest. If you have knowledge to share or memorabilia to donate, please contact us at history@tamarac.org or call us at 954-597-3523

Early Tamarac Notables

By: Barbara Tarnove, President, Tamarac Historical Society

Who is responsible for the way things are today? Those that came before us, for sure. What did they do? Did they sit around a table and plan every detail?

Did they think about what it would all mean years from then? Was the future part of the plan? Was it conceived by one and embellished by many? A few visionaries? Or perhaps it started one day and before they knew it the city grew so fast that it all just happened… I wonder. DO YOU WONDER?

The Tamarac Historical Society wonders all the time and that is what keeps us going. We need to know and know we will. Our small group is researching the early days of Tamarac to understand how we got to where we are today. There are some early notables that helped or were part of the shaping of our city.

Ken Behring, for sure, was the founding father. It was his dream to create a “way of life” that would allow residents to enjoy a complete life with recreation facilities and a maintenance free life style. Surrounding himself with the like of the first Mayor, William Morse, whose idea it was to create their own city, Tamarac was on it way to being that “way of life”.

The first residents of Tamarac came to the city with the influences of their former home towns, The Nyce’s from Geneva New York and the Hardy’s from Queens New York. Both husbands were in the banking business, so financially they saw Tamarac as a good buy. Both couples were active in the community, Mr. Nyce taught art classes, and wrote articles for the newspaper about mortgages and Mrs. Nyce was a social reporter. Mrs. Hardy was in charge of building the first library in the clubhouse. As residents began moving into their new homes, groups formed and committee’s sprang up in abundance. One such group formed the Tamarac Lakes Civic Association, led by the president Charles Paster. Paster a graduate of the University of Detroit majoring in Business Administration and Purple Heart recipient, took his civic duties very seriously. He later became a councilman and Vice Mayor of the city of Tamarac. His background certainly influenced his contributions.

As the city grew so did the experiences of its residents. Mr. and Mrs. Cox were the first in the Mainland’s. Their background was from Detroit where Mr. Cox worked for General Motors as an electrician, for over 25 years. With each new section the homes evolved as well. Mainland’s homes boasted solid marble window sills, recessed kitchen ceiling lighting, free wall to wall carpeting, two spacious bedrooms, garbage disposal and concrete driveways.

Tamarac was to have a home for everyone. For the more affluent buyers that the city was attracting, Vista Villa (The Woodlands) was conceived as a private country club community. This community came with a Von Hagge designed golf course and estate like home nestled amidst lush greenery and acre lots.

One of the greatest influences of the social scene was Fred Hoelscher, Mr.Tamarac. Hoelscher and his wife Zetta retired from Missouri where Fred was a chicken farmer in 1962. Fred quickly became the Recreation Director for the Behring Corporation where he promoted “The Tamarac Way of Life”. Fred re-enforced a life where people enjoyed good fellowship and keeping busy doing things together with other residents. He and his wife started a civic organization as each new clubhouse was completed. Fred was responsible for the Tamarac Lakes News Bulletin, a monthly newsletter keeping all the residents informed of the activities and goings on in their new community.

With an optimistic outlook on the growth of Tamarac, Doug Keller was the first City Administrator. Keller brought his experience to Tamarac from Fort Lauderdale where he worked for 12 years. With only 2000 residents when he started, he established the necessary Public Works Department, City Utilities Department, a Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Streets, Police and Fire Departments and a Division of Transportation. He certainly shaped the early beginning of our City.

Growing out of the Administrators newly formed departments, Ellis De Voe was named police chief. His prior experience came via Lighthouse Point where he was also Chief. De Voe established a fleet of 4 police cars equipped with 2 way radios that would patrol the entire city on a 24 hour basis. He hired the first patrolman , Larry Wark and gave him badge number one. Everyone felt safe seeing the patrol cars that replaced the security guards that previously held the safety duty and thanks to the Behring corporation each car carried a resuscitator as an added precaution.

As cities go, Tamarac was a very young city, being groomed for greatness, led by many experienced, well place individuals who saw a vision and made it a Way of Life.

Be sure to come by City Hall to check out our new display! (Photo above.)

