Forged in America: Building Paradise on Florida's Frontier (1902–1960s)
Forged in America The Ahrens Legacy Part II — Building Paradise on Florida's Frontier During The Growth Palm Beach (1902–1960s) A Three-Part Series Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary Editor's Note As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we continue our journey through the history of the Ahrens family—a story that has unfolded alongside the growth of our nation for more than 180 years. In Part I , we explored the family's roots in St. Louis, Missouri, their tradition of metalworking, and the journey that brought George Washington Ahrens and his family to South Florida around the turn of the twentieth century. Now, in Part II , we follow George and his son, Frank Ahrens, as they help build a young West Palm Beach, transform a family trade into a thriving enterprise, and develop innovations that would leave a lasting mark on the American construction industry. Building a New Frontier At the dawn of the twentieth century, West Palm Beach was still a frontier c...