Coral Springs became a city on July 10, 1963. The first structure was a covered bridge, built in 1964 at NW 95th avenue, off Wiles road. It was painted red and no there was no other building in the whole city at the time. Hurricane Cleo passed this bridge in August 1964 and due to its strength, it was not damaged.
The first building was the Coral Bridge Properties Real Estate office, opened in 1964. They developed the entire city of Coral Springs including roads, canals and parks.
In 1966, the Real Estate office became too small so they gave it to the city of Coral Springs, who moved it to the NW corner of Wiles road and Woodside dr, where it became the first Police station.
By 1972, it was too small for the police department. The police moved to a bigger station and the building became a clubhouse until 1976. Then, nobody wanted it. The building was towed to 127th avenue and 39th street, the city dump. It was used by the Fire department as a training school.
One day, they accidentally set it on fire. When people saw how sturdy the building was, they decided to rescue it. In 1977, it was moved again, on a flatbed truck, followed by a parade of people and Coral Springs High School band, marching along to Mullins Park.
The building was cleaned and repaired and opened as the mini museum in 1978. Today, it is the Museum of Coral Springs history, displaying the earliest maps and pictures of the city.
George Hodapp, an architectural engineer for Coral Ridge properties, designed their administration building with two stories, four Doric Columns and a fanlight. In 1978, the city of Coral Springs bought the building to use as City Hall.
The first restaurant, The Red Fox Inn, and Coral Springs library were in the West Wing. The first Post Office was in the East wing.
Children rode their horses to the Coral Ridge Properties Administration building to pick up the mail until 1970, when local delivery began.
The Covered Bridge continues to be very important to the City of Coral Springs, even though the bridge can no longer be seen from Wiles road because of all the trees. Its image is on the City Seal, badges and the city Flag.
This is a beautiful story of how Coral Springs buildings were started. Coral Springs continues to evolve. What a fascinating story to learn that a Real Estate Company built the first building in Coral Springs.
Welcome to my favorite City of Coral Springs
Afie Makinde
Exit Realty Properties
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