Tamarac Pioneer: Lucille Wind

(Originally published in The Forum July 28, 2010)

by: Chad Quinn

This October the Broward County Historical Commission will celebrate their 38th annual Pioneer Days – the nominee for the City of Tamarac for 2010 is Lucille Wind. Lucille’s story about her arrival in Tamarac is very interesting…

While vacationing in South Florida in 1964, Lucille and her husband Joseph, were looking at a potential property to purchase as a vacation get-away and possible future retirement home. A realtor suggested that he show them a new development, Tamarac Lakes in the new City of Tamarac.

Lucille recalls that the development was “just starting, in fact they were going to have their grand opening the following weekend. They were busy installing the carpet and mirror in the model home.” During their first visit they met the developer (and founder of Tamarac) Ken Behring. Lucille and Joseph fell in love with the plans for the development and their future home and readily signed a contract for a home that was under construction with only side walls and no roof. The Winds’ suggested a down payment of $200 with the remainder to be paid in cash at closing. The cost was $8,990 with added features of air conditioning, a rear patio and an expanded driveway which brought the total for their new home to $10,030. In addition to the low cost, the neighborhood offered a “maintenance-free lifestyle” – Mr. Behring’s concept for his new development was to offer the convenience of a condominium lifestyle with the privacy of a single-family home. For a low monthly fee, residents would get lawn mowing, periodic house painting and roof cleaning, and access to the community’s clubhouse.

The Winds had planned to use the home initially as a vacation home, so they were in no big hurry to have their home completed and even told Mr. Behring he could take his time building theirs because they would not be back for another year. As they were traveling back home, about 45 miles outside of Buffalo in a snow storm, Joseph and Lucille came to the conclusion that they wanted to experience the warm weather and sunshine they fell in love with back in Florida year-round. Then six weeks later in March (much sooner than expected), they were notified that their new house in Tamarac was ready for closing.

In March 1964 they closed on their new home and by September, after finalizing the sale of their business and home in Buffalo, officially moved to Florida! Lucille remembers that “by September, the development was pretty much sold out and that Thanksgiving Mr. Behring gave the residents a lovely turkey dinner and party.” Joseph opened a new business, DeWind Lock and Key on Prospect Road and Andrews Boulevard. At 46 and 39 respectively, Joseph and Lucille were the youngest residents in Tamarac Lakes and were some of the few who were still working. While their neighbors social lives tended to center around the community clubhouse and the multiple activities it provided, Joseph and Lucille found that they did not have much in common with their neighbors who all tended to be much older. While Joseph ran the business Lucille worked as a substitute teacher for the school system. They joined the Ft. Lauderdale Country Club and enjoyed the activities it provided – in fact Lucille is still a member of the club!

In 1971 Joseph’s health took a turn and he and Lucille decided to sell the business (which still exists today as DeWind Lock and Safe) – they decided to play more golf, travel and enjoy an early retirement.

Joseph passed away in 1999, however Lucille has remained active in her community, at her country club, and in previous years, as a clerk for elections at her precinct. In addition, Lucille became involved in her homeowner’s association.

In speaking of Tamarac, Lucille says “It’s been my home for 46 years – I’ve lived here longer than any other place.” She has seen Broward County, and Tamarac in particular change and grow over the years. She use to get a “real thrill” when she and Joseph would drive west on Commercial Boulevard and just as they reached the crest of the overpass over the Turnpike she could look out and see all the “little white houses Mr. Behring was building.” In fact, over the years Lucille convinced several family members to buy homes in Tamarac.

Now her neighborhood is dominated by young families and children. No longer is the clubhouse the center of activity it once was – “There are more young people, there’s more diversity. I love my neighbors, but they have to work, they don’t have time to be involved in their community or the association.”

At 86 years young, and having bought a home in the City’s first neighborhood, Lucille Wind is Tamarac’s only living original resident, and our 2010 Pioneer.

If you have a story to share with the Tamarac Historical Society, or photos and other memorabilia, we’d love to hear from you… call (954) 597-3523 or email chadq@tamarac.org.

Photo Caption:
Tamarac's 2010 Pioneer, Lucille Wind, in front of the home she and her husband Joseph purchased in 1964.

