Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic:

Fort Lauderdale's First Schoolhouse

A tiny settlement along the banks of the New River longed for an education for its growing number of children. Edward T. King, an early settler with three children of his own, traveled to Miami to request a teacher since Broward County was not yet incorporated. The schoolboard of Dade County had promised a schoolteacher and building supplies if the community had at least nine school children and would build the schoolhouse. Edwin T. King and local volunteers built the one-room schoolhouse with Dade County Pine. In October 1899, the first class began their first day of school with nine students and concluded their school year with fourteen.

The teacher, eighteen-year-old Miss Ivy Julia Cromartie, arrived from Lemon City (Miami) with a third grade teaching certificate she had just received after completing a two day examination. The text for reading lessons was Appleton’s Third Reader. Her salary was $45 a month for a five-month term. She paid room and board at the King’s home. Miss Cromartie and the children would walk about a mile and one-half to school through the palmettos and woods keeping a watchful eye for snakes. Miss Cromartie only taught for one year at the schoolhouse. During that year she met Frank Stranahan, a local merchant, who she married in August 1900.

Replica 1899 Schoolhouse

The small wooden structure was used as the school until 1906. The student population had outgrown even the additions. It was moved and used for other purposes. There are conflicting stories about the fate of the little wooden schoolhouse. Some reported it destroyed by the 1926 hurricane, while others say it survived andwas moved once again.

In 1976 a replica of the 1899 schoolhouse was built. It is now the focal point of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society’s educational programs. More than 100 years later, over 5000 students of all ages still have attended the Schoolhouse to learn about our history and experience life as pioneer students.