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Res 49-97 .................. RESOLUTION ~NO ~'--49 ~97 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING A. GEORGE AND SONS FOR EIGHTY-SIX YEARS OF CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA. WHEREAS, in the early 1900's, Lebanese immigrant and family patriarch Abraham George began his family's business by selling lace, linen and silk shirts door to door from a pack on his back. He would walk from West Palm Beach to Pompano Beach and then hop a train for the ride home; and WHEREAS, in 1911, Abraham George started doing business in Delray Beach and built his first store at the southeast corner of East Atlantic and Fourth Avenues about 1919. The George family lived above the shop and many of the family's eight children were born there; and WHEREAS, in 1959, the business changed from a general store to one specializing in men's wear. The old building was razed and a new store was built on the same site; and WHEREAS, this pioneer business family has continued to operate at the same location for eighty-six years; and WHEREAS, in the summer of 1997, A. George & Sons men's clothing store will close its doors. However, members of this pioneer business family continue to devote themselves to building a better community. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: That the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach hereby recognizes and commends the George Family for 86 years of continued and dedicated quality service to the residents of the Delray Beach community. Section 2: That the City Commission further expresses appreciation for a job well done and wishes the George Family the best of health and happiness in all of their future endeavors. PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on this 1st day of July, 1997. ATTEST: ~ity ~le~rk FROM: B.P!ILLER ,STI~TE FFIRM Ft~X tt0.: 561 278 1894 86-25-9? 02:58P P.01 A. GEORGE & SON$...A FAMIL~ STORE Founded 1911 to June 1997 William Edward John Richard The family's patriarch, Abraham George, a Lebanese immigrant, started by selling lace, linen and silk shirts door to door from a pack on his back. Be would walk from West Palm Beach to Pompano Beach and hop a ride on a train back home. Many of the family's eight children were born above the store where the family lived. In the early days, the store sold everything ~rom curtain stretchers, pots and pans, women's and.children's clothing and men's suits. In 1959 the old building was ra~ed and a new store built on the same site, specializing in men's wear. with the passing of Abraham and Bill, Alice (Bill's wife) worked in the store with the remaining sons Richard, Eddie and John. Then with the passing of Eddie...Alice, John and Richard continued to attend to the day to day business affairs of A. George and Sons until its closing. In recent years John remained in the background for health reasons but has continued to be in the store on a daily basis along with Alice; John remains as President of the corporation. The family's holding company, Abeleina Properties{named after Abraham and his wife, Leina) owns the store as well as several properties on the Avenue. The entire George Family has been strolling the Atlantic Avenue for over 86 years in Delray Beach talking baseball, football, basketball, fishing, golf, politics, improving the downtown, attracting tourists, and devoting themselves to a better community. The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce proudly salutes and honors one of Delray's pioneer business families. We are privileged to recognize you today, June 19, 1997. iTU! ~ 2 E ' 9T' 12: 1 _=,F'H ,.