Tamarac Historical Society Welcomes Cecil L. Beach!

The Tamarac Historical Society welcomed their first ever guest speaker, Cecil L. Beach, on July 13, 2010 at Tamarac City Hall.

In Broward County, Cecil Beach is best known for his work with the Broward County Library System which began in 1977 when County Administrator Lex Hestor hired him to take the job as Director of the newly created County Library. His task was to pull the System together, gain the support of the Cities, plan and institute a building program, build a collection, hire a competent staff, prepare and defend adequate budgets for operation and plan for the future. Over the next twelve years he went about achieving those goals. A world class Main Library designed by the Marcel Breuer firm was erected along with 17 branches. A professional and support staff second to none was assembled. Special appropriations enabled the collection to grow past one million volumes, and the Broward Library System was well on its way to becoming one of the best and largest public library systems in the country. In 1989 he was promoted to the position of Public Services Department Director, supervising 9 County Divisions.

Previously, Cecil had served as State Librarian of FIorida; As Director of the Tampa, Hillsborough County Library System, Director of the Gadsden Alabama Public Library, and as Director of the Piedmont Regional Library in Georgia.

In 1992 he retired from Broward County as Director of the County's Public
Services Department where he supervised 9 county divisions including Libraries, Parks, Mass Transit, Housing, Social Services, Agriculture, Consumer Services, Community Development, and Cultural Affairs. Subsequently he has been visiting professor at FSU and at USF while continuing to do consulting. In 1999 Broward hired him as Bond Project Co-coordinator for the $140,000,000 Bond Issue passed to build new libraries in the county.

CLICK HERE to view a Slide Show of pictures from the event.*

*If you are unable to use the link above to view the slide show, try going directly to the Slide.com website.

NOTE: All photos are copyrighted. No photo, or portion of a photo, may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the City of Tamarac, Florida.

Just what we're looking for...

(Originally published in The Forum May 12, 2010)

by: Chad Quinn

“I have some photos from the tenth anniversary, not sure if you’d be interested in those.” That was the message that greeted me as I returned to the office one afternoon late last month – I dialed the number back so quickly that I miss-dialed at least three times.

Take a breath. Slow. 9-5-4-7-2-1…

“Hi, may I speak to Jane Gibbons?” That was who had left the message about the photos – an interesting woman with a great story to tell. She and her husband Tom moved into the Heathgate subdivision (one of the original in the City not to be restricted to 55+) back in the early 1970’s with their thirteen year old daughter. After talking for a few minutes we agreed on a time when she and Tom would be able to drop by City Hall the following morning.

What she brought were examples of just the type of items we’re looking for. Jane told me how Tom often would buy her the “latest” camera and she enjoyed taking pictures. Her hobby is our good fortune in that she was more than happy to donate her photos of Tamarac’s tenth anniversary parade to our Historical Society. Although faded, they show a colorful parade of costumes and floats making its way down Commercial boulevard near the Woodlands (as she remembers it).

In addition to the photos of the parade, Jane also brought with her something more recent – photos of the Everglades fires from about ten years ago and, perhaps even more valuable than her photos, she recounted how she used to work for the Behring Corporation, in insurance, and remembers being invited to Ken and Pat Behring’s home in the Woodlands for a holiday party one year. “It was a magnificent home, it even had a moat.”

I asked Jane how she heard about the Historical Society and she said she had read about it in the Tam-A-Gram, and here in the Forum, and she had seen “The Behring Years” display at City Hall. “That display brought back so many memories for us.”

In addition to Jane’s call, I also recently received an interesting old folder of yellowing news clipping from the late 1960’s that Commissioner Pam Bushnell had forwarded to me. This collection of clippings was fascinating to read – the articles all seemed to focus on one of the main selling features of Tamarac in the early days, the “maintenance free lifestyle.” For a relatively small monthly fee residents enjoyed lawn maintenance, roof cleaning, house painting – everything that made condominium living so attractive to many, in the convenience and privacy of a single-family home.

