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From Tomato Farms To A Tourist Hotspot: Historical Dania Beach Inaugurates A New Arts Park

July 18, 2024

Originally known as Modello, the Dania Beach traces its roots back to the late 19th century when it became a hub for tomato farming and the Florida East Coast Railway. The growing community optimized a spirit of progress that played a pivotal role in its development and resilience through challenges. The historic roots of the first city in Broward County date back to the 1880’s, when much of what is now the FEC Railroad Line was laid through the area. In recognition of this transportation advantage, a pioneer and developer named W. C. Valentine planned a settlement called Modello and 12 Danish families moved from Chicago to settle there from 1898-1899. Three years later, 30 Danes were recruited from Oconto, Wisconsin, to colonize the settlement, and the first home was built by A.C. Frost, for whom a park is now named. Frost built the first general store in 1902 and became Modello’s first postmaster. He also built and donated the town's first two schools. The following year, Dania Methodist Church was erected, becoming the city’s first place of worship.

When the town was incorporated in November 1904, its 35 residents, most of whom were Danes, changed the name to Dania. By 1912, Dania was a thriving community of almost 1,200 people and continued to grow through the 1920’s when the city suffered tremendous setbacks. In 1925, the Dania Hotel caught on fire, and the Bank of Dania failed due to embezzlers in the Bank’s Atlanta home office. The 1926 hurricane with its 200 mile-per-hour winds devastated the town, destroying the first church building completely, and subsequent damage prompted residents to vote for annexation to the neighboring City of Hollywood. De-annexation came in 1927.

Tomato Capital of the World

Early immigrants prospered in tomato farming and, as early as 1910, the Florida East Coast Railway was shipping to northern U.S. cities from "The Tomato Capital of the World." During the three-month winter harvest, over 200 farmers shipped 1,000 to 1,500 train carloads of tomatoes and V. Taoring of New Orleans set up a tomato paste factory which contributed to local prosperity.

In 1927, the first Tomato Day Celebration was held to raise funds for the new Dania Methodist Church. Attracting a crowd of over 5,000, it was so successful that the celebration continued into the 1940’s featuring messy, but official, tomato fights and a Miss Tomato Festival Pageant. In the late 1940’s, the tomato boom was over, as crops began to fail from saltwater intrusion into the fields.

Antique Capital of the South

Just as the tomato industry was fading, a new type of commerce - the antique business - arrived when Genevieve and Willard Ely set up shop in 1945. It took 10 years for other antique businesses to follow, but it wasn’t long thereafter that Broward’s first incorporated city once again gained fame, this time as the "Antique Capital of the South," along Federal Highway.

Antique Row became not only a browser’s and shopper’s paradise but also the stores themselves are located inside buildings steeped in the city’s history including Broward County’s first movie theater.

The City has a wealth of historic architecture and a variety of architectural styles including Greek Revival (Dania Bank Building 1923); Mission Revival (Model Land Company Building 1900); Mediterranean Revival (the Martin Frost House 1913); and the Dania Beach Hotel, built by Francis Abreau in 1925. Art Deco styles are also present in the Florida Theater (1939) and the Pirates Inn, formerly the Hotel Katherine (1940).

Dania Beach Today

If you visit Dania Beach today, get ready to discover its unique charm and a renaissance as Broward County's first city! Dania Beach's rich history as Broward County's gateway to the sea.

Dania Beach thrives as a small town coastal community within the metropolitan Broward County-Fort Lauderdale area. It is known for its unique shops, pristine beaches and waterways, and the iconic Dania Beach Pier. Its historic district preserves the city's heritage, inviting visitors to explore its past while enjoying the many modern amenities and its picturesque coastal beauty.

Dania Beach recently earned the "Blue Wave Beaches” Award for its exceptional beach, pier and marina location you'll want to discover. Dania Beach is one of the few beaches in South Florida that offers dining and nightlife directly on the water.

The City municipality operates under a commission-city manager form of government and provides services to an estimated 30,000 residents. The city has earned its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation’s leading governing body on sustainable design. The Dania Beach Nanofiltration Water Treatment Plant is the first LEED Gold Certified Water Plant in the world. The Dania Beach-Paul DeMaio Library building also achieved LEED Gold Certification.

Dania Beach has implemented Oasis - Rebuilding Neighborhoods, an innovative community project that is improving the city one street at a time. The goal is to foster neighborhood pride and improvement, and through a “ripple effect” induce owners and tenants in the City to work together to beautify the City, increase property values, and reduce crime.

The City provides a full range of municipal services. The public safety program includes contracting of Fire and Rescue Services and Police Services from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The City’s extensive recreation program includes a beach and fishing pier, pools, tennis courts, neighborhood parks, community centers and also provides a wide variety of programs for youth, adult and senior citizens.

Dania Beach Inaugurates a New Arts Park

As part of National Parks and Recreation Month, City of Dania Beach officials opened a new Arts Park this month. Located in the City’s historic arts and entertainment district, the park is home to several art installations by world-renowned artists with more to come.

Current art projects at the park:

“Let LOVE guide your way” sculpture by Lloyd Goradesky. This piece is the universal color of LOVE, Bright Red. The art is covered with gold speckles which reflect sunlight. There is interpretation with every aspect of the Art. The weathervane has two main components: the base and the arrow. The base represents a singular human form which represents the 'Act of Kindness' in the singular art message: to be Kind, Compassionate & Tolerant for each other. The message to be Kind is an individual thought. If the human condition is not mindful of Kindness, it will not be Kind. To be Kind is a conscious thought. There are 4 stanchions on the base which point North, East, South and West which represents our world. The top and bottom heart-shapes point North to give the functioning weathervane a point of reference. There are heart-shaped cut-outs in groups of three which represent family. The number 3 has the meaning of Family & LOVE. Multiples of the number 3 have meaning in all cultures & religions. There are 24 total heart-shape cut-outs which represent our World. The arrow is 'Cupid's Arrow' which represents Universal LOVE. Although Cupid is known to be a prankster, this is a 'golden arrow' meaning LOVE in mythological stories. The large, oversized arrow with hearts on either end encourages the viewer to think of Kindness & LOVE.

“Totor” sculpture by Stephane Bolongaro. This is a work from the artist’s imagination, but the idea was loosely inspired by his mother’s Jack Russel dog. Similar Totor dog statues can be found in North Miami Beach and Detroit and there are several in the artist’s home city, Nice, France. Totor can be found cruising by on a bike or skateboard, leaning on a tree, and sitting on a bench.

“Looking Forward” mural by Ernesto Maranje All of the animals are looking and flying forward to Dania’s future, suggesting the viewer should as well. The concept features the gaze of a Florida panther, Florida birds, and Florida flora. The inspiration is the local wildlife of South Florida and plant life which are the focus of the piece. They’re a source of beauty we can sometimes forget to recognize, so the mural aims to remind the viewer of what/who we live amongst. The design’s aim is to marry the area’s natural surroundings to the people living in the community and make them aware of the wildlife all around them.

Dania Beach Arts Park is located at 49 Park Avenue, Dania Beach, Florida 33004.

Sea it, Live it, Love it!

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