~: . - "' .... ' '" ' · · . . F'. i: - : ' idea~ ~or the ne~v~--~''' ' · , ' ' ...... ' .... : . ... ~,,~ays ~?..~,'aE ~AL~ ~ACH Post ' il'!i':' i..' '...:'...' ':'..... :.".. ' ' ~- or.g~ · THURSDAY. APRIL ] 0. !99'7 :".. ' , , I~:!~..:.... :.':.., , !-:. ",.-', :...' · , . , ..:-.'..:;...,:..': "' .'-, ,. · ' :::':: .'::L::' ',' :'.. ,' ":'.' · ." ":.: :,.: ...':.':',':.-'.... :. ~'. ~ ... i.:~ ......: ': :.'....:: . ....' ~ .. ..-."-:. :: ..:.". : . . ,!.'.?.":!..."~...'.'..-...:/".' ... ~', '.:?:::' "~ · i::.! :. ': ............ ." i '""-"-:":'::':'' "':'" '" ' ::::.v:.::',.'.'.,'-...-:.::.'..'.. · . . 'Pi'T- ' · ' ' ~ :' .'' , ~' ...... .2~.:,,..h.e. Cl~r~strn~5 paraae. ~o .... c · .. , '.~ .', ~ $/3.=~}a~ to ~h, ~m.B'eac~ ~&. ' ~''' ' '"' .L .' '..'..'.-....'..'.' .... . . .. '" ' ' ~" .~"' '"':' ",," ,~ , oyearOag0. " ':"' : ' ': ':' ' ' :.,: : ~ , ..... : · . ..?..??., .... . ,...'.'... ~.."."....:'~'?"::::.:::..";:'.:.. .. .,:. :,, , ' ~ , ,. .~. ,.,, :. ; '. : :~G. ,' .....,.~..,,. , ..., .:.. :. · ',.., .. , ,'~". ,~::':',: :' ..,'...' .',,..:.,.... , · -.~.....:... '',. :./'. ..... ... .., "".-.-:.? ::... ,'.'. ~", ".,., ..'.:::: ,,'....-'.,' "'- : : . · ..... "~': '.'. ;'.': 7,;'. . :".,:': ,~..".:.:." '.. . ~ ~ ' :'. :::.:....:.:"~:: :' ..: .., ..'-::........".:.:-.'.- .-. ..... ' : '' " ' ' . '. · : · . ... ... . . D~ SU~r.' .: ']..',:': :.":'.' .'.' ': ' ' ": '.~'. " '-shrink, 'feel 'mixed emotiOns ......... ...:'.. ':'..'...':~ :::'...'.' ' . . ..: ' ..... ' .., . .a~ea o~le ~e .~"'::': '."~'. ...... '- .' - . . ~1, ~t-~ll' ~aC~S a~ ~l~--m- 'I2--' ' - ' . ~ "~ ~ · ' '. '. ;' ' · :'.' ' ' ' -.~','. ~,~ o~.y. Sp~ci~ oc~=ion .. '- . ..the sea¢.:of &e ~ ' ' .' ': '.'.. '. ' · ,. '.. · · ' .' ' tutu D~ra~"Beac ' ~ movma · . · . ., ,. . , . . .~;.. . . . . ,.. , . . , ... .. ' ' *~d. · . . . h, .the Georges '. ~[C~D 0g0B~g ,. '../~ · .... . , . . . "The ~ ' ' " '" " " '~" " ' ' "' ' ' ' ' . . . ~&~t~u~ ~ste ~ ' ' ' : '. · ;' . ,/~]~.: · , .' · '.'.'. ' ..'~'.'?~°~*~,~"~"5~ '.l~i~r~:'~.*~.~,~.~,..o~e, -:...'. :...... :.... .......:... ..-..... . counter ofhia store .wi~'hi~ m== ,a~ ~-,",F~ a ~d fite~ 'P :,': '. ".'- ' ' .'..: . ' , "' ' .-':,' ':' · '"" ' ' · .: '-. g~!~~' ~. hi, ~'~;~-'i-,~::.,.:k;,~i'.:~=~o~':z~,~.:at-ai~i ' '..'...'. :. ,- '.". :'".-".' .: .'-. :....'.. .... .., ...' · .. . . , . ~ · cnbed ~e cus- ' ..... ~d G ..... ' ..... ' ' . ..::.'.'.:.' . ,' . ........ ,.'..~ '. . '. -. . , , , ~s~s ap~.,, · ...."; '~'-. ',,-.¢-;<.,,~,,: ~;~ ~oua~,.~e.s+~._ :__. ' Y I t ' "'.,' "'""." ' ,' ', ' ,' .- '.' :-., ".' : ",,'. '. ' ' . :, :,-, .:..',,':,.,:'..... '. . ...., .,. ... . ,. , ,. .,..:,:.: . ., ... .,,.":'...,, , ., ,~ MEMORANDUM DATE: JUNE 24, 1997 TO: BARBARA GARRITO SHARON MORGAN FROM: PAT CAYCE ¢)~/ SUBJECT: A. GEORGE & SONS A. George & Sons is the oldest business in the City which is still operated by the founding family and has been in the same location since 1914. In 1911, the same year the town was incorporated, Abraham George came to live in the little pioneering community of Delray. He was a haberdasher who, at the time of his arrival, sold clothing from a suitcase as he traveled by train and foot to Boca Raton, Deerfleld, Pompano and beyond. Through persistence and hard work and with a gifted sense of salesmanship, he soon was able to rent a small store on E. Atlantic Avenue. By 1913 he was able to secure a mortgage from the Bank of Delray and hired pioneer