Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
James Homestead and First Jewell Post Office
Photographed By Jay Kravetz
1. James Homestead and First Jewell Post Office Marker
Inscription.
James Homestead and First Jewell Post Office. . The James Homestead and Post Office are an important part of Lake Worth's history before the birth of the city. In 1885, an African American couple, Samuel and Fannie James, were two of the first people to file claim for a homestead in the area. Two white neighbors served as witnesses for the 187-acre purchase, an indication that Samuel and Fannie were widely respected in the entire community. Samuel, a carpenter, built the couple's first home. In 1889, Fannie applied to designate their store as post office, and listed the name of the community as Jewell. Fannie served as postmaster and received mail deliveries by boat. When the Florida East Coast Railway was finished between West Palm Beach and Miami, mail deliveries came by train; Fannie moved the post office to another piece of their property near the tracks. Fannie sold most of her property in 1910 to Palm Beach Farms Company, and only retained the lot where the house was located. The sale records indicate that the James home/post office was located within 100 feet of the current South Bryant Park Picnic Pavilion. As prominent early settlers of the area, the James Family was important in both Lake Worth and African American history in Florida.
The James Homestead and Post Office are an important part of Lake Worth's history before the birth of the city. In 1885, an African American couple, Samuel and Fannie James, were two of the first people to file claim for a homestead in the area. Two white neighbors served as witnesses for the 187-acre purchase,
an indication that Samuel and Fannie were widely respected in the entire community. Samuel, a carpenter, built the couple's first home. In 1889, Fannie applied to designate their store as post office, and listed the name of the community as Jewell. Fannie served as postmaster and received mail deliveries by boat. When the Florida East Coast Railway was finished between West Palm Beach and Miami, mail deliveries came by train; Fannie moved the post office to another piece of their property near the tracks. Fannie sold most of her property in 1910 to Palm Beach Farms Company, and only retained the lot where the house was located. The sale records indicate that the James home/post office was located within 100 feet of the current South Bryant Park Picnic Pavilion. As prominent early settlers of the area, the James Family was important in both Lake Worth and African American history in Florida.
Erected 2020 by The Historical Society of Lake Worth, City of Lake Worth Beach. (Marker Number
Location. 26° 36.602′ N, 80° 2.948′ W. Marker is in Lake Worth, Florida, in Palm Beach County. Marker is at the intersection of South Lakeside Drive and 5th Avenue South, on the left when traveling south on South Lakeside Drive. The marker stands South Bryant Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 514 S Lakeside Dr, Lake Worth FL 33460, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. James Homestead and First Jewell Post Office Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2022, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 19, 2022, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
