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Do you know Dania Beach History?
Journey through the past with us.
Dania Beach water gardens and gifts, is in existence due to the dream of a true plant lover, Tom J Naylor. Prior to turning this beautiful Mediterranean home into a prosperous business, Tom had operated Plantation Tropicals. It was his desire to share his love of water lilies, ponds, and nature with all who entered here. After purchasing the property from the Frost Family, he went about constructing ponds around the premises. He also used his knowledge of plants to incorporate many tropical features. The plants grew to fountains and the fountains grew to pottery, and the gift shop inside became an eclectic wonderment of remarkable items for the home and garden. For 8 years, Tom worked to make the gardens a wonderful and peaceful place. So it became a place, not just to shop, but to come and enjoy. His untimely passing in 2008 brought his cousin Donna and Tom Bordovsky, from the Florida Keys to continue the legacy. They have strived to raise the business to an even higher level. There are over 130 working fountains on the premises. The doors have been opened to host many evening benefits and social gatherings. Though always a landmark in Dania Beach, and a reflection of the past, Dania Beach Water Gardens and Gifts also reflects the spirit of the future, continuing to further contribute to the community.
Dania Beach is known as the “Tomato Capital of the World”. The first immigrants made money in tomato farming and around 1910, the Florida East Coast Railway was transporting to northern cities in the United States from "The Tomato Capital of the World". By 1927 the first "Tomato Day Celebration" took place to raise funds for the new Dania Methodist Church. The Tomato Day Celebration persisted until the 1940’s including a Miss Tomato Festival Spectacle. Unfortunately the tomato boom stopped by the late 40’s due to a salt water invasion into the fields.
According to what it is reported by historians, Dania Beach was the first City in Broward County and its roots are dated back in 1880’s. The first home was built by A.C. Frost in 1900 and in 1902 he also built the first general store. Frost made donations for the new two schools in town. Dania Beach was named a City in 1904 with 35 residents who were Danes so that’s why the City is called Dania.
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By 1945 the city achieved fame again as the “Antique Capital of the South” and is still. There are more than 100 antique shops and malls selling their merchandise by the side of a few blocks of Federal Highway in Downtown Dania Beach. It is also called a “Paradise shop City”. Dania Beach has an Art Deco architecture style to describe its buildings and beautiful homes. Dania Beach Hotel, Florida Theatre and The Pirates Inn are a clear example of it.
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