The most famous barefoot mailman, ed hamilton, mysteriously disappeared while making this sixday trek. Floridas lsta program is administered by the department of states division of library and information services. Discover the quintessential cracker cowboy and the barefoot mailman, plus the origin of names like boca raton and orlando. The barefoot mailman motel is located in the town of lantana just south of the palm beaches on floridas famous gold coast close to the intracoastal. Recommend if you like historical fiction, especially of early wild florida. One of them, james ed hamilton, disappeared in 1887 near hillsboro inlet. In southeast florida, there was no road connecting the 68 miles from palm beach to miami, and fresh water was unavailable for mailcarrying horses. The mailmen had to walk and travel by boat because there was no road connecting the 68mile route from palm beach to miami. In the late 1800s, the mail was carried on foot from west palm beach to miami. See the history tab on the main menu for more details.
Theodore pratt, an author of florida fiction who lived in the lake worth area, penned a successful novel called the barefoot mailman in 1943. Oct 02, 2014 in the 1800s, mail was often carried between the coastal communities of south florida by barefoot mailmen. The barefoot mailman is a funifsimple look at south florida before development and overpopulation turned it into whatever it is you think it is today. Miami dadeland mall, palm beach mall, pompano beachs fashion square mall, tyrone square. The first settlers of boynton beach soon realized that an unlimited assortment of fruits and vegetables thrived in the fertile climate. The weekend of february 3 4, 400 boy scouts and scout leaders relived part of south florida history in the boy scouts of america south florida councils annual barefoot mailman hike.
The historical society of palm beach county places the official end of the. Route of barefoot mailman from palm beach to miami is revisited miami herald. Student worksheet 1 answer, research, write, maproute of the barefoot mailman, computer,and map of florida and the caribbean. When he was a year old his family moved to their homestead on old dixie highway, between commercial boulevard and floranada road, in. The fourth book in the series, the barefoot mailman, was published in 2015.
A 14 tall barefoot mailman statue, by frank varga, honors the men who braved the elements on the 120 mile round trip trek and boat ride to deliver the mail. The palm beach post was the first to publish the term barefoot mailman in 1940. This movie is set in late nineteenth century florida. Interest in the tradition of the barefoot mailman lives on, however. A series of plaques, on the main level between the towers, explain the areas history from the early settlers in 1873 to meltons autorama in the 1960s. Dec 04, 2017 discover the quintessential cracker cowboy and the barefoot mailman, plus the origin of names like boca raton and orlando. It was erected on the bridge that spans the hillsboro inlet a1a. An early pioneer of miami, south florida history, vol. The story, about a young mail carrier struggling with adulthood, love and the encroaching development, doesnt have the deepest characters, but they are honestly drawn, and it would be a good. They hiked along the beach and used rowboats to cross three inlets along the way. Aug 25, 2014 along with a couple dozen other interesting pioneers, charlie pierce, floridas famous barefoot mailman and boyntons first postmaster is featured along with anna and albert parker, maj. I just finished reading the 50th anniversary edition of the barefoot mailman and absolutely love it. The posters shown here depict some of floridas most famous films from the early 1920s to the present. The barefoot mailman stopped at the orange grove house of refuge in delray beach before continuing his route to miami.
Barefoot mailman historical society of palm beach county. In 20, oyer was named florida distinguished author by florida house in washington d. In south florida, where some think nothing happened until henry flagler showed up, a century is a long, long, time. Florida memory is funded under the provisions of the library services and technology act from the institute of museum and library services. Richard and pat johnson palm beach county history museum. Barefoot mailman vanished 125 years ago today news the palm. This hike honors the efforts of the 1890s south florida letter carriers, known as the barefoot mailmen, who walked and carried mail on a fourday journey from palm beach to. They traversed a 68 mile route 20 by boat and 48 by foot along the atlantic coast between palm beach and the miami river settlement. Postal officials to greet 400 boy scouts and leaders after 34. Barefoot mailman historical hike south florida council. South florida history legend of the barefoot mailman. In fact, in 1887 it claimed the life of the second barefoot mailman a term coined by theodore pratt, james edward hamilton, when he drowned while swimming the hillsboro inlet to retrieve his skiff that had been moved.
