MIAMI – John Della-Cerra Jr. can convey to you all about Ivy Strahahan. He knew her nicely, worked for her, and proceeds to this working day as a tour information and routine maintenance person at Fort Lauderdale’s Stranahan Household, the oldest remaining developing in Broward County. It was developed in 1901.
“She was an awesome human being and truly the mom of the town, so a lot of things that she arranged,” mentioned Della-Cerra.
Eighteen-yr-outdated Ivy Julia Cromartie was hired at $48 a month to teach in a school residence developed by Fort Lauderdale pioneers. She achieved Frank Strahahan who was controlling a camp and ferry company at Tarpon Bend on the New River. Buying and selling with the Seminole Indians turned the financial spine of the enterprise.
Married in August of 1900, Ivy gave up educating but immediately grew to become included in the budding but distant settlement.
“She was consistently involved in education, ecology, women’s rights, the Seminoles,” reported Della-Cerra.
By means of the several years Ivy Strahahan served on Fort Lauderdale’s organizing and zoning committee. In Tallahassee, she lobbied for the Homestead Exemption Legislation. She also launched the Broward County Crimson Cross Chapter, the Camp Hearth Girls, the Audubon Society, Woman’s Club, and proven the highly effective Close friends of the Seminoles, solidifying her long time devotion to the cause of the area’s indigenous population.
“She was continually attempting to enhance the lives of most people right here, Blacks, Seminoles and a great deal of things she was performing on each fronts were not extremely popular with a whole lot of individuals but that did not prevent her,” reported Della-Cerra.
With all the accomplishments and involvement there was tragedy and hardship.
Frank Strahahan’s investing business enterprise and lender unsuccessful monetarily due to devastating hurricanes and the Terrific Depression. The a person-time postmaster, took his lifestyle, drowning in the New River in entrance of the impressive household he had developed 1st as a buying and selling submit, it afterwards became a dwelling.
These days that house is a museum devoted to Ivy Strahahan the place Della-Cerra remembers a identified girl who leased out aspect of it to a restaurant to make ends meet.
“I consider that when I am telling tales to people strolling close to the house that Ivy is gonna faucet me on the shoulder and say ‘John, you have been standing right here for 30 minutes and I have not noticed you do a little bit of work’,” mentioned Della-Cerra.
Ivy through the yrs stayed in the historic home until her dying on August 30th, 1971 at the age of 90.
