A walk through time down Hammondville Road Crossroads exist in nearly every town and city in Florida. Some play a large part in some towns and others are just a quick way to get to their destination. Pompano had several crossroads and all were important for the people to tend to business. The crossroads I will be telling you about is, in my opinion, one of the most important in Pompano. That is the meeting of Old Dixie Highway and Hammondville Road ending at Highway 441 in Hammondville. Shortly after Old Dixie Highway was completed and Pompano was just beginning its initial growth period, Hammondville Road was constructed to open a means for farmers to get to their fields that were west of town, a much better way to bring crops to the railhead than loading produce on barges and boats and bringing them down the Pompano canal. Also a means to bring their crops directly to the platform bean shed built by the Florida east Coast Railway for baggage and produce shipping. Hammondville Road only went west from Old Dixie Highway; it would be NE 3rd St., on the east side of the tracks. This quickly became one of the busiest intersections in north Broward County. It became so busy that the first traffic light in Pompano was mounted on a concrete pillar that sat in the middle of the intersection and was energized from electric wires that stretched from the top of the signal light across the road to the east and wired into the electrical wires alongside the Railroad. As you can probably guess, that concrete pillar was almost like a magnet sitting there in the middle of Dixie Highway and there were many mornings when the pillar and light had been knocked over or skewered and twisted around in some manner. Nevertheless, the light was there to stay and did so until Old Dixie Highway was widened from the 12 ft. road into a much wider, safer one. Beginning a western trip from Dixie Highway led through the heart of the Black Community. We start from the south side of Hammondville Rd and will skip back and forth as we move west. The first business was the restaurant of Dad Lewis and his wife Maude, not fronting on Hammondville Road but on Old Dixie Highway, the Grandparents of Julia Reynolds Pridemore. Dad Lewis was a pioneer who served good food (his specialty was beef stew), each and every Saturday night my Mother and Dad always started their visiting at Dad's. He always saved an empty cigar box for me and with my pocketknife I would sit on the sidewalk out front, whittle and turn that cigar box into a crude, (very crude) airplane. Crossing the street to the north side was Robertson's Cities service station, also at one time belonging to J.B. Wiles; later on it would be H.H. White's. Immediately behind and to the west of the service station we find a sidewalk restaurant run by Bo Giddens. Later it changed hands and became Chet's, and then Tillman's. Immediately to the west, in the middle of a large lot, was a Pure Oil service station, a small stucco building run by Mr. McAllister. He also had a bulk gasoline and tractor fuel business there. Next to him to the west was a long wooden structure that housed a furniture business owned by Ms. Dallow, and a grocery owned by Jack Odom. Crossing the street to the Southside was a two-story stucco and block building that housed the Mary Marie Shop; there was an apartment upstairs. Also, a small office attached to the west end of the building and this is where Mrs. Rencher, the Justice of the Peace had her office and courtroom. Dan Overton was the elected constable and would bring offenders into this courtroom where a hearing would be held and punishment meted out. (Usually a fine.) This building was owned and operated by Mr. E.A. Mobley who also owned Mobley's dry goods and variety store across the road on the north side. On to the west of the JP office, was Henderson's fish market. Then came a jewelry store. Crossing again to the north side, the next business was the Lyons boarding house owned and operated by Mrs. Mitty Lyons, an early pioneer and settler of Pompano. Next door to the west on the corner of Hammondville Road and NW 3rd St. (Church Street) was Mobley's dry goods and variety store that was mentioned previously. The Mobley's lived in the back of their dry goods store. Across the road on the south side stood a large wooden building that contained a grocery store owned by L.C. Crum. (It was later a new and used furniture store operated by Jack Strickland, who was previously in a building on the north side in the next block west of Church Street next to where Bob Rencher had a furniture and appliance store.) Back across the road to the north and across NW 3rd St. (Church Street) the opposite corner from Mobley's dry goods was a large wooden building, this was a grocery and butcher shop owned by Mrs. Roxie Thomas and operated by Fred McDavid. Later it became Parman's clothing and then an auto parts and a sporting goods store. Next door to the west was a small storefront that housed a hardware store (later on) operated by Mr. Alexander and then Verda Wall. Next door to the Hardware store, a large wooden building that was the original Saxon & Wall grocery store. (Vivian Saxon, a county commissioner, and Verda Wall) later on they moved their grocery just around the corner on Church St., and it is still there today being operated as a grocery. (I worked for them as a bag boy.) Then it became a furniture and appliance store (formerly Bob Rencher's and Jack Strickland's.) Going again to the Southside, the next business was a small stucco building that was operated as a restaurant by Essie Mae Riggs. (Her specialty was chicken & dumplings) later on this business was operated by Lottie Seay and then as Mickey's diner. Next to the restaurant was a long wooden building that contained a grocery store owned and operated by W. K Marlowe. The Marlowes lived in the rear of their store for years. (W. K Marlow was a former city commissioner in Pompano.) In a front corner