Stranahan House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stranahan House
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 335 S.E. 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000569 |
| Added to NRHP | 2 October 1973 |
The Stranahan House is a very old and important house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was the home of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, who were early pioneers in the area. Built in 1901, it first served as a trading post. Later, in 1906, it became the Stranahans' home. This house is the oldest building still standing in Broward County.
In 1973, the Stranahan House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about its history. You can take guided tours most Tuesdays through Fridays at 1, 2, or 3 p.m. The house also hosts special events throughout the year. It's a great place to explore the past of Fort Lauderdale!
Who Were the Stranahans?
Frank Stranahan's Early Years (1893–1900)
In 1893, when he was 27, Frank Stranahan came to the New River area. He was hired to manage a camp and ferry. Soon, he started his own business, trading with the Seminole Indians. Frank quickly became known as a very fair businessman. Large groups of Seminole families would often visit his trading post, staying for several days.
By 1894, Frank bought ten acres of land for his growing business. He moved his trading post further west along the river. This spot became the center of the small New River settlement. Frank even became the town's postmaster, handling all the mail.
Ivy Cromartie Arrives and Marries Frank (1899–1900)
By 1899, the community had grown enough to need a teacher. Eighteen-year-old Ivy Julia Cromartie was hired for the job. She came from Lemon City, which is now known as Little Haiti. Community members built a simple one-room schoolhouse for Ivy and her nine students.
Ivy lived and taught in the settlement for five months. During this time, she and Frank got to know each other. They married on August 16, 1900, at Ivy's family home. Back then, it was common for married women to stop their paid jobs. So, Ivy left her teaching position. However, she didn't stop teaching altogether. She began offering informal lessons to Seminole children at the trading post. She made sure to respect the Tribe's traditions. This approach helped her become lifelong friends with the Seminole people.
Building the Stranahan House and Growing the Town (1901–1910)
Frank built the Stranahan House we see today in 1901. The bottom floor was used as his trading post. The top floor served as a community hall, a place for everyone to gather. By 1906, Frank's businesses had grown a lot. He now owned a general store and a bank. He also built a new building closer to the railroad, which had arrived in 1896.
Because his businesses were expanding, the old trading post was changed. It was renovated and became the Stranahans' home. As Frank's businesses grew, so did the settlement around them. By 1910, the town had 142 people living there. Frank and Ivy took on many important roles in their developing city. Ivy, for example, helped start the Women's Civic Improvement Association, which later became the Woman's Club of Fort Lauderdale. Ivy was involved in almost every community cause throughout her life.
Fort Lauderdale's Growth and Challenges (1911–1929)
The area was officially named Fort Lauderdale in 1911. This name came from the army forts built during the Seminole Wars. Frank was very generous, donating land for many public projects in the new city. In 1912, Frank sold his trading company to focus on real estate and banking. Ivy became president of the Florida Equal Suffrage Association in 1916. This group worked to give women the right to vote.
Because of her strong relationship with the Seminoles, the government asked Ivy for help in 1924. They wanted her to convince the tribe to move to a reservation. Ivy was successful in her efforts.
However, tough times came in 1926 when Florida's land boom ended. Frank faced huge financial problems. Things got even worse over the next three years because of two very bad hurricanes. Frank was also very upset knowing that his friends and business partners had lost their money because of him. Sadly, on May 22, 1929, Frank drowned in the New River, right in front of his home.
Ivy's Life After Frank (1929–1971)
After Frank's death, Ivy kept going. She rented out rooms in her home to make money. Later, she leased the bottom floor to different restaurants. Ivy slowly returned to her community work. She became a long-time member of the city's planning and zoning committee. She also successfully pushed for the Homestead Exemption law, which helps homeowners save money on taxes.
Ivy also started the Friends of the Seminoles group. She founded local chapters of the Red Cross and Campfire Girls in Broward County. Ivy lived in her home until she passed away on August 30, 1971, at 90 years old. She left the house to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society bought the house in 1975.
The Stranahan House: A Closer Look
Changes to the House (1901–1928)
Frank built the two-story Stranahan House in 1901. The first floor was the trading post, and the second floor was a community hall. In 1906, Frank changed the house to make it their family home. They added bay windows, and gas lights were likely installed around this time. The upper floor probably stayed an open space, reached by outside stairs.
In 1913, the house had another big renovation. An inside staircase was added, and the house was wired for electricity. Water towers were put in place in 1915, and it's believed that indoor plumbing was added at the same time.
The House as a Museum (1929–Present)
After Frank died in 1929, Ivy continued to live in the house. She rented out rooms to visitors. Later, she leased the bottom floor to several restaurants. The last one was called the Pioneer House Restaurant. When Ivy passed away in 1971, she left the house to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 1973, the church had the home listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.
After the last restaurant closed, the Historical Society of Fort Lauderdale bought the house from the Seventh Day Adventists in 1979. For the next four years, a big project began to restore the house. The goal was to make it look like it did in 1915. In 1981, the Stranahan House became its own organization with its own board of trustees. The house opened to the public in the spring of 1984. Today, you can find information about daily tours on their website.
Images for kids
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Adjacent house is used as an administration building for Stranahan House.
See also
- Fort Lauderdale Woman's Club: an important organization Ivy Stranahan helped lead
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Broward County, Florida
