Saving Historic Annie Beck House
By Patricia Du Mont
The Annie Beck House, circa 1916 Craftsman style bungalow is significant for its architectural style and the pioneer Fort Lauderdale family that called it home. Annie Beck and her husband, Albert J. “Doc” Beck moved to Fort Lauderdale in December 1916. “Doc” Beck operated Fort Lauderdale’s first drug store, which opened in 1917. Dr Beck was a charter member of the Rotary Club, treasurer of the Episcopal Church for 28 years and was vice president of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Annie Beck house
Annie Beck, born in Ocala, Florida, on December 4, 1886, passed away in 1985. In 1919 Mrs. Beck organized the First Study Club, a woman’s literary group that exists today, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church. She also purchased the property where All Saints Episcopal Church was established, formed a library in her home in 1938, was President of the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club and became a nationally accredited flower show judge.
Think of Annie when you visit the Annie Beck Library, Annie Beck Park (Victoria Park) or see the glorious yellow trumpet trees (Tabebuia Caraiba) blooming in the spring. She planted one of the first in 1939 in front of her home. Annie Beck was founder of the first Fort Lauderdale Garden Club and the Federated Garden Circles. She was instrumental in establishing the Garden Club’s library that bears her name. After the 1926 hurricane, Mrs. Beck and the Garden Club were active in the restoration of the devastated Fort Lauderdale.
She planted a yellow Tabebuia tree in her front yard that became a local landmark and the city planted Tabebuias in the pocket park named in her honor on Victoria Park Road. The Annie Beck House is a small charming gable bungalow with front-facing gable end porch, an architectural style prevalent throughout the United States in the early 20th century. In 1977, to avoid demolition at its original 334 East Las Olas Boulevard location, the house was moved to 310 SE 11th Avenue. The 89-year old Mrs. Beck lived in the house until briefly before she passed away in 1985.
Mrs. Beck sold the house to Shelby Grant Smith Jr., son of Fort Lauderdale pioneer family Shelby Sr and Mary Louisa Smith, who moved to Fort Lauderdale in the early 1920’s and were owners and founders of Smith Drug Stores.
Mr. Smith fell in love with the house and made sure renovations maintained the historical integrity of the house, its style and period. The house was used for numerous television commercials, print ads and photos shoots which included a Kodak ad campaign, local retailer Maus and Hoffman and photo shoots with Winston Groom, an American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for his book Forrest Gump, in addition to many others.
After his father passed away, Shelby Grant Smith III, division president for The Fitzgerald Group, worked with the new owners and found they were willing to donate the historic structure and assist in its relocation. Smith contacted Broward Trust and the Trust is taking the lead in relocating and restoring the Annie Beck House.
"The Annie Beck House was a big part of my father’s life and I just have to do what it takes to see it remains a part of the community."
~ Shelby Grant Smith III
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