of the building, next to the sidewalk, Bob Waldsmith operated a tack shop. Next to the grocery store, same side of the street, were several frame buildings one of which was Rosa's cafe, then a bakery owned by the Spangler's. Next L.C. Crum operated a grocery. Next to Crum's was a small building that housed Thomas' fish market. Next to Thomas' place was "Doc's" BBQ, foot long hotdogs and photo shop. Next to Doc's BBQ, was a frame building that housed a grocery store run by Joe Riggs, It was later owned by Mrs. Ross. Crossing over to the north side was a frame building (next to the Saxon & Wall building) a dry goods and shoe store owned by the Cohen family and later on, Frank and Katie Mauldin opened a dry goods store in this building. Next to Mauldin's was a service station owned by Buford Giddens and later this building was enlarged and became a Goodyear tire store owned and operated by Ed Haynie. Next to the Goodyear store was a large building housing the J&H paint and body shop, then the International Harvester truck and tractor Co. Still on the north side the next business was owned by Frank Ali, a rooming house, then Florence's beauty shop and then Frank Ali's barber shop. Then there was a one-story building containing Jack's Bar and fronting on the sidewalk. The bar contained three bars inside, all connected. One fronting on the sidewalk, one on the east going from the sidewalk north to the backside of the bar, one on the west side of the bar also ran from the sidewalk north to the backside of the bar, The 'belly-up bar" on the sidewalk was mainly for over the counter sales. This structure was used as a hurricane shelter when hurricanes came through, several families would use this facility. My wife, Doris and her family was one of those and she says they really looked forward to going there because of the soft drinks, the peanuts, the candy and other treats available to them. The next business to the west was a frame building and it housed a drugstore owned and operated by "Doc" Bauder, then by "Doc" Williams. (His two sons in later years opened the William's Bros., drugstore east of Federal Highway on the south side of Atlantic Blvd.) The next business continuing on west was the Pauline Pridemore "Quality dry goods store." The next business west was a grocery store owned and operated by Cleo James, then by Wilson and Daisy Herndon. Later it was operated by Mrs. Ross, who owned four grocery stores on Hammondville Road. Across the street to the south was a small block building where Jack Henderson owned and operated a fish and poultry market. The Southside of Hammondville road west to NW 6th Ave was composed of several small structures, the largest, a filling station, and it housed a take-out business. Next to it on the south side was a grocery owned by H.L. Gleason Going across Hammondville to the north side and west of the James grocery were several small structures owned and operated by individuals that resided on the west side of Pompano. One of the more popular businesses was a bar that was located almost to NW 6th Ave. Owner unknown. Crossing back to the south side and on the corner of NW 6th Ave and Hammondville road was the "Orange Bar" this bar was owned and operated by Mr. Richardson. (Today, the "Larkins Civic Center " sits on a part of the Orange Bar site.) This building was owned by B.F. Bailey. It was along the north side of Hammondville Road for several blocks from this intersection that was a pick-up point for people wanting to go to the bean fields to pick beans. The farm trucks would line-up along side the road and the drivers would supply the people with the information about the type of beans for that day to be picked, the amount per hamper to be paid and any other questions they asked would be answered. The choice of where or with whom they chose to go pick beans was up to them. This was the reason for the existence of Pompano, Hammondville road and all the related businesses resulted from the farming that was vital to the economy of Pompano. Going back to the north side and west of NW 6th Ave, the first business there was a sundries that was owned and operated by Foster Harry and his wife, Sarah. Immediately west of this business was the Moss dry goods store. Next to the Moss Business was a grocery store operated by Crum & Dewitt. Continuing on west on Hammondville. There were several small businesses along this section, one of the more notable ones was Phillips' barbershop and a hairdressing business, and Phillips also ran a taxi service from his shop. Going further the next business was the Melody bar, then the Loveland theater owned by Mr. Case, who also owned the Pompano theater. At a later time, there was a Case tractor dealership run by Mr. W.K. Mclean. (He and his wife donated the property north of Copans road for the "Tradewinds Park.)" Next to this place was the Smith Plumbing and Septic tank Co. (This was before I-95 came through and removed some of these places). Going back to the south side and west of NW 6th St. there was another grocery store and this was operated by R.G. Parnell. In later times this store was purchased by Ms. Ross. Going on west, the next business was the Freeman Funeral Home. Then there was a very small building that housed a take-out store and sold ice to most of the farmers that used this road. This business was named "Clyde's". Another rather large building housed a sundries and dry goods, it was owned and operated by "Red" Hoover. Still further on the south side was a small wooden building that sat right on the edge of a small canal that ran under Hammondville Road, This store was the Hardin grocery run by Mrs. Hardin. (It was formerly the Campbell grocery.) Across the small canal next to Hardin's Grocery was a rather large building that was the home of Farmer's Manufacturing Co. The irrigation and drainage pumps manufactured here were shipped all over the country and even out of country. E, Howell and Earl Gutermuth