These articles from the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel chronicled a particularly controversial time between the City, the Behring Corporation, and the residents . Unfortunately the articles do not tell the whole story, but through them I now know that the original City Hall was not even in the City’s limits; the Behring Corporation headquarters’ original address, and reaffirmed some of the key players within the community by the use of their quotes in some of the writings.

Interesting. Fascinating, and exactly what the Tamarac Historical Society is looking for. Do you have pictures from parades gone by. Can you fill in some of the details of those contentious maintenance fees or the early growing pains of our great City? If so, then you are exactly what we’re looking for and we’d love to hear from you. Please call (954) 597-3523, or email history@tamarac.org.

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.

History has many ties; or How Tamarac is connected to Michael Jackson.

(Originally published in The Forum March 3, 2010)

by: Chad Quinn

You may not realize this, but Tamarac is forever tied to a legendary pop icon by way of an unassuming Colorado woman. Jane DeDecker, the artist who created two of Tamarac’s newest public art sculptures, Dawn and Dusk, is a highly sought after artist who was commissioned by the late Michael Jackson on several occasions to create artwork for his Neverland Ranch in California.

It’s an interesting story… sort of our own six degrees of separation, and it’s stories like these that make up our history. Some of those stories are more interesting, more juicy, or more salacious, than others (and over the past several months I’ve heard a couple, but those will have to wait until another column, or venue) for now, I’d like to tell the story of how Jane DeDecker and her sculptures, not necessarily in that order, came to Tamarac.

You may have previously read about the unveiling of Dawn and Dusk in the Forum, or in the Tam-A-Gram, the City of Tamarac’s official quarterly publication – how these two amazing new sculptures, located in between the Tamarac Community Center and Tamarac Branch of the Broward County Public Library, to paraphrase Ms. DeDecker, represent the community rising to greet the day (Dawn) and then nestling together in repose to put the sun to bed (Dusk).

The sculptures are part of Tamarac’s Public Art Program which is paid for by the Public Art Fund which was established by the City Commission in 2005 with the passage of the Public Art Ordinance (the ordinance requires that 1% of the construction value of new projects or improvements be set aside for public art).

In May of 2008 the Tamarac Public Art Committee put a call out to artist for the two areas overlooking the pond in between the Community Center and Library. The Committee narrowed down the 130 entries to 5 finalists and then decided upon Dawn and Dusk which they recommended to the City Commission (on March 11, 2009). The Commission unanimously approved the Committee’s recommendation and installation of the sculptures took place over a two-day period in October and was oversaw by Ms. DeDecker’s brother, David. Unfortunately, neither Ms. DeDecker, nor her brother, were available to return for the November unveiling but, they were able to return earlier this month (on February 11, 2009) for the dedication of the newest public art installation, “Under the Shadow of a Big Tree”, at Tephford Park.


After the dedication of this latest art piece, Ms. DeDecker participated in a discussion about her artwork – everything from the conceptualizing, design, creation, molding, and installation of new commissions. It was this trip that truly solidified Ms. DeDecker’s tie to our community – the shared experience and the filling in of the details in Dawn and Dusk’s story, and it was here that she recalled her work for Michael Jackson.

It was also during this discussion that Ms. DeDecker discussed the artwork she has created for other communities across the country – an interesting juxtaposition against the types of binds that have most recently tied cities across the country together, mainly revenue shortfalls and cutbacks. Despite the trying times we find ourselves in, Dawn and Dusk will be here to comfort our community for years to come, to greet us in the morning, and tuck us in at night. Challenging times will come and go, but art and the intentions it represents, can have a positive and lasting effect.

Jane DeDecker, and by extension Michael Jackson, are now part of Tamarac’s story.

What role do you play in our City? You are the key to preserving Tamarac’s history – it’s as easy as donating an old family photo or document, or volunteering your time. If you have something to share, contact the Tamarac Historical Society at history@tamarac.org, or (954) 597-3523.

Photo Captions:

Top Photo: Dawn overlooking the pond in-between the Tamarac Community Center and the Tamarac Branch of the Broward County Library on Commercial Boulevard.

Bottom Photo: Renowned sculptor Jane DeDecker discussed her art at the Tamarac Recreation Center on February 11, 2009.