contractor, John Thieme, to construct a substantial commercial building at the southeast corner of East Atlantic Avenue and S.E. 4th Avenue. The business prospered and grew and in 1959 the original building was demolished to make way for a new and larger store. The new building was designed by Delray Beach architect, Richard T. Hanna and was constructed by local contractor, Harry D. Watts, Jr., who owned American Structures, Inc. The new A. George & Sons building was opened for business in February of 1960. Sources Britt, Lora Sinks. My Gold Coast. South Florida in the Earlier Years. Palatka, Florida, Brittany House Publishers. Information for Home seekers. Picturesaue Delray, 1915 Delray, FL. Delray Beach. the Early Years. Published 1983 by the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Delr-ay Beach, FL City Building Cards Photos from the family' of Harry D. Watts, Jr. PICTURESQUE DELRAY--COAST LINE CITY OF FLORIDA 29 M. W. MILTON qbraham 6eorge One of the-Oldest Growers and Pack- ' ers of Fruits"and Vegetables in LADIES', GENTS' '.AND CHIL- the Delray Vicinity. DREN'S FURNISHING GOODS For. the past six years has been packing and shipping for the public. At the present date one of the larg- Embroidery and Serge Dresses and est dealers in the produce business. Skirts The reason for being the .largest dealer is owing to the good prices and prompt sales the growers have re- Men's Dress' Suits and, in fact, any- ceived, thing you need to wear. The brand that receives recogni- tion is the PALM BUCK BRAND First door west of Delray Bank Horse Shoeing-- Wagon Building Motors Overhauled--Automobile C~ ¢ i) ¢lrap Painting DELRAY MFG. & REPAIR WORKS J. M. O'Nea[, Mal~ager Progress Blacksmith, Wheelwright and Machine Shop We'veGotlt } OUR / Quality PUBLISHED ONCE A WEEK IN We'll Get It Accuracy · We'll Make It MOTTO Speed THE INTEREST OF DELRAY Agency for AND VICINITY I. H. C. Farm Machines and Imple- ments I. 'Fl'. (~. $1.00 .PER YEAR ~Fl;~t~tI1 Oil and Gas Engines $1.25 PER YEAR IN CANADA Novo Marine Engines ~ Myers & Gould's Pumps O.J. JOHNSON, Editor INTRODUCTION 'his brief overview o£ Delray's early history is produced in honor of its 75th anniversary celebration, the Diamond Jubilee. The story told is one of the struggle, determination and prosperity of our founding families, many whose descendants still live in Delray. The vast collection of early photographs gives us insight to our beginnings. The reflection of a life past elicits pride in our city. The same spirit that carried forth Delray's courageous pioneers guides our community today. We are more than fortunate to live in such a beautiful city. Our founding families worked to make it that way as we continue to do today. This book is produced in the hopes of preserving our past and as an inspiration for our future. Our efforts could not have been realized without the generous support and contributions of Ken Ellingsworth, Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce (Coordinator); Tina Eno, Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce (Writer); Dana Ports, Dana Potts Commercial Art (Design); Buster Musgrave, Leroy Croft, Spencer Pompey, Roy Simon, Delray Beach Historical Society (Historical Advisors); John Steffes, PrintingPlus, Inc. (Printing); and Billie Linville, Sun Bank (Sponsor). Soldiers on parade in front of A. George Building -o World War One. © 1986 by Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Delray Beach, Florida 33444. All rights reserved. No part o£this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.