Dispatch 8

Click here to sign up for the newsletter. Tell your friends!
GOT A QUESTION OR COMMENT? CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ELIOT

Backstory: The Real Hypocrite’s Row

Hypocrite's Row

Hypocrite’s Row really was a secret room in Palm Beach’s Royal Poinciana hotel where patrons could drink discreetly.
Florida pioneer Henry Flagler first visited Palm Beach, clandestinely, in 1892 and returned to North Florida to say he had found “a veritable paradise.'' There he built Palm Beach’s first resort Hotel. The Royal Poinciana opened in February 1894, even before the railroad had reached Palm Beach.
It had cost nearly $1 million – about $38 million today. A thousand workers and artisans labored on it, finishing in only nine months. It was advertised as the largest wooden structure in the world. It featured 1,150 guest rooms and had more than three miles of hallways. With the telephone still a rare luxury, hotel employees shuttled messages by bicycle.
     And there was Hypocrite’s Row. The secret corridor had led from the Men’s restroom. Women met for tea and cakes across the hall in the Palm Room.
In 1925, the nearby Breakers Hotel burned and was rebuilt. Its newer version drew guests away from the older Royal Poinciana. The great 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane damaged the Poinciana’s north wing. The Depression finished it off. It closed in 1934 and was torn down. With it went Hypocrite’s Row.

Talks

March 1, 4 pm: Hypocrite’s Row Launch! Books and Books, Coral Gables
March 11, 5:30 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Fla at Historical Society of Palm Beach County
March 13, 2 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Fla at Historical Society of Martin County, Elliott Museum
March 14, 2 p.m.: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade.
March 17, 6 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Boca Raton Historical Society
March 18, 2pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Palm Beach County Library, Hagen Road Branch
March 18, 6:30 p.m.: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Mandel Public Library, West Palm Beach
March 26, 6 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Boca Raton Library
April 4, 1 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at HistoryMiami.
April 15, 2 pm: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Deerfield Beach Historical Society
May 12, 6 p.m: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Delray Beach Historical Society
Sept. 27, 1 p.m: Talking Hypocrite’s Row and Prohibition in Florida at Hollywood Historical Society
Nov. 22: Look for me at the Miami Book Fair street fair!

Click to watch videos:
The Keys
Overtown

Learn the stories behind Hypocrite’s Row: https://t.co/aiSbJNnSYA
Watch more Hypocrite’s Row Videos: https://tinyurl.com/bddd69cp

See you on the beat!