Trotting into history

(Originally published in The Forum January 27, 2009)

by: Chad Quinn

“Does Tamarac have any history?” a friend recently asked me over lunch as we exchanged updates on what we’ve been up to lately. Initially speechless (for once), I was at a loss for something [witty] to say in response to what I perceived to be an incredibly short-sighted, if not naïve, question. Yet, it wasn’t the first time – I’ve heard similar comments over the past several months as I’ve embarked on this pet project turned full-blown mission.

Tamarac is just about forty-seven years old. Within that same period of time we’ve landed on the moon, great leaders have tragically been assassinated in their prime, wars have been fought, elections have been won and lost, entire countries have been born in the aftermath of their predecessors failure, the personal computer has become a staple of everyday life as have cell phones and other technologies we could never imagine living without – Apollo missions; MLK and RFK; Vietnam and the Gulf War; the Soviet Union and a united Germany; Apple and Microsoft; the Razor and Blackberry; and everything in between. Incredible highs, and dismal lows. Forty-seven years of life-changing history.

Life has occurred around our City, and perhaps even if Ken Behring had never settled on that first plot of land in 1962; dreamed up a vision for his innovative approach to “maintenance-free living”; and incorporated a new City in the ever-changing South Florida sun, all of the events of the past four and half (and some change) decades would have gone on unaltered – but what has happened here, in these 11 square miles, is our history.

A similar comment and a similar situation a few weeks later had a slightly different outcome. (Perhaps I could learn from my own history, and stay in better touch with my friends… but that might be more appropriate for a different column.) Catching up with a former co-worker, he mentioned how he used to run in Tamarac’s Turkey Trot when he was growing up. Jackpot! “Matt, do you have any photos of you at the event?” I asked anxiously. “I think so, I’d have to look.”

This year, Tamarac’s Turkey Trot will be in its thirtieth year. Thousands of runners from all over the region, if not the world, have woken up incredibly early on Thanksgiving morning over the past twenty-nine years to take part in one the City’s most popular annual events. Untold trophies have been handed out to serious competitors over the years. And like my former co-worker, many more families have enjoyed the cool morning air as they ran, or walked, together around the course.

Tamarac’s Turkey Trot has become a comfortable tradition, not just to the City, but to the individuals who train and compete regularly; the families who enjoy the friendly competition; and those who simply like to take advantage of the programs and events their City has to offer. Tradition begets history, and vice versa.

I was anxious to receive Matt’s photos, not just to see that someone else’s parents have kept embarrassing photos of their kids sporting tacky 80’s fashion, but because the Tamarac Historical Society had yet to obtain any photos or memorabilia from those early years of the run.

Events are just a small portion of Tamarac’s history, but anything that has happened in the past is part of our story, the story we’re attempting to gather for future generations.

Do you have something to share, photos of you and your family enjoying an event, a park, or an activity here in Tamarac? We’d love for you to share. Contact the Tamarac Historical Society at history@tamarac.org, or (954) 597-3523.

What history has taught me

(Originally published in The Forum December 23, 2009)

by: Chad Quinn

This time of year usually brings reflection – we reflect on the events of the past year, good and bad, big and small. Perhaps, if you’re like me, you take time to think about those who are far away, or those who are no longer here.

Also, this time of year is filled with festivities – from holiday parties to family gatherings.

Recently the Tamarac Historical Society held its first ever reception – a sort of festive occasion full of reflection about Tamarac’s early years.

In five short months, our Historical Society has made great strides. Since our inaugural meeting in July we’ve formed a tight-nit group of dedicated volunteers that numbers about twenty; more of an extended family actually. These men and women, along with myself, none of which has any experience in the field of gathering and maintaining a historical record or collection, have forged ahead, learning as we go; gathering info and artifacts, to begin the definitive account of our City’s story.

We’re fortunate to be the beneficiaries of the kindness and expertise of new found friends in neighboring cities. We’re also fortunate to have new volunteers coming on board all the time – a recent addition is a retired archivist! That is truly fortunate.