It is believed that hamilton was attacked by sharks or alligators. Postal officials to greet 400 boy scouts and leaders after. Author theodore pratts book, the barefoot mailman, tells a story of. A florida state history marker, located at boca raton on the grounds of the spanish river state park, honors barefoot mailmen. Value the important role the barefoot mailmen had in palm beach county and florida.
We mentioned a sixpanel mural painted around 1940 by renowned. Lloyd john umstead lloyd was born in white spring, a little town in north central florida, on october 7, 1911. Between 1885 and 1892, a small group of barefoot mailmen carried the u. The story of the barefoot mailman is more than 125 years old. South florida motel beach, shops, fishing barefoot. The history of the barefoot mailman there was no regular mail delivery to these southern outposts by land. Route of barefoot mailman from palm beach to miami is. Design a mailbag with unique characteristics supported by ideas from various sources. In 1886 the postal service decided the need for a mail route connecting palm beach to miami was needed and offered a mail route bid to do that. Scouts honor history with 35mile barefoot mailman hike. Penpencil, copy student handout 1 postal service and barefoot mailman, student handout 2livin on the lake, student worksheet 1 answer, research. These men became collectively known as the barefoot mailmen. History of the barefoot mailman in 1885 three young adventurers left their kentucky homes to seek fortunes in florida.
On february 4, postal officials congratulated and welcomed hikers at barefoot mailman station in miami beach. Some of the studies for the dohanos post office wall murals are now in the smithsonians american art museum and have also been displayed at the library of congress. His books have won numerous awards and have sold over 100,000 copies in florida. It honors a very unique period of south florida history, said stephen blair, who has coordinated. Bare foot mailman run is a history lesson and attempt to cover the fastest barefoot mailman route from boynton inlet to haulover inlet, florida. The legendary barefoot mailman of palm beach county hspbc. They are all part of the museum of florida historys permanent collection of florida movie memorabilia. Barefoot mailman historical hike south florida council boy scouts.
More on the barefoot mailman can be found in south florida history. Historic walking tours in palm beach county visit florida. Jerome courtland portrays a mailman who delivers mail along a 100 mile stretch of coast from present day palm beach to miami. Land was cheap and plentiful, and the prospect of owning your own citrus plantation was a great allure. During its time of operation, the barefoot mail route provided the first regular direct communication between the palm beach area of. The fifth book in the series, charlie and the tycoon, was published in 2016. Join us as we journey back in time to a wild time in south florida history. They were immortalized in a 1946 novel, the barefoot mailman. Approximately 400 boy scouts and scout leaders will relive part of south florida history in the boy scouts of america south florida councils 53 rd annual barefoot mailman hike this weekend.
In the 1800s, mail was often carried between the coastal communities of south florida by barefoot mailmen. These carriers walked most of the route barefoot on the firm sand near the waters edge. A 19thcentury con artist flees to the wilds of florida to elude the law. The barefoot mailman motel is located in the town of lantana just south of the palm beaches on florida s famous gold coast close to the intracoastal waterway, beach, fishing, restaurants and shops. This is a pleasant enough comedy set in turnofthecentury miami as bob cummings plays a swindler whos been swindled. The cover featured an interesting interpretation of the barefoot mailman. This statue is located near the spot where mailman james hamilton went missing in 1887. Apr 11, 2019 south florida history legend of the barefoot mailman posted on february, 2019 april 11, 2019 by heidi this post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of the product links, ill receive a small commission. What happened to the barefoot mailman james hamilton.
South florida history, 20072009 historymiami museum. It gives a good picture of life on the florida southeast coast in the 1800s. The story of the barefoot mailman is more than 125 years old specifically, 125 years ago today, on oct. Assessment is the teacher observation and the sharing of the students story about being a barefootmailman, and grading of the student handout. Based on the 1943 novel by theodore pratt, the comedyadventure movie the barefoot mailman, starring bob cummings and terry moore, was released by columbia pictures in 1951. These men became the barefoot mailmen, although that term wouldnt be used until years later. The legendary barefoot mailman of palm beach county. Along with a couple dozen other interesting pioneers, charlie pierce, floridas famous barefoot mailman and boyntons first postmaster is featured along with anna and albert parker, maj.
