I haven't been back to the Palm Beach area since 1974.  I am sure many of us haven't.  Can anyone tell me what happened to the International Bazaar Plaza? 

The bazaar tower was torn down to make room for the US1 bridge for the port. I believe the main building or parts of it are there for offices. The port of Palm Beach took over the entire area.

Michael Engel wrote:

Thanks fro responding Michael.  When the International Bazaar first opened it was quite unique.  They had glass blowers and many import and specialty shoppes.  The plaza wrapped around a courtyard.  It was really quite beautiful. 

Next........Whatever happened to the Piggly Wiggly two blocks from the public beach on Singer Island?

I was reading on this site that Rivera Beach High School was renamed Suncoast High.  Does that mean it still stands?  If it does, how much has it changed? 

Yes it still stands and has become one of the top magnet schools in the contry. It is going to torn down to build a new school I think next year.

Whatever happened to the old Kelsey City Gates?  When I was young they always appeared rather mystical to me.  Does anyone have the history of the gates and perhaps an old picture of them?  I would love to hear more about them. 

Sarah

Sarah,

I know a lot about Kelsey City and from an historical perspective. As I've told you, my roots go back 100 years in the West Palm Beach, Singer Island/Riviera Beach area.. I found some info on some websites about Florida, but very dry. I also found a Flickr photo of the KC gate as it is now and has been lovingly restored.. as a lot of West Palm Beach has been in recent years. I will post it, or the link to it, for you tomorrow. My house move is taking up my working days.. should be done by July and will be able to post more on the Forum.. keep writing.. you're the best writer sofar. of course, Dave Madsen is too. I love this forum, and website.. close to my heart.

Rob  -- 1968

Thanks Rob.  I had no idea that the gates had been restored.  Are they still standing where they once did?  When I was a child there was the old Kelsey City Road and there was absolutely nothing on it except these magical gates.  Any and all history you have regarding kelsey City and any pictures would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again Rob.  PS...Where is Dave?

Sarah,

Our old school was renamed Suncoast High after the Class of 1970 graduated which is why we stop at 1970 for membership.. Over the summer it was changed to Suncoast High and the team mascot became the Chargers.. why it was renamed I've never fully understood, but I think it had to do with Integration.. and rezoning.

The following spring the Supreme Court ruled that bussing students across town to make up a racial balance in a school was constitutional. They based it on Brown v Board. All across America parents were fighting the ruling.. In some cities like in Boston there were riots. Boston was the worst case. In our case, some black students who had gone to Joh F Kennedy High west of Riviera Beach, were being bussed to Suncoast and white kids who had gone to RBHS in 68 and 69 were now going to JFK for their senior year.. I remember one afternoon a mini riot took place on 28th st which ran by Suncoast, cops were using tear gas to stop it.. Bussing was not popular in PB County and many parents, who could afford it, started sending their kids to private schools..

Suncoast was changed from a public school to a magnet school in 1988. By the mid 90s it was on the Top 100 magnet high schools in America list. Google it for more information about its history. If you want to see how Suncoast looks today go to Google Earth, if you have it downloaded, and zoom down and see in 3D how it looks.. Type in Riviera Beach, FL, USA and just move the mouse around til you see it. The whole street layout has changed. And they added some new buildings since I was last home ca 1988. I think they went up in the 90s.. And yes theres talk of pulling down the old RBHS part of the school and adding more new buildings to the existing ones making it a mega school. Sad isn't it? If you get home not that often, it's always a comfort to know your old school buildings are there and go by and visit them. Our connection with the past. What is more nostalgic than your old school? When they're gone all we'll have are photos and our collective memories. In this life, the way America, especially in Florida, always tears things down, that's all we'll ever have.

Sarah,

This is one of those threads I told you about that I wanted to get into, but couldn't really last summer.. Yes your wish is my command. I have personal memories of the Kelsey City gates as well. And I did a lot of online research to back up what I thought I knew about them.. But it's a long story and it's getting late.. I have been on the forum a good part of the day.. and I didn't get much sleep last night either. And the garbage is waiting for someone to take it out. I promised her I would.. lol.

Til I get back to this thread, in short, the gates were part of a planned 1920s land boom "city" planned for that part of Lake Park. In fact Kelsey City was the original name of Lake Park.. which was changed to Lake Park in the 1930s, I think. There's a plaque on Town Hall about it. And some of the gates still stand.

Not only that but Riviera Beach was called Riviera until ca. 1926. My family's roots go back there to the early 20th century and I grew up there, my earliest memories are from ca 1953. I have a lot of history I can discuss about how Riviera was founded and by who. And how it was settled and why. I also have a ton of childhood memories from the late 50s to mid 60s, before we were at RBHS. It was a beautiful little city when I was 8, 9 and 10. Lake Park as well. Now it's ugly as hell and gone to pieces and has a very high crime rate. I won't blame that on anyone, except just the ravages of time and neglect and poor city planning. That and "white flight" to housing projects west of I-95 in the 80s and 90s that still goes on unabated. Today its population is 67% black with a black mayor, but the fact is Riviera always had at least a 20-30% black population even back 100 years ago.. and there was little racism to speak of from what I've read and there was a school for the black population, who were employed in the citrus and farming areas which were what the main industries were then, until fishing took over after WWI, and tourism after WWII. The original founding fathers were rather enlightened northern bankers and industrialists. Liberals. Riviera Beach has always been a liberal city. And I'm proud of that.

The gates were torn down when they widened the road.  They couldn't be moved easily without destroying them.

My father is the town historian of Lake Park.  I'll ask him.