owned and operated this business. The next business on the south side going west was a small block building that was "Doc's BBQ, foot long hotdogs and Photo shop". (Doc's was previously back east on Hammondville road.) Next to Doc's, sitting close to the road, was a small building that was first a veterinarian's office of Doc Makinson. Later, it was converted to an ice cream milkshake business. It was owned by Charles Smith. Going on west, the next business was a huge frame building and was home to a new and used furniture and appliances store (all three of these buildings were lost to I-95 when it was constructed). Still westbound, the next business was a filling station and bulk gasoline business operated by Jack Clyatt and later by Ted Showalter (Ted Showalter was formerly married to Pompano's ex-mayor, commissioner, Emma Lou Olson and during his stint in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, worked with Sgt. 'Duck' Foley, the father of Pompano Ledger publisher Ed Foley at the air base that was to become the campus for Florida Atlantic University). Next to this business was a restaurant operated by Ms. Andrews. (In later years, this station was operated by the "Hardy Brothers of Pompano" The next place in later years became the Pompano State Farmer's Market. This is the largest Farmer's market under one roof in the country, Back to the north side and going west was a large building that was the "Wilson & Toomer" fertilizer company. They also sold farm supplies. The next business was a crate and hamper business owned and operated by Harry Goldberg. Going on west, the next business was "The City Ice Co.," an ice making plant that furnished ice for the vegetable cars that were shipped from the Farmers market to northern markets. Crossing to the south side again and crossing the Seaboard Coastline Rail Road, was a long building that was the Broward Grain & Supply Co., serving the Farming industry with crates, hampers, seed, and fertilizer. Immediately to the south, the SCL Depot and the agent was "Seaboard" C.E. Johnson (our own Betty Johnson's Husband). Further on to the south and still alongside the tracks was the Niagara Chemical company, selling insecticides to the farming industry. Back to the north side and west of the tracks, was a large block building that in later years housed the "Kilgore Seed Co." that relocated from downtown Flagler Ave. to this location (The Ward's City Building.) Next to this business were a truck stop, a Pure oil bulk service and gasoline business and a restaurant attached. Immediately to the west of this business was the "Croft Grocery" owned and operated by the Croft family. The next and last point of interest on the north side is the Pompano Farm Labor camp, (commonly called "the Project".) These were frame houses in the beginning and the homes that are now there is the third set of homes built here, (the frame houses outlasted the block houses.) Going back to the south side, the next business was McMillion's BBQ business, and then the Parman dry goods store then Westside liquors. Going on west, the next business was a grocery store and to the west of that was an Allis Chalmers Tractor dealership, owned by J.Drouilliard. This brings us to Powerline Road and from there to what is now Margate but was then called, "Hammondville." There was very little other than a few farmhouses, one of which was located on the north side and was where "Tractor" Carver lived. (He was married to Rosetta Campbell daughter of "Cap" Campbell that built the oldest still standing house in Pompano). We will jump out to Hammondville and there we find Hammondville Road ending at State Road "7," it was called by old timers "The Rangeline". On the north side bordering the Rangeline, there was a small grocery store and on the south side a garage, and the only other buildings were south on State Road 7 immediately behind (and to the east of the flea market) was the community of "Hammondville" It consisted of about six or eight houses, a small grocery store, and that's all.   (The community of Hammondville and Hammondville Road was named after Hiriam Hammon.) This Hammondville road trip was compiled completely by memory of the way I remembered in the years I traversed this road. As a young boy, working as a bagboy and later on, working on the Farmer's Market and walking up and down Hammondville Road nearly every day and back home again at night and going out west when farming during this time. There are some who will remember a difference in the layout of businesses along this road, just keep in mind the time frame plays a large part in when someone owned this business or that business. Many of the places I have described had several owners and operators over the years and that will be where any differences in my observations with someone else's might occur. I am sure there are some important things I have overlooked, however, having forgotten them only reminds me of the frailty of man. I have written this to make sure there is some sort of history recorded on this most important part of the History of Pompano, Pompano Beach and Hammondville.    Note: Hiriam Hammon was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1841. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He moved to Florida in the late 1860's settling in Titusville, and then moving on south to West Palm Beach. After a varied lifestyle and making some money, He tried growing cucumbers in Cuba and that venture failed and he then migrated to South Florida to Okeechobee and then on down to the Pompano area where he amassed land and began growing vegetables here. He formed the Hammon Development Co. and eventually turned the operation over to his relatives, Hiram Hammon never married and died in 1922. He is buried in Pennsylvania.   Note:(My thanks to Merrill Pridemore for his perceptions of some of the places and people listed, also to my wife Doris who was able to fill-in some of the empty spots.) BG