Everything we’ve learned, or attempted to learn, was on display to the public for the first time at our reception held December 9, 2009. The display, “The Behring Years” attempts to chronicle the very beginning of Tamarac and the formative years that followed. As you may know, Tamarac was founded by a young and ambitious developer, Kenneth E. Behring. The years Mr. Behring was a part of our City were quite remarkable; 1962 – 1972.

In the beginning Mr. Behring wanted to develop homes with small lots that offered the convenience and care-free lifestyle of a condominium, with the privacy afforded a single-family home. The City of Fort Lauderdale would not allow him to build on the small lot size he envisioned and so he decided to buy unincorporated land and develop his own City. Tamarac Lakes was born – small single-family homes on small lots starting at $8,990 – and for a $23 a month maintenance fee owners received lawn maintenance, periodic painting and roof tile cleaning, use of the clubhouse and all activities within the community!

These homes sold quickly, appealing to snow-birds up north who cherished the warmer climates. New owners became quickly acclimated to the tropical climate, new friends and neighbors, and the easy living. In fact, the homes were so popular several more neighborhoods quickly sprung up, all using the same formula of 250 homes surrounding a common clubhouse.

Tamarac, which began around the Prospect Road bend, began its spread westward. The Mainlands were next to be developed with same basic principles, but with slightly larger homes and adjacent to golf courses. Later, in 1968, Mr. Behring began development of his City’s crowning achievement – the Woodlands, a private golf course community with estate size lots appealing to a more affluent clientele. The Woodlands is where Mr. Behring and his wife, Pat, settled, along with their five sons… that is until 1972 when he left Tamarac a “better way of life.”

Of course four paragraphs is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we’ve learned in the past five months about “The Behring Years”… in fact, we may even have it wrong. Old newspaper clippings and second-hand stories only tell a part of the story. As Barbara Tarnove, one of the amazing volunteers we have (who took the lead on this particular project, guided us, and lived and breathed “The Behring Years” for the past couple of months), would say… “We’d love for you to visit our display, read through it and then point out that its wrong…” – I’m a little more hesitant, I’d prefer you point out maybe one or two minor details that are wrong.

The point is, you can complete our story and we depend on you.

At one of our recent outings I met Larry Wark, the first police officer hired by the Tamarac Police Department’s first Captain back in 1969. We’ve met the oldest living original resident in Tamarac Lakes, Lucille Wynn (who is a wonderful woman and we were thrilled to be able to have her with us at our opening reception). We’d like to meet you too. Come visit us, or perhaps we can come to you. Your story, your photos, your miscellaneous paperwork that you think no one would be interested in (we are) – we’d love to have them all.

“The Behring Years” display will remain in the Atrium of City Hall (7525 NW 88th Avenue) for the next couple of months. Stop by and peruse what we’ve learned and help us fill in the gaps.

To me, all history is fascinating… and over the past five months, I’ve learned that Tamarac has a unique and inspiring beginning; I’ve also learned that through history people can come together, not only did we have a great crowd at our opening reception, but Tamarac’s history has brought me together with an incredible group of volunteers who are sharing this learning experience with me.

You can reach the Tamarac Historical Society at history@tamarac.org, or (954) 597-3523.

Tamarac Historical Society

(As published in the October/November/December 2009 Tam-A-Gram.)

The first meeting of the new Tamarac Historical Society was held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. The response from the community to the call for volunteers and donations has been tremendous – about 20 individuals have stepped forward so far to volunteer with the project and many more have made donations of photographs, memorabilia, personal recollections and more!

The volunteers have been meeting on a regular basis as they tackle the formidable task of organizing the Society’s structure as well as the existing historical data, artifacts, and new donations.

Wendy Wangberg, the Historian for the City of Coral Springs, was a guest speaker at one of the early meetings and graciously hosted the volunteers for a fact-finding, and inspirational, field trip to the Museum of Coral Springs History (located at Mullins Park, 10250 N.W. 29 St. Coral Springs, behind the Performing Arts Center), on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.

The volunteers are on track to have their first display this December at City Hall, and we need your help — whether you want to volunteer your time, donate items of interest, or share your recollections of Tamarac’s past. Please email history@tamarac.org, or call (954) 597-3523.