Cultivated pineapples, tomatoes, mangos, oranges, lemons, grapefruits and limes were packed in crates and shipped by the ton on the newly built florida east coast railroad to satisfy the appetites of hungry americans across the country. Have a member of each groupshare the story they wrote about being a barefoot mailman. One of them, ed hamilton, disappeared on october 10, 1867 while walking the barefoot route. The route began in palm beach and ended in lemon city, now known as the little haiti neighborhood of miami. In his diary, ingraham mentions seeing a mail carrier walking along the beach. The barefoot mailman route the south florida route that would become known for its barefoot mailmen was one of the us postal services star routes. Oct 23, 2009 the legendary barefoot mailman of palm beach county hspbc. Mar 04, 20 bare foot mailman run is a history lesson and attempt to cover the fastest barefoot mailman route from boynton inlet to haulover inlet, florida. Postal service ended the barefoot route the next year. The author definitely did a lot of research prior to writing this. Each roundtrip took the barefoot mailman six days to complete.
The route was in operation between 1885 and 1893 and involved several mailmen. Eleven barefoot mailmen carried mail along the beaches between palm beach and miami in the late 1800s. Postal service established a mail route that was 6 miles there and back and covered by mailmen going part of the way by boat and the rest of the way walking on the beach. Thus came to an end, 125 years ago this week, the venture of one of the most colorful characters in south floridas pioneer history. The first known use of barefoot mailman was in 1939, when charles william pierce, who had been one of the carriers on the barefoot route, used the term in correspondence with stevan dohanos, who was painting murals of james edward hamilton, another carrier, for the west palm beach post office. To add to this lesson, visit the richard and pat johnson palm beach county history museum to.
In south florida, where some think nothing happened until. Barefoot mailman historical hike south florida council boy. Mail carriers known collectively as the barefoot mailman risked their lives to deliver the mail. Last week we revisited whats perhaps the most beloved image of palm beach county history. History of the barefoot mailman south florida motel. By the early 1880s, south florida was attracting a steady stream of pioneers and settlers, but there was still no direct mail service between palm beach and miami. This hike honors the efforts of the 1890s south florida letter carriers, known as the barefoot mailmen, who walked and carried mail on a fourday.
At the time, florida was a popular destination for settlers who were anxious to try to make their fortunes in growing citrus. Miami fl this weekend february 45 approximately 400 boy scouts and scout leaders will relive part of south florida history in the boy scouts of america south florida councils 53rd annual barefoot mailman hike this hike honors the efforts of the 1890s south florida letter carriers, known as the barefoot mailmen, who walked and carried mail on a four. The term barefoot mailman refers to the carriers on the first u. The historical society of palm beach county places the official end of the route at jan. Explain who the barefoot mailmen were and their importance to the history of palm beach county and florida. Heres the april 2017 cover of pompano magazine from pompano beach, fl. All prices include all taxes and fees 17unit familyowned familyrun motel just one block from the intracoastal waterway in lantana florida, the barefoot mailman has rooms for the budget traveler up through families on a vacation. Florida memory the barefoot mailman hotel pompano beach. Thus, the only means of delivering the mail was by row boat in some areas and by foot in others. When he was a year old his family moved to their homestead on old dixie highway, between commercial boulevard and floranada road, in fort lauderdale. They are now known collectively as the barefoot mailman.
When an outlaw gang advances on miami, he teams up with a former foe, played by robert cummings, to save the town. The barefoot mail route was so named because the carriers walked barefoot on the hard sand at the waters edge. The mailman didnt have to worry about obeying traffic laws, says chaplain peter zies, as he holds out an arm to stop the scouts trailing behind him from crossing a busy intersection. Mail route 18851892 between palm beach and the settlements around the body of water known as lake worth on the north, and miami, coconut grove, and lemon city to the south. Some speculate that he was swimming across the inlet to complete his route when he was eaten by alligators. Design a mailbag with unique characteristics supported by. The mailman traveled about 80 miles on foot and 56 miles by boat on his round trip. South florida history legend of the barefoot mailman pool. Miami fl this weekend february 45 approximately 400 boy scouts and scout leaders will relive part of south florida history in the boy scouts of america south florida councils 53rd annual barefoot mailman hike.
A historical marker located in miami beach in miamidade county, florida. Storyteller caren neile, phd, shares myths, legends and folktales that reflect the diversity of characters and cultures that make florida such a fascinating place. Mail route 18851892 between palm beach and the settlements. So the government started the famous barefoot mailman route, first between jupiter and.
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